http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eIKElSFmxF0

Errata: Despite what it says in the credits, it was actually Peter Enns who shot the footage and not my nephew Ben who was standing around idle, sorry Pete.

Ok, about last weekend... I've been too busy editing my wee film to blog, so here it be. Timed in ok at 17.3, got stuck in the pack in the B dash race and placed third while Billy got 1st in the A dash. I timed in good enough to be in the A main, and that was gratifying. There are a dozen cars spread over half a second in the time trial. Tenths are something you fight for, so when Billy opined that he screwed up and only got a 16.8, one might think, "jeez, I should be so lucky, you dick". But I understand where he was coming from, with that car, he wants to beat the the lap record at 16.6, and he almost had it. Plus the guy who has the record now is friendly rival Kris McKenzie, but rival nonetheless. You also have to do it in the time trial for the record.

After studying the 'mylaps' data from our transponders, it was interesting to note that the fastest laps and top speeds do not necessarily belong to the winners of the races. This bears out some theories of mine about racing. Foremost, the drivers ability to take the car to the extreme limits of its control envelope and hold it there is what makes you competetive. There is skill and some luck, but putting your car in front of the one in front of you is not always determined by the cars' ability to generate speed. Affected, yes, but there are always many more variables on the track. Taking advantage of the misfortunes of others, nabbing the inside line at the right moment, taking a corner just right with minimal brake so you slingshot out and ahead on the straightaway. This is what is racing, because if you look at the data from the transponders, it would seem to indicate that except for a handful, the cars are actually quite similar in performance. Time after time I see the unmolested leader pull further and further away from the pack. I've done it, while the rest of the buggers slug it out and swerve about. Even swerving scrubs speed, and we see from the time trials that tiny mistakes cost fractions, and those fractions cost you accumulatively. Lose just over a half second per lap in a thirty lap race and you will be lapped my friend, I know that too, I've had it done to me. ME! a lap car. Gods! Now having said all that, it is pretty obvious that the more powerful cars have a huge advantage, Schuss' Prelude #21 is consistently half a second faster than my car, and it shows; but like I say, we all came knowing what we were up against, and I know that as a B class car, my civic is a screamer, but in the A's she's just an underdog with attitude.

In the B heat, I was in ridiculous traffic, super close and dense, for a lot longer than was healthy. I knew something had to go. Little did I know it was me! I took a couple of hits and wound up nose in at 90 degrees just in time to watch a guy plow into my drivers front wheel snapping the hub knuckle in half and bending the control arm. That's that son, in the pits with you. As luck would have it, a stirling chap called Randy Doerksen happened to have the wrong parts for his car. They were for mine! His is a '93, mines a '91. Total fluke. Back in my pit, industrious Billy, gallant Wayne Lakerveld, (driver of #77) and benevolent Larry McKenzie (crew chief of #29 complete with compressor and air ratchet) were all clustered around the damaged wheel and going like a NASCAR pit crew at it. I, the awed and lowly driver stepped back out of the way. I must say it made a great impression on me and I thank you guys.

Oh. I see.                                                                  Note the broken hub knuckle.(upper right)

Wayne L.(#77) Billy (#55), Larry McK. and son Kris.(#29)                     

     Crew chief Haydn with the encouraging news, " Well it's a bugger, but I think you're gonna make it".

The wheel was on, and so to the A main with helter skelter alignment. Pot luck settings. It was a great old battle, just 50 laps of mostly hard work. I was getting decent times but that didn't stop Jordan Schuss in his #21 '88 prelude from lapping me in obout lap 45. Damn, half a second per lap, do the math. I placed a respectable 8th of 18 in the end and the car needs some work. Billy Bell got second place and what do you know, he had the fastest lap time and top speed. So there. Team mate Wayne Goodwin blew up his engine and had to drop out. Then at the end of the night a family came up to talk, and told me their little girl Jolene is apparently my biggest fan. Since I know of no others I was somewhat gobsmacked by this and signed her program. Then I got her to sign my car. Now I'm driving for Fairway motors, Goodwin racing, Napa, Ideal and little Jolene. That's a good feeling. In the season standings I have finally achieved a goal and jumped into the top 10 tied in 8th spot. They're calling it 9th. Whatever, NEXT!

  In traffic.                                                                  Wayne Goodwin #94 is a smoker.

                                                        R-Billy winning the A dash.

                                                       Heres some of the big boys toys.

That's never good.