Bill Thompson, Vintage Racer Extrordinaire!
Bill, you don't look very happy in this photo! Here's wishing you better
luck with the head gaskets next year! - ed.
PDLJMPR Web Magazine, January 12, 1997
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Bill Thompson, Vintage Racer Extrordinaire!
Bill, you don't look very happy in this photo! Here's wishing you better
luck with the head gaskets next year! - ed.
This was the first VSCDA held at IRP. It was a huge success. The number of entries for this event was very encouraging, with many cars/drivers particiapting that we have not seen in the past.
Also invited were former Nascar Stock cars, of late 80's and early 90's vintage. Personally, I am against this type of car competing at "our" events. These cars are huge, powerful and fast. During the enduro, when everyone and anyone who pays the $5 can run, I was running with these behemoths next to me and passing me. When they scream past a little Bugeye...they literally shake the ground and if you are not ready for this, it scares the crap out of ya!
The track at IRP is a fast, open track with very fast corners and a long front straight. The front straight is also the drag strip used for NHRA and other professional drag races. At the end of the straight is a series of very fast corners, taken flat out, just drifting your way around and basically hangin on for dear life!
The track was fun, although bumpy. It seems the bumps were in the worst spots also..usually right in the "line" of the corner or entrance to it.
Team Thicko was represented by Bill Thompson, Jim Donato and yours truly. Jim and I qualified well in our races, however Bill was troubled with blown head gaskets all weekend long AGAIN. I think we changed the head gasket 5 times..maybe more, whos counting. We tried EVERYTHING to solve this problem and I mean EVERYTHING. No luck. Very frustrating for Bill. Bill had a nightmare of a race season this year. If I could, I would award him the Biggest Trophy I could find..for perserverance. He deserves it. Dedication is his middle name and anyone who says differently doesnt have a clue what Vintage Racing is all about.
The racing was fun and exciting. Jim and I both did well in our respective groups. I think the best I could do was 3rd.
The highlight of this event for me was having the opportunity to drive the Old Bugeye around the famed Indy 500 track. All the race cars were police escorted over public streets to this facilty and we were allowed to take several laps. What an experience! One could just feel the tradition and history of this track. It was an amazing experience.
The season is over til next spring when Team Thicko will be back on the road again..begining in May. In the meantime, off season routine maintenance will be done and a few more "go fast" parts will be added. I am looking forward to another safe season with Number 55.
Regards, Gary
speckman@coredcs.com
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