It is 1969; Tony Adamowicz has won the Formula 5000 Championship in his Gurney Eagle. Fast forward nearly 40 years. Tony and his Eagle re-unite, it happens at Willow Springs Raceway; the same place that he first drove an Eagle. The story goes like this…..
I picked Tony up Memorial Day afternoon ( how apropos for a guy who used to work at the White House) and we headed to Willow Springs Raceway. On the way we talked about what is was like 40 years ago. Names like Posey, Scooter Patrick, Davey Jordon, Jerry Grant and a host of others were just one topic of discussion. A big off at the exit of turn six, virtually destroying a similar car 40 years ago- another. Decades are being relived by Tony and I am glued to every word. We drive through Angeles Forest on the way; it is my favorite way of getting there. I am sitting next to a guy who has been one of my hero’s since the age of ten. We pull into the Inn of Lancaster. (All good racers stay there and have for years) Tony’s gal, Charlene, has packed dinner; pasta, Italian sausage a bottle of vino; all delicious….more stories. Damn, it just does not get much better- but it does!
Early in the morning we head towards the track but for a must stop at Crazy Otto’s for breakfast. You have got to have breakfast there!
The morning is perfect, cool and sunny. The truck arrives. Doug Magnon (the generous owner of Tony’s, now restored championship winning car), Bill Losee the crew chief and Morris Jephcott have brought the car from the Riverside International Automotive Museum. Morris is, of course, French! Sorry Morris…I just had to.
Read the rest of this entry »
2 Comments · Digg This! · Stumble This! · Save to del.icio.us
Driving a car on a real race track (to us, meaning, having to turn both left and right) may just be one of the most fun things we can ever do; if done well. We would like to offer a few suggestions before you attend your first event or even if you have had the good fortune to “play” before. These suggestions may indeed improve how quickly you learn and just how well you drive. Take heed, they come from years and years of racing and driving instruction experience.
Who is managing the event?
It is extremely important to research who is managing the event and how well it is being managed. Driving on a race track is dangerous! If the event is not well managed, disciplined and organized; stay home! Open track days can be cheap, but you can end up with exactly what you paid for or far worse- a damaged car.
Do they have qualified Instructors?
Make certain that the organization has qualified instructors and that you will receive one-on-one instruction or coaching prior to signing up for an event. You may say to yourself, “why, I am a good driver”? Perhaps, but reality is, until you have been on a real race track with real driving instruction, you are probably not the driver you thought you might be. A talented driving instructor will help you learn “why’ things are done a certain way in relationship to high performance driving. Anyone can stand on the gas and go fast, learning how to “dance” with a 3,000 lb. partner is a different story and a really good instructor will help you do exactly that.
Read the rest of this entry »
2 Comments · Digg This! · Stumble This! · Save to del.icio.us
