Saturday at the glen

Saturday morning qualifying session I started losing 3rd gear. I was not able to better my time from Friday. One car did run quicker on Saturday which made me second fastest overall. I knew 3rd gear might become a problem so I did bring my old dog rings. Changing the dogs took much longer than I thought and just made the race. In fact by the time I got to the false grid the cars were all ready leaving, so ended up starting 8th instead of 2nd. Within 2 laps the problem was back, this was going to be a long 30 minutes race. In the end I was able to salvage a 4th overall and 2nd in class. So today I start 4th without 3rd. This is going to be another 30 minute race that's going to feel like a hour.

.

Saturday Q race

http://legendsofmotorsports.com/PDFs/watkins/group2/F5000%20Feature%20Grid.pdf

.

Feature race grid

http://legendsofmotorsports.com/PDFs/watkins/group2/F5000%20Feature%20Grid.pdf

.

Tony A to Z signing an autograph.

Sam Posey receiving an award from the F5000 drivers Association.

Friday at the glen

The car was again running good on Friday. I dropped my lap times about 5 seconds from Thursday's times. In the Friday morning practice session I was second fastest and in the afternoon qualifying I was the fastest. Really wasn't expecting that. Still a another qualifying session this morning, so I could still lose my front row spot for this afternoon's race.

.

Being interviewed by the local paper. I've hit the big time now.

.

Qualifying results----http://legendsofmotorsports.com/PDFs/watkins/group2/F5000%20Monoposto%20Qualifying%201.pdf

.

More photos http://legendsofmotorsports.com/gallery_watkins.cfm

Thursday at the glen

Thursday was the track orientation program. It was instructed by the same person I had down at Savannah in April. I missed the morning track session because of a rear wheel problem. The problem was repaired and I joined the afternoon session. By the 7 lap I was feeling comfortable, the car has a lot more power than my old Lola SV, but handles about the same. Friday is practice in the morning and qualifying in the afternoon.

Staying at the Seneca Lodge, a favorite among racers and very close to the track.

.

Nothing but the best for my wife Deb. Not really, this one hasn't been used in a long time. I did get a better room for us.

Watkins Glen...Wednesday

Got up to the Glen late Wednesday afternoon. Starting to setup in the garage, not many people here right now. Have already gone through tech and looking forward to getting on the track today.

Ready to go

All loaded and ready to go, should be at WG later today. Nice racing at a track that's less than 4 hours away. Thursday is a test and tune day and the weather looks spotty for Thursday, Saturday and Sunday. But it's Watkins Glen and the weather changes so fast, you just never know. My first race at this track was in 1980 in a Formula Ford and it was one week after the U.S. Grand Prix F1), the place was a mess and it smelled real bad. This was the only race my wife (girlfriend at the time) didn't attend, just as well I guess. The track has come a long way since then.

Almost ready

I'll finish the car this morning and load up everything this afternoon. They have allowed the F5000 guys the use of the garages at the glen. That's general a $500. rental cost. Think I will bring the stands for the car, just in case I have to do any extensive work on the gear box. A lot easier to work on the car when it's elevated.

Only a few days before Watkins Glen

We'll be leaving Wednesday for Watkins Glen. Thirteen F5000 cars are on the entry list. That's more than I thought, but only 67 cars total are entered, that's really a low count.

I've reassembled the gearbox with the used gear set. I just don't know when the new set will arrive. The car should be back together today and I'll start loading everything up tomorrow.

Here's a few photo from the airshow on Saturday. It was hot again, but the rain held off.

Pushing the Spitfire, we also had to push the C-47 in the background. The tow bar would not fit.

These guys go all out.

Big crowd on Saturday.

Friday at Reading

A few photos from Friday

Reading Airshow

Today and tomorrow are non race prep days. I belong to the Mid-Atlantic Air Museum in Reading, Pa. This weekend is their air show/World War II event. I volunteer on the flight line. Most of the aircraft that are part of the weekend are parked among the spectators. So you're always moving the crowd so the planes can take part in the show and then return to the spectator area.
.


Last year it rained the whole day on Friday. This year the forecast looks much more promising for Friday and not as good for Saturday and Sunday.

http://www.maam.org/

Tires mounted

The new Goodyear tires are now mounted and ready for Watkins Glen next week and Road America next month. Talked to Chuck yesterday and still no gears. I might end up using one of the old sets that came with the car.

Car show report

That was a fun day. The weather was just perfect, not a cloud in the sky. I guess about 500 cars took part in the show. The place was packed and I'm glad we got there early for setup. That's one of the smaller parking lots that was used for the show.

It's held at the M&M factory/headquarters and yes we did get free M&M's.

A few street rods.

And you might even find a race car. The day was filled with questions. The most asked was "do you race it?". Then a lot of people wanted to know where, and I guess finally was, "how fast does it go?". All in all it was a very nice Sunday. Maybe I'll do it again next year.

Few more Mitty photos

Photos taken by James Deck.


The esses between turn 4 and 5.


Saturday afternoon Qualifying race.

Tires here, gears not

The tires are here and I'll mount them next week after the show. However, the gears and dog rings are not. The company that makes the dog rings is out of stock and the machine they use to manufacture them is waiting for replacement parts. So they're not sure when they will be back up and running. Still waiting on the gears from England.

So plan "B" is to leave the gears out and just place the cover on back of the gearbox for the car show. Then Monday pull everything apart and wait. I'll get the dog rings from another source.

Getting ready for the car show

A lot easier getting ready for a show than a race. The Watkins Glen event is being hosted by "Historic Motorsport Productions" (HMP), a new vintage racing group started by Bobby Rahal last year. I talked to Michele at HMP and she's sending me brochures, some give aways and the ability to purchase discounted tickets for the Watkins Glen race. Now I have a little more promotional material for the car show. Think it's going to be a fun show, and I heard the weather is to be sunny.

HMP site:
http://www.legendsofmotorsports.com/

Goodyear tires on the way

Got a phone call yesterday from SascoSports http://www.sascosports.com/ They have the Goodyear tires I use and should have them here today or tomorrow. That was a close one, I had talked to tire dealers on the East and West coast with the same results, "on back order". I really had started to accept the idea that my old tires might see another race. Now to find out where my gears and dog rings are.