Slipstream - March 2003

Photo by Wendy Shoffit
Time Trial 104
by James Shoffit
It was early on a Saturday morning when we arrived. Wendy and
I had spent the night at the new Best Western in Mineral Wells
(four thumbs up, by the way!), and quickly noticed the cars were
all covered in a thick frost. The drive to the MineralRing saw the
temperature dip 30...29...28...27...26... where it stopped and started
moving back up. The sun was soon up, and the clear day without
wind slowly warmed us as we unloaded the car, set up timing,
trailer, and course.
Charlie Davis was taking a few spins in John Garcia’s
Formula Atlantic race car to see if his size-12 body would fit in
the size-5 car. Someone yelled “hey, the space shuttle should be
passing over!”
Eyes turned upward, we saw the streak – air molecules
turned to plasma by the extreme force of an object flying 12,000
...they both complained about their instructors
and having students that just wouldn’t listen...
miles per hour reentering our atmosphere 40 miles up. Then
something seemed to fall off. Then another something, and then
another. Soon the main streak split into two, and we heard a loud
boom. We hoped that this was normal reentry process, but the
radio soon confirmed nagging doubts.
The time trial school went on, though it was somewhat
delayed in the confusion. Once underway, students and
instructors alike were treated to a year’s worth of time trials
all compressed into a single day for one low, low price.
The day started with everyone working on Course 1.
Students and instructors were paired up, hopped in a car with the
instructor driving, and were treated to 3 slow(er) laps each,
Photo by Wendy Shoffit
Photo by Wendy Shoffit
who was the student and who was the instructor. They both
complained about their instructors and about having students
that just wouldn’t listen.
Chuck & Noby disagreeing about the line
Bill Miller learned the most valuable lesson – never bring
really old tires to ANY event and try to drive on them. His spins
resulted in at least 3 new nicknames : calls of “Spin Miller”,“Thrill
Miller”, and “Tractor Bill” followed him around all day.
(I won’t mention the times that Wendy and I ended up kneedeep
in weeds – or John Garcia nearly lost a wheel)
David Pang gives his aero kit a workout
Many thanks go to the organizers and contributors – Kevin
Hardison, Cody Sears, and Wendy Shoffit, to name a few.
Let’s hope we do this one again next year – it was the best
value I have seen!
Ben Hartsell crosses the finish line
followed by two more sets of 3 hot laps. Then the driver became
the passenger in the former passenger’s car and again did a set of
3 slower laps, followed by 2 sets of 3 laps. Then worker changes,
rinse, and repeat.
Then we set up course 2 and each entrant had 2 sets of 3 hot
laps both as a driver and a passenger. Then the same was repeated
for course 3. The day was finished off with a shootout for top
time of day (which can’t be published since this was a school).
The newest people to time trials received instruction from
the most experienced drivers, while those closer together in skill
were often placed together. Chuck and Noby are still fighting over
Photo by Wendy Shoffit
Mike Bellinghausen puts his turbo brakes to good use
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