...last weekend, when I was working Timing & Scoring at Firebird. Next track day I get to drive a race prepped MINI!

I was telling Bossy Betti If she ever sees this... Sat. about wanting to ask what it would take to mooch a drive in one of the United racing MINIs. Sunday one of the drivers and his mechanic asked if they could use my map sensor a.s.a.p. waiting to cross the track during open session can have it's percs for the next qualifying session. Betti blurts out "ask if you can drive their car!" So, end of this month, I'll see what happens. I tried my best to keep them from lapping me the last session, so they know I know how to drive.

 

Wow how fun! you didn't let Swifty see that did you? he/she'll be jealous.
Sharon

 

I read about that sydrome elsewhere here on NAM. Have to park Swifty forward against a wall, eh?

 

...I'll be at Firebird Raceway, east track.
*fingers crossed*

 

OK, I'm jealous

 

sounds like it should be a great time. That's a pretty fun track.

Remember to get a couple pix of you in the car.

 

DUH! Now... where is that old video camera?

 

Well, so much for the plan of mice and men.
The only real race MINI developed a major malfunction the first session that required a tow truck. The United team has been dropped by the dealer recently, so no support for the drivers. Most of the drivers are wheeling something else around. So my previous experience is now history.

Carolyn is still going, pitted with her this weekend. I didn't bother asking her because she is stock class, and she is much shorter than I.

So I had to be content with thrashing Swifty.

This was my view most of the weekend, from behind the start line, in an airconditioned (barely) trailer. Taken by Betty.


We were on the east track. These were taken by Tom Sanders.

White knuckling it through two turns.

Even wearing bike riding gloves, I got a blister on my right hand.

I am still amazed how fast the MINI is. I reeled in a race prepped RX7 (had to, too damned loud to follow!), a race prepped Datsun 510 (ancient granted), Miatas, a Pontiac GTO couldn't catch up after spinning a bit ahead of me. What fun, but I really need to replace the tires and brake pads.


I just had to post this. Doug lives in Prescott, shows his 1957 Chevy pickup at all the street rod shows. It's been crashed once. I admire him for kicking *** and taking names, then competing with the trailer queens on the grass.

At the end of each session a checkered is flown.
BTW: another time I "raced" Doug on the Main track. I saw him coming up fast behind me on the dragstrip straight, he roared by me just before the end then braked while I was still accelerating, just when he turned I braked deep and stuck to his tailgate all the way back through the corners! He admitted to being annoyed by the likes of me in the corners. Can hardly wait to see him at a cruise night.

Anyway, all for now. I have something else up my sleeve... stay tuned.

 

Yes, I've never done a proper burnout. (the first time in the '72 Chevy LUV on a right turn with antifreeze on the concrete gutter count?)