I first met Carl years ago while I still lived in Nebraska and Leon Olsen introduced me to him and another great man John Hoyt. We didn't become friends but when I would see him again at big shows he would always say "hi" and ask how things were going. Some time later when I landed in Oklahoma and was training horses on my own I again ran into Carl at one of the shows in Duncan. I had lived there all of three weeks and didn't know hardly anybody else. At the end of the day I wandered to one of Duncan's finer motels and there was John and Carl sitting on the 2nd floor balcony drinking beer. The air conditioning wasn't working and there weren't any more rooms and they were outside trying to keep cool. Carl invited me up for a beer and we sat and talked until the sun went down. It was probably the first time that I ever felt like I "belonged" being a horse trainer.
Years went by and I would see Carl and then Karen at shows and we became horse show friends. I was always showing too many horses and doing too many events and from time to time I would volunteer to show in the cow horse to make the numbers work. Slowly while showing Carl would give me pointers and I learned to show a cow horse and later reiners without being embarrassed. From time to time if I had a good one Carl would be kind or professional enough to tell me so. No matter what event I was showing in.
Many years and moves and horses later I was showing in Paso Robles to Karen and when the driving class was over she said my husband would love that tie. I frequently wore a very colorful tie that Kathy Pettit had given me of the cartoon Tasmanian devil shredding a bunch of balloons. It was one of my favorite ties. At the end of the day, when the show was over I gave that tie to Karen to give to Carl. Sometimes especially in the horse business its fun to pass the fun things along. Knowing Carl how I did, I could see him liking that tie. Two years later while showing in Bakersfield CA I saw Carl walk in to the arena to judge wearing that tie. It made me smile. For me some things bring back great memories and that was one of them. I wore that tie, and another colorful tie exclusively the year I showed The Wild West Show to the High Point Driving title. Interestingly at a show earlier in the year another judge, Alan Mitchell's had criticized the very tie I gave Carl for being inappropriate.
Since I've stopped training I've only seen Carl one other time at the world show. I had been waiting in line for about an hour at the check station leading to the main drive to load up and go home. The line of trucks and trailers was around the corner and down the drive towards the street. In typical Carl fashion he took control of the situation, closed the cattle panels and let us all down the drive to load up to go home.
Rarely do you get to go through life and have the privilege to say that you knew someone who always treated you as and equal, with respect and as a friend. The horse industry, humanity and mainly Karen have lost a simply great man. That hollow feeling inside is going to last a long time.
Sunday, December 30, 2018
Friday, December 28, 2018
An Open Letter.
An Open letter to anyone who has the guts to print it
The day after Christmas the most tragic example of how out immigration policy, and our government is a glaring failure.
On December 26th Newman California Corporal Ronil Singh, was on duty working in Stanislaus County CA. While conducting a routine suspicion of drunk driving stop. He was allegedly shot and killed by Gustavo Perez Arriaga. An Illegal immigrant who was living in the Sanctuary state of California. Arriaga has previous DUI arrests,
Ironically what makes this such a glaring example of Immigration policy failure. Deputy Ronil Singh was also an immigrant. He came here legally, did the work, studied citizenship and English language passed the tests, paid the fees and became a naturalized citizen. His life long dream was to be a police officer He is survived by a his wife and 5 month old son.
Nancy Pelosi, Chuck Shumer, and every single person who believes in open borders owes this young mother an apology. They need to explain to this woman, just exactly why this man was allowed, and protected under California's sanctuary immigration laws was allowed to stay here.
Since I became of legal voting age in 1982, we have been promised by every single presidential candidate that they would fix our broken immigration system. A wall isn't going to fix it. Just giving dreamers citizenship isn't going to fix it. Relaxing the laws and giving every one who comes here political Asylum is not going to fix our immigration system.
Our government has failed. They failed Ronil Singh, and they have failed everyone citizen who immigrated here legally, and they have fail the rest of the American public as well.
Its time that we held our elected official accountable for their lack of action on this issue. Its time we held them accountable for their lack of action for the last two years. The very people who have been elected to run this country have let us down. We need to write our Congress and Senate, We need to write our local news papers, We need to write our local news stations, we need to march in the streets until our elected officials get back to work doing the jobs we elected them to do.
The day after Christmas the most tragic example of how out immigration policy, and our government is a glaring failure.
On December 26th Newman California Corporal Ronil Singh, was on duty working in Stanislaus County CA. While conducting a routine suspicion of drunk driving stop. He was allegedly shot and killed by Gustavo Perez Arriaga. An Illegal immigrant who was living in the Sanctuary state of California. Arriaga has previous DUI arrests,
Ironically what makes this such a glaring example of Immigration policy failure. Deputy Ronil Singh was also an immigrant. He came here legally, did the work, studied citizenship and English language passed the tests, paid the fees and became a naturalized citizen. His life long dream was to be a police officer He is survived by a his wife and 5 month old son.
Nancy Pelosi, Chuck Shumer, and every single person who believes in open borders owes this young mother an apology. They need to explain to this woman, just exactly why this man was allowed, and protected under California's sanctuary immigration laws was allowed to stay here.
Since I became of legal voting age in 1982, we have been promised by every single presidential candidate that they would fix our broken immigration system. A wall isn't going to fix it. Just giving dreamers citizenship isn't going to fix it. Relaxing the laws and giving every one who comes here political Asylum is not going to fix our immigration system.
Our government has failed. They failed Ronil Singh, and they have failed everyone citizen who immigrated here legally, and they have fail the rest of the American public as well.
Its time that we held our elected official accountable for their lack of action on this issue. Its time we held them accountable for their lack of action for the last two years. The very people who have been elected to run this country have let us down. We need to write our Congress and Senate, We need to write our local news papers, We need to write our local news stations, we need to march in the streets until our elected officials get back to work doing the jobs we elected them to do.
Monday, December 24, 2018
Everyday Is Christmas for me.
I used to hate Christmas. I have since I was a kid. I can count on one hand how many were ever a good time. My only good memories all revolve around spending the holiday with my grandparents. My Grandfather would dress up like Santa Claus and deliver presents and hang around with all of us for a while. I was an all in believer in Santa Claus until I was told to go and get groceries out of the car one time and I Opened the truck and there were as all the presents from Santa Claus. I secretly suspect that my mother did that on purpose. Why else put the groceries in the trunk and then hand your kid the key and tell him to go and get them. We lived in Northern Indiana at the time and it was snowy and cold as hell. It could have been an honest mistake, but that's highly unlikely. When we would get together with our Grandparents the cousins would all be there and the Aunts and Uncles and I liked those Christmas's the best.
As Ive gotten older I've come to realize that a for me, Christmas has nothing to do with presents. For many years when I trained horses the holiday was spent on the road. Hauling horses to some show circuit trying to finish out the year end points race. Usually alone. I don't miss that one bit.
At this point in my life everyday is like Christmas for me. I've had a pretty good life. In spite of trying to screw it up most of the time. I really have enjoyed most of it. I fell extremely fortunate to have been born in America. For all its faults, no matter what you hear on the news. The rest of the world wants to be us. I am healthy. Sure right now I am struggling with my back, but I've been through that before and basically I'm a tough bastard and I will trudge along until I get it fixed this time as well. I have a great dad and sister that love me I don't get to see them enough, but they too are healthy and getting along well. Over the years I have collected a group of friends that without question I am fortunate to have. Some of them I don't see often enough, but I always feel their connection and love. I've been privileged to made a living what I loved to do. While I trained horses I loved it. I had good stock, good customers and it allowed me to show all over the United States and see the country that we live in. There is diversity and beauty everywhere here. Ive been lucky enough to have the loyalty and love of many good dogs. At one point I traveled by myself with 4 or 5 of them. It was like a never ending circus of canine entertainment and love. Living in America has allowed me to have hobbies that I never thought I would and I need to remind myself not to take for granted. Camping, Traveling, a stint trying to fly R/C planes, FAILURE, Snowmobiles, fishing, and now sports car racing, as well as owning a large and fantastic group of cars along the way.
Most of all, I now have married into an extended family that brings joy to my heart everyday, and a husband that literally fills my heart with love. When my nephew was married my dad stood up before everyone and gave a little speech on how special marriage was. It was totally unlike him to do something like that, but you could tell without a doubt how he felt about my mother and how serious the institution of marriage was for him. Until I was married, I had no idea what he was talking about.
Waking up to Brian's smiling eyes every morning is like being born again. If I was able to, my gift to the world would be for everyone to get to experience the same thing. So today when we sit down to dinner and I look across the table at the man I love I will know that I have everything in life that is important. So Everyday is Christmas for me.
Merry Christmas everyone!!!
Monday, November 26, 2018
The Gentleman racer.
When I first started racing. almost a whole ten years ago. I was lucky to become track friends with an accomplished racer. Sadly we lost him a few years ago, and like many things you don't realize how someone has affected your life, or how much influence they had until they are no longer around. This friend had great cars and great skill, and always took the time after a race to stop by my trailer and spend 15 minutes of his time discussing how my race went. He almost always was in the top two cars and would usually put a lap on me during the race. Initially when he would come to talk I would be horrified that he might be coming by to tell me how I had screwed up. Which may have been the case, but he never made it seem like that. It was always about passing, or using the accelerator pedal or when and how much to brake. Always a positive 15 minutes or so about race craft. I hope some how he knows just how much those talks meant to me and how much I think back on them now.
We are all just Amateur racing enthusiasts at our level. Driving many types of cars that we are passionate about. Various income levels and racing budgets and skill levels. Competitive to a fault sometimes. Passionate and Emotional sometimes, always wanting to be the best. I actually had some skills when I started. I was fast, and usually made the right moves at the right time. Over the last few years, time, budget, and life has taken its toll and I have lost my edge. I still loved to race, but had lost the direction that I needed to be good at it. A year ago at the ProAutoSports Thanksgiving weekend. We were building a new car, going through some teething pains and not getting along so well. A fellow racer and good friend came up to me after the qualifying race and said he needed me to bring the car by for him to look at because he knew I was not that bad a racer and I was making moves that weren't good. A not so subtle, much needed reminder to get my shit together. It was a reminder of how this sport should be and was meant to be. Road racing at the amateur level is not NASCAR. There are no sponsors or T.V. contracts. Just a bunch of local car nuts paying the bill to race whatever make and model car they are passionate about. It was a reminder to me, to keep your car in good working order. You're not the only one that is out there competing and if your car breaks at the wrong time there are consequences. It was a reminder that this is a small community and you dont want to be that guy that the rest of the racer mother fuck because your on track behavior is one sided and reckless. It was a reminder that we are all responsible for racing with integrity and honesty, we class our cars, we have an opportunity during every race to act responsibly and be an example of how good amateur racing should be. Don't get me wrong, he is the fiercest competitor there is as we all should be, but it was a reminder to me of what acceptable track behavior is.
I would like to think that I have spent the last year re-learning most of those traits and becoming the gentleman racer I should be and that the sport deserves. Maintain your car because your safety and the safety of people you call your friends depends on it. Nobody wants to be that guy what causes a wreck and ruins it for everybody else. If you do, be humble and accept the responsibility. If you re on the front row at the start remember that everybody behind you is relying on you to be smart and play fair. Jumping the start is cheating. You may get away with it, but there are subtle ways and not so subtle ways you can be brought to see the error of your ways. Most of all be a smart racer. We are racing for a club trophy. Your tires cost more. We are out there to win, but we are also out there to hone our craft and become the best we can be.
I LOVE THIS SPORT, more than I ever thought I would. I love the cars I love the people, I love the camaraderie and the competition but most of all I love learning how to race and be a better racer.
Oh and that gentleman who called me out a year ago, has most definitely evolved in the Gentleman racer that we all look up to and will lead us into the future for a time as an example of where the bar is.
We are all just Amateur racing enthusiasts at our level. Driving many types of cars that we are passionate about. Various income levels and racing budgets and skill levels. Competitive to a fault sometimes. Passionate and Emotional sometimes, always wanting to be the best. I actually had some skills when I started. I was fast, and usually made the right moves at the right time. Over the last few years, time, budget, and life has taken its toll and I have lost my edge. I still loved to race, but had lost the direction that I needed to be good at it. A year ago at the ProAutoSports Thanksgiving weekend. We were building a new car, going through some teething pains and not getting along so well. A fellow racer and good friend came up to me after the qualifying race and said he needed me to bring the car by for him to look at because he knew I was not that bad a racer and I was making moves that weren't good. A not so subtle, much needed reminder to get my shit together. It was a reminder of how this sport should be and was meant to be. Road racing at the amateur level is not NASCAR. There are no sponsors or T.V. contracts. Just a bunch of local car nuts paying the bill to race whatever make and model car they are passionate about. It was a reminder to me, to keep your car in good working order. You're not the only one that is out there competing and if your car breaks at the wrong time there are consequences. It was a reminder that this is a small community and you dont want to be that guy that the rest of the racer mother fuck because your on track behavior is one sided and reckless. It was a reminder that we are all responsible for racing with integrity and honesty, we class our cars, we have an opportunity during every race to act responsibly and be an example of how good amateur racing should be. Don't get me wrong, he is the fiercest competitor there is as we all should be, but it was a reminder to me of what acceptable track behavior is.
I would like to think that I have spent the last year re-learning most of those traits and becoming the gentleman racer I should be and that the sport deserves. Maintain your car because your safety and the safety of people you call your friends depends on it. Nobody wants to be that guy what causes a wreck and ruins it for everybody else. If you do, be humble and accept the responsibility. If you re on the front row at the start remember that everybody behind you is relying on you to be smart and play fair. Jumping the start is cheating. You may get away with it, but there are subtle ways and not so subtle ways you can be brought to see the error of your ways. Most of all be a smart racer. We are racing for a club trophy. Your tires cost more. We are out there to win, but we are also out there to hone our craft and become the best we can be.
I LOVE THIS SPORT, more than I ever thought I would. I love the cars I love the people, I love the camaraderie and the competition but most of all I love learning how to race and be a better racer.
Oh and that gentleman who called me out a year ago, has most definitely evolved in the Gentleman racer that we all look up to and will lead us into the future for a time as an example of where the bar is.
Thursday, November 1, 2018
My Obsession with this election
Much to Brian's consternation I have become obsessed with this years mid term election.
Basically because of all the elections that I have been privileged to have voted in, I think this one is the most important. We have a divided country here. Divided by individuals who have vastly points of view. This did not happen overnight. It has been a long slow process of indoctrination for some members of society. For the first time during this election I feel like our way of life is being threatened. The very fabric of what makes America great is going away. Down an un sustainable path.
On the one side, there are factions of the population who basically live irresponsibly and prefer to make the government pay for their mistakes. The believe in open borders, but not open doors. They want free health care to pay for their poor life choices. They want free meds to combat their various conditions. They have no clue how to raise a child and they want free day care, and free higher education. They have no dreams or sense of real commitment. They feel they are entitled to live the benefits of other peoples struggles. Their lives revolve around mid level employment, that have few hobbies beyond parties and travelling overseas, and frankly for all the complaining about charity and humanity basically they have none. They believe that you can erase history from the country and the history books and hide the discretions of the past and all will be right. God forbid you disagree with their beliefs because if you are different than their status quo then you are labelled a racist, bigot, facist, to list just a few of the nicer things. Some of the farther ones to the left even make death threats on your Facebook page. I just chalked that up to a drunken rage reaction to failing mental health do to a body destroyed by years of alcoholism and meds. Those same people who scream we need open borders and like to travel to Europe where immigration laws are far stricter than ours citing how progressive Europe is, are completely blind to the cost of living there and the compete lack of civil freedoms. Sure our families immigrated here, but they came to build an country and not work and send money home.
On the other side is me. I believe in the chance for a good education, a good job and a good life. I dont want the government or big insurance companies making medical decisions for me. I believe in manufacturing products here at home. I believe the higher education system is a colossal failure. Not everyone who graduates can be in a white collar job. We used to be a nation of builders and not just a nation of consumers. I believe that our history should be preserved and studied and used as an example of how not to make the same mistakes again. I refuse to let my income and my taxes go to pay for other people irresponsible lifestyle. I fear that higher taxes fueled by more and more social programs will decrease my income so I will no longer be able to enjoy the life that I have worked so hard to attain in the first place. You see my summer doesnt revolve around going to one pool party after another. I rarely socialize at bars and while I may not have enough friends to fill a basketball court, the ones I do have I have had for a long time and they are strong solid friendships. I dont socialize with individuals who believe their opinion is the only one who counts and I should follow their beliefs. I believe in honoring our country, our constitution, and our flag. I believe fiercely in the 1st amendment and the right to free speech. I fear and dislike hate speech as much as anybody else but I believe in ones right to say what he believes. I think it is your parents responsibility to raise you as a confident enough member of society to recognize not to believe hate speech.
The arguments by the left in this country and unilateral. If you dont conform then you do not deserve to be here. True ignorance and bigotry at its best. I am voting early and encouraging all those conservatives to get out there and vote this time. Vote as if your way of life depends on it because this time it does. If we follow along the with the vision that the left has created we will become a third world country in no time.
Basically because of all the elections that I have been privileged to have voted in, I think this one is the most important. We have a divided country here. Divided by individuals who have vastly points of view. This did not happen overnight. It has been a long slow process of indoctrination for some members of society. For the first time during this election I feel like our way of life is being threatened. The very fabric of what makes America great is going away. Down an un sustainable path.
On the one side, there are factions of the population who basically live irresponsibly and prefer to make the government pay for their mistakes. The believe in open borders, but not open doors. They want free health care to pay for their poor life choices. They want free meds to combat their various conditions. They have no clue how to raise a child and they want free day care, and free higher education. They have no dreams or sense of real commitment. They feel they are entitled to live the benefits of other peoples struggles. Their lives revolve around mid level employment, that have few hobbies beyond parties and travelling overseas, and frankly for all the complaining about charity and humanity basically they have none. They believe that you can erase history from the country and the history books and hide the discretions of the past and all will be right. God forbid you disagree with their beliefs because if you are different than their status quo then you are labelled a racist, bigot, facist, to list just a few of the nicer things. Some of the farther ones to the left even make death threats on your Facebook page. I just chalked that up to a drunken rage reaction to failing mental health do to a body destroyed by years of alcoholism and meds. Those same people who scream we need open borders and like to travel to Europe where immigration laws are far stricter than ours citing how progressive Europe is, are completely blind to the cost of living there and the compete lack of civil freedoms. Sure our families immigrated here, but they came to build an country and not work and send money home.
On the other side is me. I believe in the chance for a good education, a good job and a good life. I dont want the government or big insurance companies making medical decisions for me. I believe in manufacturing products here at home. I believe the higher education system is a colossal failure. Not everyone who graduates can be in a white collar job. We used to be a nation of builders and not just a nation of consumers. I believe that our history should be preserved and studied and used as an example of how not to make the same mistakes again. I refuse to let my income and my taxes go to pay for other people irresponsible lifestyle. I fear that higher taxes fueled by more and more social programs will decrease my income so I will no longer be able to enjoy the life that I have worked so hard to attain in the first place. You see my summer doesnt revolve around going to one pool party after another. I rarely socialize at bars and while I may not have enough friends to fill a basketball court, the ones I do have I have had for a long time and they are strong solid friendships. I dont socialize with individuals who believe their opinion is the only one who counts and I should follow their beliefs. I believe in honoring our country, our constitution, and our flag. I believe fiercely in the 1st amendment and the right to free speech. I fear and dislike hate speech as much as anybody else but I believe in ones right to say what he believes. I think it is your parents responsibility to raise you as a confident enough member of society to recognize not to believe hate speech.
The arguments by the left in this country and unilateral. If you dont conform then you do not deserve to be here. True ignorance and bigotry at its best. I am voting early and encouraging all those conservatives to get out there and vote this time. Vote as if your way of life depends on it because this time it does. If we follow along the with the vision that the left has created we will become a third world country in no time.
Wednesday, September 5, 2018
Old dogs do learn new tricks.
I have be driving on track for 10 years now. I have been in race group and driving door to door for the last 7 of those years. Time flies when you are having fun. In that time I've driven Three different cars that I have owned. All Corvettes and each one dramatically different than the others. Personally I see no reason to go to the track and spend money for gas, tires, car repairs, entry fees, hauling fees etc unless I am actually in Race Group. For me, I never thought I would ever get the opportunity to drive a race car and frankly I am sure that every time I get to, its one more time than I deserve.
Driving on track seemed to come fairly easy for me. I can drive fast, not always consistently any more, but I could when I first started. I havent had the seat time recently that I did when I first started racing, and I thought that was the biggest contributor to my inconsistency.
This weekend I had a revelation. In the last year I have spend countless hours watching road racing. On the T.V. the internet. Mainly sports cars each one in their own spec series. IMSA, Continental Tire, DTM, British Touring Car, WEC Endurance Series, Porsche Cup, Lamborghini Trofeo Cup, if there was a road racing series run some where I have been watching. While I certainly did not run two days full of perfect laps this weekend. For the first time EVER, I used my brain to make moves that were important to the outcome of the race. I still missed the apex on a few corners, braked too early some times, and stood on the gas too soon and too hard some times, But I also recognized when and where I was going to be able to pass some of my competition.
I made three great passes this weekend. Each one required thought, planning and patience and quick decision making. There are three major things that I figured out. First. When an opportunity to pass arises, take it. Be in position so that you can cleanly and safely make the pass. Even though you may be able to run faster laps, you may not get the chance again. Second. Plan when you are going to pass the car in front of you. All three of my great passes started with recognizing on the previous lap that if I was in the right position the door would open and I could make the right moves. Third. Stop worrying about the car behind me and drive my line. As long as I am not driving like an idiot, its their job to make the pass the right way. I know of two occasions where the car didnt have the room to make a good pass and when I shut the door driving my line, they lost enough momentum so that they could not recover and catch me. I myself have done that several times.
We raced this weekend with ProAutoSports at Inde Motorsports Ranch. We were going to go to NASA Nationals and frankly the cost to go was just to much after fixing the car when I backed it into the wall. It was Brians first time to go to Inde. Its a very special place for me. It a difficult track to learn and drive correctly, and I've made some great friends there. I have wanted to take him there since we started dating. The ProAutoSports family as usual made it a great experience and he cant wait until we go back next year.
Those of you who know the track will understand why I think my three passes were great. All three of them were while running counter clockwise. Personally I dont like that direction, but it does require you to think. The first pass was during the Qualifying race. I was chasing Bill Pfeiffer in his M3 and James Cantrel in his 64 Corvette, both have more power. Bills car has a bigger top speed and Jims 327 leave a corner likes a rocket ship. I was able to close on them in the curves around the house and we would all enter the straight where they would outrun me. About three laps from the end I realized that if I would lay back a little and get a better run coming on to the straight I could keep up with them. Two laps from the end I had a huge run just as we entered the straight and I caught them and went to the outside of Bill to the right and ran right up to Jims bumper. I never lifted and his 327 launched like a rocket and I motored right past Bill. Planning and opportunity. I was so excited that I thought this out and made it happen.
In the feature race Bill skated past me at the start and there ended up with 4 cars in a pack racing for position. An RX7 GTU car and Jim Cantrells Corvette again were ahead of me after the start. It took me about 5 laps to realize the guy driving the RX7 would lay back driving the section past the pits. Its a REALLY fast and fun downhill with a left and right at the end. I got a big run coming off the carousel turn and passed him going between his car and the pit wall. I almost wet my pants it worked so well. Two passes where I used my brain. Then all that was left was to pass Jim in his Corvette. I cannot express how much I respect this man. Racing with him is practically a dream come true. He can drive anything. He has competed everywhere at some of the country's best tracks. I hope some day I am as competent in a car as he is. I spent several laps trying to keep up with him down the straight, hugging him close during the curves and he would just outrun me down the straight and I could not get close enough to pass him. There was no way I could out run him so I decided as a last ditch effort to try and stay close enough and out brake him at the end. Again I had to lay back and get a really good run on him coming on to the straight. I had a full head of steam, flat in 4th coming on to the straight and got to his inside flank. He pulled away as before and I tucked in behind him. I stayed flat until we approached the end of the straight and when he went to the brakes I popped out to his left and then braked after he did. Pass made and I basically parked in the corner and stayed ahead of him. Without exception it was the biggest moment I've had racing. All this with out antilock brakes. I have to say I'm starting to love not having them. Its making me a much better driver.
I realize unless your a racer this is boring as hell to read. But if you've made it this far I hope it has encouraged you to do something you've always wanted to do. If I can learn to be a better driver you can learn to do what you desire as well. Life is too short not to try and do the things we aspire to.
Thanks to ProAutoSports, Jim, Diane, Bob, Jan, Hurley, Naomi, Jeff, Adrian, Dan, Brian, Richard, Kevin, Leroy and Shirette, Craig, Tracy, Junior, Matt, and Jim Cantrell for a perfect racing weekend. It takes the sting out of not going to COTA,
Driving on track seemed to come fairly easy for me. I can drive fast, not always consistently any more, but I could when I first started. I havent had the seat time recently that I did when I first started racing, and I thought that was the biggest contributor to my inconsistency.
This weekend I had a revelation. In the last year I have spend countless hours watching road racing. On the T.V. the internet. Mainly sports cars each one in their own spec series. IMSA, Continental Tire, DTM, British Touring Car, WEC Endurance Series, Porsche Cup, Lamborghini Trofeo Cup, if there was a road racing series run some where I have been watching. While I certainly did not run two days full of perfect laps this weekend. For the first time EVER, I used my brain to make moves that were important to the outcome of the race. I still missed the apex on a few corners, braked too early some times, and stood on the gas too soon and too hard some times, But I also recognized when and where I was going to be able to pass some of my competition.
I made three great passes this weekend. Each one required thought, planning and patience and quick decision making. There are three major things that I figured out. First. When an opportunity to pass arises, take it. Be in position so that you can cleanly and safely make the pass. Even though you may be able to run faster laps, you may not get the chance again. Second. Plan when you are going to pass the car in front of you. All three of my great passes started with recognizing on the previous lap that if I was in the right position the door would open and I could make the right moves. Third. Stop worrying about the car behind me and drive my line. As long as I am not driving like an idiot, its their job to make the pass the right way. I know of two occasions where the car didnt have the room to make a good pass and when I shut the door driving my line, they lost enough momentum so that they could not recover and catch me. I myself have done that several times.
We raced this weekend with ProAutoSports at Inde Motorsports Ranch. We were going to go to NASA Nationals and frankly the cost to go was just to much after fixing the car when I backed it into the wall. It was Brians first time to go to Inde. Its a very special place for me. It a difficult track to learn and drive correctly, and I've made some great friends there. I have wanted to take him there since we started dating. The ProAutoSports family as usual made it a great experience and he cant wait until we go back next year.
Those of you who know the track will understand why I think my three passes were great. All three of them were while running counter clockwise. Personally I dont like that direction, but it does require you to think. The first pass was during the Qualifying race. I was chasing Bill Pfeiffer in his M3 and James Cantrel in his 64 Corvette, both have more power. Bills car has a bigger top speed and Jims 327 leave a corner likes a rocket ship. I was able to close on them in the curves around the house and we would all enter the straight where they would outrun me. About three laps from the end I realized that if I would lay back a little and get a better run coming on to the straight I could keep up with them. Two laps from the end I had a huge run just as we entered the straight and I caught them and went to the outside of Bill to the right and ran right up to Jims bumper. I never lifted and his 327 launched like a rocket and I motored right past Bill. Planning and opportunity. I was so excited that I thought this out and made it happen.
In the feature race Bill skated past me at the start and there ended up with 4 cars in a pack racing for position. An RX7 GTU car and Jim Cantrells Corvette again were ahead of me after the start. It took me about 5 laps to realize the guy driving the RX7 would lay back driving the section past the pits. Its a REALLY fast and fun downhill with a left and right at the end. I got a big run coming off the carousel turn and passed him going between his car and the pit wall. I almost wet my pants it worked so well. Two passes where I used my brain. Then all that was left was to pass Jim in his Corvette. I cannot express how much I respect this man. Racing with him is practically a dream come true. He can drive anything. He has competed everywhere at some of the country's best tracks. I hope some day I am as competent in a car as he is. I spent several laps trying to keep up with him down the straight, hugging him close during the curves and he would just outrun me down the straight and I could not get close enough to pass him. There was no way I could out run him so I decided as a last ditch effort to try and stay close enough and out brake him at the end. Again I had to lay back and get a really good run on him coming on to the straight. I had a full head of steam, flat in 4th coming on to the straight and got to his inside flank. He pulled away as before and I tucked in behind him. I stayed flat until we approached the end of the straight and when he went to the brakes I popped out to his left and then braked after he did. Pass made and I basically parked in the corner and stayed ahead of him. Without exception it was the biggest moment I've had racing. All this with out antilock brakes. I have to say I'm starting to love not having them. Its making me a much better driver.
I realize unless your a racer this is boring as hell to read. But if you've made it this far I hope it has encouraged you to do something you've always wanted to do. If I can learn to be a better driver you can learn to do what you desire as well. Life is too short not to try and do the things we aspire to.
Thanks to ProAutoSports, Jim, Diane, Bob, Jan, Hurley, Naomi, Jeff, Adrian, Dan, Brian, Richard, Kevin, Leroy and Shirette, Craig, Tracy, Junior, Matt, and Jim Cantrell for a perfect racing weekend. It takes the sting out of not going to COTA,
Thursday, June 21, 2018
Another Black Eye.
So yesterday some of you may have noticed an interesting exchange between me and a liberal on my Facebook page. He apparently doesn't have the same views as I do and felt the need to say some pretty disparaging things about me, my mother, my life, and was so kind as to actually threaten to kill me twice. All in all it was just pretty interesting and I've waited until today to respond to some of his issues.
I really don't care what you have to say about my mother. I am sure that we have said worse about each other to each other, but its just tacky to say something about someones mother.
You can say whatever you like about me. I've been picked on my whole life, I'm a big guy I'm used to it and I can take it.
Threatening to kill me is hysterically funny. I'm probably the only Fag you know who has been arrested twice for assault. Bring it on you diseased heap of pus. I'm pretty easy to find and I have a great deal of pent up aggression. A little extra exercise is a good thing.
The worst part about the whole thing is that you have succeeded in validating the main reason straight people are afraid of the gay agenda. You see, straight people don't care who your having sex with, when or how or any thing about it. They don't care if you want to get married they don't care if you want to march naked in a parade. They do however care when you insist in pushing your values, morality, and opinions on them. Your Hitler like insistence that everyone must follow your beliefs is why the straight and christian communities are afraid of you and why the gay community is experiencing a push back from them.
I don't know why you chose to have such an impassioned reaction to my post, alcohol abuse, being on your meds so long that it has started to affect your brain function, or some serious emotional issue that you are experiencing right now. I just hope that you find the help you need to come to terms with your issues.
I really don't care what you have to say about my mother. I am sure that we have said worse about each other to each other, but its just tacky to say something about someones mother.
You can say whatever you like about me. I've been picked on my whole life, I'm a big guy I'm used to it and I can take it.
Threatening to kill me is hysterically funny. I'm probably the only Fag you know who has been arrested twice for assault. Bring it on you diseased heap of pus. I'm pretty easy to find and I have a great deal of pent up aggression. A little extra exercise is a good thing.
The worst part about the whole thing is that you have succeeded in validating the main reason straight people are afraid of the gay agenda. You see, straight people don't care who your having sex with, when or how or any thing about it. They don't care if you want to get married they don't care if you want to march naked in a parade. They do however care when you insist in pushing your values, morality, and opinions on them. Your Hitler like insistence that everyone must follow your beliefs is why the straight and christian communities are afraid of you and why the gay community is experiencing a push back from them.
I don't know why you chose to have such an impassioned reaction to my post, alcohol abuse, being on your meds so long that it has started to affect your brain function, or some serious emotional issue that you are experiencing right now. I just hope that you find the help you need to come to terms with your issues.
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