Pacific Northwest Racing History

Imagine this.

You are sitting in a two million dollar F1 car at Monza in Italy roaring down the front straight at over 190mph. As you prepare for turn 1 (the infamous Rettifilo Tribune) you break hard, down shift through the box, and use your steering hub to rake the suspension perfectly for this quick right/left chicane. Coming off the apex, you richen the mixture, balance out your suspension, and start hitting gears as quickly as you can to prepare for “Curva Grande”.

At times you are seeing speeds well over 200mph and as you anticipate every significant change in the track surface/direction, you are digitally setting up your car’s fuel curve, suspension geometry, and break bias for each specific event. You do this all the while taking comfort in the fact that you are surrounded by some of the most advanced safety equipment ever to find it’s way into a vehicle of any kind.

Now, Imagine this.

You are sitting in a ‘t’ body modified at a dirt track in Ohio. Your double clutching as you accelerate through the straight and into turn 1. Traction isn’t really an option on this surface and the fellas before you proved that steering your way through the corner via the accelerator is the most efficient way to get around the circle. As you do so, your car balances between the points of control and disaster… sliding the ass end just feet away from the wall at well over highway speeds.

You have no gauges, you have no buttons, you have no switches, you have nothing to aid you in your quest of getting around that track ‘cept for your balls, your gas pedal, and your clutch. As you constantly wipe the dirt off your goggles, you realize that the only thing protecting you from certain death in the event of an accident is a leather helmet and an old aviation lap belt.

………………..

What these guys did amazes me. (thanks for the link Dr. J)