1.9 Mile road course, 10 turns, and I used second gear a bunch!
Second Creek Raceway , Denver
So you want to drive to Denver to escape the heat during the summer for your
next race. Think again! Somhow I think we went south instead. The car and I
survived the 100 degree plus heat on Sunday to, are you ready, finish ahead of
the only other TR3 in the historic group. Great event, great weekend by RMVR.
We race under the Tired Dog Racing moniker, and that is just what were at 5:00
Sunday. All texas comments aside, we were welcomed by everyone! Maybe flying
the Red River Triumph Club banner instigated some of these comments.
The historic group had us run with Healeys, a gorgeous AC Bristol, ditto for a
Jag (did I mention fast, too?), a Jomar Climax, a 61 TR3 of Robert Miller, and
Abarth, and a Alfa sports racer, not to mention a Bocar. 15 cars in all for
the group, and amici, we kept the leaders in sight, and even some behind us!
One wrinkle for the weekend was that RMVR required treaded tires (CVAR has been
hounding me too) so off to Firestone we went. And that pretty well sums up the
first corner on new, brand new, treaded tires - off to the marbles we went.
Kept it on, but oh my how interesting. Talk about missing your Yokos. Ask my
wife, I was ready to load up and go home. I kept letting out air until I got
it right about mid day Sunday, then felt much better about life now that I
could turn again.
Dan Duryee (66 - GT6) made us newbies to RMVR feel at home this entire weekend
- thanks Dan. And he did this while mending a broken stub axle, mind you! As
pits are crowded at Second Creek, Tired Dogs pitted with Dan, John Pantaleo
(TR4, 63) and Al Hughes. Al let us hang the 4 x 15 foot Triumph Racing Banner
on his enclosed trailer only because he owned my car in the past. We forgive
him driving a Bobsy. We hung the Red River Banner as well, and probably a
couple British Flags for color. Had all 3 TR lined up out front. Looked
great. Dan ran well on Sunday, and John finished all races at full song - a
first and congrats! He, by the way, has what must have been the last set of
195/60/15 Yoko A0082R known to man. If you missed them by just days (as I
did), see John. I understand that he is hiding them off the car in an old mine
shaft.......
Other TR there were: Karl Koski, 63 Spit, Dale Osterle, 66 Spit, Renee Von R.,
64 Spit, and at least 1 black TR4 that I didn't meet.Miller & I ran in
Historic. The Ambro Special of Bob Ames didn't show up, but the TR were well
driven and represented! I tried to meet most TR owners, but a new track and a
new group kept me busy. Left my son to be the goodwill ambassador - if you
were there, you probably saw him, 8 year old, green hat, and a BIG camera. Who
pays for developing those 6 rolls?
Auto Wizards in Denver let me drop the Mach 5 for the week after the race, and
Tired Dogs went off to higher elevations for 10 days of vacation where the cool
air has hidden for the duration of the summer. Just got back Sunday, so now
the news is out to you!
Hope to see the TR at CVAR in Hallet, OK in September
Jeff
1959 TR3A, Yellow #39 (that would be British Racing Yellow, mind you.....)
Jeffrey G. Wilt, P. G., Rone Engineers, Inc.
8908 Ambassador Row, Dallas, TX 75247
(214) 630-9745 (214) 630-9819 fax
(214) 729-8475 cell
www.roneengineers.com
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