[Fot] Wild Willow Springs Weekend!

[Brad Eells]

Amici,

I wanted to report the amazing weekend I experienced at the VARA High
Desert Challenge at Willow Springs International Raceway.

As many of you know, I was afforded the opportunity to purchase a Spitfire
Mk3 with a distinguished competition history. A guy named Kas Kastner was
my salesman...could hardly say no standing in front of him, right?

We took it home in November 2017. The car was built by Kas's friend,
sailing mate and K-B Racing Chief Engineer, Doug Brown. He raced it, won a
bunch of races and rolled off the track in 1976, it had been stored indoors
ever since.

I, with a great deal of help and mentorship, took the car apart and put it
back together with a lot of new stuff including all the safety updates that
are now required.

I had a race shop go through it to give me enough confidence to climb into
it...that got done with 3 days to go before getting on the track and a
punch list of 12 'NOW!' items.

We got the car to the track Thursday night and got it out for the first 2
Friday test sessions before discovering a differential stub axle seal leak.
Some furious texting and phone calls brought a new seal as we discovered
how to remove a stub axle with no workshop manual in site...

Finished the work at 6:30 pm to make the 8 am practice on Saturday. Ran all
5 sessions for the weekend, finished every one running to the checkered
flag, improved my lap time 7 seconds, actually passed 3 cars in the race.
Didn't blow the start, after Mordy Dunst carefully explained his
expectations of me...

Only got one talk from the Chief Driving Instructor after an off course
excursion Friday.

What I really want to say is I had a blast. This is something I've been
wanting to do for 35 years and I finally got to do it.

I could never have done it without all the strong support from FOT like
Chuck Gee, Steve Belfer, Mordy, Paul Smock, Jerry Barker, Frank Daley, Alan
Berry and Shawn Frank. Joe Siam came to the rescue with parts at the track.
They were all there to help when I needed it. And Kas, who has put up with
my unending questions during all that time.

Oh, and Joe Alexander who got me into this car in the first place...my wife
can't wait to meet him in May...

I've been an FOT member since 2001 and never really understood what a great
community we have...until now...

Kastner Cup is next!

Cheers,


*Brad Eells*
*Chino CA*
*#72 FP 1969 Triumph Spitfire Mk3*
*#35 DP 1962 Triumph TR4*
*1965 Triumph TR4A IRS...for the road!*
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