[Fot] All Alluminum Tour is Over

[sgroh1 at comcast.net]

I had the great pleasure to paddock next to Bill this last weekend with my Spit and all I can say is that if the offensive 'Vette driver had even 1/10th the amount of class Bill has, he'd have been over to Bill's paddock immediately with an apology.  Bill is a true sportsman and gentleman, and it is a credit to our sport to have him in the field.  I took home a ton of positive track experience from this weekend, but frankly I learned the most from Bill's attitude, humor and willingness to help anyone at any moment .  Had it not been for Bill, I would have not turned a single lap all weekend.  First he re-threaded a replacement oil fitting on an aeroquip line for me allowing me to make the field at all.  Then he cheerfully proceeded to answer every one of my anxious questions over the 4 day event on tire temps, tire pressures, head gasket leaks and camber settings, lent me his tire temp guage, and, if that wasn't enough, he and his engineer Dave happily reinstalled the 20' awning on
 my brand new trailer that the wind ripped off while we at the Glen re-enactment (another event I would have missed, by the way, had it not been for Bill.)   And if if that wasn't enough, he invites my girlfriend and I over for for a great chicken barbeque dinner Friday night!

Thanks Bill, you are truly the class of the field whether on track or off.  I'b be honored to paddock next to you anytime.  The 'Vette driver could certainly learn a ton from you.

Steve Groh
SVRA 393 '63 Spitfire






 -------------- Original message ----------------------
From: "Bill Babcock" <BillB at bnj.com>
> I got squashed by a Corvette at Watkins Glen yesterday. Stupid beyond
> belief--he whacked me in the back left corner trying to re-pass me in an turn
> nine, and then tried to blame the wreck on me. I wound up pivoting on his
> bumper, being shoved sideways down the track with a big ass 57' Corvette
> rubbing my elbow and finally got shoved against the tire wall, which bent the
> suspension mounts on the right front corner. He could of killed me, he did
> indeed wreck the heck out of Peyote, and didn't have the integrity to even say
> "sorry your car got wrecked" or "glad you didn't get hurt".
> 
> Weasel.
> 
> I've been on the guilty side of an incident like this once, and though it was
> a lot less clearcut than this one (I hit a guy in the middle of his car when I
> couldn't brake in time as he cut across a chicane),I stepped up and
> apologized. Even paid for the guy's damage though I think it's wrong to do
> that--we all assume the risk of damage or injury when we choose to race. I'll
> fix my own car.
> 
> The stewards didn't "decide" on their action, which I take to mean they wanted
> everyone cleared out before they decide to do nothing. They were already
> making noises about "mitigating aspects" when I talked to them, despite clear
> evidence like a big punt mark in the back of my car, a video from Karon's
> Devin, and lots of people that saw the incident. I know the corner worker on
> the scene must have been looking the wrong way--he asked me what happened.
> 
> If I did such a bonehead thing I'd expect to get suspended, but the guy has
> run with SVRA for years and I'm just a guy from Oregon that they may never see
> again. They're the ones that will have to race with the weenie, I certainly
> wouldn't set a wheel on a track with him again.
> 
> Anyway, the racing part of the tour is over. I'm making my way back across the
> country to lick my wounds in Portland. we'll do a little sightseeing on the
> way back and stop in Geneseo to pick up my motor from Uncle Jack.
> 
> I will, of course, fix Peyote.
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