4 replies to this topic

[Ken Bryan]

The rolling wheat fields of southeastern Washington are known as "the Palouse," and in the heart of that region is a small town that goes by the same name.  Twice a year, the area is particularly memorable.  In the spring, the newly sprouted wheat looks like a vast, undulating lawn.  The second time is right now, when our route through the winding takes us past huge combines harvesting the final product.  It is a sight to behold.  And, as usual, our race day weather was typical for the start of harvest:  a cloudless sky and blazing, mid-90 degree temperatures.

 

Fortunately, our host had anticipated the needs of the day, and rolled out a new and improved air conditioning unit to add to previous AC and fan units, giving us a comfortable environment for good racing.  And we needed it, because in addition to the weather, we had a packed house of 12 racers, plus a couple of extra visitors adding their body head to the mix.  Thanks, Leroy!

 

With this larger that usual turnout, we decided to take a group photo to memorialize the occasion.  The young girl was a relative of one of the racers, but the rest is a pretty motley crew, don't you think?

 

 

 

[Ken Bryan]

As usual, we started with stock cars, on the blue track.  Leroy had decided to do a mid-season cleaning of both tracks, alluding to the fact that allowing it to go all season made for a very difficult chore at the end.  He spray glued everything after cleaning, so traction was not an issue, but the track conditions clearly changed as the race went on, exchanging glue for rubber as we went.  Times were faster.  When we raced stock cars on this track in May, the winner finished with 110 laps.  This time, that wouldn't make the podium.

 

 

The results came in groupings, with the top 3 finishers just 2 laps apart.  Racers 4-6 were just 1 lap apart.  And positions 7-9 were just 3 laps apart.  But in the end, Robert Clements eked out first place...a harbinger of things to come...

 

Results:

 

1.  Robert Clements       115 laps, 5.57 fast lap (red)

2.  "Mr." Sunday              114, 5.49 (blue)

3.  Ken Bryan                  113, 5.81 (blue)

 

4.  Tom Brown                 109, 5.71 (green) -- It was good to have Tom back after a year of medical issues.

5.  Jack Cissner              109, 5.65 (green)

6.  John Wimett               108, 5.65 (green)

 

7.  Bradyn Ardnt               103, 6.15 (blue)

8.  Frank Sperle                102, 5.87 (green)

9.  Paul Dwyer                  100, 6.30 (blue)

 

10.  Leroy Sanders            97, 6.08 (blue)

11.  Tim Robertson            89, 5.51 (blue)

12.  Larry Flyn                   84, 6.21 (red)

 

We recently started adding name tags to the car pictures so you are able to pick out the winning cars and chassis.

 

 

 

[Ken Bryan]

With everyone all warmed up now, we moved on to the second class and the second track.  This time the racing was even closer, with the top 5 racers within 3 laps!  But once again, Robert Clements squeezed out a first place finish, with track owner Leroy Sanders and Paul Brown both reversing their fortunes from the first race to round out the podium.  Here are the happy totals:

 

Race Results:

 

1.  Robert Clements           137 laps, 4.37/green

2.  Leroy Sanders               136, 4.62/yellow

3.  Paul Dwyer                    135, 4.46/green

4.  Jack Cissner                  135, 4.41/red

5.  Tom Sunday                   134, 4.39/yellow

6.  Ken Bryan                      132, 4.70/red

7.  John Wimett                   120, 4.73/red

8.  Bradyn Arndt                  120, 4.62/yellow

9.  Tom Brown                     115, 4.88/green

10. Tim Robertson               108, 4.93/green

11. Frank Sperle                  107, 4.80/green

12. Larry Flyn                        93, 5.87/green

 

 

 

 

[Ken Bryan]

After a fabulous lunch break of pulled pork sandwiches, coleslaw, baked beans, chips, and birthday cake with ice cream (happy birthday, Frank!), we were back at it...food coma and all.  As usual, Leroy and Cheryl put out a great spread.  Thank you!

 

Then we were back to the blue track with Can Am, and the racing was again close.  But once again, Robert Clements claimed the winner's circle, this time with a 2-lap margin.

 

Results:

 

1.  Robert Clements       117 laps, 5.45/green

2.  Ken Bryan                  115, 5.49/green

3.  John Wimett               112, 5.62/green

4.  Paul Dwyer                 112, 5.62/yellow

5.  Mr. Sunday                 111, 5.49/red

6.  Tom Brown                 109, 5.52/blue

7.  Bradyn Arndt               106, 5.87/blue

8.  Jack Cissner               105, 5.53/green

9.  Frank Sperle                103, 5.96/green

10.  Leroy Sanders           101, 5.71/red

11.  Tim Robertson             94, 6.08/green

12.  Larry Flyn                    85, 6.85/red

 

 

 

              

 

 

[Ken Bryan]

For those who follow modern Formula One racing, you know that Max Verstappen has won the last 8 consecutive F1 races.  In fact, for most of the season, he has been almost untouchable.  So I have decided that "Max" might have to be the new nickname for Robert Clements.  Looking back to last month, where he won the final race, he entered the last race on a 4 race win streak.  And he appeared to be unstoppable.

 

So when the other racers discovered that Robert was going to race the last several heats, and we would have to wait until the very end to see if he could extend his streak, two of the racers decide to try a new tactic.  Tom Sunday and Jack Cissner, the top racers "in the clubhouse" decided they should see if they could rattle Robert.  They started talking loudly back and forth about how they could hear noises coming from Robert's car.  "I don't think he's going to make it....can you hear that, it's getting worse...that gear sound is terrible..."

 

Did it work?  Nope.  Robert's comment was that he just drove faster to get this over with.  And when the smoke cleared, the streak is at 5.  Just like Max, the rest of the podium keeps changing.  In fact, 5 different racers shared the podium with him during the day.  But Robert kept right on winning.

 

Next month, can he catch Max?

 

Final results:

 

1. Robert Clements             148 laps, 4.27/red

2. Tom Sunday                     146, 4.23/red

3. Paul Dwyer                      145, 4.25/yellow

4. Jack Cissner                    145, 4.26/yellow

5. John Wimett                     141, 4.46/yellow

6. Ken Bryan                        130, 4.68/yellow

7. Leroy Sanders                  130, 4.83/red

8. Tim Robertson                  126, 4.64/red

9. Tom Brown                       125, 4.85/green

10. Bradyn Arndt                  114, 4.65/green

11. Larry Flyn                        112, 5.28/green

12. Frank Sperle                     99, 4.98/green

 

Next race -- last Saturday in August.