Hi all!
What an AWESOME day!!! This was the last weekend for CVAR 2001 at TWS
(the last event is at Hallett the last weekend in October -- ya'll come
on down!) and Brad and I hauled Tristan down there. We hit some snags
(one being some major clutch slippage -- turns out the aluminum flywheel
Jim Donato sold me is NOT correct for 1300 Spits no matter how much he
told me it was), but we got them figured out and I had the best day of
racing today I have had yet!!!!
Friday and Saturday the car was compromised (my best time was a 2:46 on
the 2.9-mile configuration, due to the slipping clutch) but we replaced
the head with my full race-prepped head and replaced the new flywheel
with the old one and it was like a new car. Groups 4 and 2 were
combined today due to smaller numbers, so I got to run with the big
Healeys and Alfas and old Porsches as well as the regular Spec Sprites,
MGB's, etc.
I started the first race 27th out of 29 because of the clutch, but was
able to pass several cars and started the second race 23rd of 30 (best
lap was a 2:22). I started the second race 23rd of 30, and finished
16th, with a 2:19 for my best lap! I passed several Spec Sprites, an MG
TC, a 1959 Elva (yes, the rear wheels do tilt upon cornering -- I was
fascinated following him), and a couple other cars.
Bob Kramer, Jeff Wilt, John Price and Ed Barnard were all in attendance
(Ed rode his new motorcycle down and was EXTREMELY helpful to us in
working on the car). Bob and Jeff did great and had a lot of fun --
Jeff ran the enduro and I don't think I have seen him happier
afterward! Bob ended the day by coming in 3rd out of 24 from a rear of
the pack start (he noticed on grid of the race before that one of his
tires was severely blistered and had to run get it changed out)! And
bear in mind this is with big Healeys and Porsches thrown into the mix!
His best time today was a 2:07, and he was named the Hard Charger of the
second race. Jeff came in about mid-pack in the mixed class and his
best time today was a 2:17. Ed helped John gain about 25% more power by
getting his throttle bodies to open fully, but John was having some
difficulty with the handling. He ended up having to take it home
Saturday due to ripping the bottom of his header off on an excursion
("Grass fire on Turn 6!"). He and his wife threw an excellent couple of
shindigs both Friday and Saturday night -- they live all of 5 minutes
from the track, lucky ducks!
The annual awards were held Saturday evening -- Jeff took second place
in his class! John won an award too, but I didn't catch what it was --
first in class, John? And I won the Hard Luck Award -- it was a block
of wood with some pretty messed up car parts on it. Each winner has to
add a part. I think one of my bent pushrods will go on there just
fine. Winning that award must have been what it took, because today was
just great!
I don't think the day could have been any better. The weather was just
about perfect, folks were driving well, and fun was had by all!
Ya'll need to gear up for Hallett now -- it's an awful fun track with
lots of twists and turns and elevation changes. Go to
http://www.corinthianvintagerace.com for details and entry forms.
I hope everyone's weekend was as good as mine!
Keep Triumphing,
A VERY happy Susan :)
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