Recap of the race weekend

[ga.spyder]

Wow! First off, let me say that if you ever wanted to be in a race car in real competition you better put a Lemons race on your bucket list.It is for those of us that feel we have always had the desire and talent,but maybe not the funds.People bring some of the most obscure and derelict cars ever seen,and race them for 3 days!The organizers are absoluetly fantastic and hilarious,but safety is by far the main focus.Put 85 crap can on a track at one time,and let the games begin.The competition ends as soon as the checkers fly.I feel like I have 350 new friends.People couldnt be nicer,or more helpful.One of my co-drivers is a noted vintage racer,who has competed in sports cars world-wide for many years.He said it was the most fun he ever had at the track and was hugely impressed by how well driven and respectful the other drivers were.Definitely not a demo derby.
The teams are so varied I cant even begin to explain it.In our garage,the teams next to us were one group from Fl who spent the whole weekend in pink tu-tu's,and did a ballet routine at the b.s. inspection.One of the funniest things ever.Their Neon had a pink skirt all around it too!One the other side were some pig farmers from NC,who had their car painted pink,with ears on top and a coil spring for a tail.They used a BMW grille for a snout.The Pork Chop express!!!Across from us was a Firebird with some very impressive pit equipment and a driver lineup that included 2-time Trans Am champ Randy Pobst.A super nice guy who's first car was a..yep..Fiat! He still has a Yugo(he needs a fuel tank).
Our effort,in a first time racer,was freakin' awesome.The car was such a blast to drive.We were as good or better than any car on the track in the tight sections.Cars would fly by me on the straight going in to turn 1,but I could out brake them and fly under where they had no choice but to follow me for a couple turn or go way off line trying to pass.The first 2 days I let them by,but Sunday the track was dry and I fought for every inch.We had some issue,including a blown diff.But we had a spare and and stayed late into the night changing it.We were fueled by some of our competitors,who 'helped' by bringing us moonshine and fried chicken!! We finishe 4th in class after leading much of Sat before losing the diff.But it is all about the experience,and the result was secondary..and we finished!!!!!!!! Pics to follow

[dmwhiteoak]

I'm glad you had a good time. I could feel it in your words. My blood is boiling.

[kilrwail]

Sounds awesome! And congratulations on a great finish. Spring can't come soon enough for me.

[kmac33]

Nice job!
I'm jealous!!!!

[ga.spyder]

It was a blast.I was a little nervous going in,because I had only met one of my teammates.After a couple hours,it was if I had known them for years.They are Alfa guys,I was the Fiat guy.Whenever we had an issue during the weekend,I immediately started to work on the car.There was never a question of if we were going to fix it,just how quick we could get it done.The front caliper on the drivers side kept locking up(3 times).The last time so bad they had to tow us in.I took it off,retracted the piston,got rid of the little remains of th dust seal that had caught fire!I bled both sides,and asked if Ed wanted back out.Hell yeah! We ran the last 3 hours with no more drama.
After being under the car for hours,replacing the diff,we got finished and I started the car to see if we had movement.The whole garage was clapping.I drove around the complex like when Earnhardt won the 500.People lined up to high five me as I went by,happy that we had it going.You wont find that with an SCCA race! Seeing all those grinning professional drivers crawling out of junkers confirmed that Lemons has put the fun back into racing.

[So Cal Mark]

not to be disrespectful, but I have a hard time equating "real competition" with tutu's and crap duct taped to cars. It does sound like fun, but it appears that most competitors treat it like a farce

[ga.spyder]

Mark,you need to attend one of their events.It is lighthearted and fun before and after the flags.The teams are required to have a theme,and awards are given for them.When the cars are on the grid,the competition is intense.With so many different cars,in different classes,you have to be extremely alert to what is going on around you and coming up behind you!It may not be for everyone,some may prefer(and can afford)the stuffy serious nature of the rich guys fraternity that is todays SCCA.I will take the fun and comraderie of regular guys trying to live out their inner-Schumacher.Believe me though,the competition is very real!