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Drag raced my DD a bit in H.S. since I lived near E'town, but always wanted to go road racing. College, 2 jobs, house and family meant no budget for 25 years. Three year build on a street/strip ACVW finished three months before "terminal" cancer diagnosis. Bug never saw the strip.
During post surgery/recovery/chemo did my first road course school at Bertil Roos-Pocono North Course. Ordered a '98 Neon ACR five days later and scheduled my first HPDE event at Watkins Glen. Arrived at WGI with 750 miles on the Neon's odometer. The car already had a 4 pt. rollbar and harnesses installed.
Totally hooked on road courses by the end of my first HPDE event. Recovered from cancer against the 1 in 5 odds. Did local autox at E'town for the next two seasons with HPDE events in between. Stopped autoxing (didn't have the $$$$ to do that and HPDE too).
Gave the ACR to my oldest son as a first car and bought an '02 M6 HT no options Z-28 to get more power on track (no one warned me it went faster than it could turn or stop). I've spent the last 6 years doing gradual handling and braking upgrades on the Z. It runs steady 2:22s at WGI which puts me about mid-pack with the group I usually run OT with. The fast guys are running 2:00 flat!
The Neon ran a best lap of 2:29.4 in stock form with me at WGI. My son used it for one season of HPDE (2:34 best lap) before building a full-out turbo motor (currently 238 hp at wheels @8lbs boost) and upgrading the brakes and suspension. Had to have custom offset billet wheels made to accomodate extra wide tires and the extra HP and torque. He's currently fabricating a full fiberglass wide body set up to handle the wider track.
I have now been Open Tracking for 9 seasons. Yes, I'm a crusty old guy (61). The economy has tanked my track funds for 2009. Looking forward to the NJFBOA June event as it may end up being my entire "track season".
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