Topic: A special-stupid spectator's view: THANKS for an incredible Autobahn!
Sorry if this isn't the "right" forum to pop into, but since a bunch of the teams are here I figured it's the best place to say THANK YOU to everyone involved for putting on a great race and letting us have blast!
A friend and I came "all the way" from Frankfort, KY to camp and hang out and experience the next-best-thing to having a car in the race. And since I've got one I want to build, but can barely afford to even though the donor is free, it was also a bit of a recon/motivation trip. Which did not disappoint!
ALL the teams we talked to were awesome: laid back, friendly, willing to talk shop and BS, share tech tips, and just generally hang around. I wish I could have met more and/or lent a hand but as it was, I really just tried to stay out of the way.
TEAM RESIGNATION was hilarious... the shennanigans with creating the "Mid-Engine ZX2" (I'm the moron with the GULF hat who suggested and filmed the stunt, ha ha) and their joking demeanor were epic. Thanks for the beers and banter, guys!
MURPH & THE MAGICTONES wandered by TR's pit and passed out more brews, and more bullshittery was enjoyed by all. If you're reading this, I took some pics I'd be more than happy to share - we dropped by at race’s end but you guys must've been in the ceremony and we had to check out. Loved that car... I wish you guys could have finished - hope the trans isn't shot too bad!
THE HOTROD LINCOLN gave me a paddock ride when I found myself wisecracking about their hopping rear axle at the fuel pumps, and mentioned pics of them dodging Speedycop's spinning LanciaR2 in Turn 8. Too bad the Judges didn't see it that way, but it was worth a protest shot, right? To be fair I didn’t see the start of it myself, and the pic was somewhat inconclusive.
TEMPORAL FLUX's team meeting just before green on Saturday was epic. It simply just came down to "Don't Fuck Around" spoken with a germanic accent. Awesome. And pertinent.
TEAM UNDERPANTS and IF YOU CAN'T DUCK IT were great neighbors. I felt horrible for Team Underpant's mechanical issues, and would’ve loved to help but it seemed you had plenty of hands on it so the best I could do was stay out of the way.
The Grand Primino's free chili and Hot Rod Linc's pork and jambalaya were just the thing our starved guts needed. And damn tasty on all counts too.
Judge Phil was fun to meet in person, even if he kept asking which team I was on, ha ha. And I'll forever chuckle recalling him standing at the paddock entrance just before the checkers, when he asked, "So who the hell's winning this thing, anyway?".
So many other people to thank: the Alpha team, the Track Pillagerz, Team NIMITZ, and others I know I'm forgetting.
As for the race itself: no disappointment there. We were amazed at how relatively clean and professional everyone seemed to be on the track. Sure there were incidents and contct we didn’t see, but considering the rain and the precedent for random carnage in previous races it seemed everyone did a great job. Our only complaints as spectators regard the lack of stands/an invisible back half of the track, and cautions which would have taken half the time if the safety crews had more than one access point. We wondered what would have happened in the event of a fire or serious incident because frankly, the response seemed pitifully slow at times. Regardless, the racing was great! Nascar could stand to learn a thing or two from Lemons.
So back to the question I kept hearing and felt ashamed to answer: "What team are you on"? Well, none, then, because I'm a special kind of stupid. But hopefully... maybe, if the planets align, the Kentucky Fried Cougar ('91 LS 5.0, barn wreck since '00) will make it to Autobahn next year. If we do, I'd love to return the favors!
Congrats to all involved for running the best race and good time I’ve been involved with in ages!
Also, I got decent pics of all the finishers receiving their ceremonial handshakes… the FB gallery is all I have up, but if you want an original high-res lemme know and I’ll be more than happy to oblige.
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=7 … 836ccbc986
Thanks again everyone....
-Tony Lucio “goingincirclez”
#76 Kentucky Fried Cougar (hopefully maybe someday)