NASA Midwest Season Opener
An International star studded cast represented the FFR community at the
season opener at Blackhawk Farms Raceway in Illinois near the Wisconsin
border this Easter weekend.
Considering that last year’s event was cancelled because lack of
interest and this year’s event scheduled for Easter weekend it was not
surprising to find all of 2 drivers ready to fly the Factory Five flag.
The good news was that one of us would set the track record and the
other would possibly win the race or worse case scenario would come in
second. The fact that this was my first ever race and the other driver
was the very experienced Lyle Riggen from Channahon, Illinois I really
did not have much doubt about the finishing order of the races. Had the
race been scheduled for a different weekend we could have expected a
possible five Challenge cars in attendance. Maybe next time!!
This was Lyle’s first NASA experience having raced extensively with the
other sc- something whatever bunch. He was ably supported by a timer,
mechanic, bottle-washer and cook all rolled into one in the form of his
lovely wife Julie. Just how do some guys get such an amazing crew? When
we were short changed on practice time it was Julie that got qualifying
extended an extra 10 minutes. When the hot pits did not make sense it
was Julie that had the NASA officials standing to attention. The hot
pits layout was changed shortly there after.
The driver’s meeting was somewhat long because the format was “changed”
to be the same format as the Nationals. Not having a great deal of
experience on what was normal, I just sat and listened to the grumpy old
men that didn’t like change or just couldn’t understand some fairly
simple instructions. Even though there was a very small run group of
just 20 cars they still arranged a split start. Lyle qualified 4th
overall but they positioned him 9th on the grid at the back of the AI,
AIX and other groups. Well at least I had someone to follow that looked
familiar.
My first race and I sucked the big one, blew the start, blew the first
corner but soon settled down to keeping out of trouble, staying on the
black bits and not bumping into anyone. Lyle was just plain fast and I
never saw him again. Twenty five years of racing experience showed this
weekend. And guess what? He gets to put his name on the track record for
our class at BFR. The Mustangs should probably change their class name
to AIX Off-Road Challenge because every other lap the yellow was thrown
because a Mustang could not keep it on the not very straight and narrow.
I raced about 15 laps without seeing a soul until a couple of local hot
shoes in Miatas came up behind me. They were racing each other very hard
so I just let them both through and then sat on their tails for the next
7 laps. I actually learned a lot from following them. I could have
passed them on the straights but thought it best to let them race each
other and stay out of the way. On the penultimate lap another Mustang
rejoined the track after seeing how much grass and mud he could plaster
all over his car. He passed me and then tried to out-brake both Miatas
at the end of the fastest part of the track. He successfully ran them
both out of control but they managed to recover. I was in back taking
extreme evasive maneuvers. On the final straight to the checkered flag I
could not resist passing them for a 9th overall finish. Sadly, I found
out later that Lyle had lost 3rd and 4th gears and had dropped out. And
guess what again, I won!! A very shallow victory, but I got signed off
for successfully finishing my first race.
As per usual my weather jinx was with me and the next day threatened
major thunderstorms so I went home to face the War Department and beg
forgiveness for not helping her cook and clean in preparation for her
thirty eight immediate family members that were coming for Easter
dinner. As I write this I hear her calling my name. I should have stayed
at the track sitting in the rain!!
--Graham McNeill
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| Page last updated:
07/02/2008 |
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