Dave:
Try the Brian Redman International Challenge (The BRIC/formerly the Chicago
Historics). Starts July 22 and runs through July 25. You will see plenty of
LBC's as well as other European marquees both in the paddock and on the track.
You'll think you have gone to heaven.
Ernie Husmann
Dave Terrick wrote:
> Hi all,
>
> a very sunburnt and burned out Dave Terrick here reporting on the "guy's
> weekend" at the races:
>
> Wow!. What a show. I was involved, years ago, as a flagman at thew Detroit
> indy, but this was a whole different experience. The other half lives (and
> races) very differently.
>
> For starters, there was not a beater to be seen within miles of the track.
> We, the "poor folk" were camping. Next to a 4 year old vette and a Land
> Rover (his Benz doesn't get used for "camping weekends")
>
> Notwithsatanding that, everybody was friendly. I don't remember that about
> the Detroit race, maybe we were all just stressed from 18 hour work days on
> the corners, maybe not. But, a Manitoba plate was enough to get most people
> to wander over and say "hi" and share a, um beverage. American race people
> sure take their camping seriously. And their fun. We had fun. And once
> again proved that Manitobans can drink with the best of them (that VTR photo
> didn't lie).
>
> I think I'd like my ashes to be scattered over the hurry downs at
> mid-course. Well, OK, maybe not, but I'm gonna race that track yet.
> Elevation changes of a 10 story building up, down,up, down, down ome more,
> up then down, mountain goats would feel at home. There were few mosquitoes
> seen or felt. The beer was ice cold, the bratwursts braised to perfection.
> And, except for the fact that a beer cost $3.75 - $4.50 (that's in Cdn $'s,
> $2.50 to you) I could not have asked for anything else. No matter where we
> walked to - and did we ever walk a lot - there was another concession stand,
> another great view, and more friendly people.
>
> Race day saw the place filled with about 130,000 people, most, it seemed
> took race observation very seriouosly. I had a scanner with me, which made
> me instant friends (again) everywhere. It was neat to see how patriotic the
> crowd was - imaging cheering for an Andretti? Hey, what can I say. Tracy,
> Carpentier, Moore, all Canadians for some reason did not elicit the same
> cheers. But nobody cared when we did. Waitaminnit - neither did I. they
> weren't really competitive. I've got photos of Tracy blowing a motor into
> the stratosphere on Friday. Carpentier did a barel roll 7 times in turn 2
> (like you might see in NASCAR) and I have many close ups of the baggie they
> deposit his car in the pits with. Those wheel tethers just couldn't do the
> job. And the pieces were too bis to sneak out of the track! Damn!
>
> It would be impossible to synopsize the whole weekend quickly. But here
> goes: If you can go to a permanent road course (not street circuit or
> oval) - DO IT. Friday and Saturday pit acces is included in the gate and
> you will find out that these racers and crew are just like us - only on TV
> more. It's just plain neat if you're a motor sport guy. Permanent
> facilities are diesigned for the drivers and the spectators - no buildings,
> walls, slow corners, etc.
>
> Now the LBC content:
>
> Most of the sports car marques had areas corraled for drivers of those cars
> ony. Corvette Corral had nothing but vettes. The 5-6-7 chev area had cars
> with paint worth more than an entire LBC. Bimmer Bivouac had old bikes, new
> bikes, old beemers, new beemers, slammed beemers, stock beemers.
>
> "Brit's Pits", the LBC corral, had about 4 cars. Boo hiss. Stuck in a
> corner, albiet a pretty one, next to the beemers and across from the vettes,
> it was largely empty. A couple MGB's, an 'A from Winnipeg, a Jag Mk vii (I
> think, real old, RHD, Rolls like) a GT6 with numbers (not mine) but no roll
> bar (hmmmm?).
>
> Guys in the TDC who are of the retired generation, tell stories of doing the
> 750 mile drive in 10 hours in TR3's with 3 people in them. Where did that
> spirit go? There were more LBC's around, but no camaraderie, it seemed.
> Sorry to bum you guys out but I thought there might be more from the
> Illinois region there. Ted Schumacher had his stand out by turn 6 (he has
> waaaay more than just TR stuff, y'know) and remembered me. Another friendly
> face. I wish I hadn't spent all my money on beer before I found him.
>
> Anybody out there want to rendezvous next year? It's a great party.
>
> Dave T
> back in the Great White North
> Winnipeg
|