VINTAGE AUTO RACING ASSOCIATION

clayt · Joined: 12 Feb 2008 Posts: 12 Location: Yorba Linda, CA

Don't see a general board so (being a rookie and all) I'll use this one to say Hi!
My name is Clay. Some of you know my dad, Fred Trueman.
I ran his car for the first time last weekend at the University of VARA event. Been a long time since I've driven a car on a track.
The UofV format, a little track time, little classroom, little more track time, worked great getting me back in the groove.
Saturday I was embarrassingly slow and sloppy. You know you're not having a good lap when a Volvo wagon blows by you...
By the last session Sunday I was finally able to get a couple respectable turns and it started feeling good. Decided to skip the practice starts/race. I want a couple more laps before mixing it up.
I'll be at Fontana crewing for dad. Not going to drive. Is there anything I can do toward my rookie training at Fontana without running the car?
Probably run the car again at Willow. I have some laps there (30 years ago...) and like the track. Better to practice on a track I know my way around for now.
See you at the races!

Patrick C Paternie · Joined: 01 Nov 2007 Posts: 13

Hi Clay,

I have enough trouble trying to finish ahead of one Trueman, now there's gonna be two of you to contend with?
Seriously, welcome aboard and glad you got a chance to run the green machine at U of V. Just be careful, as you probably are remembering, this can be addictive.
See you at Fontana.

Patrick

J Wilkins · Joined: 07 Nov 2007 Posts: 55 Location: Glendale, CA.

clayt · Joined: 12 Feb 2008 Posts: 12 Location: Yorba Linda, CA

clayt · Joined: 12 Feb 2008 Posts: 12 Location: Yorba Linda, CA

Efrain Olivares, Jr. · Joined: 05 Nov 2007 Posts: 23 Location: Glendale, CA

Getting into a go-kart is the cheapest/best practice you can get.

Even heading to a good indoor center is a good way to stay sharp. Dromo 1 in Orange is close to you.
_________________
"What's that little red car?"
"That's a Sprite."
"There's no way it's a Sprite. It just passed a 911."

thom kuby · Posted: Thu Feb 14, 2008 12:37 pm Post subject: I'm with Patrick on this one...

clayt · Joined: 12 Feb 2008 Posts: 12 Location: Yorba Linda, CA

Mark Scott · Posted: Thu Feb 14, 2008 5:25 pm Post subject: Welcome aboard Clay

Glad to have another Trueman on board. I would suggest you attend every race and take your dads car out on ALL the lunch time track tours so you get an idea of what all the tracks are like. I know you will not be at speed but at least you get an idea of what the tracks are like. It also helps with the nerves when you get out there for the first time and you are so nervouse you do not know where the track goes. At least this way you know every track.

See you at Fontana.
_________________
Mark Scott
#267 Porsche 911 "LEGAL" CP-GT
With Legal Motor from the 60's (like it should be)

Patrick C Paternie · Joined: 01 Nov 2007 Posts: 13

[quote="clayt"]

Alan Berry · Joined: 12 Nov 2007 Posts: 31 Location: Poway, CA

Clay,

I wouldn't feel too bad about having the white Volvo 240 wagon "blow" by you, apparently it was Boris Said driving. Just kidding, but whoever was piloting it was getting everything out of it plus another 20% or so.

My son Jason in the old red Volvo was looking for you in the day's end race. Glad to hear nothing serious happened.

Alan
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Volvo PV 544 "Swedish Meatball"

kcanaga · Joined: 03 Mar 2008 Posts: 3 Location: Ventura County, CA

The driver in the Volvo was my friend Eric Sherrer. He has a Caldwell D-13 Formula Vee he's getting ready to race, but couldn't get it ready in time for the UofV, so took his daily driver. Really slow on the straights, but not so bad in the corners. He should be doing his first rookie race some time this year. I went along to see how it all goes, and got so sold on VARA that I also bought a D-13 and plan to do my first rookie race the same time he does. Just mailed in my membership application and medical forms today. Eric hasn't raced cars before, and neither have I, but we both roadraced motorcycles for quite a few years, and Eric still does occasionally. He's won a few class championships over the years, one of them national, so he knows his way around a track on two wheels pretty well. It'll be intersting to see how it works on four. He is way better than me on a bike, but I'm hoping to get even in the cars. He also has the advantage of being 20 years younger, but that should mean that I'm 20 years wiser, right? Looking forward to a fun year.

Ken

Alan Berry · Joined: 12 Nov 2007 Posts: 31 Location: Poway, CA

Ken,

Great choice on starting out in FV. The cars are by far the most bang for the buck in vintage racing and with Kim Madrid turning up the flame the turnout of cars gets better every event. I am always blown away when I talk to any long time FV racer how little maintenance these cars need...and still get around a race track pretty quickly!

I'm sure you guys will be getting your own run group soon, especially if the numbers keep increasing. Even so the production small bore cars you run with seem to be decreasing in numbers over the last couple of years so you pretty much have that group to yourselves already.

Welcome!
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Volvo PV 544 "Swedish Meatball"

Kim Madrid · Joined: 03 Nov 2007 Posts: 34 Location: Rancho Cucamonga

Hi Ken,
Welcome! You have picked a great group to run with. The FV group has a blast racing together. We will even go as far as helping each other in the pits wrenching on the cars. Who's car did you buy, Robert Zimmerman's? If so you made a good choice.
I also am driving a Caldwell this season. I was driving a Zink for a few seasons but my husband is driving it this time.
Let me know what event you guys are planning on attending so we can formally me you and Eric. Very Happy

Kim Madrid
FV1 291
FV Class Rep.

kcanaga · Joined: 03 Mar 2008 Posts: 3 Location: Ventura County, CA

Thanks for the welcome, Alan and Kim. I'm really looking forward to getting the car on the track.

Yes, it was Bob Zimmerman's car that I bought.

I'm hoping to drop by the Calfironia Speedway race on Saturday, just to meet some people and checkout the FV scene some more. I'll look you up if I make it there.

I just sent in my VARA application and medical yesterday, and I've ordered suit and helmet and so on. I'm hoping to have everything together for the Willow race, but not sure if I'll manage that. I'm committed to taking a couple bikes to Willow the following weekend for a vintage road race, and I'm not sure I can manage the logistics for both. If not, I'll be at Buttonwillow for sure. I don't think Eric will make it before Buttonwillow. He just got married (again) this weekend, and is a bit pre-occupied. But I'll keep pushing him. He really does want to get it all together this year.

Kim, Will you be doing certifications at Willow and Buttonwillow? I admit to not being too clear on the certification thing, but it sound like I can't do it until I do tech for my first race. Is that correct?

Ken