The Ankle Bone's Connected to the Knee Bone...

Where in the heck do all these wires go! Today I wired up both the master ignition on/off and the start/push button switches. Then I made some tweaks to the brake pedal assembly and installed the driver's side fresh air vent and cable. You never know that may just come in handy on a hot day in some place like.... Oh let's say Mexico for example. By getting these items finished it will make things a lot easier to deal with once I begin to install the gauges.

At the same time I was reading and following the wire schematic to find the best method to install each gauge some of which I will utilize the factory wiring harness while others will require separate wiring. It's interesting to note that while there are many ways to hook up various wires thoughtful planning can result in the optimum performance and reliability factors. Funny but today was one of those days when I didn't really get all that much finished but I was so pleased with what I did.

God's speed Bill France Jr

The funeral service for Bill France Jr., the visionary leader of the NASCAR and International Speedway Corp. for more than three decades, has been scheduled for Thursday at the Mary McLeod Bethune Performing Arts Center, at Bethune-Cookman College in Daytona Beach.

France died Monday afternoon at his home in Daytona Beach. He was 74.

In lieu of flowers, the France family requests donations be made to the NASCAR Foundation; the Halifax Medical Center Foundation Inc./Betty Jane France Pediatric Center (also known as the "Speediatrics" children's unit); or another NASCAR-related charity of choice.

Team California's Best would like to express our sincere condolences to the France family. Not only will we miss Bill but in fact there were plans to talk to him after this years 20th anniversary running of the La Carrera Panamericana. Since Bill France drove in the La Carrera in 1950 and this being the 20th anniversary of the rebirth of the race we were all looking forward to simply saying we had ran in a race that Bill France among others had competed in. The North Americans who showed up in Juarez that year were a mixture of professional racers, amateurs, adventurers and it was Bill France founder of NASCAR who was reputedly the leader of the "good old boys" from the South. Also in attendance was Herschel McGriff from Oregon and a large contingent from California. Respectfully, instead of taking part in sorrow for Bill's death we will celebrate by taking his memories with us. Whenever possible we will look out across the views that the Pan American Highway offer and remember Bill was there long before us and what a blast he must have had. What an honor it will be to compete on the same roads that took Bill France and so many other champions into the history books.

For more than a quarter of a century, it was the guidance of William C. France, known to the racing world as Bill France, Jr., that thrust NASCAR to the top of the professional sporting world. After taking the reins from his father, family patriarch Bill France, Sr., in January of 1972, Bill Jr. used his business acumen to take the family business to new heights. Other than the founding of NASCAR itself, Bill Jr.’s appointment to leadership is probably the most significant event in the history of the sanctioning body. As rule-maker, promoter, ambassador, and salesman, France has set the standard by which all other forms of motorsports are measured. He has taken it from a regional sport to a national sport, and nurtured its growing popularity on television, culminating in a record-setting $2.4 billion broadcast contract. He handed the presidency of NASCAR to Mike Helton in 2000, and was succeeded by his son, Brian, as the CEO and Chairman of the Board in 2003. As of his induction in 2004, Bill France, Jr. and his brother Jim were co-vice chairmen of a six-member Board of Directors that also included Brian, Lesa Kennedy, Helton and George Pyne.

Judging by the gauges....

At long last I have all the gauges installed into the gauge bezel. How many times have I seen cars either die along the road or on the track or literally go up in flames because those who call themselves mechanics didn't take the time to do a proper dash install. Now is the time to make sure wires are installed and soldered properly instead of sloppy electrical taping jobs or improper crimps that would have been better off with Scotch tape or cake frosting. After all the wires are finished behind the dash I will finalize the bezel install into the dash.

On another note, California's Best Racing Team would like to wish Rachel Larratt and her team all the best and let them know we are glad they are all safe. For those who haven't heard, after leaving Thunderhill Raceway after they finished running in a three hour endurance race somehow there tow vehicle and trailer (with race car inside) had an off-road excursion into the median. The last I heard they were still waiting to see how much damage there is. I don't have the full report yet as to what happened but my son and I were talking about how many times we have almost fallen to sleep after running an endurance race at Thunderhill.

It's time to whip it out... Map that is.

BIGGEST YEAR SO FAR!

Gerie Bledso does a superb job keeping everyone informed as to any and all information, rule changes, and anything you could possibly want to know regarding the La Carrera Panamericana. His monthly "Carrera Driver" newsletter keeps us all up to date and anyone who has ever had such duties can tell you it's no easy task and it's a no glory position. So speaking for California's Best Race Team I would just like to tell Gerie how much we appreciate all that you do.

This evening I just received the latest edition of the Carrera Driver newsletter and besides some rule updates and changes and other information he started off by telling us about the 20th anniversary running of the La Carrera Panamericana. Before hand allow me to say, I can't begin to tell you how exciting this whole process of being officially entered in what is historically one of the most famous races in the world let alone the added excitement of it being the 20th anniversary celebration. I keep telling myself, this is the sort of race that legends are made out of and we are part of it.

Carrera Driver Newsletter

REGISTRATION CLOSED -- BIGGEST YEAR SO FAR!

Eduardo Leon the President of La Carrera Panamericana has finally ordered those dreaded words -- “no mas, no more gingos!” -- so registration has been closed. If you are not among the fifty-seven who have paid a least a deposit by now, or solemnly swore that “the check’s in the mail,” I would not buy an old car with the firm intention of racing this October.


FINAL ROUTE ANNOUNCED

The following route has finally been announced on the official web site. It should be cooler and much less humid in Oaxaca than Veracruz, given the extra 5000 feet in altitude.

Oct. 26 - Oaxaca to Tehucan

Oct. 27 - Tehuacan to Puebla

Oct. 28 - Puebla to Queretaro

Oct. 29 - Queretaro to Morelia

Oct. 30 - Morelia to Aguasclaientes

Oct. 31 - Aguascalientes to Zacatecas

Nov. 1 - Zacatecas to Nuevo Laredo



(Boy am I glad we have an interpreter since I can't pronounce a single one of those names!)

"Mark" this on your calendar

CALIFORNIA'S BEST Is proud to announce the addition of Mark Welch as a team/crew member. There are many important qualifications to take into consideration when embarking on an out of town race especially this one for obvious reasons. At the same time while reviewing all of those reasons I also had to take into consideration the great friendship we all share with Mark as well as respect for what has been an awesome competitor. Mark and I have battled on the tracks over the years and yet we always had time to laugh with and at each other both on and off the track. One of my fondest memories was the year Mark and I were the first two Father and Son teams to race in the famous 25 Hours of Thunderhill and watch our sons who where both rookies. Not only did we share side by side pits but we helped each other out regardless of what was going on.

A few facts about Mark are as follows...

Mark's father was a U.S. Diplomat and he grew up in Europe and South America. He graduated elementary school in Heidelberg, Germany and high school in Lima, Peru. Mark started racing go-karts and crewing for SCCA drivers when he was 15 years old and bought his first race car, a BMW 1600ti, from his college roommate in his junior year at U of Miami. Years later, Mark and two friends started Trinity Racing in order to race in the then newly formed IMSA series. In 1980 he started dead last at the Daytona 24 hour race and finished 17th overall, 5th in class thanks to a lot of help from none other than Lynn St. James. Six weeks later he finished again in 17th spot but 4th in class with the late, great Jim Cook. From there he ran a bunch of races including the SCCA Pro Racing Playboy/Escort Series in 1985 with Steve Dietrich, the well known LA real
estate developer. After a few years off to start a family he began running the NASA Pro-7 Series in northern California. Since then Mark won many races, the 1996 enduro series, in class, the 2000 enduro series, in class, and last December, the 2006 USAF 25 hour enduro, 10th overall, 1st in class. He also serves as a NASA instructor when he's not running his new chassis dyno service located in Virgina next to VIRginia International Raceway.

Mark said, "I'm very much looking forward to helping Gary Faules and CALIFORNIA'S BEST with this upcoming Mexico race and all the tradition it brings." The feelings are mutual and not only is Mark a fantastic man with a wrench but in fact his "MacGyver" type skills will be an asset should they be required not to mention the fact that since he grew up in South America his Spanish is more than welcome. Mark, how do you say, "Senior, Water for my horses and whisky for my men?"

There has to be time to play

When spending so much time building a favorite race car it's only reasonable to get an urge to get out on the track. After all it can't be all work and no play. Besides I find getting to the track helps me to relax and getting to hang out with a great bunch of friends is one hell of a way to spend the day. So today I went to Thunderhill to eat some good cheeseburgers, get some sun, shoot the bull with some friends and get in some laps is a few different sets of wheels.

In my opinion the weather at Thunderhill is always excellent but then again I love it whether it's pouring rain with 50 mile per hour wind gust or 115 in the shade and I've done all of the above at Thunderhill. Part of what made today fun was getting some one on one time with Geri Bledso the North American director of the La Carrera Panamericana and Rachel Larratt as well as Rachel's new team mates. Gerie is a real hoot to sit and bench race with and believe me he's got some awesome stories to share. But more importantly to me is learning that Gerie is a "racer's racer". He knows what he expects of a car as well as himself and has been there done that. He's not the kind of guy who feels a need to impress people but at the same time he can put his foot where his mouth is and fun to be around and watch on the track.

Actually I got to spend more time with Rachel's team mates than Rachel because Rachael did what women do best.... She went shopping! LOL. Don't beat me up Rachel, it's all in fun. OK, in all fairness I guess I better set the record straight. Rachel wasn't feeling great so in order to feel better she did what most women and even my wife does... She went shopping. I hope she feels better real soon. It was fun to spend time with Gerie and equally as fun I had a great time with Rachael and her guys albeit too short. I am looking forward to racing with them in this years La Carrera Panamericana.

In the meantime I did have some fun going out with Rachel's drivers for a couple of sessions and was very pleased to see they are fast to pick up what they are told and Rachel's car is set up extremely well. Thanks to Rachel and Steve and ?. (God I'm so bad with names so I'll just call him "Fast.") They are running in this years NASA's Endurance series and will be running the 3 hour endurance race tomorrow and I feel confident they should do well even though they are new to Thunderhill. That's one of the nice things about endurance races... You get LOTS of seat time to learn the track. As a matter of fact some drivers get more seat time in one endurance race than they get in a whole season of sprint racing. Having won more endurance races and championships at Thunderhill Raceway than any other team I have reason to have a special bond with this track.

Today was also the debut of the new SIRIS MEDIA Spec Miata owned by Jon Emerson (my navigator) and driven by Will Faules (our team mate) built with the help of IMPACT ENGINEERING. NOBODY builds a better roll cage than IMPACT ENGINEERING. It is one beautiful Spec Miata and it really had the Mazda guys talking today. Today was supposed to be just a simple shake down with it's junkyard special since the new engine is not ready yet but Will finished on the podium for the first race of the season. Just wait until they see what he can do with the new race engine. That's my boy! In the meantime Jon was at the 2007 Wine Country Classic vintage races with a media pass so here are some GREAT RACE CARS FROM YESTERYEAR.

I had time to get in some seat time in some other rides and hang out with friends but as much as I wanted to stay and run the race with my son tomorrow I had to get back so I could spend Sunday at my grandson's first big birthday bash. Wouldn't miss that for the world.

A place to stash the beer.

At long last I finally got the almost impossible to find fastback trunk hinges bolted on as well as the trunk deck. I will be gone racing at Thunderhill for the weekend but next week I will get the Shelby trunk pin installed. At least for now we have a place to haul the beer. Can you imagine opening a beer that has been in the trunk of a racecar that just drove a few hundred miles thru the windy mountain roads under the hot Mexican sun?