Sorry for the lack of updates. As Bowman said, things got very busy, particularly with the run order. I talked to Terry on the phone once on Friday on the way up, once early Saturday, and then saw him Sunday afternoon when he came to pick up the car and trailer. LOL He dropped everything off before I had gotten there on Friday, and when I talked to him on Saturday, he muttered something about yard work and pomegranate margheritas. I sent him text updates periodically on Saturday, and when we got into the late rounds (literally, as it was almost 11pm), I tried to call him to figure out where the switch was for the electric fan. He didn't pick up, but eventually I recalled that it was in the ash tray (because where else would you put a random switch?!) It was a great evening to have my wife Jill there, along with my mom and dad, and Terry (if only in spirits... er, spirit)
After winner's circle photos, a (very) late meal (of sorts) at Sheetz (which was remarkably busy at 1am, primarily with drunk people), and then the jaunt back to the hotel, it was almost 2am before we got to sleep. I was worthless on Sunday, and it was so roundy-round fast that not even one timeslip made it into the logbook.
Thankfully I was able to accomplish my hope of getting into the Tournament of Champions in Stock in one clean shot. It was a tough lineup to beat, which made it all the more gratifying. Philbilly, the reigning World Champ, let me know on Sunday that his bad run against me on Saturday was a fluke, as he giggled at my .029-take-.009 effort, while he was .003 and heading close to dead-on. Super Stock wasn't my weekend, as I dropped a close one first round on Saturday to Charlie Walc. Tried to take nuthin' and gave it back by .004 instead, which Jeff Serra got a great finish line photo of, so I can cherish that memory forever.
On Sunday, after struggling to get my foot off the brake on the first three hits of the day, I finally caught it perfect in round two of Super Stock... er, well, almost! It was -.002 red against Donn Rhode. All in all, a great weekend. The ride home was a little longer and eventful, however. I stopped in Wytheville, VA onthe way home, as a bad O2 sensor on the truck started acting up. I was already beat, and didn't want to risk getting stranded as night, so I finished the journey today. As it happens, they (like most things these days) don't keep them in stock, so I hobbled home, and will get 'er fixed up this week.
Congrats to Pete D'Agnolo for getting it done at the 'burgh again, and qualifying for the TOC in Super Stock, and also to Sunday's Summit Pro-Am winners, Emily Volkman in Super Stock, and Rob "Dollar" Bihl, getting it done in the slo-ride, Q/SA!
Pics...