| Double Driver's School |
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| Double Driver's School |
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Roebling Road Double Driver's School from Chuck the (almost) new racer’s perspective (and a few extra remarks from the crew).
Crewing for a couple of years re-acquainted me with
SCCA club racing and I got the itch to drive again. Things began to fall
in place last fall, when Art bought an enclosed trailer that he decided
not to keep. I jumped at the trailer (You have to get the racecar to the
track somehow!). Then, I bought Will Perry's championship ITC Civic. |
2005 Races November |
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Having raced before, I did not have the same butterflies as many new drivers, but that is not to say I wasn’t concerned and worried. I'm older and I had never driven the Civic at any speed greater than a walk. The crew pipes in: No Butterflies? Those of us who know Mr. Fullgraf also know that he’s a man of few words, so imagine Art’s surprise when Chuck answered simple questions with complete paragraphs before his first practice session on Friday. Nawwww, he wasn’t nervous. Then we got our first green flag and the fun began.
We helped the shorthanded Roebling crew on Friday by working corners and got the juicy assignment of manning turn #5. Where’s Bob Forsten with his squirt gun when you need it? I worked the morning shift; Art worked the afternoon, where he busted Susan for blowing a red flag. He took a little heat for that one later at camp Tennebama. The school was great. Although chilly and windy at times, the weather cooperated. The chief instructor, Adam Malley, was an excellent instructor and presenter. The school stayed on schedule. The race officials did a good job. Most of the drivers behaved themselves and left the rubbin' to the NASCAR types. My instructor, Ron Stalvey, a Formula Vee driver, was very helpful in correcting some 20-year-old problems I had with Roebling Road. Actually, Kevin Allen was supposed to be the chief instructor, but he was stuck in a snowstorm at an airport somewhere out west. Adam did an admirable job of stepping up to the plate in a pinch. By the end of the weekend, I was fairly comfortable driving the Civic, my lap times steadily improved, and I got to do lots of passing (ego trip!!). Stop the presses! Lap times improved? That’s an understatement. He had a couple of minor problems adjusting to front wheel drive (“When I lifted my foot off the brake, the car kept sliding!). But by Sunday, Chuck was running consistent 1:34’s and knocked out quite a few 1:32’s on old tires. He easily squashed an SPU Porsche 911, a car that should have blown his bumpers off, in his final practice race and left the rest of the ITC pack and most of the Spec Miatas in the dust. Will, Vesa, you guys had better keep an eye on your mirrors. Chuck was such a good student, that the Chief Steward took one look at his race experience and signed him off for a regional racing license. No X’s for our boy. Good job, Chuck! Many thanks to Art Thompson (chief tire changer), Ruthie Cartlidge (chief cook), and Bill Perry (relief tow car driver and SOM) for their support and assistance during the weekend. Also, thanks to Will Perry for preparing such a wonderful car. Bill felt it was his stewardly duty to work in the pace car for the practice races. After all, the 350 hp, turbo-charged Miata and its driver, Suzie Quinlog, needed adult supervision, right? Many thanks to the race workers for volunteering their time so that I could have about as much fun as a guy can have. -- Chuck Fullgraf
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February 16, 2005
When
I got involved with Chattanooga Region several years ago after a 16-year
absence from SCCA, I never really planned to return to the track. Crewing
for the Perrys, Art Thompson, and Ruthie Cartlidge rekindled that
interest. 
We
went to crew for Chuck and to lend moral support to our friend Susan
Clayburn, of Solo I fame, and her husband/crew Joe from the Alabama
Region. She was one of those new drivers that Chuck was talking about.
Thanks, in no small part, to Art’s coaching, she did a great job.
