[Fot] Nomination and brief race report

[Doug Mitchell]

How could Peyote even think about filling any mirrors? It ain't that big. ;)
________________________________
From: Bill Babcock <billb at bnj.com>
To: Mark
Pendergrass <mpendy at dishmail.net>
Cc: mike.mehl at yahoo.com; fot at autox.team.net
Sent: Tuesday, June 16, 2009 2:49:03 AM
Subject: Re: [Fot] Nomination and
brief race report

I had a great time. SCCA races are not the same kind of
social thing that pure vintage races are, but there's a lot of fine folks that
I haven't seen for a while, it was really good to catch up. I should add a few
more SCCA and ICSSC events to my calendar.

Peyote did just fine. A great
number of people were entranced with either Peyote or Nero or both. I had a
pretty steady stream of curious visitors. Peyote looks very different, As I've
said before, it's almost pretty now, but at the same time it's very true to
it's origins. Surprising to see how much difference having straight metal and
a fine hand at fitting everything really makes. Tony Garmey did an amazing
job.

She also rocked on the track. Set a new personal lap record for
Portland--1:29:784. That is picking them up and puttin' them down my friends.
I have no problem remembering when I thought I'd never see 1:31. We had a
split start with open wheel cars going off first, and in the field of 30-odd
non-open wheel cars I finished third overall on Sunday, and second in VP2.
Lots of pretty darned good cars and fine drivers. I think folks were a little
shocked at what a giant killer this goofy little car is.  And that's with very
old tires and an engine that's done a stupendous number of events--basically
three very busy years without a rebuild.

Arnie Loyning took first in his
lotus elan, which was absolutely stunningly fast, turning 1:27: something and
setting a new track VP2 record. Arnie's a hell of a good driver but the car
was amazing. 1200 pounds and 180+ horsepower. Behind him was Dick Albrecht in
his very nice Shelby 350 mustang. I was filling Dick's mirrors in every turn
and I almost got past him a couple of times, but he finally got a little track
between us and I couldn't regain it.  I had a fine battle with Don Madsdens
Lotus S7, Mike Smith's GT350, and Norm Daniels Camaro, as well as an
assortment of Datsun 240Zs, a pretty wicked Dodge Charger, a Sunbeam Tiger and
some Alpha Romeos.

I really thought Peyote gaining 30 pounds would take a
toll in lap times, but it didn't. I had a throttle cable pop off during
Saturday's race, but other than that it was flawless all weekend.