Wow! What a great weekend. I had a great time working on the Babe-Rally
Midget, lending a hand here and there, and taking a few laps of the track in
a go kart, to say nothing of the food.
Dream Farm has proven to be a fine venue for SOS. The whole area was quite
warm, despite the occasional need to open the overhead doors to get stuff
and victims in and out. Even with a substantial assortment of Thicko race
cars, there was plenty of room for working on all of the cars that showed
up. The video corner was a nice touch, too. Those who needed a break from
their labors could relax on the couch and watch Donald Healey's home movies,
footage of Sebring 1964, and many other arcane pieces of race video. Thanks
again to WST for his consumate hostmanship!
The Babe Midget (henceforth occasionally referred to as "Mickey" in honor of
the corpus delectus found on the floor mat) now has brakes, a fuel pump,
horns, floor boards that are more substance than illusion, and almost an
alternator. Many thanks to Peter Caldwell of Worldwide Auto Parts for
supplying brake parts, hoses, etc, complete with special "Babe-Rally"
pricing!
Mickey has now left for Racine for continuing work in preparation for his
big trip in May.
Terry's 1967 Sprite had some issues which only manifested when thoroughly
warmed up, so he had it out on the track for some warmup laps in the
morning. Our gracious host had plowed it, but it was still plenty slippery.
Larry Daniels' Bugeye went on a slimming course and lost a lot of weight. No
sign of floorboards remains to be seen and the carcase is about ready to pay
a visit to the media blaster. Larry also was gracious enough to show us the
short way around the track with the fastest laps timed on the course today.
You should have seen him drifting that kart around the front of the track
with the inside front wheel picking up some air time.
Several kart drivers discovered the hazards of being the only kart on the
track when plenty of raw materials for snowballs were on hand...
Food and drink were abundant and good. Willy brought bratwurst from Racine,
Larry supplied the steaks, Nancy cooked breakfast both days, including
killer swedish pancakes with home-made applesauce. I had never had bratwust
chopped into inch-long chunks and fried up as breakfast sausage, but it
won't be the last time I do. Son of Secretariat failed to make his
traditional appearance, but we were all so stuffed that we did not really
have a chance to miss him, let alone lament his absence appropriately.
I would like to say that we missed all of you that weren't able to make it
this year, but we really didn't have much time for that. Better plan your
priorities better for next year!
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