Reminicing Memories and Momentos

Five days after Bob signed this my son Will and I were in Oaxaca at the far end of Mexico taking the car out of the trailer and the first team in line for registration and tech inspection.

For All The Marbles

One of several high speed stages on the last day of the 2007 La Carrera Panamericana as Gary Faules and Jon Emerson attempt to make up some time to make sure they get on the podium...

Winning Mil Cumbres

For many years the Mil Cumbres stage of the world famous La Carrera Panamericana has been reveled as the most dangerous stage of the entire race and and in the process has claimed not only many cars but tragically it has taken many lives as well; So many in fact that after Gary Faules and Jon Emerson won that stage during the 2007 LCP it has since been removed from the event. DO NOT let the sound on this video fool you since it is only being heard through the mic on Jon and Gary's helmets, these guys are seriously hauling the mail. Gary and Jon show how a good working relationship between driver and navigator are paramount thus giving each other the confidence each other can feed off of.

For the record, when Jon loses his place in the log book for a second or two I had to laugh and when all was said and done this was the only time during the entire race that it happened and he was flawless. Since the LCP Studebaker's are known for being built on tube frame chassis with Nascar Winston Cup engines that are capable of doing 200 miles per hour it was exceptionally rewarding to pass one even if it was between him and a donkey.

CLICK HERE FOR LARGER SCREEN

Gary Faules & Jon Emerson Winning Mil Cumbre Stage Of LCP from Gary on Vimeo.

Deja Vu Anyone?

Déjà vu is the experience of feeling sure that one has witnessed or experienced a new situation previously (an individual feels as though an event has already happened or has happened in the near past), although the exact circumstances of the previous encounter are uncertain.

Check out the photo of my GT350R I found taken by professional photographer Clement Marin. It was taken in Mexico while running the 2007 La Carrera Panamericana.




Now take a look at this recent photo taken in beautiful downtown Manitou Springs at the base of Pikes Peak which is where I will be staying.



I don't know about you but they are eerily similar to me.

Here are two nice videos featuring the Manitou Springs area...

Some Things Never Go Forgotten

Remember the tale about the man who removed a thorn from the lion's paw and by chance many years later the lion remembered the man and saved his life... Well since I am so excited and want so badly to share my excitement, bear with me here while I make my point.

Just like any other race I have begun doing my homework and research for the entire array of items I feel necessary so that I will be as prepared for competing in the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb as I can be. That said, Lucky was removed from the trailer on Monday and the preparation began. For me it's an entire ritual, see what's needed, what problems if any did the car have the last time I raced it, what will it need for this event and are there any special needs for this specific event.

It was during my research that I began wondering about tires and as it turned out there is a hell of a lot more questions than anyone could ever expect. For the most part on any road course you either need rains, or slicks and you're covered. But when running Pikes Peak the sun may be shining and 90 degrees when you start but by the time you get to the top it could raining or even snowing! Don't laugh, it happens all the time and as of right now there is still snow up there.

And if that isn't enough some of the road is asphalt, some gravel and some dirt. If it rains God only knows what to expect. As exciting as the PPIHC is, can you just imagine doing it when it's wet, slick and muddy. Yeah Baby! Part of my research included speaking with drivers who have competed in PPIHC including numerous veterans and last years winner Doug Mockett. Since vintage race cars have not run PPIHC in many years and since the road conditions have changed considerably since vintage cars last ran not much is known with regard to what sort of tire best suits all of the conditions. Then comes the strategy of what works best for each specific driver depending on their driving habits/ability on asphalt or dirt. The bottom line is it's all very complex and choosing the wrong tire can make a huge difference in the outcome of the event.

As the day wore on I found I had more questions than I did at the beginning of the day. The more people I called the more confused I became but finally I ended up talking to someone who really knew what he was talking about. And who would know more about what tires to use on PPIHC than someone who not owns a tire business in Colorado Springs but is also the PPIHC Chairman or the board Bob Gillis!!! Not only does Bob know tires but he has taken care of the tire needs for many of the great drivers who previously run Pikes Peak like Rod Millen, Unsers, Andretti and many more. Thanks to Bob for such a nice welcome and what was a rather lengthy phone call plus now I was beginning to get somewhere as he filled me in with his many years of expertise.

Under the believe that I had the tire issues sorted out it was time to call and make arrangements to get Lucky an appointment with Roger Kraus Racing Ent. Anyone in California who knows anything about racing alignment knows that without a doubt the absolute most knowledgeable racing alignment experts to be found is Roger Kraus Racing. Two years ago when we took Lucky to Race in La Carrera Panamericana Roger Kraus Racing set up the ride height, springs and alignment which turned out to be one of the single most important aspects of a two year build and one that helped place us on the podium. Take it from me... you can throw all the money in the world at a race car but unless it gets the race car alignment needed for a specific track or race your money just as well should go into the trash can.

Since Roger Kraus Racing had always been my go-to racing alignment shop I had no doubt they would know exactly what to do to prepare Lucky for Pikes Peak, what I didn't realize was the extent of knowledge that owner Roger Kraus possessed when it came to tires. Just like the phone call to Bob Gillis, once again I found myself glued to the phone listening to a master teaching me the grasshopper what makes the universe the place it is or better yet, what my best tire choice for Pikes Peak was and why.

Alas, why the lion story pertains to this post... Remember that the lion never forgot the what the man did for him. In this case Roger Kraus never forgot what I wrote about them two years ago when I wrote about what an awesome business they operate and how great they are. Today Roger told me, I have never forgotten all the kind things that you had written about our business. Furthermore, I am always trying to learn more so that I can better serve my customers. That said, I would be more than happy to sponsor all of Team California's Best tire needs to run this years Pikes Peak International Hill Climb."



Needless to say I had to pick myself up off the floor and after talking more with Roger he went on to tell me Lucky was not going to be running Pikes Peak with just any ordinary set of shoes but in fact some of the most amazing racing tires any car could ever ask for. (More on them later) For now just let me say I am walking on air tonight and there just are not enough ways to tell all of you how happy Roger Kraus Racing has made me today. Thank God the Lion didn't forget. Thanks Roger and Gang!

Something's Missing

In my early years as an Olympic Skeet shooter I was fortunate to have the best possible coach in the world and he was one that never gave up with regards to how far he pushed me. One weekend he called to ask how I had performed at the weekends event. He was excited when I told him I had taken the gold but I made a huge mistake by saying, "It's a good thing Chuck wasn't here this weekend." Needless to say my coach wasn't happy at all as he began showing me his disappointment. It was that day that I realized no podium is a good one unless you know you had competed against the very best there is and that they were performing at their peek. This is a lesson I have handed down from my coach to my son who also knows that a podium finish is worth no more than those we compete against. There is NOTHING worse that hearing someone ask, "But could you have won if so and so was there?"




Last year when Jon and I competed in La Carrera Panamericana we competed against the best Historic C drivers in the world and every spot we finished was earned. It is those same competitors that we came to know and respect, many of them we are now proud to call our friends.

Not running this years La Carrera is hard but as racers we are pushed to believe that if we can not take the challenge with the intent of going there to win it then there is absolutely no reason to go. That's just the way we do things. We also respect our friends who for what ever reason feel the same and have had to dig down deep inside to make the gut-wrenching decision to cancel this years event. While there are a few others who canceled this years race one of our very best friends, Ralf Christensson has also decided to wait until next year. This news hurts us just about as much as it has Ralf I'm sure. In a way it makes me happy we are not running this year since Ralph and his hot Monte Carlo Falcon will not be there. On the flip side of that coin the good news is there will be more La Carrera's and knowing Ralf plans on returning only inspires me all the more to return in 2009 so we can do battle. After all, what are good friends for if we can not push each other harder to be better?

Another man that motivated others to push harder who will also be dearly missed is Jerry Churchill. To say Jerry was a tenacious competitor would be putting it mildly. He too gave it all or nothing. There will positively be void at this years race.

Somebody has to stay at home!

Sad but true. It's not the norm for Jon and myself to not be sitting on the starting grid when it matters and being at Pikes Peak on July 15 through the 20th really matters to both of us. It will be with great expectation that we will wait to hear how friends of ours in their Carrera cars do at this historical event. Since this is possibly a once in a lifetime event with regards to La Carrera cars it's not even as if we will be able to run it during a future event. (fingers crossed)

I have been promised that we will be receiving some reports during and after the Pikes Peak event so stay tuned and lets all say some good prayers for our buddies. Last week while I was driving by the Half Moon Bay Airport I saw Gerie Bledsoe talking to some guy holding a very big parachute. Hmmm.

We will be hanging out during the Monterey Historics at the annual Monterey fiesta and corral that will be held at Tarpy’s Restaurant, Saturday August 16, 3:00-6:30 PM which is a very popular Laguna Seca race track hang-out so we hope to see you there. For thoise of you who know who Jack McAfee is there is a very special treat awaiting you should you make it to this event. Jack McAfee,s son, Rex McAfee will be there and will be showing a 15 minute film of his father driving a 49 Cadillac in the 1950 Carrera and finishing 10th. The film was narrated by his father. In later races he drove Porsches and Ferraris and was also famous as one of the first Porsche racers in California. He won a lot of races in a 550. Check out his website HERE.

There is a very good chance we will have a good movie trailer to show at the same time so stay in touch. Jon and I are very excited about showing this publicly for the frist time.

In the mean time I'll just have to hang out in the garage dusting off the dirt.

Busier than a one-legged man in an ass-kickin contest

Where in the hell does the time go? Jon and I had so many plans to do what we love the most after last years La Carrera Panamericana... race cars. Nothing new. After all it's what we have done for years. The truth is, a break from racing is relaxing and rewarding especially when we get to spend quality time with our loved ones. (Even if it is only once every 10 years or so.) Jon and his wife have their daughter and My wife and I are having the adventure of a lifetime spending time with our two year old grandson Tyler. Like Jon says, "Sometimes you're the bug... Sometimes you're the windshield."

It seems like every time I have thoughts for a race Jon has something pressing at work and on the flip side of that same coin when he thinks of something good I am busy with something pressing at work. God knows it's good to be busy but dieing from work related stress is not my idea of a great way to check out.

Jon and I have been signed up since the beginning of the year to run the seasons endurance series but family and work have seen to it that was just a whim. Not long ago I was invited to compete in the very prestigious Monterey Historics, an honor not taken lightly by anyone. God willing I will be in attendance at the La Carrera get-together that same weekend. Check out the GT350 cutting thru the morning fog as it enters the famous corkscrew of Laguna Seca. This corner holds the distintion of being the single most photographed corner of any racetrack in the world. A track Jon, Will and I know all too well and have won many races on.


Since I am a member of the North American Eagle which is a challenge of the world speed record, I was asked to attend some 400 plus miles per hour test runs next week at El Mirage Dry Lake, east of Palmdale, California. The bad news is that since it is during the week I cannot make it because of some corporate duties not to mention some of my key team members will be out of town. Serious bummer indeed. What a great bunch of people to hang out with not to mention the growing excitement of getting ready to take the land speed record back from the Brits. Rest assured I will be at that.

In the mean time there has been some good come from all of this. First of all Jon sold one of his race cars and is in the process of doing something very exciting. More on that later but it's good... very good.

Then there is my son, Will. Regardless of what Will does I would be proud of him but he seems to not only have a good handle on life but he's quite the little businessman as well. One of the nicest race tracks in California and the U.S. is without a doubt Thunderhill Raceway in Willows California where Will has taken on his new job title of Marketing Director under the tutelage of CEO David Vodden. Not only is he working full time but he gets a great salary, is buying his first home not to mention he will be attending college as well. Not only is he working with some of the biggest names in racing but he is also allowed to continue his roll as race director and driver and instructor for NASA. On top of this he races full time driving cars and motorcycles with plans of running some motorcycle endurance races later this season.

If that isn't load enough for any young guy who seriously loves racing then check this out. Will is now an official dealer for the awesome FUSION FRC-14. If you want a hair raising ride or would like more information about these one of the fastest growing classes of race cars on the track drop Will a note at will@thunderhill.com or give him a call at the track.





The good news is there is still lots of summer left, lots of racing to do and lots of friends to look forward to seeing and racing again. In the mean time, we still have a large reserve of stories to share so things aren't as bad as they seem.

Happy Father's Day to all you dads from Jon and Gary.

Lucky Immortalized By Paul Chenard

For those of you who truly love to see great prints of anything automotive or any type of automotive art for that matter I just can't tell you how happy I am with the recent work that Paul Chenard did of Lucky my GT350R. Not only did Paul capture everything that actually recreates the very moment but I just can't tell you how pleased I am with the detail. The type of detail that his work and keen eye seems to pick up on are the sort of things that the driver himself will truly appreciate. It is this special ability that truly makes his work all the more special to the owner of the car. With this in mind I can not think of a better gift to give someone special than one of his pieces.

This work of Lucky ripping through a corner on Mil Cumbre is a fine example even though it is impossible for you to see the awesome quality of it here on the blog. (Click on the photo to enlarge.) Why not surprise someone and contact Paul and have him do a painting of someones special car as a gift. I promise you you won't have any regrets and that special someone will love it. CLICK HERE!!!!!!!!!!

Paul has a lot of amazing items for sale and it's not all limited to art work. Just get a load of his toys for sale for example. (Click here)