Onto the track!

Shortly after we all got lined up to hit the track, my old buick started to spit & sputter, then it stalled. I cranked it over about 3 times, which seemed like forever, and with one hell of a BANG (backfire), she came to life again. She ran better than ever after that! We headed out onto the track with my heart thumping louder than most of the engines. I couldn't believe I was actually out on the race track! Slowly cruising by the grandstands, and thinking "I'm finally on the other side of the fence!" The pace truck brought us around to turn #4, then veered off into the infield. At the drop of the green flag, it was time to go. I pushed the old pedal to the floor & headed into turn one. No time to be nervous now, too busy trying to negotiate the turns & all the wrecked & stalled cars on the track. About 12 laps in I came with a vengeance out of turn 4, & got tapped from behind. The old Buick slid sideways enough to catch the front of another car. Within 5 seconds I had been hit by three cars. I felt like a ball bearing in a pinball machine! So I shook the cobwebs out and turned the key, in hopes she'd start. With cars whizzing by me on both sides, I put her in gear & away we went again. Something wasn't right this time! I hit the gas, and the engine RPMs went up, but the speedometer was going down. Then I knew there was no fluid left in the transmission. I barely made it off the track, when the old Buick finally died. As I made my way back to the truck, I managed to catch a glimpse of the end of the race. That was one of the BEST adrenaline rushes I've had yet. Like they say! "It's the most fun you can have with your clothes on". Now I know what they're talking about. Soon after, Dad & the gang came back to the truck, & we all sat on the trailer talking about the race, and having a few good laughs over a couple of cold ones. While I had them all there, we pushed the car up on the trailer, strapped her down, & headed for home. It was definitely a night to remember. And a start of something for years to come.

Getting ready to race!

The chill is finally out of the air, and thoughts have turned to the local dirt track. Since I was a kid I dreamed of being in one of those thunderous, ground shaking cars, making their way around the track. We never had enough money growing up to do anything like that, but, finally in 2005 (at the ripe old age of 42) I got my chance! Thanks to Merrittville Speedway for bringing back the "Enduro race". I thought about it, and thought about it. Then I just said, "if I don't do it now, I never will". So, off i went in search of a car. My first prize was an old buick regal, 6 cyl, 4 door. Stripped her down to meet the tracks rules, welded a roll bar in place, and gave her a gloss black tremclad coat. The final touch was to put the number "J40" on the sides of the car, as that used to be my dads number when he raced, back in the 1950s. I could not put the number on the car, as it was a surprise for him. My wife & I, and a good friend, Cam, managed to get the car to the track on a borrowed trailer. My mom, dad, Uncle Gary, cousin Will, and daughter, Sheri all made it to the track on the spectators side to watch, and get a good laugh! I was running around in the pits to find some duct tape, so I could put that J40 on the sides of the car. Cam finally found some from another driver he knew. We got that on & waited for our turn to race. About 15 minutes before the race, here came dad to see how things were going. I think he was just as nervous as me by the look in his eyes. Then he saw the number on the car. I could have swore he had a tear in his eye, along with the BIG smile! That just made it all worth while.

(to be continued)