Thanks to ...

[mpozzi]

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

[SparkyRnD]

awesome story, and I hope to make it out there next year!

[Gandalf]

Thanks for re-capping one of the highlights of my weekend for sure Mary. Watching you and Dave at the startline was priceless! Not wanting to hijack the thread already but I did want to add something about that green machine you drove.... One of the other RTTC3 highlights for me was watching Brian driving that thing like he was running from the law all weekend. Always entertaining to watch, so quick and so smooth (he even makes missing the finishline of the autocross and turning it into a small burnout look like it was part of the event!). Congrats Brian!

G.

[TonyHuntimer]

It sounds like it was a great event. I'm glad that I didn't push it and try to get there. My wound is not healed enough yet. Maybe next year I'll be able to make it and with a car. I can't wait to see more coverage of the event.

Tony Huntimer
RaceHome.com

[critter]

So, Mary Pozzi, ever consider a career as a writer? Well written and well done.

[James OLC]

So, Mary Pozzi, ever consider a career as a writer? Well written and well done.

Yeah, maybe Nick could give you a monthly spot in Camaro Performers

[TonyHuntimer]

Yeah, maybe Nick could give you a monthly spot in Camaro Performers

Now that's funny!

Tony Huntimer
RaceHome.com

[MrQuick]

...we can catch UFO's and a Taliban dictator take down on our We-phones but no video of a rare Pozzi show down? The shame.... LOL

[mpozzi]

There are photos but nothing to see here so go away!! Liz Miles has a really good one of me killing two large innocent pylons with that blue Camaro when the brakes took a vay-cay at a very inopportune moment ... like when I wanted to stop.

Nick said we both knew we had to run our own races but got caught up in the moment and ... crap!! Over just like that. Second round, too.

Was really fun hazing the tread off of those KDW's, though. Poor tires ... never knew what hit 'em.

Mary P.

[MrQuick]

ok...I smell a cover up. LOL

You ever notice how tires always smoke up better when you didn't pay for em??

[Finch]

Mary,

Thanks for notes above, It was a pleasure for me to see you running the car and I was blown away by how well you did first time ever in the car and on your first lap to boot. You ran a 21.813 which in normal competition would have given you 3rd place on the podium for the event.

Glad you liked it and the door is always open on any of the cars I am beating on for you to do the same.

[mpozzi]

We've gotta switch cars sometime so I can see how it's supposed to be done!! Your driving is perfect and watching you wheel that car against Bruce Cambern was fun to see. Love that Ford GT but there's no other place I'd have wanted to be for the Challenge Runoff than in that sinister green Camaro.

Thanks again,
Mary P.

[James OLC]

Mary,

Thanks for notes above, It was a pleasure for me to see you running the car and I was blown away by how well you did first time ever in the car and on your first lap to boot. You ran a 21.813 which in normal competition would have given you 3rd place on the podium for the event.

Glad you liked it and the door is always open on any of the cars I am beating on for you to do the same.

Yeah... but how would ... never mind... LOL

Awesome to see the green monster and better yet to see Mary take another grudge match from the Mr... the double DQ with Nick was harsh though... no-one can accuse Mary of not going for it...

[sik68]

Hey Brian, your 69 was truly a standout car for me at RTTC. In a sea of first gens I couldn't drink in enough of it. I'm not that fast on a road course, but thought I would be fast enough not to see a black flag this weekend....then I look in my rear view Saturday and see the the green monster reeling me in hard. "What the?" is all I could think the rest of the session.

Cheers,
Steven

[David Pozzi]

I was under the impression the Christmas tree did not start the timers, the cars front wheels did. Maybe I was wrong?
The combination of drag race & speed stop in one course is Genius!

[Vegas69]

I remember looking over at the autocross from the speed stop and thinking "Who the hell is that?" That car was dancing around like a chicken on a skillet. Clearly the car and driver are in synch. It's probably all the pent up energy from having to watch.

I'm with Dave, the ultimate event. Drag tree, drag race, brake hard, U turn, slalom, drag race, brake hard and put your car in a tiny box. Ultimate car and driver challenge.