CLASS RACER FORUM - View Single Post - 2015

Kevin McKenna · 09-11-2015, 11:39 AM

Thanks for the kind words Jack. I enjoy almost every element of my job (yes, even nitro cars) but I always seem find that Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday at Indy are some of my favorite days of the year. There is very little that can compare with Class Racing at Indy.

I'm happy to share my observations and thoughts here, even if its only once a year. Then again, I live in Indy now and there's a pretty good National Open here next month so maybe I'll start a "Live from" thread when the time comes.

Finally, a few closing thoughts:

Roy Hill took a fair amount of grief for his two big wheelstands but the reality is that could have been almost anyone. I certainly wouldn't even begin to suggest that Roy isn't a capable driver (I value my health far too much for that). The truth is, that could have been almost anyone. I've seen plenty of cars (even with wheelie bars) border on the edge of control. Thankfully, no one was injured and the class got a lot of prime exposure.

I'd be lying if I said the Westcott's weren't missed in the Hemi Challenge but it was also nice to see a couple of new finalists. I hope I'm not embarrassing Lloyd Wofford, but seeing a grown man with tears streaming down his face tells me all I need to know about how special Indy is.

I understand that there is still a fair amount of debate an dissention regarding the "new cars" but from where I sit, these are the good old days. Right now, there is an incredible mix of old and new that I'm not sure we've ever had before.

Hopefully, there will always be a place for guys like Ben Wenzel, Dallas Kelly, Jim Bailey, Gus Adkins, and everyone else with an appreciation for vintage muscle cars but the influx of new cars (and perhaps more importantly, new team owners like Bongiovanni, Skillman, Candies, and P.C. Richard) has done nothing but make class racing stronger. I'm not sure where else you can go to see 350 of the coolest cars in the world. Maybe the Barrett-Jackson auction but last time I checked, they don't run class there.

09-11-2015, 11:39 AM	#34
Kevin McKenna Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 194 Likes: 0 Liked 32 Times in 7 Posts	Re: 2015 - The Indy some of us missed ! ! ! Thanks for the kind words Jack. I enjoy almost every element of my job (yes, even nitro cars) but I always seem find that Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday at Indy are some of my favorite days of the year. There is very little that can compare with Class Racing at Indy. I'm happy to share my observations and thoughts here, even if its only once a year. Then again, I live in Indy now and there's a pretty good National Open here next month so maybe I'll start a "Live from" thread when the time comes. Finally, a few closing thoughts: Roy Hill took a fair amount of grief for his two big wheelstands but the reality is that could have been almost anyone. I certainly wouldn't even begin to suggest that Roy isn't a capable driver (I value my health far too much for that). The truth is, that could have been almost anyone. I've seen plenty of cars (even with wheelie bars) border on the edge of control. Thankfully, no one was injured and the class got a lot of prime exposure. I'd be lying if I said the Westcott's weren't missed in the Hemi Challenge but it was also nice to see a couple of new finalists. I hope I'm not embarrassing Lloyd Wofford, but seeing a grown man with tears streaming down his face tells me all I need to know about how special Indy is. I understand that there is still a fair amount of debate an dissention regarding the "new cars" but from where I sit, these are the good old days. Right now, there is an incredible mix of old and new that I'm not sure we've ever had before. Hopefully, there will always be a place for guys like Ben Wenzel, Dallas Kelly, Jim Bailey, Gus Adkins, and everyone else with an appreciation for vintage muscle cars but the influx of new cars (and perhaps more importantly, new team owners like Bongiovanni, Skillman, Candies, and P.C. Richard) has done nothing but make class racing stronger. I'm not sure where else you can go to see 350 of the coolest cars in the world. Maybe the Barrett-Jackson auction but last time I checked, they don't run class there.