Those LeMons Drivers Are CRAZY!
Last March, I had the opportunity to drive for Team Road Kill Grill at the Southern Discomfort Lemons race held at Carolina Motorsports Park in Kershaw, SC. I had planned to run with Mike Smith’s team several years ago but the chance to take a trip to the F1 race in Germany bumped me out of the ride. While Hockenheim was a wonderful experience, I have often regretted missing my chance to run a LeMons race. I had a lot of pre-conceived notions from what I had heard about LeMons. Some were very positive – great racing on low budget, very little WTW contact, well classed cars and smooth running events. Some were very negative – it’s fixed, competition licenses sold for $35, people on track that should not be driving on the street, rules bent based on donations and goodies to BS judging, etc. Some of those notions were completely false while others were dead-on accurate. Two things were proven beyond a shadow of a doubt… LeMons drivers are a
bit crazy and they know how to have fun.
SCCA Time Trial Licensing – Here’s How!
How does a person obtain a license to compete in SEDIV Track Trials (Level 3) and Hill Climbs (Level 4)? The easy way out would be to tell you to go to www.scca.com and figure it out. It is all there but sometimes it is easier to understand if someone distills it down to simple steps. Everything I say herein is related to Track Trials (Level 3) and Hill Climbs (Level 4) and not necessarily to Level 1 (PDX) and Level 2 (Club Trials) which do not require a SCCA TT permit.
TIGER STRIPES AND LeMONS INSANITY – A COMBINATION FOR FUN!
The LeMon's Southern Discomfort race was held March 3-4 at Carolina Motorsports Park in Kershaw, SC. Tyler Zellmer and a group of Clemson University students competed admirably in the TIGER STRIPE ASME 240SX. This is their story!
How to Ready your Solo Car for Time Trial
ENTERING THE TIME TRIAL RANKS? Been doing a lot of SOLO? Thinking it would be great to get your car on a race track and see what you and it can do? Want more seat time than you can get in SOLO? It is not as difficult or as expensive as you might think. You do not have to have a road race prepared car to participate. My daily driver Miata is still used for SOLO, Hill Climbs and Track Trials.
First Hand Account of a First SCCA Time Trial
Steve Hampton of Chap Racing told me once "You know, I can remember a lot of races I ran and crewed. I can remember stories about what happened on the way to the track, during the race, in the pits, that night after the race and the trip home. I cannot remember where I placed or where my driver finished. Great memories about racing are as much about what happens peripheral to the race as it the race itself. " He's right! It's the people, the things that broke, the tire that went flat, the tool you forgot, the part you broke, the awful food you ate, the uncomfortable hotel bed you slept in that had newlyweds next door, the creative solutions for getting ready for the next session, the conversations with stewards, courseworkers and other racers... all of it. Here is a great example.
This is the first hand account of Rick Burris at his first SCCA Time Trial event at the Fall 2011 Little Talledega Grand Prix in Munford, AL. Rick is an excellent autocrosser and has logged a lot of hours running track events in his Evo... I knew if we ever got him in our Miata, he would fall in love and it would take a crow bar to get him out. I swear, every single thing he says below is true. I was there. It was especially true that we all had a great time. _________________________________________________________
What do you get a CAR GUY for Christmas?
If you are a car guy, send this link to your wife. If you are a car gal, send this link to your hubby and, please, do not take any offense to the term "car guy". You ARE a car guy too...you're just prettier.
Chimney Rock Memories – Ted Tidwell’s 22 hillclimbs
It has been an honor to get to know Ted Tidwell, one of Chimney Rock Hillclimb's greatest drivers to earn the title - King of the Hill. Listening to his stories and clear recollection of so many events, it brings the event back to life. Many of us in the sports car scene in the Southeast remember going to the Rock and watching those brave men and women running that mountain. Not so many of us can recall the late 1950's when the starter at the bridge signaled a steward with a stopwatch at the top of the mountain by slamming two 2 x 4's (joined by a door hinge) together that a run was beginning. It's true. Here's the article by Ted Tidwell in his own words.
Newspaper Headlines – “Jaguar Wins NASCAR race in New Jersey”
Article continues
"Amazing performance by Jaguar driver as he wins by almost a full lap."
RACING QUOTES – PAST AND PRESENT
In the sport of auto racing, it’s difficult to get good enough, quickly enough, to get a shot at driving professionally. While many are able to find mentors early in their career, the wisdom, logic and humor left behind by many great drivers of the past is available to all through quotations. This is a collection of some of the best quotations from all motorsport disciplines. I hope it triggers some ideas, starts some laughs and stirs some memories from the past. - Hans
NEW HILLS TO CONQUER
In September of this year, George Bowland set out on a trip to run 3 hillclimbs in three states in three weeks. From his home in NC, to Boise Idaho to Polaris Montana, over to Weatherly Pennsylvania and then back home...8100 miles. THAT is a lot of asphalt but George is well accustomed to seeing asphalt pass under his car!
Upcoming Events
- May 19, 2012NASA - SE Pit Bull Brawl
- May 26, 2012SCCA CCR Memorial Monster Road Race
- May 28, 2012SCCA CCR SCR Solo Event at CMP
- June 15, 2012NASA-SE June Jam
