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This year IT*SPEC-tacular was just
like any other year’s race and at the same time a little  different. The
strained US economy was very evident at this year’s event. The paddock had
plenty of parking for any guests that you might have invited. The total field
was down to 184 entrants with just 21 in our group, and a total of 8 TCC
entrants. Traditional lead the competitors with four members; Tom Kriner, Joe
Danner, Chuck Burns & Dave Walter. Jerry Lancaster and Dave Sanders were
the two T1 drivers. Only Bill Lex was signed up for the Prepared ranks but he
was not alone because Gary Nickerson signed up under the ITE umbrella. The
weather was on the driver’s side with mild temperatures and sunny sky’s for
both days. That’s not to say it did not rain, but track time was clean and
green.
The weekend’s race format was as usual
chock for of seat time. Both Saturday and Sundays afternoon races were 40
minutes or 22 laps which ever you could do first. Sunday morning
Qualifying/race was shorter with only 20 minutes or 12 laps. That’s the format
we all have become accustom to. There was some confusion early in the weekend
about shortening the long races to just 20 laps but that was cleared up with an
announcement that the usual would prevail.
All the TCC participants set up together
in the Paddock either for the camaraderie or to borrow each other’s parts and
tools. I did not know it at first but I was in the second camp. With the light
turn out, Registration and Express Tech took only a few minutes to accomplish.
That left Friday night to a casual evening of setting up camp, prepping the
cars, hanging out and drinking beers.
Saturday morning was a continuation of
Friday night. Since we were group five of six we did not have to be on the
track until 10:20ish. I felt ready; the car has been gone over and over again.
The motor seems OK since I rebuilt it from VIR when I overheated and warped
both heads ending that weekend. That gave me some time to play with the Hans
device I just pick up in the hopes of running some NASA events. I must say with
the new option that Hans has now, head movement from side to side is fine. I
found out that visibility was not deterred at all. I just have a new burse
pattern on my shoulders by the end of the weekend.
 Finally we line up in the false grid and
get out on the track. Temperatures and pressures look good. I’m strapped in and
out we go for a yellow lap of warm up and then qualifying. As we weave around
the track I’m watching my water temperature, call me paranoid, but what bit me
last I fixate on that for a while. Green Flag! Off we go, turn one, I’m plowing
bad on cold tires but get around OK. Now down to the Key Hole. The smile start
to grow on my face, this is why I spent so much time in the garage. The engine
is pulling hard, as I shift into four gear I glance at my water Temperature
gauge. Crap! It’s at 240. I wave off the racers behind me and limp back to the
paddock. I’m back in my street cloths and have the car up on jack stands before
I hear our session end. Company starts to build around my car as we all try to
diagnose what went wrong. Long story short, the impeller came off the shaft of
the water pump. At idle it worked fine but as a load was put on the pump it
just spun on the shaft. Thank God I’ve got a spare pump in my garage at home in
New Jersey! Chuck Burns appears like an angel with a spare for me to use. As I
start to drain what was left of the water in the radiator Linda hands me a
drink to cool my frustration. That why she is the Entrant!
The other TCC drivers had a better
Qualifying session. Gray Nickerson beat Bill Lex by a mere .041 to take the
overall pole at 1:34:185. Bill was no slouch he had bested the existing track
record but that wasn’t enough to beat Gary. James Forbis came in third with
Dave Sanders and Jerry Lancaster following him each under a second apart. Chuck
Burns lead traditional group with a 1:41:683 with Tom Kriner then Dave Walter
to follow. I brought up the rear with a cooling lap of 2:19:674.
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