A couple of other Grattan observations:
The race groups seemed well set up. I saw a lot of good racing in all of
the groups.
Phil and Judy Cull put in a lot of work to make the weekend so pleasant
(Phil's meetings notwhithstanding). I guess we do get somewhat less track time,
but that gives us more time to socialize. If anybody thinks its easy to be a
race chairperson, step forward and volunteer.
Fitz
"Wm. Severin Thompson" wrote:
> To all,
>
> Well, Grattan was fun as always. The partial repaving of the track smoothed
> much of the circuit. Unfortunately, the 2 roughest spots... at the end of
> the main straight on the left, and on the left coming up the hill after the
> hairpin are still pretty rough.
>
> Good News/Bad news
>
> Grattan is still my favorite track to drive. Mosport was fun, but doesn't
> contain any real late braking zones. You pass people at Mosport with sheer
> will, brass balls, and managed fear. Grattan has a number of blind of camber
> turns... much slower than Mosport, but fun none the less. There's a lot of
> places for late braking passes at Grattan. The track, combined with the
> idyllic setting, and relaxed atmosphere has made it a favorite.
>
> Some things concern me. If I remember right, Grattan was one of the most
> track time/least expensive events. It seems that the price is going up, and
> the track time goes down. Didn't we used to have 4 sessions on Friday? This
> was great if you couldn't get there and set up early on Friday... even if
> you were there at noon, you had 2 more sessions. I'm not sure why tracktime
> was allotted to Western Michigan Grand Prix drivers. It would seem that it
> takes track time away from those of us who came to race Grattan??? I'm not
> the only one that feels this way.
>
> The staff at Grattan is always accomodating. Consider that to camp all
> weekend at Grattan with you motorhome costs all of $20, rather than the $250
> for CHR at RA. That includes a sanitation station, so you can drive home
> minus the stink. (You know that $20 is off the books and goes to the
> substantial beer fund.)
>
> It's very sad that some asshole that dove in the pool despite all sorts of
> signs, and than sued the track, has severely limited this wonderful track
> asset. Grattan was a place whre the kids had many choices, and taking the
> pool away except for Friday night is a shame.
>
> Another thing that really frosts my ass is the new "No Dog" rule. Although
> it was apparently loosely enforced, it's again a situation where the few
> spoil it for the many. Many of you know, I am the owner of the "Thundering
> Herd"... four 90lb+ shelter refugee dogs.When my wife left me, she left the
> debt and the dogs. Speaking of debt, it cost me as much for boarding them
> ($232) as my race entry (hey Bill... don't deposit that check until the
> 31st!!!). This could put a serious crimp in future attendance.
>
> Thicko Village was enormous, with some new faces.... the Primack's joined us
> and claimed that they enjoyed themselves. Bill Dalton, John Golanty, and
> myself made some music/noise at the pool party Friday. Massive animal
> sacrifice was enjoyed by many Saturday. IAfter dinner Saturday, Elmo's
> sister in law Ann sang a few numbers... with the voice of an angel. Some
> anti-social jerk with a bunch of SuperV's (?) was less than accomodating
> when it came time to rope off the end of Thicko Village Lane. Danny Neuhaus
> said the guy was a real piece of work. Good things come to those who wait...
> and this guy had to wait a long time to get his rig out. Hah!
>
> Racecar wise...interesting weekend. I added double bearing hubs to the Red
> Rat Bastard. They leaked like a sonnnofffabitch all weekend, despite new
> seals. It made my "tail out" driving style all the more frightening to those
> around me. Special thanks to John Golanty for not punting me in the esses
> when I was rapidly changing directions. I had the chance to perform similar
> civic duty in Sunday's feature when Carolynn Schaeffer (sp?)'s white Lotus
> 11 spun right in front of me. I'm heading straight for her, nose to nose at
> speed... and my mind's adding up how much it will cost them to fix it after
> I hit it head on. Luckily, she didn't roll backward any further, and I
> managed to sneak behind her.
>
> Phill Cull, (Judy's other half... she married beneath her species) had an
> interesting time in his FV... as another FV tried to mate with his and came
> over the top. Phil was fine, the car's a little bent, but will live to race
> another day.
>
> Elmo and I had a lot of fun dices until my rear hubs would make it look like
> a Joey Chitwood event, and I'd have to back her down a notch. That old motor
> in the RRB keeps (knock on wood in 3 or 4 continents, will ya guys?) never
> skipped a beat.
>
> The diff gave up the ghost in the last race of the weekend... funny how they
> stop leaking when they're out of oil. I got the best start of my racing
> life, and was running with the big dogs for a while... We're going to try to
> get a Speedi-Sleeve that rides on the axle stub...under the seal, but
> further inboard than the bearing.
>
> That's all for now... thanks for a great weekend... see you at the Vintage
> Fall Festival at Road America in Sept.
>
> Flounder
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