With all that competition it was a tough NATs!
(Edit to add: not meant to imply that what was there wasn't good, because it was VERY good!)
A respectable turn-out for F2C, and the guys on the team (Fluker/Lambert, Fischer/Wilk and Albritton/Perkins) had stuff running. Walt and JE had a lot of grief and Brono/Wallick filled the finals quite nicely.
As for the rest: I'm sure glad the Texas guys showed up, too bad nobody else in the country is interested in racing anymore.
I guess the competition is too tough at the NATs.
With apologies, of course, to those that were there: Team Jim from Florida, Steve "King Rat" from Arizona, Jim "by himself" from New Jersey, Melvin "the Prez" from Kansas, Dave and Zella (who along with Sandra sat out in the sun and timed all week!), all there for the whole week. Jim Ricketts came in for Goodyear and helped time and ran stuff in addition, and McDonald came by to fly a few races and just hang out a while,
Some interesting things (well, at least to me!):
Was surprised to see Dave Wallick there and competing, what with all of the physical problems has had lately. Did a good job pitting both the F2C and the F2CN. (BTW, Dave, you still owe me the $100!
)
Dave and Zella Betz were camping out for the week and the Thursday evening storm totally demolished their tent and soaked everything they had. They packed up and headed home to dry out and didn't get back Friday morning until it was all over.
Steve Eichenberger was in training for the marathon, it seems, making several runs back and forth to the speed circles! Seems his transportation was there and he needed things in the car on a couple of occasions, so off he went, jogging across the Muncie prairie.
Was good to see Jim Ricketts come down for Goodyear, and McDonald flying for him. Of all the events, that was the closest finish between 1st and 2nd, only 1.5 seconds separating them. Steve Eichenberger missed the win by only a couple of extra flips of the prop on the pitstop.
Sportsmanship award went jointly to Team Jim (Jim Bradley and Jim Demeritte) who were always there helping. JimD was the go-to pilot for several of the guys, JimB never stopped and was always helping count laps or run races or whatever, never having to be asked to do it! People like that make it all worthwhile.
I have to express my thanks to Bill Bischoff and Dave McDonald for flying my stuff. It's damned difficult without skilled pilots.
Bill
Topic: Nats (Read 1470 times)
