Eric Haga update from NZ

Email from Eric;

Hi All,
Just wanted you to know what a wonderful place this is, greatest people and a wonderful track! I'm enjoying the sun and great cars here, over twenty cars here when I left the track this evening and more tomorrow, expecting about 35 for the event.

I can't believe the royal treatment that they are giving me, did a couple of laps behind a camera car for a TV spot, and have a TV interview tomorrow! All because I was there back in the day. Tony (a2z) should be here for this, he really deserves the treatment that they are giving me and he handles it so well.

This is a very tight track, with three second gear turns, and a very deceptive entry into the blind first turn (kind of like turn one at Watkins Glen but with the crest right at turn in). The only shut down marker is about 50 yards after you REALLY need to start breaking from flat out into the blind first turn. It was a real thrill when I came into that turn the first time, almost flat out and not a prayer of making it, made it somehow but it sure wasn't pretty!

The best part of this by far has been the people. Shortly after I at the track yesterday the track manager looked me up, after a short conversation I asked him if there were any way that I could have a look at the circuit, he told me to get in his car and we joined in with a BMW Experience group learning how to drive their new cars quickly!

All that I can say is if you ever get the chance to come down here to race is do it! I met up with a driver who I met in the UK last year, this is a great field full of beautiful fast cars!

Best,

Eric

Eric's on his way

Spoke to Eric last night.  He was at Seattle airport waiting to take his flight to San Fransisco, then from there to New Zealand.  I suppose he's over the pacific on his way at this time.  He still had not heard if his car had arrived.
Here in New Jersey things aren't so exciting, getting ready to leave early tomorrow morning for Indiana.

Eric's helmet painted to match his car.  Looks great!

Back in the shop

The shop really needed a big cleanup after all the work on the truck.  With that finished, it's out to Indiana next week for a little buying for our upcoming antique show in February. 
Speaking of antiques, one of our long time shows has been canceled.  The show was at a old mill along the Delaware river.  When we first started, it was in the fall and was one of our better shows both in attendance and sales.  Then the promoters moved it to Labor day weekend 4 or 5 years ago and it never was the same dropping in both sales and attendence.  But this opens up the race event at Lime Rock that weekend(Labor day).  The only drawback is Watkins Glen is the following weekend.  So Lime Rock ends on Monday and we would leave for WG on Wednesday.  That's just one day to prep car.  It's a option. 

Eric update

I asked Eric yesterday if his car has arrived in NZ yet?  He told me the schedule was for it to get there Jan. 7,  so far he has heard nothing.  Eric will be flying out to NZ Wednesday, I think.  Then the first race is that weekend.  I'm sure he will be hearing from the shipping company soon.

Ready for 2012...maybe?

I've made hotel reservations for all 3 events.  The California race is still up in the air, but easy enough to cancel the hotel if we don't go. 
The truck has been taking all my time lately.  Recently the idler pulleys on the motor went bad which destroyed the serpentine belt.  Before that I needed to replace a rusty rear brake line.  Also was dealing with hard starting in the cold, finally discovered a bad glow plug relay.  Before that the starter motor went bad(second one).  A little earlier, it was contaminated fuel(dirt), which caused the engine to loose power.  The one good is the weather has been warm so far this winter.  Nothing worse than being under the truck in 5 degree weather.
So I'm hoping all these little problems will be ironed out by summer time.

Next year.

Last year my race season ended at Elkhart Lake.  This year it looks like this is place it will start.  I haven't taken the California race completely off the table yet.  I have to do a little more research, the race takes place mid-week on a Tuesday and Wednesday.  Don't know why?

If Elkhart Lake is my first event, then I really don't have to start working on the car until May at the earliest.  Otherwise if I change my mind on the Calif. event, I'll start around March. 

With the Watkins Glen event in September, that knocks out my Lime Rock race on Labor day.  One other event I was considering was down in Savannah toward the end of October.  I was looking at participating at 3 events this year.  But who knows?

F5000 Preliminary Race Schedule for 2012

• June 5-6: LSR Invitational at Laguna Seca with HMSA

• July 12-15: Road America – The Hawk with Brian Redman

• September 6-9: U.S. Vintage Grand Prix with SVRA
____________________________________________
 
Back to Watkins Glen in September, I like this schedule.  I think 3 races is more in line with today's economy.

New Zealand F5000

Eric said his first event in January will have over 35 F5000 cars attending.  New Zealand does enjoy it's motorsports. 
His car will start the journey this coming Monday and will be in New Zealand by the first race on January 21, 2012

Sour grapes

Scooter Patrick raced F5000 in the late 60's early 70's.  However his view on historic racing is not to favorable these days. This article was published in Decembers Victory lane magazine.

You can also read the story here.

Eric's trip to NZ

Eric's getting closer.  He dropped off his car and supplies in Los Angles this past Friday.   



The orange container in the background is the one the car will be loaded in.



Oil puddle

As I was walking past the race car, out of the side of my eye I caught a reflection underneath the car.  At first I considered it water, but upon closer examination at was indeed oil.  A fairly large puddle.  The car was only run a few minutes after it was placed on the stands.  I'll clean it up and place a piece of cardboard under the car and see if I can figure where it's dripping from. 

It's back!

Two and a half weeks later the Internet and TV has returned.  The cable repair guy was here for about 2 minutes before the problem was repaired.  Something must have shorted when the electrical went out during the snow storm.
The race car has been on the back burner lately, from the looks of it I don't really see anytime to work on it for the remainder of this year.  With Thanksgiving, the antique show and Christmas on the way, I think January is when I return getting the car ready for 2012.

On our road trips we're always looking for license plates from different states.  My wife gets the prize for spotting this one from Hawaii.  This was parked at the Bloomsburg antique show in Pa.