The 2010 BBORR is in the books. This was my first open road race and was as fun as last years first Texas Mile, Just Different.
It started off bad for me. I had registered the GT in the 110 mph class with a maximum tech speed of 124. All first year racers are required to run this class or slower no matter what you bring. I had a minor incident with the GT the week before the race and it wasn't available. That left me in a slight quandry so I called up a friend and invited him to take my spot with his Cobra replica. I would happily navigate for him as he was scheduled to do for me. He accepted and it was on.
We drove out early Tuesday morning arriving at Ft Stockton around 3 pm. Unloaded the cars from the trailers, another cobra buddy took his cobra also, and took a practice run south on the course which is Highway 285. The normal speed is 75mph so we learned quickly that the cars wouldn't be stretched at 110 / 125. There isn't a turn in the 59 miles that a GT couldn't take at the tech speed. 125 mph.
Wednesday is registration, Tech, Drivers meeting, Rookie meeting, Rookie qualification and practice. They close a 8 mile section of road and send instructors out with the rookies to make sure of their abilities. After that you are allowed to practice on that track wed. afternoon and all day thursday. This is almost as fun as the race day.
The regulars always do the thursday practice. There is a party in Sanderson thursday evening followed by a Marquarita party in Ft Stockton.
Friday is a day of playing. Car wash in the morning, Car show in the afternoon followed by a parade down the main streets. The parade is a BIG event. Must have been 5,000 people along the route and we threw candy till it ran out. We had Ms Ft Stockton ride on the Cobra with us as she threw candy and did the parade wave thing. Late arrivals can show up friday if you aren't a rookie and do your tech and registration.
Saturday is race day. Line up at a pre grid at 6am., Move to Grid at 7 am., and start the fastest cars of the 158 first. 59 miles to Sanderson for the open class done in about 20 mins. The first 3 unlimited cars were a Race Corvair, Race GT40 replica and a 2002 Corvette. Corvette was overall winner with a average of 163.231 mph.
1 31 TOM WHALEN, FRISCO, TX - 02 CORVETTE
163.231 mph(0:00.000 t) 21:28.423 @ 164.853 21:54.028 @ 161.640
2 45 JOHN TIEMANN, AUSTIN, TX CATHY CODY 69 FORD GT40
154.899 mph(2:19.981 t) 22:52.450 @ 154.760 22:49.982 @ 155.039
3 7 CHARLIE FRIEND, ALAMOGORDO, NM - 65 CORVAIR
145.837 mph(5:10.386 t) 25:13.013 @ 140.382 23:19.824 @ 151.733
For us in the slower classes we were 2 1/2 hours waiting to go. My friend and I had a one way target of 33 mins and 43 seconds. We were of by 2/10ths of a sec. We spent a few minutes in Sanderson eating and fueling up before the return run. We grided again on Hwy 285 headed north. The fastest cars started and we waited our turn. Unfortunately our turn never came. We were about 30 cars from the start when the race was cancelled for the rest of the field. A couple of cars had hit the ditch and clean up took along time, by the time it was done cows had somehow breached the boundary fences and even tho they were along way from the road in the interest of safety and time they closed the course for racing. Bummer, better safe than sorry!!!! We made our way, supposedly at the speed limit back the 59 miles to Ft Stockton. I have to say there may have been some very spirited sprints at times along the way back. A banquent that night where Steve recieved his Trophy for Car Show. The results can be found here;
http://www.dhcrump.com/ORR/BBORR_10/
If it looks like Corvettes won alot it is because of 158 racers over 80 entries were corvettes.
Long drive back to Houston Sunday with a hangover. This is a great time, if you like being around fast cars and fun people look at your schedule for next year. It is always the 4th weekend in April. I really enjoyed meeting Steve again and Donnymac came in to give us some moral support and help us enjoy the Blender Party Thursday night. BTW- If you haven't seen his Yellow Heritage paint scheme car your missing a true work of ART. Way to go Shelby Elite, nice job.
Here are a few pictures to enjoy.
It started off bad for me. I had registered the GT in the 110 mph class with a maximum tech speed of 124. All first year racers are required to run this class or slower no matter what you bring. I had a minor incident with the GT the week before the race and it wasn't available. That left me in a slight quandry so I called up a friend and invited him to take my spot with his Cobra replica. I would happily navigate for him as he was scheduled to do for me. He accepted and it was on.
We drove out early Tuesday morning arriving at Ft Stockton around 3 pm. Unloaded the cars from the trailers, another cobra buddy took his cobra also, and took a practice run south on the course which is Highway 285. The normal speed is 75mph so we learned quickly that the cars wouldn't be stretched at 110 / 125. There isn't a turn in the 59 miles that a GT couldn't take at the tech speed. 125 mph.
Wednesday is registration, Tech, Drivers meeting, Rookie meeting, Rookie qualification and practice. They close a 8 mile section of road and send instructors out with the rookies to make sure of their abilities. After that you are allowed to practice on that track wed. afternoon and all day thursday. This is almost as fun as the race day.
The regulars always do the thursday practice. There is a party in Sanderson thursday evening followed by a Marquarita party in Ft Stockton.
Friday is a day of playing. Car wash in the morning, Car show in the afternoon followed by a parade down the main streets. The parade is a BIG event. Must have been 5,000 people along the route and we threw candy till it ran out. We had Ms Ft Stockton ride on the Cobra with us as she threw candy and did the parade wave thing. Late arrivals can show up friday if you aren't a rookie and do your tech and registration.
Saturday is race day. Line up at a pre grid at 6am., Move to Grid at 7 am., and start the fastest cars of the 158 first. 59 miles to Sanderson for the open class done in about 20 mins. The first 3 unlimited cars were a Race Corvair, Race GT40 replica and a 2002 Corvette. Corvette was overall winner with a average of 163.231 mph.
1 31 TOM WHALEN, FRISCO, TX - 02 CORVETTE
163.231 mph(0:00.000 t) 21:28.423 @ 164.853 21:54.028 @ 161.640
2 45 JOHN TIEMANN, AUSTIN, TX CATHY CODY 69 FORD GT40
154.899 mph(2:19.981 t) 22:52.450 @ 154.760 22:49.982 @ 155.039
3 7 CHARLIE FRIEND, ALAMOGORDO, NM - 65 CORVAIR
145.837 mph(5:10.386 t) 25:13.013 @ 140.382 23:19.824 @ 151.733
For us in the slower classes we were 2 1/2 hours waiting to go. My friend and I had a one way target of 33 mins and 43 seconds. We were of by 2/10ths of a sec. We spent a few minutes in Sanderson eating and fueling up before the return run. We grided again on Hwy 285 headed north. The fastest cars started and we waited our turn. Unfortunately our turn never came. We were about 30 cars from the start when the race was cancelled for the rest of the field. A couple of cars had hit the ditch and clean up took along time, by the time it was done cows had somehow breached the boundary fences and even tho they were along way from the road in the interest of safety and time they closed the course for racing. Bummer, better safe than sorry!!!! We made our way, supposedly at the speed limit back the 59 miles to Ft Stockton. I have to say there may have been some very spirited sprints at times along the way back. A banquent that night where Steve recieved his Trophy for Car Show. The results can be found here;
http://www.dhcrump.com/ORR/BBORR_10/
If it looks like Corvettes won alot it is because of 158 racers over 80 entries were corvettes.
Long drive back to Houston Sunday with a hangover. This is a great time, if you like being around fast cars and fun people look at your schedule for next year. It is always the 4th weekend in April. I really enjoyed meeting Steve again and Donnymac came in to give us some moral support and help us enjoy the Blender Party Thursday night. BTW- If you haven't seen his Yellow Heritage paint scheme car your missing a true work of ART. Way to go Shelby Elite, nice job.
Here are a few pictures to enjoy.
