Here's my race report to the team and the Squidaholics. We had a couple complaints about our driving this weekend and don't want to be "that" team. Sorry if we stepped on our (or your) dicks. We will do better next race. pm me if ya have a complaint as we don't want this to represent who we are. Trying to nip "t
his" in the bud. thanks
Greetings Squidiacs!
Here’s what happened at our last and final race of this season. Thursday on the way to the track, I lost cylinder #6 in my street car. Not a good way to start the race weekend. Now I have no choice but to pull the motor. Which will finally allow me to upgrade Petra’s engine by adding a turbo charger. VROOM! VROOM! When life gives ya Lemons!
Fridays practice was going well until I had a difficult time getting the car into 5th gear. The shifter linkage eventually broke, but we were able to repair it thanks to Flatball Racing loaning us there TIG welder. Lemons teams are the best! I had asked the team and our “fans” to wear Batman themed attire for this race. Gordon (Inspector Gordon), Bob (Old Batman’s father), Patty (Harley Quinn), Paul (Batman), Linda (Batwoman), joined Tim Cole (Joker), John (Baine), Paul (Robbin), and me (Batman) all in costume. We drove the bat trike with trailer along with Beulah to tech and the whole place seemed to enjoy the effort. Thanks team!!! Later in the practice session an exhaust hanger broke, which led to a broken header… Off to Paul’s garage/lift Beulah went. We quickly made the repairs, and were back at the track in time for our lobster and steamer dinner! Everyone at dinner sang Happy Birthday to me (56th) and we enjoyed the huge Batman cake Maureen brought.
We got really lucky having those things break during practice and not in the race.
Saturday started with me in the car for the first session. After 2hrs. and 20 minutes we were in an unbelievable 2nd place! We swapped drivers and added fuel. Paul rejoined the track in 11th place. He brought the car back in and we were in 3rd place!!! There were 117 cars racing this weekend. We were doing great! After more fuel, John hopped behind the wheel and was in 5th, he bounced around between 4th and 7th most of his stint, with 15 minutes left in the day, he was a solid 5th place. I knew we all had been driving hard but John literally drove the wheel off of Beulah. Yes, we lost a rear wheel in turn 2 due to 4 broken wheel studs. John kept the car from hitting anything and we ended the day in 19th position. “The Batmobile lost a wheel, and the Joker got away!”
Saturday night we enjoyed Paul’s delicious steak tip dinner. After which the repairs to Beulah began. Studs were needed and Squidrope Racing happens to be loaded with studs! Yuk yuk. The wheel studs were being replaced when I looked over to see Gordon pinching his nose to stop the bleeding. The wrench he was tightening the studs with suddenly broke, and so did Gordons nose when it smashed into Beulah’s rear fender. Ouch! After the repairs we played Lemons trivia (3rd place). It was now time to stroll the paddock. Hot tubs, skid carts, and carved foot long bottle opener in the shape of a penis. What a night!
Smiling Johnnies World Famous Waffles filled our bellies, and Paul started behind the wheel. He brought us from 19th to 14th. When John took over the driving cuties he was in 16th and maintained that position. My turn to try and get us up to our goal of a top ten finish. I pushed a bit harder than our normal “drive the race like it’s a practice session” motto. It was pedal to the metal time. Unrestrained, I was able to set the teams fastest time (1:25.666). Beulah was flying and I was having a great time trying to get us in the top ten. We finished 12th. Not bad considering we lost 15 minutes due to the wheel coming off Saturday, and the 3 black flags we received Sunday.
The story doesn’t end there. We still had to support/cheer our fellow racers, corner workers, and Lemons staff. Squidrope Racing did it’s best. As did our Tifosi. We were rewarded for all the work everyone affiliated with our team did. We received our second Lemons trophy. This time it was the “Judges Choice” award. We didn’t win the race, but we did win the judges hearts! Thanks so much, and we’re all looking forward to next seasons adventures.
Squiddles,
Keith a.k.a. -Batman
"We Got Screwed" NHMS 2017, 4th NHMS 2020, 4th NJMP 2021,
"Judges Choice" NHMS 2021,10th NJMP 2022, 3rd Thompson 2022
#847 Batmobile aka-"Beulah" search Squidrope Racing on Facebook