Tension ::: Ken Petersen...
Tension ::: Ken Petersen sits in pregrid waiting for the off. The engines are all rumbling threateningly as they warm up, and you can cut the tension with a knife.
Bumping in vintage racing is an absolute no-no. SOVREN will impose a 14-month ban on anyone who causes an accident through deliberate bad driving. A careful look at the rules and standards of the various racing organizations will reveal who you want to race with. Some people enjoy a more cowboy approach; nothing wrong with that as long as you know where you stand.
Is SOVREN racing just safe exhibition driving, then? Absolutely not. Drivers generally race to about 90-percent flat out. They stop short of Schumacher-style rammings, but up to that 90-percent limit they are genuinely racing. Just go and take a look-they're not trundling around at pace-car speeds; they're giving it some real stick. One competitor has trashed a diff, gearbox, and engine in one season, as well as the usual minor breakages, so a Sunday treasure hunt this ain't. Treasure is definitely not involved at all, in fact, as there's no prize money to win, just points. SOVREN supports a local children's hospital, so charity fundraising is part of their organization's aims.
Friendship and gamesmanship are also part of the fun. asking a close competitor if that's blue smoke or white smoke coming out of his engine and telling another that you've broken your glasses and had to borrow your Grandpa's is within the rules. On the other hand, if you've broken something on your car and the same close competitors can help out, they will.
Check It Out ::: It's a smart...
Check It Out ::: It's a smart move to check the car over for debris and stones in the wrong place, as well as to look for leaks and loose components. Attention to detail pays off.
Office Hours ::: The office...
Office Hours ::: The office in most historic racers is a pretty businesslike environment. Water, revs, and oil-pressure gauges are in line of sight; the speedo is long gone.
Sticky Stuff ::: Sticky race...
Sticky Stuff ::: Sticky race rubber doesn't last for long. These will do for one more race, then it's off to the tire shop to get a new set of Goodyears fitted to this set of rims.