A Sunday Drive by Greg Lyle (ebook reader browser txt) 📕

they are constricted by the other and neither can run on the proper line. But because turn three is normally sacrificed for the set up for turn four, little time is lost executing an inside pass in turn three.

However the Corvette driver is not without a competitive option. If she can win the braking battle into turn three, get grip from her rear tires on the outside, and get the power down early to stay abreast of the Mustang through the corner she can block him from the perfect line into turn four. This will compromise both their speeds off turn four, but she’ll be able to continue the battle down the back straight. Unfortunately it will also mean the two Camaros speeding from behind will be able to close and force a four way fight.

Suddenly a corner worker in turn three frantically waves the yellow flag. This battle for position has been decided by circumstances beyond their control. The second place Porsche has spun and come to rest backwards in the middle of turn three. The Mustang is able to squeak by on the inside but the Corvette is forced well high to avoid a head-on crash. This leaves the Mustang on line for turn four and he rockets away down the back straight. This time the Mustang wins the fight by the luck of the draw. Behind his face shield he draws a sadistic grin and says to himself, “Ya baby I’ll take it!”

The back straight at this track is almost 1300 feet in length. This coupled with the speed carried off of turn four makes for a very entertaining ride as terminal speeds typically reach 180 mph. He looks down the track to find the lead car and sees the Duster streaking away about 150 feet down track. He shakes his head in wonder as he thinks to himself, “Man that dude has figured out those Mopars.” As he shifts into fourth gear he glances in the mirror and spies the Corvette blasting off turn four about 75 feet back. She got held up pretty good by the spin in turn three. The fourth place Camaro is right on her butt with the second Camaro bringing up the rear of the line. They are now locked in a three way fight for third so he can relax a little and settle into a rhythm that will keep pace with the leader and preserve the tires for late in the fuel run.

When he crosses the start finish line to complete the first lap Jerry, his crew chief, comes up on the radio. “You are P2, P2. Sixty six with a two. Good lap. P 1 sixty five with a five.” Jerry has given him position and lap times for himself and the leading Duster.

He replies, “Damn that guy is fast. How the hell is he doing that with a Plymouth?” He says with mock disgust. “That doesn’t seem natural. You guys sure that thing isn’t humpen around with a hemi hidden under the hood?”

“No hemi, but there are 340 fully manned squirrel cages under there.” Jerry jokes. “You should see the pulley system he uses to tie them into the transmission.”

“What do the rules say Jer? Can we use squirrels in Fords?”

“Sorry buddy Mopars only. We can run gerbils though.”

“No… I don’t like that idea. Gerbils are too much like rats. I associate rats with Chevys. They crap all over everything.” He says with a chuckle as he heal and toes the brake and throttle and shifts down into 2nd gear.

“Hey buddy give me a run down.” Jerry requests.

“It’s not bad. Still a little loose in the tight left handers, but easily managed with throttle. It’s got a slight push through four, but I was flat first time through. It’s pulling like a striped assed ape, but you couldn’t convince that Plymouth he has anything to worry about.” he replies.

“Ya well… Hey man that over steer will get better as the gas burns off. If the push gets worse we’ll work on it at the stop.” Jerry assures him.

“It was better through four that time. Tires are hot now…feels a lot better.”

“Stick to the plan dude. I’d bet that Duster is burning his tires off to run that pace. Save yours and we’ll make a charge at the end of this run.” Jerry instructs him.

“Rodger dodger Jer.” he huffs as he smoothly twists through the S turns at 115mph on the back side of the track.

The Duster continues to open the lead through the first quarter of the race. However at about lap fifteen the gap stabilizes and begins to drop. One of the Camaros maintains pace with the Vett and they are locked into a fierce fight for third. He settles into a rhythm and smoothly cranks off laps. There are the normal local cautions as guys fail to get away with mistakes, but overall the race is unfolding at a quick pace. The monster is screaming in perfect harmony. He has no worries.

He blasts across the start finish line to complete lap twenty and Jerry says, “P1 minus 1.2, P3 plus 2.5, sixty seven flat. He’s backing up to you now, told you he was burning em off. We pit in five, pit in five.” Jerry informs him. “Turn it up and go get him bud, put some heat on him.”

“Copy pit in five. Ye haaa! Time to trash the tires and light a fire under his Mopar loven butt!” he exclaims.

“Be careful of that left front. It’s gotta be hotter than hell and near gone.” Jerry says acknowledging the damage to the left front tire caused by the under steer the car has developed in all of the right hand turns. “I’m gonna take a turn out of the right rear and drop the left front pressure two pounds.” he tells his driver explaining the chassis adjustments he intends to make during the pit stop. The turn of adjustment out of the right rear weight jacker will transfer weight off of the left front and right rear tires. The weight will shift onto the right front and left rear. This should reduce the stress on the left front tire in the right hand turns reducing the push (under steer), and help the right rear when turning left reducing the over steer (loose). Dropping the air pressure in the left front tire will compliment the weight adjustment and prevent the tire from over pressurizing when it gets hot.

“Copy that boss.” he forces as he resists the g loading through turn four.

He’s storming down the back straight pounding through the gears. The Duster is firmly centered in his sights, and is obviously struggling for grip now. It suffers severe wheel hop as its’ driver brakes and down shifts for turn five. With its’ rear tires worn out they can’t handle the forces being demanded by the driver and they lock up and bounce rapidly on the pavement like a basketball being dribbled an inch off a floor. This reduces the grip of the rear tires to zero. If the driver attempts to turn into the corner the car will spin out of control. He fights the wheel to keep the car straight and is forced to drive it off track and into the gravel trap that slows the car to a stop before it impacts the tire barrier.

“Hot damn the Gods are smiling on us today!” He exclaims with glee. “Mopar boy is in the kitty litter in five!”

“Alright! I told you he was cookin those puppies. Don’t follow his example now Mac.” Jerry admonishes. “You got a big lead on Sandy, and she still has her hands full with Roy Black. So give me five more smooth laps then bring her in and we’ll give her some go juice and a new set of skins.”

“Rodger dodger boss. Keep the hammer down and drive it like my ass is on fire!” He responds with a manic giggle.

“Now damn it driver you be careful. That’s a nice trophy over there and I want it!” Jerry responds with an exasperated chuckle. He knows Mac is joking, but he is a very aggressive driver; which is what makes him so good. However his judgment is occasionally suspect and he has been known to throw a race away now and then. It’s not as though there is anything concrete to gain by winning. Amateur club racing doesn’t pay a dime. But pit crews are as competitive as the drivers. And being a partner in the car Jerry has spent a lot of time and money to get it here. He wants that trophy collecting dust on a shelf back at HIS shop.

Mac brakes, stabs the throttle, and down shifts to first as he swings the car into turn 10. The car goes loose and he uses the over steer to steer the car towards the inside of the turn and towards pit lane as he comes onto the front straight to complete lap 25. He drives hard, up shifts to second, and dives right onto pit road. He brakes hard before the commitment line and sets engine speed at 4500 RPM to avoid exceeding the pit road speed limit. Ahead and to the right he spies Jerry frantically waving indicating where he needs Mac to stop the car. He slides the car into the pit box, all four tires locked up.

This isn’t NASCAR, and there will be no 13 second pit stops today. Mac kills the engine, hits the quick release for the seat belts, and reaches around to unlatch the window net so he can exit the car. He disconnects the radio and cool suit water lines and climbs from the car. Jerry is already at work on the left front tire and Mac sprints to the fuel can Jerry has positioned just over the pit wall. Lugging the heavy fuel can Mac pulls the deck lid retention pins, raises the lid, and removes the fuel cap. Jerry hammers the left front tight and moves to the left rear. Mac is fueling the car as Jerry drops the jack and runs around the front of the car swinging the jack in a wide arc by its handle. He skillfully uses the momentum of the arcing jack to swing it into position on the right side of the car. He then leans into the trunk and places the weight jacker wrench onto the right rear spring perch. He then attacks the right rear tire.

Holding the emptying fuel can against his body with his left arm Mac reaches into the trunk and grabs the wedge wrench with his right hand. He takes a turn out of the right rear spring. This should cause the car to turn better and reduce lap times. He removes the adjuster wrench and runs to the pit wall over which he dumps the wrench and empty fuel can. He grabs the second can and returns to the fuel cell. Jerry slams the right front tire home and pulls the jack clear. He leans into the trunk area to confirm Mac has removed the weight jacker wrench, and then he leaps over the wall and grabs a pre-positioned bag of ice. Holding the ice before him he leans into the right side window and unstrapps the lid for the driver cool suit ice chest.

Temperatures inside a race car can exceed 140deg. The cool suit is designed to pump cold water from the ice chest through a network of surgical tubing