It all started with an innocuous comment by our very own Catch 22:
"- Seabass, if you get the car ready, I'll crew for you at Roebling Road in February"

I had been working on trying to ge the car done for a year at that point. Coincidentally, I had just come to a good stopping point on my basement work, waiting for a contractor. Still waiting btw, ffing contractors. So I started working.
.RJ and Littleton came over, we got the engine in the **** in a few hours. From November through January, I spent every single evening working on the car. Electrical, fuel, oil system, etc. One after the other, the little boxes on my build list got checked.
Then, I burned up the Visa buying spares, extra wheels, tires, registration for the school, hotel reservations, extra tools, you name it, I bought it.
It was going to be grand. Driving, racing and eating BBQ Chicken Pizza With Extra Jalapeno (I hear it's good)

Got the car into Piper who did a bang up job of installing the seat and some other odds and ends that required a welder. Done on time.
Last week, I towed the car 100 miles to our friends at JE Imports to get the car aligned, corner-weighed and dyno tuned. One week to spare before departure, plenty of time.
Then there were some problems with the rings. Tom Blaney stepped up to the plate and got it resolved. Sent new rings, paying for the work. That's customer support. The Right Thing To Do.
Today, the day before departure, the car is ready. It's back together, it runs. It looks like we are go.

But wait. oooh, did you think it would be that easy? Come on now. You obviously don't know Murphy.
My wife, a lovely woman, rarely sick. As a matter of fact, she hasn't had the flu in over 10 years. Guess what? She has been in bed, weak as a kitten, sleeping 20 hours a day for 5 days now. I was hoping she would get better before I left (she needs to stay and take the kids to school, etc.). Nope. Doctor says it will be 5-7 days before she can get out of bed and hope to drive herself anywhere. Sorry. Nothing we can do to help. So I helped walk back to the car and dropped her off at home. BTW, this was her vacation, she had taken 2 weeks off to relax. Luck runs deep in the family.

And so here I am. I've called the Buccaneer region to cancel. I called Uncle Catch to let him know not to bother driving up to Roebling. I cancelled the hotel reservation. I even called the good folks at Appalachian so that somebody else could have that set of shaved Toyos they were holding for me. Hell, I even called JE to tell them to go ahead and burn the visa a little more to replace the ailing fuel pump. I'm in no hurry to get the car back now. I even canceled my leave from work. My boss will be happy I guess.

Yup, I am bitter. Yup, I am disappointed. Hell yeah I am pissed off at the world in general.

But I ain't giving up. I WILL have a race license this year. There's still the NASA supercomp school at VIR in a couple weeks if it's not full. There's also the WDC region SCCA school in March - even if it's only 1/2 the requirements.

Sebastien "Mad Frog NOT Racing Yet" Richard.

 

I suddenly find myself with an unexpected free weekend.

This is pretty typical stuff Seabass. Just shrug it off and press on.

Scott, who just lost his enduro co-drive at VIR next month. Dammit.

 

sorry to hear man.. i know you've been working hard to get the car all set to go..

hope your wife feels better..

if you were going to tow to Roebling, might as well come out and do the double school at gateway in about a month with a bunch of us! and yeah, there's always VIR, which I heard had a few spots left for the school.. or mid-ohio in April..

 

gateway huh? Got a link?
thanks

 

http://www.stlscca.org

It'll link to the info from there, can't miss it!

 

ohh, you did the right thing. feel good about it mang. good thing about racing is perhaps with exceptions of formula type single seaters, you can pretty much race production cars until you're like 70 years old. how old was that gentleman that was racing with RTR for few years?!

i'm single, unattached. that's why nobody can ***** like me.

 

so sorry to hear!!!!

we are currently finishing prep'ing my daily driver for a friend to go and drive the double at roebling....

only have:
alignment
fire extinguisher
window net
check bolts
tighten oil pan down...

and i think she'll be ready to go!!

 

Make sure you take your NASA logbook Chad.
The NASA H1 legality is the key to the car being SPU legal without a fuel cell.

 

hmmm. that is about 4 hours further than Savannah. 14 hour drive instead of 10. That's getting a little far. But thanks anyway, I appreciate it.

 

Seb, if you do the March WDCR school you can fulfill your SCCA requirements by doing the Ohio region school in April

 

I'm also trying to find out if I can get into the NASA supercomp school at VIR in a couple weeks. Maybe I can use that to waive the second SCCA school. I could then potentially have both my licenses after the WDCR school in march?
I dunno yet. Trying to come up with the best plan...
thanks

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by SJR &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I'm also trying to find out if I can get into the NASA supercomp school at VIR in a couple weeks. Maybe I can use that to waive the second SCCA school. I could then potentially have both my licenses after the WDCR school in march?
I dunno yet. Trying to come up with the best plan...
thanks</TD></TR></TABLE>

Thats possible. Especially if you can squeeze in a successful NASA race between the two.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by SJR &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I'm also trying to find out if I can get into the NASA supercomp school at VIR in a couple weeks. Maybe I can use that to waive the second SCCA school. </TD></TR></TABLE>

didn't work for me. When I asked for a waiver at my first WDCR SCCA school they asked if I had I had any racing experience. I told them I had NASA and BMW CCA comp licenses and they said "then you dont have any racing experience" :-/

 

then there are other scca schools, like lime rock (maybe closer than ohio?) in may.

 

Between my HPDE experience, instructing, and NASA racing, I was signed off in a day. If you have that kind of experience, even if it's just HPDE, make a list of everything and take it with you. I took it on the off chance my instructors would want to see it. They did, and it made a difference. (I did the second school day that weekend anyway. Seat time is a good thing.)

There was another person in my group that asked if he could be signed off in a day since he'd like to let his brother drive the 2nd day (they share a car). The answer was "No". I think that even if they were thinking about letting him off in a day, the answer immediately was NO since he asked about it. Attitude means a lot.

Good luck getting your schools in. I learned a lot at mine.

Diane

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by SJR &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">then there are other scca schools, like lime rock (maybe closer than ohio?) in may.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Note that Lime Rock will be a Friday school. They don't run there on Sundays.

There will be a double school at NHIS in April (15/16) with a race on the 17th. Don't know how long a haul that is for you. It's about 2 hrs from Worcester MA.

 

Another thing that makes a difference at the WDCR school is which school you are taking when you ask for the waiver. They are more reluctant to sign a waiver at the Fall school (meaing the student has the winter to forget everything) then the Spring (where the student presumably will start racing immediately).

As r2x noted, make a list of all HPDE and racing experience. List actual events when possible. Do you know any of the WDCR instructors? It may be helpful to contact them if you do.

 

Sorry your wife wasn't feeling well and you are missing out Seb. You going to force that Scott guy to send you some CA's to make you feel better

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by r2x &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Between my HPDE experience, instructing, and NASA racing, I was signed off in a day. If you have that kind of experience, even if it's just HPDE, make a list of everything and take it with you. </TD></TR></TABLE>

I have to believe that the "NASA racing" was the big component there. I don't know of any rule that would allow someone to forgo half the requirements w/out previous race experience (a portion of it under certain circumstances perhaps but not a full half of the required hours). I agree w/ you though, someone comes in looking to skip part of their requirements - to me - seems in poor judgement. You are not just going to a Comp school to learn to race and/or drive, but to get on the same exact page as the rest of the guys and girls you will be racing with (that's why I think its a plus you are being instructed by the same folks you will race with). I am not a big fan of the Skippy thing for this reason and that's why I agree in this case that seat-time is way good.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by phat-S &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I have to believe that the "NASA racing" was the big component there.</TD></TR></TABLE>

I agree with you there, however the years of track time I had logged couldn't have hurt at all.

 

HOLY CRAP DUDE!!!!

i knew i recognized "mad frog racing"..

i work next to you. you drive the gray tundra. you had the blue hatch back on the trailer last week. i'm the goofy looking kid wearing the glasses who's always driving the forklift out back.. hahahaa small world.

as for life kicking you in the butt. sorry to hear. although, for what little it's worth, if you need any help on the car, i'm willing to "crew" for you at a few events. just tell me what to do. hehee.

 

Diane: thanks for the info. I don't have any instructing or racing experience. I have 4 hpdes, 2 FATT, one Time Trial (Honda vs Nissan at Jefferson a while back) and 2 auto-x in the past 4 years. Not a tremendous amount, got signed off for Solo in HPDE2.

Al: I'm going to do the spring school, but I won't ask for a waiver I guess. I'll just mention my experience. If they feel I am ready at the end of the school, I'm sure they'll let me know. I don't know any of the instructors there, unless Gregg Ginsberg instructs.

Adam: I don't mind doing as many schools as necessary, be it NASA or SCCA, and the more track time, the happier. The point is that I want to get it done and out of the way. If doing one NASA school and one SCCA school gets me both licenses, awesome. Otherwise, I'll work within whatever system to get it, safely. Yeah, Catch will be mailing some spindles. I'll either feel better, or get pissed off about running out of room to store all the spares!

E-AT: small world indeed. Do you work for that office supplies place? Say hi next time you see me. And yeah, I'm sure I'll need some crew help at some point.

 

SeaBass-

Just remember, good things come to those who wait, and you've been more than patient with your quest to go racing!

ps. hope the wife starts feeling better, it's never fun having to care for a sick significant other.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by SJR &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
Adam: I don't mind doing as many schools as necessary, be it NASA or SCCA, and the more track time, the happier. The point is that I want to get it done and out of the way. If doing one NASA school and one SCCA school gets me both licenses, awesome. Otherwise, I'll work within whatever system to get it, safely.
</TD></TR></TABLE>

you and i are operating on the same philosophy.. I'll be doing my NASA Comp License stuff at Mid-Ohio, but wanted to take advantage of the opportunity to do the SCCA school first and gain that much more experience.. I built my car for Honda Challenge, but hey, I'd take the SCCA license quite happily if they give it to me..

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by SJR &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

E-AT: small world indeed. Do you work for that office supplies place? Say hi next time you see me. And yeah, I'm sure I'll need some crew help at some point.</TD></TR></TABLE>

nope. the other side. hehehee. with the 2 big doors, and the busted exploder out back. and the all the trailers. Earthwalk.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by SJR &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">If they feel I am ready at the end of the school, I'm sure they'll let me know.</TD></TR></TABLE>

They won't unless you ask. It doesn't hurt to ask - just do it delicately. The worst they can do is say no.