They are right here in my shoulders and my elbows where I came in
contact with the tube frame of Bill and Lynda Smiley's 1985 Van Diemen
Formula Ford, and the injuries occured while being bashed around the
interior like that frog in a blender thing. Owe!
In my little quest to find something I want to drive next year, I was
very lucky to be offered a ride with Bill and Lynda for the final CenDiv
BFG event at Peru, IN. This was my second time in anything other than a
stock car, having tried Al Cram's CM car early this spring. The main
difference in these machines is that the Smiley car is actively
campaigned and therefore has fresh tires, is weekly maintained, and has
all the minor little bugs worked out. They have invested a year and a
half in finding a set up, and it certainly shows..this thing was an
absolute blast to drive! Most of the advice the CM list offered was
true for me, and I really am hooked on the experience. I am the
happiest DFL finisher I know. (I was a cone head for most all of my
runs, but was concerned more about the experience than I was about
finishing position.)
An observation, given some recent posts about why people drive certain
classes: In response to certain claims that one class has "better"
drivers than others, I feel that there is not an inherent difference in
the skill/talent level necessary to perform in either Stock or Mod. The
skills are simply different. Things *do* happen MUCH faster in a CM
car. But you adapt and do things faster. The ability to learn, adapt,
and work with the car is key. You work with the skills you already
possess, to whatever varying degrees amongst us. Put everyone in a hat
(not literally) and random draw for cars so everyone is driving a
different class/car, and I think the cream would still rise to the top.
I'm not saying it's easy....seems to me that the people running at the
top in any class are the very best, and are exceptionally difficult to
catch ragardless of the class. I just think it is equally as hard to get
that last 5 percent out of a CM car as it is with a Neon. The same but
different. Make sense without insulting anyone?
Anyway, I want to thank Bill and Lynda. These folks are fantastic. I
feel that their experience, their attitude, knowledge, and perpetual
happy and positive outlook embody the spirit of our sport. Anyone who
knows them knows what I mean. I had a great time because they love to
have fun, and they always seem to be having fun even while campaigning a
Nationally competitive operation. Works for me. Now, I need to start
figuring out how to get into one of these things for
myself....hmmmmmmm.....
Pat Washburn
Wausau, WI
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