Chuck, your paint job WAS my inspiration! I
couldn't help but chuckle about you interupting
John Beckett's dinner all the time during the
"pre list" era. I guess that's what the busy
signal was all the time when I was calling. I'll
bet he sure is happy that this list got started.
I agree, the Maxton meets are like family
re-unions. I sure look forward to the next one.
Dick J
--- Chuck Rothfuss <crothfuss@coastalnet.com>
wrote:
> List,
>
> I think I had as much fun this weekend as
> the first time I drove the USS
> Wankel to Maxton for its' first ECTA tech
> inspection several years ago.
> That was after my first and last winter of
> land-speed car preparation in a
> vacuum. (Pre-LSR list) I spent many cold
> nights in the garage agonizing
> over the rule book and disturbing John
> Beckett's supper with technical
> questions that the rulebook left fuzzy.
>
> This event was a breeze. Put the car in
> street trim...something it
> hadn't seen in years. Change a couple bulbs,
> install new wiper blades, and
> roll it on the trailer as a Real Street car.
> If it had a second seat and a
> bicycle rack I would've DRIVEN it to the event
> with my 10 year old crew
> chief son, Matt. I'd considered that, but
> scrapped the idea after
> contemplating the walk home if the car broke
> and the fact that I only have a
> 5 gallon fuel cell. It was certainly much more
> pleasant traveling with all
> the junk in the tow vehicle.
>
> I was determined that at this event I would
> take it easy, and for once I
> did not beat the Starter, David Locklear, to
> the start line. The wind was
> blowing straight down the course as I made my
> first two passes, and in the
> opposite direction from the way I prefer. The
> combination of street trim
> and the stiff head-wind only netted me 122 MPH
> speeds, just a tick over the
> existing E/GRS record. The wind was all the
> excuse I needed to spend the
> rest of the day socializing. (and looking for
> that bear!) I visited the
> pits of all the regulars at Maxton, and greeted
> old friends.
>
> Maxton has begun to have a family reunion
> kinda atmosphere for me. While
> Matt rode his bike with the Bodenheimer and
> Locklear boys I answered the
> questions of spectators, visited with the fire
> crew and got to compliment
> Dick J on his choice of paint for the new race
> car. (looks a lot like mine
> only with fewer spots) I was so busy visiting
> that I didn't even put film
> in the camera and missed the kids attempt at
> entry into the ECTA 20 MPH Club
> on their bikes. Certainly above and beyond the
> call of duty for our Chief
> Timer, Joe Timney, it's a big hit with the
> kids. Thanks Joe! A 10 year old
> with a time slip is a future land-speed racer.
>
>
> Sunday was much the same, with a trip to
> shut-down with Dave Hinni, just
> in time to watch two cars leave the course. I
> made three passes Sunday,
> adding another 4 MPH to the record. Matt and I
> did a little switcheroo on
> some fire hydrant caps, trimmed back some
> brush, and quickly had running
> water at the corner of the gravel entry road.
> This will sure beat driving a
> mile to the next nearest water point on the
> course, and opens the
> possibility of refreshing COLD showers for the
> brave Maxton tent campers.
>
> I've got my winter speed "fix" now and can
> get down to the winter chores
> of preparing new toys for next season. I
> certainly look forward to seeing
> everyone again and zipping down my favorite
> mile of concrete.
>
> Chuck Rothfuss
> USS Wankel LSR #510
> (Formerly ECTA #9)
> Pole Cat Hollow, NC (no rain in 33 days, 32
> degrees at night, 75 in the
> daytime!)
>
=====
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
* Dick J *
* (In East Texas) *
* # 729 *
* C/GRS C/FRS D/STR *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
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