[Greg Gay]

Spring 1993, my first Divisional: Cecil County MD. Though I have admired Stock Eliminator for years, I have don't know many of the racers, and have never attended a race with anyone. Ryck Campbell gets the unenviable distinction of teching my car. The car is from Division 3, so no one in Division 1 really knows the car. "What's your carb numbers?" "I don't know". "What's your head number?" "I don't know". Ryck is quiet, but you can tell that he's not happy. He checks what he can see, checks my safety equipment, and lets me in.

I don't have access to a scale, so I tech in as C/SA with a minimum of 3725 lbs. I go to the scale before my first run and the person running the scale hollers out "45!". So, I go up for the first qualifying run. When I cross the scale, the scalemaster says, "You're 100 lbs. light!" I don't have any lead, the previous owner had rightfully removed it from the car. I go to the tower and talk to Greg X. "Don't you have any weight?" "No" "Can't you borrow it from someone?" "I don't know anyone." Perhaps for the first time in the history of NHRA, I am allowed to change my class to B/SA.

First round, I draw former World Champion Tex Miller. I give him a small head start and away we go! Second gear, Third gear, focus on the opponent, set the car right in beside him, a cone flashes by between us, back off, look up for the win light, and it's the 1000 foot cone! Back on the throttle, and I can't catch him.

Time to load up and go home. Though I feel like a fool, I can't wait for the next opportunity to try it again!