May 29-31, 2004 -- Dbl SARRC/ECR/CCPS

We had a great turnout from the Chattanooga Region: Kenn Walker, Dwight Floyd, Vesa Silegren, Art Thompson, and Ruthie Cartlidge. Chuck crewed and cooked his world famous spaghetti for Art and Ruthie, Teresa crewed for Vesa, and Kenn brought some buds from Atlanta and Shreveport, LA to help out. Competitor John Leigh and his son helped Dwight.

Kenn (in G Production) took first place in both of his SARRC races, as did Vesa (ITC) on Sunday. Vesa was second to Scott Giles on Saturday. Dwight Floyd (SPU) was second on Sunday. Not sure what he did on Saturday (we think he was second then, as well). Sometimes, it’s hard to results from the CCR.

-- (unsigned)
 

Just want to let the gang know that Ruthie got her novice permit signed off Memorial Day weekend. Now the only thing between her and a racing license is writing a check.
 

2004 Races

November
   ARRC
October
   SIC
September
   AMS
July
   Road Atlanta
   Barber
June
   Low's
May
   Memphis
   Kershaw
   VIR
April
   Roebling
March
   VIR
   Memphis
   Road Atlanta
Feburary
   Roebling Road

<< Older            Newer >>
 

She drove the sprint race on Sunday, which was the last race she had to complete on her novice permit. She drove fairly conservatively, with the main goal being to finish and get credit for the race. Afterwards, the chief steward happily signed her off as ready for a license. That evening she got to ceremonially pull the novice "X" off the back of the car, though she had already traded it for a donut on the driver's door. (A Miata tried an over-zealous pass at the end of the back straight)

On Memorial Day Monday we shared the 90-minute ECR. I drove the first hour and gave her the car for the last 30 minutes. (I did the long stint since she had driven the day before.) The car was missing a little in left turns, but she managed to run consistently quick laps. I was so proud to see how she was learning to work traffic to her advantage during the race. All was well until about two laps from the end when she zigged in front of a BMW who thought she was going to zag. (This was on a section of the track where drivers take lots of different lines.) No significant damage, but another new donut on the driver's door and she went off in a huge cloud of dust. Nonetheless, she recovered and finished the race. She found the BMW pilot, Grafton Robertson, later in post-race impound and they both agreed that they each simply misinterpreted what the other was planning to do. Luckily, he just bobbled a little and continued with no loss of position.

Afterwards, she and Renee Hines, another competitor and fellow student from driving school earlier this year, got to exchange hugs and war stories. What a great weekend to see her keep her wits and think in some pretty hairy situations, to see her skills improving, and most of all to see that huge smile on her face when she took off her helmet!!

-- Art Thompson
 

Hack! Sputter! Cough! Ptooey! Sand in my balaclava . . .shoes . . .eyeballs . . .whatever. When the Beemer tanged me during the ECR, I went off of turn #4 in a HUMUNGOUS cloud of dust. The poor corner workers thought I had blown up. One guy was literally running the 100-meter dash with the fire bottle. I got the car started and the windshield wipers going enough to clear the mess and let the worker know I wanted to go on. The surprise on his face was almost comical. He found me in impound later and told me that I had done everything right in the situation, which made me feel really good.

It was a messy but incredibly fun weekend. The Sunday SARRC was my first experience with the really fast Miatas, who proceeded to scare the snot out of my balaclava forever. Joe Evans and Mathew Pombo were screamin’ around that track, with Todd Buras pedaling hard to keep up! I tried to keep up with Vesa . . . really! I did get to play with a closely matched Civic and would have caught him if I hadn’t overcooked turn #5 and spun. Live and learn.

The ECR was great experience. Fortunately, the lone Spec Racer Ford dropped out of the race early. Debbie Buras, in her Miata, was so helpful on the track that, when I pointed her around me, she waved back. What a hoot! Thank goodness I had Art and Chuck after the Beemer incident. I came into the pits as soon as I could, thinking I’d get in serious trouble with the Chief Steward if I stayed on track. The coaches told me to keep on racing. I would have if the checker hadn’t come out. Fortunately, the Pit Marshall let me go across the finish line so we’d get credit for the last lap. Another novice moment. Gotta love ‘em.

-- Ruthie Cartlidge

© Copyright Notice