Gary Speckman wrote:
>
> Well, we've read the reports from Ron S. and Peter C. and others on last
> weekends Vintage Races at Road America. Funny thing.. I think it was two
> years ago, after selling "the Beast" to Frank out in New Jersey that I
> invited him out to Road America to see Vintage racing. When he finally
> found out where Road America was...his response was something like "Thats
> way out in the Boonies!"
>
> Well, hopefully his impression of Wisconsin has changed. Its beautiful this
> time of year, and this Fall Event at Road America is one of the prettiest.
>
> It was great to meet Frank, who brought along a 948 block for me. I may
> need it, Frank. On the third lap of the feature race on Sunday, I was going
> thru the long, sweeping Carousel(the never ending turn)and glanced down at
> my oil pressure guage. The engine was turning about 7000 rpms and usually
> had about 60 lbs of pressure at this point on the track. Well, it was
> showing 20 lbs and I immediately slowed the car down and moved over to the
> side of the track.. As I was coasting, I got about 5 lbs of pressure at
> idle. Not a good sign, so I limped back to the pits and put the car on the
> trailer. Rebuild time. I pulled the engine this morning, looked at the oil
> and it looks fine. I hope I caught it before any internal damage was done.
>
> Ron, you may need to have that stopwatch checked. Honestly though, WST has
> this track nailed. It is one of, if not THE favorite track for him and he
> turns incredible times for a 948 cc Sprite. He consistently had me by 5 or
> more seconds a lap. And he had a completely new rear suspension in his car
> this year, so I am sure that took some getting used to.
>
> Team Thicko entertained many many people, and it was great seeing Peter C
> and Ron S again. I am glad I had the chance to give them rides around Road
> America in the TT Bugeye. The "touring" sessions got a little out of hand
> with two pace cars getting damaged..one spun and tapped the wall, and one
> was actually hit by another car.(these accounts have not been officially
> confirmed)That is absolutely nuts and if the behavior of the drivers in
> touring doesnt change.. we may see an end to this. That would be a sad day.
>
> You have read the accounts of Peter and Ron as they had a few laps in a race
> car. Its an experience. And even at 50 or 60 percent race speed, it gets
> the adrenalin going. I am glad we were able to get Ron, Frank and Peter out
> there. Ron says this is going to cost his wife a whole lot of money, cuz he
> isnt coming back as a spectator...GO RON!
>
> Frank says.. "Thats a 948 in there? I want the recipe!". It was fun.
>
> Peter just got out of the car...wobbled a little and smiled.
>
> Whos turn is it next year?
>
> Next race.. Indianapolis Raceway Park.. October 8, 9 and 10.
>
> Gary Speckman
> Plover WI
>
> PS If any of you want to keep up to speed on Team Thicko's "happenings" we
> do have our own mail list. It is described as an "irreverant look at
> Vintage Racing". We'd welcome any and all new subscribers.
> To subscribe.. address email to: majordomo@autox.team.net
> in the body simply put: subscribe team-thicko
> follow the return instructions.. and you are on.
A correction on the touring situation-- No one hit a pace car, the one
pace car did spin and tap the wall without any help from the outside on
Saturday. Sunday saw a Tiger spin in 5 right in front of my view from
the outside of 5. He was black flagged and did go in. He was held at the
tower for over an hour for a consultation with Dick Eisenman the Chief
Steward.
In keeping with the irreverance, you have to understand that it is not
present in Team Thicko but also in the Milwaukee Region of SCCA. Dick
Eisenman, our Chief Steward for the weekend likes to give out demerits
to people for various things, but mostly insubordination. This weekend
when Sound control asked the operating steward, in the person of one of
our ex tech guys, if someone was going to come around to pick up the
sound readings for the last session, the operating steward replied that
he would send a messenger shortly. Vern, being Black Flag propsed
sending the best messenger possible and when Angelo asked who that might
be, Vern promptly suggested sending Dick. Since of course the Chief
Steward is monitoring the channel, this promptly earned Vern 10 demerits
over the radio and will be published in the next issue of "The Drift".
Sunday during the touring session drivers meeting while Dick was giving
his talk to the touring drivers, he did not hear a call for him, but he
did hear my reply as "Chief Steward's personal Valet, Secretary and
Appointment Clerk" that the Chief Steward was presently indisposed. I
did not say in the can, but I still earned a full 10 demerits and will
probably also be published in "The Drift"
"Leadbelly"
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