mpozzi
03-12-2012, 04:16 PM
Brian Finch for loaning me his '69 "Killer Green" Camaro for the RTTC3 Braking Challenge runoff. Bar none, this is the coolest '69 Camaro I've ever driven.
RTTC and American Streetcar Series did great with the "drag strip" format for the Braking Challenge as it gave us lots more to do and we had to be absolutely perfect to get a respectable time. Also, it was much more entertaining for spectators as watching a car leave a start line, accelerate down a lane and then try to stop in a box 100 yards away can get booooorrrrrriiiiiiiiing after about, oh say ... the first few cars. <insert long yawn here>
To a "T" everybody agreed this was the most fun part of RTTC they did.
For the runoff, Bill called the Top 32. I wasn't in this group so watched as everyone else lined up cars and jockeyed for position. Both Mike Maier and Brian Hobaugh got in and as they were sharing the Maier Mustang due to Hobaugh's Camaro hungrily digesting it's transmission, Brian took the opportunity to drive Karl Dunn's impeccable Camaro in the runoff.
I'm walking over to give Brian congrats when Yancy yells that I'm in and they overlooked me. Not realizing that two people can't drive the same car in this, I'm thinking I can drive the Dunn car along with Brian. No go ...
Bill says I can use the Charger and as that thing is as big as a barge with handling to match, I graciously decline if you can call trying to hide behind anything larger than me a form of decline. But then I remember ... hmmm. Brian Finch was tearing it up on all three events and as he isn't a competitor for individual awards, his car just might work. Doesn't hurt to ask, either ... and Brian gave an A-Ok. Got down to the DSE rig, unfettered the Camaro from a battery charger and motored up the hill taking my place beside none other than Dave Pozzi in Rupp's "Bad Penny." Yep, sometimes it really sucks to be me ...
I made it though the first round (Dave had coffee at the light) and met "Quick Nick" Licata in the second. We both got good starts. Nick got traction while I overheated two very tolerant BFG's slithering and sliding down my lane. I turned left, Nick right and we both got to the stop box at almost the same time. Unfortunately, any cones hit or any part of the car out of the stop box got a big, fat DQ as a thanks and that's what both of us got. I had it (at least Brian said so and if he said it then it's good enough for me) but wimped out at the last possible second, turned the steering wheel (you know ... trying to avoid that object in the roadway), and about a foot of Camaro extruded it's nice self from the confines of that stop box. And if you're wondering about Licata ... he nudged, didn't knock over or even move from the location but nudged, a stop box boundary cone and boom, he joined me in the "You suck, LOSER" group.
That was the most fun ever and thanks again to Brian Finch for letting me taste filet mignon, medium rare, with a lobster tail chaser Camaro-Style. Amazing car and it was a treat to drive something where all the parts worked perfectly with each other producing perfect performance.
You made my weekend and thanks, bud.
Mary Pozzi
RTTC and American Streetcar Series did great with the "drag strip" format for the Braking Challenge as it gave us lots more to do and we had to be absolutely perfect to get a respectable time. Also, it was much more entertaining for spectators as watching a car leave a start line, accelerate down a lane and then try to stop in a box 100 yards away can get booooorrrrrriiiiiiiiing after about, oh say ... the first few cars. <insert long yawn here>
To a "T" everybody agreed this was the most fun part of RTTC they did.
For the runoff, Bill called the Top 32. I wasn't in this group so watched as everyone else lined up cars and jockeyed for position. Both Mike Maier and Brian Hobaugh got in and as they were sharing the Maier Mustang due to Hobaugh's Camaro hungrily digesting it's transmission, Brian took the opportunity to drive Karl Dunn's impeccable Camaro in the runoff.
I'm walking over to give Brian congrats when Yancy yells that I'm in and they overlooked me. Not realizing that two people can't drive the same car in this, I'm thinking I can drive the Dunn car along with Brian. No go ...
Bill says I can use the Charger and as that thing is as big as a barge with handling to match, I graciously decline if you can call trying to hide behind anything larger than me a form of decline. But then I remember ... hmmm. Brian Finch was tearing it up on all three events and as he isn't a competitor for individual awards, his car just might work. Doesn't hurt to ask, either ... and Brian gave an A-Ok. Got down to the DSE rig, unfettered the Camaro from a battery charger and motored up the hill taking my place beside none other than Dave Pozzi in Rupp's "Bad Penny." Yep, sometimes it really sucks to be me ...
I made it though the first round (Dave had coffee at the light) and met "Quick Nick" Licata in the second. We both got good starts. Nick got traction while I overheated two very tolerant BFG's slithering and sliding down my lane. I turned left, Nick right and we both got to the stop box at almost the same time. Unfortunately, any cones hit or any part of the car out of the stop box got a big, fat DQ as a thanks and that's what both of us got. I had it (at least Brian said so and if he said it then it's good enough for me) but wimped out at the last possible second, turned the steering wheel (you know ... trying to avoid that object in the roadway), and about a foot of Camaro extruded it's nice self from the confines of that stop box. And if you're wondering about Licata ... he nudged, didn't knock over or even move from the location but nudged, a stop box boundary cone and boom, he joined me in the "You suck, LOSER" group.
That was the most fun ever and thanks again to Brian Finch for letting me taste filet mignon, medium rare, with a lobster tail chaser Camaro-Style. Amazing car and it was a treat to drive something where all the parts worked perfectly with each other producing perfect performance.
You made my weekend and thanks, bud.
Mary Pozzi