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July 28, 2005
Autocross Action
I just wanted experience the thrill of an extra straightaway! That's the explanation I gave on exiting the Rockford Speedway track after I thought I'd run my 1971 Stag expertly through the course. Just one problem though, I completely missed the left turn jog through the center of the autocross layout and continued down the straight. No wonder that time was so good! That got me a DNF of course, and I had just one more chance to recover. On the next run I bagged a 59.80 second run, not a prize winner for sure, but a sub-60 second run which was what I was after. But what a great thrill. While I was driving in the car, I felt like I was speeding like a madman; but when I was taking pictures of the cars from the infield, they look as if they are moving so-o-o-o slowly.
The Stag held up through four more runs; my wife Lesley ran it and did well enough to capture third in one of the lady's classes. Then I offered the car to Triumph World editor Tony Beadle. He was standing at the staging area taking pictures and I know if I was him I'd be wishing I had a car. So I offered him the Stag, explaining that it has an automatic trans, and that a manual trans would surely be more fun, but that if he wanted to, he could take it out. He asked if I was serious, I said of course, and he strapped himself in... on the left side of the car! He did well and I think he enjoyed himself out there.
Here are some pictures I took during the autocross:
A TR6 streaks past on the track.
A TR3 navigates through the cones.
This Vitesse turns right on the course.
Jack McGahey, of North Carolina, changes tires on this 1973 TR6 after completing his run.
This Stag navigates its way on the course.
A pair of TR3s wait to run.
Mike Bilyk, of the Detroit Triumph Sportscar Club motors his way on the track.
A Spifire on the course.
Randall Young replaces a cone he knocked over as he exits the track. What a guy!
Tony Beadle, editor of Triumph World Magazine, ran the autocross in a borrowed 1971 Stag. And yes, he did get in on the correct side of the car!
Posted by bdischer at July 28, 2005 05:56 PM