[Shotimes] Gingerman Update

[Donald Mallinson]

The "Gingerman before Lapeer" track day is now over, and you 
can still feel the smiles from miles away.

We had about 22 drivers there with quite a few SHO's and 
several Bondurant Mustangs, a couple Cobra's, a Bullet, a 
911 and a couple other vehicles.  My son Ken noiced, not ONE 
Chevy on track although Kirk threatened to go rent an Impala.

:)

Thanks to those that helped with instruction with the Novice 
class that was also another big success.  Four drivers 
including my son Don went from tentative first steps to laps 
at respectable speeds and lots of fun without any misshaps.

Other than some minor mechanical problems, all solved, to 
the best of my knowledge, before we all went home, there 
were no problems.

A few cars went off-track, but no damage resulted that I was 
told about.

It was fun to see Gary Morrell from Colorado and Kurt Gutzka 
from Washington State stop by while on business in the area.

Kirk Doucette made it from Maryland along with
John Hrinsin, Dave Kegel, Kurt Metros,Paul Nimz, Ben 
Bentley, Tom Ochal, David Schultz, Don C. Mallinson, Ken 
Mallinson,Don L. Mallinson, and Tonya Kelley,all driving SHO's.

We had great weather, after a cool morning and a touch of 
fog, the cars were on track by 9am.  I think everyone got 5 
or 6 20 minute sessions (I lost track).

For the most part everyone let cars pass if necessary and I 
heard almost zero complaints.  Rare for events where 
testosterone levels get so high!  :)

I want to thank everyone for attending and helping make it a 
great day.

For my part, being able to finally get my oldest son to a 
track event was the main goal of this entire event.  To be 
able to watch my sons work together, have fun, get in some 
good natured ribbing and help the old man, along with 
keeping me on my toes was just a pure joy.

At one point Ken and I were out together to do a little 
"follow the leader"  I was in the 540 while Ken was in my 
'89.  coming into turn 11 (last turn before the main 
straight) I was leading and was doing some aggressive late 
braking when I looked in my mirror and saw my '89 start to 
do a slow lazy pirroette.  Ever play an auto racing 
computer/video game where you see crashes in the rear view 
mirror?  IT was just like that.  MY '89 was turning with all 
four tires trailing huge amounts of smoke and I had to make 
a choice.  Continue to brake a lot to make Turn 11, or take 
the pit entrance and keep up speed for another 200 
feet.....I took the pit entrance as my son spun off into the 
inner portion of turn 11.  I had a track radio at my side 
and heard the corner workers comment that it looked like my 
car was going to hit the worker station at that turn 
(unmanned for this event).  I came to a rest in the hot pit 
lane and heard that he had avoided the tire wall, and was on 
the move again.

After he pulled into pit lane we walked around the car, 
verified that everything looked good and went back out.  He 
came in after one more lap with what he considered bad tire 
vibration from the flat spots.

I took the car out later and the flat spots were no worse 
than a couple I had put in during previous events.  We 
finished the day using my '89 and Ken's 95 and the 540 
without incident.

BTW, at the next event or convention, everyone please smile 
and call Ken by his new name:  Ken "720" Mallinson for the 
two times he went around.  Tire marks on the track looked 
like they were made by a Spirograph!

I can't say how proud I am of my sons for how they helped 
make it a fun day, and how they both managed to get our cars 
back without damage, if with a little less tire tread!

Again, thanks to all that attended.  I hope we can do it 
again next year, hopefully with Bob Gervais to help organize.

I hope those that made Lapeer had great weather and a lot of 
fun.  I just didn't have time to make that haul...maybe next 
year.

Don Mallinson
SHO Club