Big Bend Open Road Race Results

[elmariachi]

Great write-up Bill. Anytime a guy offers to let you drive his Cobra, for me at least, its not an automatic "Yes." But Bill was most gracious and how the hell could I refuse given the venue? We had the same instructor, a nice young lady named Leigh Ann Powers whose late grandfather helped start this whole event. I decided not to try and hit tech speed and was planning on two easy runs around 90-95 just to get my license for next year. Bill's Backdraft wanted no part of 95mph. I left the start line and before I knew it, I was at 115 and climbing entering the first sweeping turn. It was all I could do to keep the car under 120. That Craft engine is a freight train.

We had worked out some hand signals ahead of time because our helmet radios were the cheapo motorcycle intercom style that don't do well at 100mph+. I was in the process of signaling Bill and I unknowingly hit the fuel pump shut-off switch on the dash. Seconds later the car died momentarily at 115 mph, but he made a great save and it certainly added to the excitement of the moment.

Bill is an excellent driver and his race line was perfect and his handling was smooth as silk. I do plan on racing the Hurricane in 2011 but whomever navigates for Bill has a tight time delta to beat, .371.