What's Red, White & just Blue your doors off?

TEAM CALIFORNIA'S BEST Race Team would like to take time to wish everyone a wonderful Fourth Of July and to express our sincere heart-felt thank you to all our men and women in the service who are fighting so that we can enjoy all that we do. We pray that they will all come home soon so they can see and enjoy all that they are fighting for. God's Speed each and everyone of you.

Only 40 days until testing

But who's counting?

Today I worked on fine tuning and some re-routing of some brake lines and began installing the adjustable proportioning valve for the rear brakes next to the driver's seat. I also finished the final adjustments and fastening of the front fenders. Then I installed some firewall boot's for the throttle pedal assembly and the clutch rod linkage as well as the steering column support brackets.

Before I bolted the proportioning valve in place I temporarily installed the driver's seat so that I could make sure it was in an easy to access spot. I must say, it sure made me happy to see what it feels like to sit behind the wheel and I realized it really is coming together nicely. I couldn't have done it without the help of my crew, my son-in-law Anthony and my navigator Jon.. Thanks guys.

Here is wishing everyone a wonderful Independence Day.

Bugging Out

Never being one to overlook using anything the latest technology has to offer, today I was thinking about any advantages that may be found in the F16. But as soon as I told Jon that a few missiles might be helpful in eliminating competition then he began putting in his two-cents as to a special seat requirement he had for the navigators seat. Remember that old saying.... Give a man an inch of rope and he'll want a yard. Well, so much for going to the Naval Wholesale Yard.

Hey the shed is missing!

Anyone like myself who has been a regular at Infineon Raceway or should I saw Sears Point, over the last 40 years can tell you there have been some major changes, most of them over the most recent 10 years. One such change almost caused me to fall out of the car this weekend. As we drove around turn 11 someone said, "Hey, the old shed is missing!" "The Shed" as it has been called for many years was nothing more than an old tin building. To call it nothing more than an old tin building is like calling Prince William and Harry's grandmother just another grandma. Boy, if that building could talk... How ironic, it was in that very building that Bob Bondurant helped design the front suspension of the GT350 R Model for Carroll Shelby. It was in that very building that Bob Boudurant and I got into my personal Shelby to go take a drive around the track as we discussed me coming to work for him as a shooting instructor. It was in front of that very building where I first met Paul Newman and in fact at that time Paul used it to store his stable of race cars since he practiced there on a regular basis. Seeing nothing there was like learning an old friend had left us.

Jon, Will and I spent a great weekend at Infineon Raceway racing, eating, enjoying friends and some outstanding weather so I was rested and ready to get a few things done on Lucky today.

One of the items on today's agenda was installing the new racing mirrors on each door. Then I installed a road racing mirror like the kind used on the NASCAR cars that sits high in the door jam. I also removed the vent windows like the Shelbys had to not only lighten things up but more importantly to gain better visibility for the mirrors between the window nets and the door jam. And of course I installed a great convex mirror across the upper roll bar to see just about everything a driver could ever wish to see, including all those other headlights getting smaller and smaller.

After all the mirrors were properly installed, Anthony my son-in-law, helped me trim and install the special 20 pound weight saving rear window that only came in Shelby GT350 R Models. One of the special features for the 1965 GT350 R-Model was the now recognizable R model rear Plexiglas window which was designed by Peter Brock one of Shelby's top designers and Chief instructor at the Carroll Shelby Driving School. It was unique with a 1-inch space at the top which acted as a duct to remove air accumulating inside the car and introducing it as a layer of air over the rear window at speeds. This created what is known as a "Laminar flow" a principal that added an extra 5 horsepower to the car's top speed.

Quality time with my son

I should be so lucky to get to do some of the things I do with my son. I remember when he was about 7 years old he made everyone laugh when he said, "Women... can't live with'em.... Can't shoot'em." Well, I have to admit there have been days that I felt the same about him but when all is said and done, I must admit there are moments I'm glad they hid my gun.

It's only Friday evening and already it's turning into a long weekend. Will and I have been spending the day between the tracks and picking up engine and car parts out of town and then we will be racing at Infineon Raceway all weekend to boot with team mate Jon Emerson. After all one can never get enough seat time behind the wheel.

I had time to click a few pics of the assembled engine block while at the engine builders before picking up some miscellaneous parts and the Lexan rear window that was unique to only GT350 R model Shelbys. As you can see from the photo above Lucky is anxiously awaiting his new power plant.

All over the world

What's that old saying about "Birds of feather"? It seems that already there are drivers entered from all over the world which should make the running of the 20th anniversary La Carrera Panamericana all the more colorful and fun. Many of my fondest memories are from years of competition on the U.S. Olympic Shooting Team. Many of the major events we all gathered at found us as we were mortal enimies while competeing but when all was said and done most of us can look back and realize some of the most memorable friendships that have lasted all these years. I can only hope that will be the outcome of this fine adventure.

Here is a list of a countries who have drivers in this years event so far.

United States

Mexico

Canada

France

Belgium

Austria

Germany

Finland

United Kingdom

Sweden.

Damn Know-It-Alls

Will Faules, team member and national champion and oh yeah, my son, is one of those kids who likes to try everything out even before it's ready. How can he try out a car that isn't even built yet you ask? Well, this kid has his ways evil as they may be. Several years ago I was scheduled to race at Sears Point (Infineon Raceway) and I was in the lead for the season's points championships and I needed to win that weekend. They had just completed what is now known as "The Chute" which was installed so the NASCAR guys could by-pass a few turns. The corners they by-passed are some of the favorites of us local drivers but to my surprise as soon as I got to the paddock I got word we would be the very first to run "The Chute" in an effort to put down some much needed rubber for the upcoming NASCAR race.

Just as I found out about these changes my phone rang and it was my then 12 year old son and so I began telling him about my displeasure with not knowing the correct line for the new piece of track and the fact that I needed the wins this weekend. He began telling me "Dad, relax. It's no problem. I'll describe the line to you." Still upset I interrupted him and said, "Will, how in the hell could you possibly tell ME the line when you haven't even seen this piece of track?" He said, "Dad, trust me I know what it looks like." Again I cut him off, "Dammit Will, You must not understand. I'm at Sears Point and they have changed the track!" And again he says, "Dad, just listen for a second and I'll explain. I have been running "The Chute" for the last few weeks on my Play Station and it's set up exactly like the track is including The Chute. Just trust me. Now here's what you do. As you come into turn Four just stay to the left. Then as you begin to enter......" As soon as I got dressed an out on the track to get in some practice I came into turn Four and it was if I had been there before since Will's description was exactly the way he had described and the line he gave me worked perfectly and I went on to win the season's point championships to boot.

It's amazing how real today's simulators are and how much they can help train a driver as is he or she was getting real seat time at the track. So I have no doubt my son may know more about my car than I do before I ever get it finished. Hell, for all I know my daughter, my wife and possibly my grandson may know more than I do.