The best part of this story is knowing that yours is not the only one like
it. During the '00 season I bummed a ride from the guy I was duking it out
with in the points for one weekend while my car was in the body shop (I did
supply my tires, though).
Your competitors may not cut you any slack, but most of the time they'll
help you out if you're in a bind. And all ya gotta do is ask (and maybe
offer a cold one or two).
Scot
----- Original Message -----
From: "Lolita Adrien" <lomike@earthlink.net>
To: <ba-autox@autox.team.net>
Sent: Tuesday, May 06, 2003 8:39 PM
Subject: Sportsmanship/ Camaraderie
> WARNING
> I don't write as well as Katie.
> If you don't like warm and fuzzy stories... hit the delete now.
> If you are in this sport for the relationships it builds, sit down,read
on.
>
> I don't know about the rest of you but I have thought about it before, if
> someone's car broke and they needed a ride to finish competing for the day
> would I offer up my car? Truth is we probably all would like to think that
we
> would. Usually we never find out because our beasts are pretty reliable
> despite the thrashings we inflict on them regularly and thus we have very
few
> mechanicals.
> It had never occurred to me that I would be the one in the position to
need
> that ride, especially at something like a National Tour.
> First, Lolita and I were NOT going to the Tour (way too busy)
> Bryan asked if he could co-drive our car and if we would go. OK ,we
decided it
> was possible, but only Sat & Sun.
> So we ended up finagling Friday off and arrived Friday AM in time to help
out
> here and there before the practice course opened. With three drivers the
car
> only made eleven runs total on practice, we were all busy getting things
> ready for Sat..
> Saturday AM, early at the gas station right off base somebody's car
smells.
> (sure glad it's not us)
> RAIN
> CSL runs in the first heat-Did I mention it RAINED? Everything is wet even
> when it's not raining.
> Exit rain, enter wind, begin dry. By third heat when CS runs we are
starting
> to see dry spots. Bryan runs and returns to grid. I run and when I come
back
> to grid everyone has discovered that grid is dry except under the little
green
> car where there is green water.
> We know the paint does not run.(no happy ending yet, it's the core not a
hose,
> the car is done for the day at least)
> (This is where it gets cool)
> While I am frantically trying to find the leak while on a 5 min.
mechanical,
> Peter Thana explains to Jake Hodges (that would be the same Jake that I am
> locked in a points battle for first in the region with) that it is legal
for a
> competitor to change vehicles in class.
> (This is where it gets REALLY cool)
> So Jake offers up his car for me to run in!!!!!!!!!!!
> (Oh BTW -There is a whole 'nother story about Novice to our sport/club,
Rich
> Parker overhearing all of this and offering up his Miata for Bryan to run
in
> AND to Lolita if we can't get repaired overnight!)
> So I graciously accept, clear it with Grid and go out and get spanked by
> Jake.
> (What you thought I was gonna be able to beat him in his car? Get over it)
> I'm still grinning and it ain't from getting our car together enough to
run
> Sunday,
> and it ain't from getting into Trophy position at a Tour,
> It definitely is from knowing that Jake will whip butt on me before the
season
> is over and that despite knowing that, I'll still be doing everything I
can to
> make him better too.
> I'll buy my own beer-I love you guys
> MJ
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