SVRA at Watkins Glen

This was my second trip to Watkins Glen and what an experience. As always the SVRA put on a great event. This weekend had a little bit of everything thrown into it; racing, a reenactment of racing down town, a big car show downtown, a big party downtown, FOG, more racing, 50 years of Lola, a party at the track, and did I mention racing. It was also the 40th anniversary of HOT WHEELS cars so they had a special display down town (“ Hot Wheels turn 40” Blog).

The weekend started off like just like any other Vintage-racing event in the Truechoice trailer. The registration and getting the trailer parked went smooth as always. (SVRA did a great job with the golf shirts) Thursday had beautiful weather and great practice. Friday was awesome… the downtown race/car show/party rocked. Saturday great racing until the FOG rolled in (WOW it gets foggy fast) but the social was nice, a little cold. Here are my pic’s with commentary:
You can almost envision the original downtown racing

This was a great environment.

Saturdays fog rolling in

Saturdays fog rolling in 15 minutes later

Saturdays fog rolling in 10 minutes after that.

Saturdays fog rolling in 10 minutes after that.

Kind of scary...

Saturdays fog rolling in 10 minutes after that.

Reminds me of the movie the FOG.

Display cars celebrating 50 years of Lola

There were 6 super nice examples on display

Fog's gone... a bit chilly but the party must go on

Why do they need so many?
Have you ever heard some of the racing stories?

A few bottles of wine got consumed which makes sense being in the Finger Lakes wine region
Got to make sure when you leave you are not seeing double

His other car is a Lola

VERY NICE LOLA'S

A little carnage

Perfect sky's on Sunday

Bring your own cheerleader.

Yes, she is holding pom-poms.

My favorite view of the track
(Being on it)

Life is Good...

Hot wheels turn 40

It’s amazing that Hot Wheels have been around for 40 years. I guess it’s nothing I have ever given much thought to but it was a very cool display they put on in downtown Watkins glen during the SVRA event. I don’t think I would have driven across country to see it but it was an added benefit to already being there with the Truechoice trailer. Walking through the display defiantly brought back some memories of my childhood collection of cars. I think for a lot of folks, Hot Wheels played a role in defining what kind of car guy you grew up to be. Could it be that some of us had already started to form our auto interests at a young age? I don’t know for sure but it’s uncanny that my little brother’s Hot Wheels were all beat up, scratched, used, and abused and today he is the owner/driver of the Avenger Monster Truck. (Still abusing cars today) I did get my complementary collector commemorative Hot Wheel car at the event. Here are a few Pic’s from Watkins:

Traditional Hot Wheels drag racing (they just took the orange track off)

1968 to 1978 do you remember?

The history is way cool

I missed this era (I'm an old guy)

Getting to know this era (I'm a Father)

1/8 scale models of popular Hot wheels

LIFE IS GOOD!

Miss November

What has got to be one of the greatest things about working at Truechoice is meeting all the new people. In the course of my travels I have met some very interesting people. I have got the greatest job in the world, think about it hang out in a racing environment with car people. Who could ask for more?

Anyway… the point of this blog is that good things happen to good people. I have attached a link at the bottom about Colbi Bradley. The reason for this link is that I meet Jay Bradley on my first trip to Georgia with Truechoice. He was nice enough to help me with some logistics with our trailer. (Super nice guy) Jay runs Simpson Racing for Steve & Diane Simpson while they are busy running HSR. Jay gave me a tour of the shop and there is a “Colbi” section of the shop with her hero cards on the wall, her kart, and such. When I asked Jay about her, he beamed with pride as he told about her racing career so far. (Much like I do when I talk about my daughter) I love the fact that he is encouraging his daughter to break some of the traditionally male stereo-types. Motorsports needs more women involved. Motorsports levels the playing field and it’s nice to see women excel at it. We have all heard of Lyn St. James, Shirley Muldowney, or Danica Patrick but we all do need to cheer for some of the new round of women racers. Colbi is somebody to watch in the future.

http://www.trackchic.com/wbw/

JUST A THOUGHT...

Super Model Maimed

Super Model Maimed… Not really but I think this is much worse.
To a car guy this is the equivalent of a super model with broken nose or Michelangelo’s David falling over or a wild fire in a national park or a Picasso falling off the wall or… I think you get the point.

This is a real GT-40 with race history
This “super model” is not headed to the plastic surgeon but back to a body shop and a race shop
Tough racing at Watkins Glen for this GT-40



The SVRA event is always a great one at Watkins Glen and on occasion there is some carange that the even the Truechoice Trailer does not have the parts to fix.


Just a thought...

Dreossi Special

My favorite thing about the vintage racing is the unique cars. If you live cars as much as I do it’s worth taking in either a SVRA or a HSR event. It’s museum quality cars RACING.

This is a very cool car… a Dreossi Special owned by Doug Elcomb. This car was built by Ray Dreossi and Cece Simmons up near Toronto in 1961 as a Canada Class car. It also conforms to the early rear engine Formula Junior rules having less then 1100cc, drum brakes, and a production gear case. Going through the SVRA Tech line

The car is monocoque structure (no tube frame) built from a drop tank from a F86 Sabre Jet.
Almost a fighter jet cockpit
The cars steering uses a cut-down NSU Prinz rack
The front uprights/brakes are Standard Pennant (pre-Triumph Herald)

The rear uprights/brakes are Austin Mini 850 front ends

When you look at the wheel/tire combination it is hard to believe that this car will go 115 on the top end powered by a Sprite motor (948cc bored to 1001cc) with only about 75bhp. The transmission is a Fiat 600 gearbox mounted upside down. The cooling is done by a Fiat 850 radiator.

I had brought the Truechoice Suport Trailer to Watkins Glen for a SVRA event. This car was doing well in the feature race up until Doug "ran out of talent in the Inner Loop on lap#2!! recovered to finish 12th after a good fight with Travis Engen's Lotus 18". (Doug's Words)

Life is Good...

Thunderbolt Raceway

My first trip to South Jersey was actually very nice. I was surprised how nice the area was because I had heard so many of those “New Jersey” stories. The drive was good even through the city of brotherly love but it is amazing how fast it gets rural once you get on 55. This was actually our first trip with the Truechoice Support trailer to the Thunderbolt race track at the New Jersey Motorsports Park.

It was another GREAT SVRA event as always. The SVRA always does a great of putting on events. The weekend was good overall but there were some issues. I believe that the New Jersey Motorsports Park will be an awesome track a year from now. The Air Force theme is really neat and the club house is very nice too.

The security cars all had a WW2 look to them

The club house was very nice (NJMSP is a country club track)

This building that looks like a hanger has an observation deck and a banquet hall

SVRA's podium

False grid in use

It is far from being finished. It lacked grass, grandstands, and organization. Having any racing on it other then club events is probably way too premature. If you wanted to put a positive spin on the track, what more could guys want construction equipment and race cars in the same place (Tim Taylor of the “Home Improvement” TV program would be in heaven)

Far end of track

Front end of track

Construction equipment track side

Mother Nature would normally not be a factor when deciding when to schedule events but the lack of grass or any type of ground cover created massive dust storms.

View out the back of the Truechoice Trailer

Common sight after the wind gusts

We did sell our fair share of Pipercross Air Filters, helicopter tape, Bell visors and tear offs after the driver’s sand blasted the racing on the course.

We will probably be cleaning dust out of the Truechoice Support Trailer for weeks to come.

Nasa’s Travel tips for Millville, New Jersey:

Country Inn & Suites is the nicest hotel in the area.

Serafina’s is a restaurant that you got to eat at. The wait staff treats you like family. It serves “real” Italian food with generous portions. UNBELIEVABLE

All the stores are Vineland (2 exits up on 55)

Life is Good!