It's always a major joy to read one of your race reports. And the tales of
towing to and from an event are such a howl that they deserve to be published
in something that has a cover and that folks pay for. Think Victory Lane or
British Car.
It was such fun to have you with us at Mid-Ohio this summer. I think your
style of towing and racing is just wonderful! We can all enjoy it thru you as
long as you keep doing it. Dont ever, ever, ever, ever feel that those of us
that may pass you on the track have anything but the most positive opinions of
what you are doing. It's great.
Hope to see you at a track sometime soon again. I may run Road Atlanta again
sometime after I get over it being castrated. How about Savannah either later
this month or next spring with SVRA?
mike
Richard Taylor wrote:
> Fellow FOTers,
>
> It's Thursday and I almost forgot to report in.
>
> Last weekend I towed my trailer full of tires(4) and motorcycle(1) behind
> 'ole #196 (TR-4) up to Road Atlanta for the HSR Vintage Race. With
> windshield removed, tires swapped and flotsam removed from trunk and
> passenger area, I qualified pretty well on Friday.
>
> In Saturday's Enduro I turned the second fastest time in class. But
> because of an unfortunate little black flag incident, I finished in third
> place. First place went to an MGB and second to a P-word 914.
>
> In the sprint race Sunday, MA (mother attrition) had reduced our class of
> 14 to a field of about 8. I finished 5th and felt fine about it. Alan
> Pinel had his TR-4 there and turned the fastest qualifying times in our
> class and was, naturally, gridded first. But something must have gone awry
> early in the race because he didn't finish.
>
> It was a beautiful north Georgia weekend. Think Ray Charles and "Georgia on
> My Mind." I raced about to the limit of my ability and my little red car
> did just fine. Hugely important, I nudged out the P-word in the sprint
> race and still got to take home a little piece of shiny (from the Enduro)
> to put on my somewhat barren trophy shelf.
>
> I hesitate to admit it, but this modest trophy means an awful lot to me.
> No, it was not won by the conspicuous skill of the driver, nor by the
> blazing speed of the car (for neither really exists). It was earned by
> simple bullheaded doggedness and determination of an old goat who made up
> his mind to race in a fashion which doesn't offer much opportunity for the
> recognition of achievement. To most of you guys it's a small trophy. And
> of course, that's all it really is, a small trophy. But to me it is a
> pyrotechnic vindication of many years of skeptical looks concerning a
> somewhat unorthodox MO of sports car racing
>
> Yes, you fast guys will always look askance at those of us back there who
> drive our cars to the racetrack and just plug along. But just remember.
> Old Aesop was here before you were, and he'll be here after all you Hare's
> have gotten the last checkered flag at the last finish line.
>
> Just for the record, last weekend was my 10th sprint race (plus 8 Enduros)
> in the TR-4. Some might call this 18 events. Add to this thousands (+7)
> of miles driving to and from the races ranging from Daytona to Mid-Ohio
> (whilst towing the trailer). My next race (or roadside event) may be my
> first DNF. But, I hesitate to admit it, I believe that my old car and I
> have a bond which will get us both through a few more events in sterling
> fashion. We're not invincible, but we're strong.
>
> Sure. You fast guys will continue to blow our doors off every time you
> breeze on by. But just remember, there are a few of us out there who have
> terrific sets of mirrors, an inordinate amount of patience, and Aesop
> looking after our best interests.
>
> When you put 'ole Aesop and us in your mirrors, just don't think about
> relaxin'. 'Cus we're gonna get chou!
>
> Richard Taylor
> TR-4 #196
> Atlanta
>
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