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Some of my most vivid memories of GingerMan are those of rain races.
The first rain race I can remember at GingerMan was exciting. I remember panicking trying to get rain tires on and get to the grid on time. I was at the track without crew, which was typical before I became old and frail...or just old and smart. This was a MCSCC event; however as I was scrambling to switch tires one of my buddies from VSCDA took pity on me and came to the rescue. Just to keep it interesting I forgot that the rain wheels required different lug bolts adding to the panic at the time.
After all was said and done I made it to the grid on time and just in time for an announcement from the tower. The entire corner staff was being brought in to get rain gear, so there was going to be a 20 minute break. Swell. I could have used that extra time to change tires!
Len Welch, one of the sane competitors that day, decided to sit this one out. Good thing for me he and Lydia, his girlfriend at the time and now wife, came to the grid during the break with an umbrella for me. Of course they also documented the moment by taking pix of all the drowned rats waiting on grid.
As the race began I was acutely aware that my competition, Bruce and George had out qualified me. Bruce had the overall pole. And this is George's home track. L1T2 Bruce spins out drivers' left. One down.
The rain continued to come down in buckets as I worked my way up to George's Hewland. The lack of distance between the two cars was directly proportional to the frequency with which George would drive through puddles hurling lakes full of water into my lap. I was laughing so loud in my helmet thinking, "That's quite brilliant!"
Rivers were formed and running down from T3 into T5 on the line. The stretch from T10 - T11 had my racecar hydroplaning and jumping to the right with each lap. I had to voluntarily pry my fingers loose of the steering wheel each lap just to relax them.
Eventually George's driving style caught up to him. He stayed on the dry line going through T4 into T5. He looped it into the grass drivers' left. He was able to collect it, but never caught me before the checkered. WhooHoo. Gotta love the great equalizer!
I had paddocked at the foot of the hill near grid. Upon returning to my paddock space it was impossible to not notice that a 20 foot diameter lake had formed with my open trailer dead center. Others' tires were floating down the hill towards Trailer Lake in a river from higher ground.
I parked and began to load up with rain still coming down yet at a much slower pace. I decided to keep my helmet and all my gear on as I loaded in an effort to keep some part of me dry. The water was so deep it was over my driving boots! Before I had completed my mission it became apparent that my fire suit had taken in so much water that the seat was now down to my knees! Now laughing almost uncontrollably, I gathered my street clothes and moseyed to the bathroom to change. Upon reemerging from the bathroom the rain had stopped, I was dry and 1 checkered flag richer.
2013 marked Midwestern Council's return to GingerMan Raceway. If memory serves, our last outing to South Haven was in 2006.
 | | HSAX drivers on grid and ready for the GingerMan Slip-n-Slide |
Sunday brought out the hardiest of HSAXers as rain was in the forecast for the afternoon. Not to disappoint, the rain started earlier than expected (~9am) and lasted through all timed runs and beyond. Although times were slower than normal it was quite evident whose vehicles were most technologically advanced. By the end of the day a few broke the 2 minute mark and a good time was had by all!
This day not only marked new track records in all classes represented but also Ozzy's first time working HSAX T&S alone. Congratulations to all.
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