We just finished our opening week end event - NASA Rocky Mountain.
What a great time I had!! I'm still so pumped I just have to talk about it!
The weather forecast was for rain on Saturday, rain and snow on Sunday. But, this is CO, so the forecast is often not very accurate. And this week end was no exception. I didn't miss a single minute of track time due to weather. Saturday was bright and sunny all day. It snowed here Sat night, and Sunday morning. But the sun came out early and the track was ready on time.
We had great racing all day on Saturday. Lots of laps, and the smell of burning rubber and brake pads. Passing and getting passed. Hanging it hard into a corner, and getting a little four wheel drift. If that kind of thing doesn't get your blood pumpin', you're already dead.
Sunday the weather was not quite as good. It was a lot cooler, but not too bad. The sun was out in the morning, but the clouds were around in the afternoon. We had a few minutes of rain around lunch time, and the wind picked up after that. But the track stayed dry and fast all afternoon.
The third session today was pretty late, like 1530. Most people had bailed by then for one reason or another. When I went to grid, I was the only car! Just me! I had the whole track to myself. Usually, if there's only one car, they close down the track. Later I heard there was a radio conversation that went something like this:
- Control, we only have one car on the track. Should we shut it down?
- Really? only one car?
- Yes, just one.
- Let me guess, it's Bob Cowan.
I guess my reputation as a die hard preceeds me
I just can't get enough track time.
Also, this is my first week end as an HPDE Instructor. What great fun that was! Over the years, I'v been an instructor for all sorts of vehicles big and small- 2 wheels, 10 wheels, big and small, tracked, emergency, tactical, even rowboats and canoes. But this was my first experience teaching on a track.
I can't tell you how much fun that was! My student was a good guy who was actually pretty good behind the wheel, even though it was his first time on a race track. He also had a great car with lots of electronics that helped get him out of trouble. He was a quick study, and good learner, a nice guy, and a lot of fun to spend time with.
More than once the two of us were laughing like fools when a corner went well. I bet the corner workers were laughing at us, as we cheered our way around the track. Just like any addict, I thoroughly enjoyed roping another person into my world.
I hope I get to see more of him.
This week end, it occurred to me what a blessed life I live. I go to work and get to play with little kids. I come home and get to go to the garage and play with cars. On the week end, I get to play with big kids AND cars. When I got home, my e-mail had some new pictures of my grand kids. Does life get any better than this?
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