It
was Father’s Day Weekend. Not being a father, but having had one once, that
means this weekend event brings out the lots of moms and kids too. “Let pop has
his fun” I guess.
It helps to keep your eyes on the road ... and to be able to reach the steering wheel (David Farrington photo)
Blackhawk has a grass airstrip. Interesting stuff
There were five Volvos in the Swedish Pavilion – Jeff
Babcock (122-#122), Joe Brabender (123-#123), Rich Kardos (142-#79), Ray
Friewald (1800-#93) and me. Plus, Todd Jongen (142-#142) was paddocked off in
the hinterlands with a BMW buddy. Great
representation for a small race venue. Then we had a couple of our Saab friends next door – Mark School
and Dennis
It made for a great weekend with friends.
Friday evening fish fry at Pearl Lake (aka the Old Sand Quarry)
We ran the 4.88 differential for the first time. Also tried
out some 14” Street TD tires that remain legal for our car. Together, I felt
like I might be able to break the rears loose in all but 5th gear.
Talk about pulling hard out of the corners on this short, 1.9 mile course!
Blackhawk Farms Raceway, South Beloit, IL.
The weekend was a resounding success. I broke previous best lap time records on three separate occasions. The only minor issue
was again the data acquisition system. We’ll just say we experienced some human
and technological miscommunication. I.e. humans screwed up. But it is only an
irritant and does not cause the car to run poorly.
How many dumb phones does it take to figure out the weather?
Friday was beautiful, Saturday morning was rainy, Saturday
afternoon was good and Sunday gorgeous. We did not run in the rain since it was
only practice. Absent Crew Chief Buettner Race Coordinator Joy Perry and Race
Engineer Farrington were not excited to get down into the mud and put rain
tires on. Not that they wouldn’t have, mind you. But I was in the preservation
mode, for both car and relationships. Especially those that are legally
binding. But we did the Sprint Race on
Saturday afternoon.
One of the really nice Pre-War cars
Sometimes the rigs are as interesting as the race cars
On Sunday we did our first ever handicap race, the Dad’s Day
Scramble. Here, the slowest cars start up front and faster cars are released at
intervals determined by qualifying time the afternoon previous. Theoretically,
everyone could win because the results are based upon overall time. And it
means lots of fun passing. There were two great Group 1 Pre-War cars with good
drivers whose heads sat on swivels.
Post race, Farrington pointed out to me that had we been a
bit more consistent on lap times, I would have won the whole shootin’ match. As
it was I found myself testing the agricultural terrain coming out of Turn 1 late
in this 14 lap race and Dawn Fisher, who had been bothering me with her pink
Lotus 7, slid by me.
The Feature Race on Sunday afternoon turned into a great
duel between the Old Volvo Master Ray Friewald and the Young Upstart Jim Perry.
Please note that this has nothing to do with chronological age all to do with
experience. Ray’s Blackhawk laps number in the thousands, and Jim is
approaching the hundreds. Plus the Old Master happens to be a Lead Instructor.
Based upon Ray’s caginess in Qualifying (and my
lack of recognition that there is no yellow flag on the “warm-up lap,” we joked
all weekend about who would let whom go by. Going into Turn 1 of the start I
was on the inside, having position, but Ray was Ray and by Turn 3 I was looking
at his Last Open Road sticker. By the time 1.5 laps of the 12 lap race was
completed I had decided to hang with him and see if I could out-power him on
the front straight on the last lap. My plan was OK, but sometimes things
happen. Watch the video. Well guys and gals, time for the old cowboy to be hittin' the trail to the shop. See you after Mid-Ohio!
