Charles 'Chuck-Chuck' Braffett
94' Aqua LT1 Roadster, SS, 1G
Governor, Thunder Vette Set
eldric@cyber-wizard.com
http://www.goodnet.com/~eldric
A great time! Drove up with the CQSers from Las Vegas and had a nice run ('cept for one illness induced dropout). Drove up the road (305) wondering how fast can you take those curves? Great support from John Rovner and the community (they really get into it). The show had a lot of really nice cars on Saturday. Everything from Masserati's, Porsches, Ferraris, Camaros, an Indy car, semis and LOTS of corvettes. The parade got rained out so a little extra sleep for the race. Sunday arrives! Out looking for air to get the tire pressures right and get a little breakfast. Arrive at the pre-grid and start the nervous pacing. A guy in a Porsche had a scanner so we listened in to the pre race setup. Wonder what's going on with the mud cleanup and an injured rabbit that is running in circles on the road. A big ford LTD gets on the course and the police have to chase him down. Still waiting nervously (maybe I should have got a navigator). Finally move out to the start. very well orchestrated and lots of community support.
Finally a plane makes a low pass over the start and the race begins! The open class cars start off (very quick and loud) and streak off on the course. Watching impatiently as more cars take off. The 120mph semi's take off in a cloud of black smoke (hope I don't have to pass them). Talk to the drivers behind me to see what they are doing.
They are going to start out fast so they can slow down in the curves and I'm going to hold speed so we discussed the passing procedures (nice guys even if it was a mustang ;-)). One last potty break and I line up near the start. Double check my first time checks and close up the fire suit and get ready to go.
Approach my start and check out the start light for light sequencing and timing. Then all of a sudden its on! Run the car up to 115 to start (fastest allowed in my class) to make up for the standing start.
Car is running beautifully and I cruise through the first turns easily.
Was warned about an oil slick and am looking at a rain storm heading for the course, decide to keep it a little fast so I can take the "gap" slower if I have to. The rain doesn't seem to be moving in so when I get about 3 seconds fast at checkpoints, I slow it down to target speed to calibrate my Speedo. Seems 106 indicated is about right. The Mustang comes up and I signal him to pass. Passing at 105+ mph is a new experience, road seems a lot narrower. He passes fine and I settle in to timing and checkpoints.
The course workers wave all along the route and I wave back if I'm not to much into calculations. I turned the a/c on and watch the oil temp just in case, figured the comfort would help me concentrate. The Royal Purple keeps the temps down fine and I maintain the +3 sec's fine as I approach the gap. Put down the stop watch and concentrated on driving through this twisty segment. Hold the corners well at this speed and don't disengage the cruise control. Got out of the gap and start adjusting my speed to get right on the times. One mile marker was 10 sec off! Held my cool and stuck with it, the next was 1 sec off, decided it was an errant marker. Kept fiddling with the speed ever so gently to stay right on time. Started wondering where that Mustang went, should be 30 sec behind me?
10 miles to go and I start fine tuning the speed, cruise loses a little on the hills and I'm behind. Speed up a little and over shoot, slow down and I'm behind. Spot the mustang and have to make up a little with 2 miles to go. Speed up to 107 and close on Mustang. All of a sudden there is the finish! Have to watch time, speed and pass the Mustang as I'm going through the finish (hope someone got a picture of the pass through the finish at 107). Drop off speed thinking I got within a sec and a half even passing and pull into the stop area. What a great race!
The drive back was sedate with 5 Vettes in line. Had one a***ole in a modified mustang passing us (3 times) doing in excess of 200 (hope the cops catch him) and return to Battle Mountain safely. waited around for the awards ceremony wondering just how I did? Went to the awards ceremony and saw all the trophies thinking maybe I pulled out a place and got something to take home besides a T-shirt? Then they start with the solo and dual hand-timer awards. They announce there was a tie at .011 miles per hour off (close racing, twice as close as last year). I was totally floored when they called me for first overall solo! This was my first time and I was just hoping to be lucky enough to place!
Got first in my class so got two trophies to take home.
In open division, a new record was set at 192+ (first time averaging over 189). What a great time with great people! A personal BIG thanks to Morley Wright from Canada for all the help and friendship (good time, eh!). Now I just have to figure out how to top this at the Gamblers 200 in September!
Want to know more About the PE 100? Read what it was like for those Working the Course.
Copyright 1997 Barbara Spear