2012 Season wrap-up!
I learned a lot this season, about the car, and her drivers:
-I really miss driving her on the street, more than I thought I would, which is why I picked up a new street bug.
-Riding with my co-driver/tire-warmer and then driving has given me more insight on my own driving style.
-An upgrade for next year is data acquisition and logging to improve further.
-Sticky tires are a lot of fun... when you get heat in them, and tire pressures will be watched more closely next year.
-Shocks and sways make a difference, but balancing them make magic happen.
-A tow rig and trailer are not only worth their weight in gold on cold mornings and hot afternoons, but go far in reducing driver fatigue at the end of the day.
We had our club year end awards party on Sunday where I was pleasantly surprised and humbled. First off I was given the Spirit-of-George award, which is given to folks who over come medical problems for the chance to go racing. The award's namesake had a brutal battle with cancer, enduring aggressive chemo treatments, but he fought hard just so he could go racing again. I remember seeing George when he returned after a year hiatus, and I joked with him that his diet was working so much better than mine. He was in such great spirits just being there you would never have known he was sick. He succumbed to cancer about a year and a half ago and this award was created in his honor. I was given this award for my multi-year fight against blindness. The past 5 years of detached retinas, eyes surgeries, infections, and corneal defects, could not stop me from getting behind the wheel. Even if I did go blind, I'd be driving with a cane, and put my seeing-eye-dog in the passenger seat. I am truly humbled to receive this award, and it means a lot to me.
In class results I finished 2nd for the season by 9 points, or 1 race deficit, what a close year. It was back and forth all year but in the end I couldn't pull off the upset.
The surprise came in the overall results where I finished 8th in the index out of 160+ runners, but I managed to beat the top buggy runner Greg McNair. Greg drives a balls out manx buggy built for hill climbs, and gives me a good ribbing for driving a fat chick. We have a standing bet for $50 if I can beat his raw time and I've come close. I wonder if index points count?
