<html><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;" class="">this is what it’s all about. We get into it for the cars, but the camaraderie is what makes it special.<br class=""><div><br class=""><div class="">On Mar 25, 2019, at 7:45 PM, Brad Eells via Fot <<a href="mailto:fot@autox.team.net" class="">fot@autox.team.net</a>> wrote:</div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"><div class=""><div dir="ltr" class="">Amici,<div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">I wanted to report the amazing weekend I experienced at the VARA High Desert Challenge at Willow Springs International Raceway.</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">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?</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">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.</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">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.</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">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. </div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">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...</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">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...</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">Only got one talk from the Chief Driving Instructor after an off course excursion Friday.</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">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. </div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">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.</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">Oh, and Joe Alexander who got me into this car in the first place...my wife can't wait to meet him in May...</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">I've been an FOT member since 2001 and never really understood what a great community we have...until now...</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">Kastner Cup is next!</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">Cheers,</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><br clear="all" class=""><div class=""><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr" class=""><div class=""><div dir="ltr" class=""><div class=""><div dir="ltr" class=""><div dir="ltr" class=""><div dir="ltr" class=""><div dir="ltr" class=""><div dir="ltr" class=""><div dir="ltr" class=""><div dir="ltr" class=""><div dir="ltr" class=""><div dir="ltr" class=""><div dir="ltr" class=""><div class=""><div style="font-size:12.8px" class=""><b class=""><font class="">Brad Eells</font></b></div><div style="font-size:12.8px" class=""><b class=""><font class="">Chino CA</font></b></div><div style="font-size:12.8px" class=""><b class=""><font class="">#72 FP 1969 Triumph Spitfire Mk3</font></b></div><div style="font-size:12.8px" class=""><b class=""><font class="">#35 DP 1962 Triumph TR4</font></b></div><div style="font-size:12.8px" class=""><b class=""><font class="">1965 Triumph TR4A IRS...for the road!</font></b><br class=""></div></div><div style="font-size:12.8px" class=""><b class=""><font class=""><img src="https://docs.google.com/uc?export=download&id=1HyYLxa1_Lz_Q0kLM3GRJryNDgfOwZyUc&revid=0B9vVTDWaFCqFVmR6Q1FsMExZTHVLcHpja3BpSC9ucGcveHdJPQ" width="96" height="94" class=""><br class=""></font></b></div><div class=""><br class=""></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>
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