[Fot] Grattan wrap up

[BillDentin at aol.com]

In a message dated 08/22/2011 8:18:43 PM Central Daylight Time, 
jason at multivintage.com writes:


> <<< Bill Dentinger was holding off a bunch of Sprites and other Triumphs 
> for
> several laps in the sprint race and it was a real sight to see him dive 
> bomb
> a bugeye after "the jump" Bill you still have it! >>>
> 

That part of the track is down hill, and I weigh 100 pounds more than those 
drivers...so I'm actually very fast...going down hill.  My new engine is 
awesome (89 vice 87 mm pistons...flat top, but a custom design).  Grattan is 
my favorite track, and Ole Blue was full of torque coming up hill out of Turn 
4 (a turn I call the Stool Softener), and also up hill coming out of the 
Turn 9 hair pin.  But alas, arthritis in my knees and hips prevents me from 
being competitive.  I had a ball.

Two other Grattan comments:  

1.  There was a VIOLENT rain storm on Saturday afternoon.  Buckets of rain 
water being driven horizontal by very high winds.  This wiped out several 
race team paddocks (tents, tarps, etc.).  The storm only lasted twenty minutes 
or so, but it also knocked out the track's electrical service, so racing 
could not resume.  The track staff quickly brought an old (i.e. vintage) Allis 
Chalmers tractor out of the barn and used its PTO to run a generator.  
Timing and scoring was back in business.  But it was already 2:45 PM and there 
was standing water in several areas of the track and so the balance of racing 
for the day was canceled.

2.  There was a scary incident during the track Touring session on Sunday.  
A gorgeous, highly prepared (read enhanced) Porsche 550 Spyder (replica) 
lost its brakes going into turn 1.  Grattan used to be a drag strip and the 
front straight is long and fast.  Turn 1 is a bad place to be without brakes.  
They slammed into the tire wall bruising the body up.  Oh yeah...the reason 
why this is particularly interesting is the fact that the Event's Driver's 
Coach, David Jones, was driving.  He was introduced as having more times 
going backwards at Grattan than the Event Chair had going forward.  He is a 
great driver, and a good instructor, ...and he added to his 'going backwards 
record' on Sunday during Touring.  And then to add insult to injury, the 
Event's banquet speaker, semi-pro Race Team owner, Reed Smith was in the 
passenger seat.  Take a lesson racers...it is very hard to resist showing off, and 
that can make Touring very dangerous.

BUT as always, Vintage Grand Prix au Grattan was fantastic.

Bill Dentinger