Enjoying the some beautiful countryside, at high speeds
We had a short speed section out of San Luis Potosi and then a long (187 km) transit to the next section. This next section is up into the hills out of Aguascalientes, stopping for a short break (servicio) and then running the same section back down the hill and then transitting into Zacatecas for the famed La Bufa. The service between the two speed sections was a little surreal for all. It was in a dusty little town a long ways from anywhere (really, we found a lot of those kinds of places) and pilotos and copilotos congregated in the shade of a brightly colored little restaurant. A group of us - the Gregorys, Robertsons, CJ Strupp and Adrian and Paul of the infamously-crashed-but-resurrected-Studebaker sat on the curb reminiscing and telling stories of the week. Conversation bounced around from the crashes, the man who jumped out the plane to break records and the sound barrier, how Linda and Stewart met (in an airport and he had no wheels on his luggage) to beef. It was really nice to just sit in the shade with some of our closest friends. One could sense the feeling of being completely exhausted but also at ease because we were just 3 speed sections away from the finish.
At the last servicio before La Bufa
We ran La Bufa excellently. I had in-car video from last year to review and to make notes for dad for when to tell him to gas it out of a turn if he had a straight coming up and where the tricky intersections were. La Bufa would have been a lot more fun had the pavement been in better shape, but we still ran really well down and back.
What a feeling of relief to be finished! We still needed to transit the 2.5 kms into town to the finish arch but WOOHOO! We did it!
We loosened our belts and saw Jack Rogers and CJ Strupp pulled over in their Mustang. We pulled up beside them and they told us they blew their engine on the last run. Our first thought was to give them a two to the arch but then Dad remembered that we could be penalized and even eliminated for towing a competitor. So, unfortunately we couldn't give them a ride but they were able to coast down hill and get a push to the arch.
What an incredible feeling of accomplishment! No matter if your car is running perfectly or if you have had mechanical gremlins, this race is is grueling and not for the feint of heart. as we waited in line to cross under the finish arch, a million memories of the week went flashing through my mind.
We left the GoPro running as we went through the finish. It is my favorite clip of the whole race because it shows many cameos of good friends and the celebrations that are starting.
Results and celebrations coming up next!
1 comment:
Wow looks like quite a race. My name is Tim Cumming. I was actually on a flight with your father while he has heading down to the race. I heard all about the race and just how epic it was going to be. Your blog doesnt disappoint. Anyway I am glad you all made it ok. It sounds like you had a great time. Anyway please tell your dad I said hello and congrats.
-Tim Cumming
cummintr@plu.edu
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