Electra at Firebird

I towed my new 78 911sc with the 86 Carerra engine to Arizona last week for my first PCA Club race. It was the most amazing experience in my first year of racing. As some of you may know I started in March of 2000 with PCA in San Diego at Qualcomm with my 91 C2 Turbo doing the auto cross. I did 2 and went to POC and for my third event I did the Short track at Streets of Willow. My fifth time out was at Phoenix International Raceway. I loved the big tracks and the speeds. In my first 10 months of driving I won the PCA autocross championship, the POC Short track championship and the POC Time Trial Championship in my class.

I was ready for a little wheel to wheel and POC was not letting me. I contacted Susan at PCA Club Racing and I sent in all of my paperwork and was issued a Race License. I was on my way to finally getting in some traffic and having to use all of my mirrors as well as all of my senses.

I was given a "mentor", Gennie Hemmingway. She was very supportive and helpful. I met her when I first arrived at registration, Thursday night. We had fabulous food and drinks and a "Chalk talk" that was very informative. I forgot there was a time change and had to get up at 5:30 "our" time. So I hit the hay.

Friday morning I felt like the "poor relative", with my little open trailer and my inexpensive car. Half million dollar rigs and quarter million dollar cars surrounded me. I ran in the "Sprint" races, which were 45 minutes each. At first it's so amazing when cars are passing you on both sides anywhere they want. I am so used to pulling right and pointing someone by if they were faster than me. I've never had occasion to point that many people by however. Finally I stopped being little Miss Manners and just kept my line and let everybody get by me however they could, which is what you are supposed to do. You really have to use all of your mirrors; I was passed on some very tight curves that I never expected anyone to try a pass in. It was freaky at first but really fun.

Saturday we ran the timed races. I was tired and went to the hotel and took a shower and a tiny nap and came back to drive in the Night Enduro. I took some practice runs in the dark. Holy Sh……! I couldn't see a thing, except for big Halogen lights hitting me in my bi-focals. I tried to focus on the road and I kept telling myself that even if I couldn't see the road I knew where it was because I'd been on the track for 2 days by then. I had to do a mandatory pit stop and I had no radio crews telling me when to come in. Mel my son in law slash pit crew, velcroed his cell phone to my dash to call me to tell me when to come in. People were saying, "Is she going to answer the phone while she's driving?" I didn't hear it the first two times he called. I came in and I had to pee but there was nowhere to go. I got back in the car and told Mel to loosen my bladder belts. Luckily I only had 10 laps to go. The hour flew by. I got in a nice groove and kept thinking to myself. "Wow, I'm at turn one again." The checked flag came too fast and when I pulled in there were about 60 people cheering and clapping and giving me the thumbs up. I felt like a rock star. Susan Henke and I were the only girls to finish the race. It was the most amazing feeling. I took my award and went back to the hotel and laid back and lit a cigarette. It was that good. Sunday morning I got up at 6 and was covered in Ben Gay and went and did the local time trial. I could barely move but I placed in the top 10. People came up to me and said things like," I saw you last night….I don't know how you did it. I wouldn't have the nerve." I said, I just do it and tell myself I can do it and when I have a doubt I erase it from my mind and just "DRIVE". I love the sign on the way home that says, "Don't pick up hitchhikers. Prison ahead. It was a fabulous time in Phoenix. I love PCA Club Racing!