I hope this Walter Mitty weather/race report is not the harbinger of our
season in the east & midwest. We know the guys in California will be OK.
I planned to remove the axles again to check something I didnt before.
This time I will magnaglo the axles. We have run for (4) seasons without
incident. I dont want to start now.
Thanks for taking the time to report on Walter Mitty...Living
vicariously is better than nothing...Isnt that what Walter Mitty was
about, anyway :-)
I am still planning to bring a couple spare blocks to Gingerman for you
& John Harkness, as you requested. This brings my inventory down to (4),
including two in use. I'll hang on to the the two spares in the event
that someone needs one later.
>----------
>From: Jeff Snook
>Reply To: jsnook_gmi@wcnet.org
>Sent: Sunday, April 27, 1997 9:55 PM
>To: fot@autox.team.net
>Subject: Walter Mitty Report
>
>Dear FOT
>
>Here's a quick report on the Mitty:
>
>RAIN, RAIN, MORE RAIN AND COLD.
>
>
>Here's a slightly longer report:
>
>A record entry of 404 cars according to Niel Harmon in timing and
>scoring! The paddock was a zoo! Offically, the paddock did not open
>until Thursday morning, but by the time they opened the gate Thursday,
>all the prime real estate was taken by the big rigs and most TRs could
>be found down in the "hollow" and even further in the woods where I
>didn't even know they had paddock space! Oh well, so goes it for your
>typical HSR event.
>
>Friday was clear and cool for practice sessions. The TR field in group
>3 was made up of George Wright in his bright yellow TR4, Phil Bradbury
>in his BRG TR3, Alan Pinel with his fast red TR4, Rich Taylor driving
>his "street" TR4 (one session with the convertible top up!) and Alan
>Taylor driving Barry Rosenberg's black TR4. Additionally, FOTer Mike
>Jackson was there driving his Formula "V", and I was in the rental Lotus
>51 FF.
>
>Saturday was rainy and cold for the morning session, but cleared up for
>the PM and group 3 had a good qualifying race. Alan Pinel, was as
>usual, the fastest TR, but had a slight altercation with a Porsche 356
>in turn 2, which resulted in a some agricultural driving, so he
>qualified behind some MGs and his team mate Alan Taylor.
>
>Sunday race results are unknown at this time because I went home early
>due to the inclement weather. The paddock was clearing out fast Sunday
>morning as the forecast was for more rain and a high of 50 degrees.
>After "tip toeing" around the track in the rain for both my sessions on
>Saturday, I had enough wet driving for the weekend! No one had warned
>me that it's different in the rain when you're driving an open wheel
>car!
>
>SPECIAL NOTICE------
>
>Please, please, magnaflux your rear axles!!!!
>
>George Wright came off the track Friday complaining of a loss of power,
>thought he had oiled the clutch. Guess what he found? Right....... one
>of his rear axles broke! Fortunately for him it was inside of the
>bearing carrier and his wheel did not come off like mine did at
>Sebring! It broke at the thickest part of the axle, about 3" from the
>key way.
>
>In addition, Barry checked Alan Pinel's axles while preping his car
>before the race and found one that they replaced because it had lots of
>cracks. This 40 year old steel is starting to feel its age!!!!!!
>
>That's all for now, hope to see lots of my Midwest friends next month at
>Gingerman.
>
>Jeff Snook
>Battle of Britain Racing
>
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