Grim Reaper Racing

All, here is a brief update on the results of the LeMons race we just finished….

We rolled into the track on Friday for the long race weekend. The team was strong, the car was strong and we were looking good in our garage spot with the cool kids. This year, we partnered up with the other teams from the Tarheel Sports Car Club so we took a big area for us all to set up and hang out. A great group of guys and we all really had a good time working together. We rolled the car through the tech inspection without a hitch. We had David Barnes do the emergency driver exit drill since the rest of the drivers couldn’t move that fast unless the car really was on fire or it was last call for beer. Next stop, the B.S. inspection area where we have had much explainin’ to do in the past… We rolled in with the whole team in tow and costumes to support our theme. We were able roll out with just a one lap penalty. This was not for anything about the car but because we were given the infamous “lost your will to live” award in the spring since we did not replace the blown up engine. He did question the big swaybar and stiff springs but a quick story and some semi-authentic documentation got it through. The evening was spent visiting, eating and having a few beers.

We hit the track on Saturday morning for the start of the race with about 110 other cars. No idea at this point where we started but I am guessing towards the rear since we had a penalty lap (but no where near the team with 13,500 penalty laps). We raced from 11am until 7:30pm. The whole day was flawless. The car ran strong. The drivers were smooth. Luck was one our side. Every hour, Kaitlin raced down to check the standings and all day we steadily climbed up the charts. When the flag flew at the end of the day, Grim Reaper Racing had climbed to 9th place overall and 4th in our class (prayer of finishing class). We were very satisfied with the day. The evening was spent going over the car, bleeding the brakes, replacing brake pads, rotating tires and topping off the fluids. The only rule we had was the drinking could not start until the car was ready. That plan quickly went out the window as the cold beers popped and the steaks sizzled on the grill. Eventually everything got done… Tomorrow morning would come early as the driver’s meeting was at 8:30am and we were set to line up on pit road with the other top ten place cars to start the race. Now just because the race was only half done and we had an early day did not stop the team from having some fun. Marguaritas, Crown and cold beer flowed freely all evening with the sounds of hammering, grinding and music filling the night air. We even had a visit from the easter bunny. He was riding a bike, covered in grease, smelling of liquior and cussing up a storm. Must be a distant relative to the one you see each spring. If you understand a LeMons race, this comes as no surprise….

Sunday started off early with the whole team actually getting up and meeting in the hotel parking lot at the right time. We hit the track at 7am to finish getting ready and have some breakfast. We lined the car up for the start of the race with the top ten group. We continued a great run maintaining our 9th place position until the mandatory 11am “quiet hour”. Again we started in the top ten and held our 9th place spot until things changed about 2:00pm. As I was driving, word came over the radio we were being black flagged. Since I did not hit anything, nothing was smoking or fell off, I was not sure what was going on. Having been part of the other LeMons races, I know the more times they blag flag you, the worse the penalty is when you get there. I quickly acknowledged the flag and headed for the pits. Upon my arrival, Jam Lamm, the head LeMons guy, came to the car and told me to get the cooler kart up there right away. They told my we were black flagged for a cooler kart infraction in the pits. Within minutes, Brian Soles came whistling into the penalty box on the cooler kart. It appears that somebody did not like Brian’s driving style so we were there to pay the price…. They brought out a bunch of fried pork skins and a can of pig brains. They said either the driver (me) or Brian was going to have to eat this stuff before we would be allowed to leave the pits. Every finger on the crew, mine included pointed to Brian. What they did not know is that Brian is all about free food! He woofed it down in just a few minutes. While he had a snack, I worked on figuring out the cause of smoke coming out from under the dash while on the track. We found our main electrical switch had failed and was overheating the wiring. After about 15 minutes in the penalty box, we decided to take the car to the garage to make the repairs. We returned to the track in about 23rd place with a car ready to finish the race. We rolled through the driver changes and fuel stops without a hitch. As the time ticked down, our last driver, David Barnes, was finishing out the last session of the race when over the radio comes the news we got the black flag again for some contact. As he wheeled the car on to the front straight and headed for the pits, we could see the front bumper was knocked off and dragging the ground. We headed to the penalty box where the judge asked David who’s fault is was. David replyed he was pretty sure it was 90% the other guy’s fault and 10% his. The judge said “pretty sure” where David reply it was definitely 90% the other guy and 10% his fault. They spray painted “cooler kart” and “burn it” on our hood and told us to get the hell outta of here. We ripped the bumper off and David was gone. He finished the race where we ended up in 25th place overall, 11th in our class.

All in all, we had a good weekend. Other than a couple small glitches, we did very well. We did not lose a wheel and roll the car (this really happened), we did not blow up and catch fired (this really happened about 8 times) and we did not crash into anything (but somebody did crash into us). We’ll fix what’s broke, lock up the cooler kart and be ready for the next race. You could not pull this off though without the help and dedication of many people. You have no idea how many hours and dollars go into a deal like this. I have to thank the following people: Becky Barnes, David Barnes, Kaitlin Barnes, Greg Weekes, Brian Harris, Paul Caley, Brian Williams, David Ennis, Brian Soles, Jim & Kaye Hansen, Dan Dunhem, Jim & Marge Harris, the Tarheel teams – Magnum PU and the Drifto Dogs, and many more people not listed here. Can’t forget Ajax (our dog, you had to be there).

Jim Harris posted up pictures at http://www.flickr.com/photos/jfotogimage/sets/72157622218840693/ There are a few pictures posted on www.jalopnik.com (search “lemons” for the Lemons South fall race) or www.24hoursoflemons.com. Until next time.