From the Seat!

Wow! Yesterday was an adventure. Yesterday was the Inaugural Pro TaG Endurance race at NCMP. Three hours, Three drivers per team on average and despite mother nature's attempts to spoil the fun a great time was had by all.

Soon to be a series this endurance classic seems destined for the headlines. Open to all TaG machines using TaG USA engine rules and a simplified single weight of 380 pounds and Bridgestone YHC tires or 100cc piston port engines at a very low minimum weight with open tires. To no ones surprise the TaG machines pretty much ruled.

This writer helped form a team for this race consisting of yours truly and good friends Pete Gross and John Ewing (NCMP Yamaha Champion) and of course the infamous Gooseman (?) bringing his muscle and savvy to back up the team effort.

At one point our participation looked like it was on the ropes after an unplanned mechanical snafu. (Are there planned ones?) New friend and customer IRL driver Tomas Scheckter offered us his Tony/Parilla Leopard TaG car to use. Not ones to look a gift horse or kart in the mouth we cheerfully took Tomas up on his offer.

Raceday morning dawned grey and unseasonably cool (OK cold!) and practice time was severely shortened by a sleet storm. (I told you it was cold!) As none of us had any laps in the car we took advantage of what practice was available. After a teeth chattering meeting the decision was made to have John qualify the car and he held up his end quite well qualifying fifth out of nearly 30 qualifiers. As usual time ran out very quickly and after an entertaining calculation of fuel mileage using a tape measure, a measuring cup, a flashlight and a stop watch we decided that we would stop at forty five minutes to refuel and change drivers. Another shivering meeting appointed yours truly as the lead off driver and I gathered my gear while the mysterious Gooseman (?) changed brake pads and adjusted the brakes ably assisted by Pete while John offered words of encouragement. We all agreed that going with fresh brakes was a good idea for such a long race. Really smart guys. After a quick drivers meeting we got the signal to start engines and rolled out of the pits for the first of two warm-up laps. The omnipotent Goosemans (?) last words to me were "Don't forget to bed in the brakes!" As the weaving tire scuffing field meandered around the track I repeatedly dabbed the brakes trying to get some heat into them. Closing up on the car in front of me I tapped the brakes and promptly rear ended the poor guy in the 25 car. Dragging the brakes heavily I again closed into position and again rear ended the 25. Not good I thought to myself. Summoning up the courage or maybe stupidity to take the start with brakes that were barely there we came around for the green. The start was amazingly orderly except for me rear ending the 25 again going into the first turn. Babying the brakes for a few laps and losing a few spots in the process I was finally rewarded with the comfortable feeling of the brakes finally bedding in. Now it was time to get to work moving from about 12th to the top five before the onboard timer indicated that our allotted fuel window of 45 minutes had arrived. Storming into the pits to make my first ever actual pit stop I surprised everyone but the amazing Gooseman (?) by hitting my marks. I removed the gas cap as I more or less fell out of the car on the left while Pete and Gooseman manned the refueling. John was anxious and nearly jumped in the car before the fueling was done. Dropping back to 12th on the pit stop John put his head down and soon had us back into the top five. Then it began to sprinkle, then it began to rain, and then it began to sleet again. First a full course caution was displayed but soon it was obvious that the red flag had to come out. Thankfully things dried up in a matter of minutes and John took the restart while we tried to calculate the effect of the yellow and red flags on fuel mileage. We left John out for 10 minutes longer than planned.

Pit Now! Was the sign and John dutifully smoked the car into the pits while the rest of us did our best not to look like Curly, Moe and Larry. Out the gate goes Pete now in 8th place. Thanks to some forceful driving on Pete's part he worked his way back into 5th before hauling into the pits where I took over for the run to the checkered. Charging out the pit gate I quickly brought the car up to speed and began to pick off cars one by one. By our calculations we had just over a full lap over 6th and this proves that we should spend more time practicing the use of a calculator. When the 6th place car started knocking on the door we allowed him to unlap himself rather than battle needlessly or so we thought. Well! Evidently he was not a lap down and there went the $1000 check for 5th with him. Nonetheless we had a great time, pit stops and fuel strategy and the sheer team effort involved added a whole new dimension to the racing. I for one can't wait to give this another try. Maybe next time we will get it right. The winning team made the distance on two stops (barely) and they also ran the race like every lap was the last. No question that the winners deserved the $2000 winners check.

Thanks and congratulation to Team Members John Ewing, Pete Gross, the indefatigable Gooseman (?) and car owner Tomas Scheckter.

What's that sound? I fear it may be the fat lady warming up as the season is just about toast. It's been tough, it's been fun, and it's been different.

Until next time, Race Hard, Race Safe and God Bless America!