Bob's Track Friends Chat

[OldAIMGuy]

This from the first row.....

Dick Kantrud 19-Jul-2005 17:18
Well, I need to add my comments as well. I'm Dick Kantrud and I was in P.2 next to Mike Donahue in P.1. Before the race we were told in no uncertain terms to maintain 50 mph at the start and that is exactly what we did. The pace lap was a little faster at first with everyone warming tires & brakes till we got about to sta. 11. The pace car then slowed up to collect the field as best he could. This was well below 50mph, I had to drop down to 1st gear and then even go in and out of neutral as it was too slow for 1st. The pace car sped back up to about 50 around sta. 13 and maintained that speed. He slowed a bit when when he exited the track, Donahue did the same and then went back to about 50 (4200rpm in 2nd gear in my car).

Thats what we were doing coming up over the hill and we absolutely did not vary till the green came out - yes it did, no doubt at all. We were watched carefully by track management and this was confirmed by George B. who said the front row was perfect at the driver's meeting. I don't know who told the operating steward who said we admitted to 5000rpm in 3rd gear but that is crazy, must be mixed up with one of the cars further back.

Its possible some coming up the hill were doing that. A friend of mine was watching from the concession stand by the hill and said cars were 4 abreast before the flagstand (and probably before the green). I was told some of the cars in rows 2 - 5 anticipated the green and then had to slow down because we didn't speed up.

I didn't see the red till sta.3, slowed way down watching mirrors. Stopped a little late then coasted up to some shade. The rules do not allow people to start before the green whether you can see the flagstand or not. I am going to suggest green, yellow and red lights on the bridge at the top of the hill (a tv camera too)to be operated by the starter. I've been a driver since 1964 and was an SCCA Steward for about 28 years as well. This is the worst I have ever seen with one happy exception. Thanks to a great job by the safety crew and good car and driver safety equipment there were apparently no serious injuries. Still a very sad day for all of us, particularly the ones
with wrecked cars.