Positive Selection.

With gear selection, especially while racing, you should feel pretty confident that you are selecting the gear you believe you need to engage.

Not the case this past weekend at Lime Rock Historics 31.

My bushing went from a loose but defined shifter, like a spoon in hot tapioca. To, for my last two races like a straw in water. Nothing to it.

I found out why today.

That nub of plastic pictured that looks like it was a chew toy for a Pekinese was my shift rod bushing. It degraded to the point it fell below the socket it runs in. Combine that with a three part rod with multiple loose bolts and it needed some love.

Ahh, cheap parts. An overhaul kit cost $29. And, it took about 2 hours to install. And hour of which was removing the snap ring on the shift rod.

In the first image. You can see the biggest of the new bushings, it is at least twice as big as the chewed up one.

Work. Rewarded.

Twenty years on my first visit to the Lime Rock Historics and I am able to make a dream come true.

I thought at the time, in the early 90s, that to be able to race a vintage car in such an incredible place, surrounded by enthusiasts would be the best it could get. At least when it came to cars.

I could not afford to do it for a long time. Heck, wrote a novel centered around Lime Rock. It was the only way I could make it real.

And tomorrow, it is real. I loaded the car in today and with the help from the guy at Vintage Racing Services I was able to get the fluids changed, new tires and pass tech. This after a rush to get it painted in time. And, just the other day when I was loading it on the trailer, the clutch master went. Nothing more favors and a few hours could not fix.

This is like most big goals you set for yourself, a bit anti-climatic. There were no fireworks or signs for me when I registered. It is just another old car race. But to me it does feel special. Like 20 years of late nights and lost weekends. Time away from friends. Are finally paying off. Life has lots of small rewards we work for. But precious few big ones. Those goals that when we set seem impossible to achieve. Our Moby Dick's and moon shots. This is one of those. Anti-climatic. But also, I know how hard I worked to get here - so I am set to savor it. Most likely from the back of the pack.

Lambo. Gullwing. Bill Blass.

A few days back I dropped the Spitfire off at Automotive Restorations. It is in some nice company.

An early Countach.

An earlier Gullwing which Graham is checking out the wheel arch on as the car is the earliest extant example and is actually a prototype.

And a Bill Blass edition Lincoln.

Pace. Grace. And space in that order.

I'll Try. Or, Farmer Luck.

Farmer luck. Or show business luck. Or drunk luck. Don't matter. When it comes to competition motor cars I could use some. So, I mounted a horseshoe we found in the yard in our perambulations above the door where I stable the 901.

Back to luck. Usually I am with Samuel Goldwyn thinking, 'the harder I work the luckier I get'. But cars evoke superstitiousness as.

Rebuild Begins

Spent about five hours today taking apart the 901. It actually isn't as bad as I thought. Plus, this gives me the time to do lots of cleaning. Gotta look on the bright side

Broken Back

Seriously. This happened three weeks ago but only had the courage to post today. A good friend. Who is still a good friend. Was sharing the Spit with me and it got away from him at turn 3 at Limerock.

All sheetmetal damage. No frame work. But the repairs and time off track will add up. Will try to improve car while we are fixing. For now she sits in the barn waiting.

Reflecting on Livery

The livery application going well except large hood one. Buggered that. But this door looks straight outta the 60s.