And Bars Leaks does work, right? :) We assume you made it home okay.
--Pat Kelly
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>From: "Lolita Adrien" <lomike@earthlink.net>
>To: <ba-autox@autox.team.net>
>Subject: Sportsmanship/ Camaraderie
>Date: Tue, May 6, 2003, 8:39 PM
>
> WARNING
> I don't write as well as Katie.
> If you don't like warm and fuzzy stories... hit the delete now.
> If you are in this sport for the relationships it builds, sit down,read on.
>
> I don't know about the rest of you but I have thought about it before, if
> someone's car broke and they needed a ride to finish competing for the day
> would I offer up my car? Truth is we probably all would like to think that we
> would. Usually we never find out because our beasts are pretty reliable
> despite the thrashings we inflict on them regularly and thus we have very few
> mechanicals.
> It had never occurred to me that I would be the one in the position to need
> that ride, especially at something like a National Tour.
> First, Lolita and I were NOT going to the Tour (way too busy)
> Bryan asked if he could co-drive our car and if we would go. OK ,we decided it
> was possible, but only Sat & Sun.
> So we ended up finagling Friday off and arrived Friday AM in time to help out
> here and there before the practice course opened. With three drivers the car
> only made eleven runs total on practice, we were all busy getting things
> ready for Sat..
> Saturday AM, early at the gas station right off base somebody's car smells.
> (sure glad it's not us)
> RAIN
> CSL runs in the first heat-Did I mention it RAINED? Everything is wet even
> when it's not raining.
> Exit rain, enter wind, begin dry. By third heat when CS runs we are starting
> to see dry spots. Bryan runs and returns to grid. I run and when I come back
> to grid everyone has discovered that grid is dry except under the little green
> car where there is green water.
> We know the paint does not run.(no happy ending yet, it's the core not a hose,
> the car is done for the day at least)
> (This is where it gets cool)
> While I am frantically trying to find the leak while on a 5 min. mechanical,
> Peter Thana explains to Jake Hodges (that would be the same Jake that I am
> locked in a points battle for first in the region with) that it is legal for a
> competitor to change vehicles in class.
> (This is where it gets REALLY cool)
> So Jake offers up his car for me to run in!!!!!!!!!!!
> (Oh BTW -There is a whole 'nother story about Novice to our sport/club, Rich
> Parker overhearing all of this and offering up his Miata for Bryan to run in
> AND to Lolita if we can't get repaired overnight!)
> So I graciously accept, clear it with Grid and go out and get spanked by
> Jake.
> (What you thought I was gonna be able to beat him in his car? Get over it)
> I'm still grinning and it ain't from getting our car together enough to run
> Sunday,
> and it ain't from getting into Trophy position at a Tour,
> It definitely is from knowing that Jake will whip butt on me before the season
> is over and that despite knowing that, I'll still be doing everything I can to
> make him better too.
> I'll buy my own beer-I love you guys
> MJ
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