Summit Point Kart 500, Fall 2012

Kart racing has been an integral part of my training and progression into sports car racing.  There is no better bang for the buck than racing karts.  Even more so, there is no better means of gaining seat time in an intense racing environment than at the Summit Point Kart endurance races.  500 miles of racing split between 3 drivers gives a driver 3 to 4 hours of seat time.  That seat time includes car control, maintaining situational awareness, passing, defending, being fast off-line, protecting your line, and avoiding the inevitable crashes that result in any racing environment.  To the uneducated observer it just looks like a bunch of adults noodling around in toys, but after karting for almost 3 years now I can testify that it some of the most intense racing around!

We did our first SPK 500 in the fall of 2011.  You can see details of the race, karts, and course at

SPK Overnight 500

For 2012 it would be Andrew, Casey, and me.  The course was a little different than 2012.  It was run in the opposite direction from normal.  There was also a chicane in the back straight and changes to several turns.   It was a great course compared to the previous year.  The back straight was slower with the chicane, but the course felt faster and more technical.  Our team started out slow, but after a low point mid-race where I had two bad karts in a row we clawed our way back up to 11th.  Andrew set the second fastest RX7 lap of the race after the top 5 teams upgraded to RX250.  Our next race is the 24 hour - that's right 24 hours! - enduro in June.

Plotting the Best Line

Old Glory on My "Racing" Flight Suit

The McCulloch Boys Doing a Pre-Race Radio Check

Qualifying

Thumbs Up Before the Start

1st Stint

The "Tin Man" Walk After a Driving Stint

Andrew Radioing Lap Times, Casey in the Background

The Red Line

Spins were so common at the exit of turn 15 that this red line was painted.  Any kart that crossed it was immediately black flagged and required to hot pit.  The fastest line was as close as possible without crossing it.  This shot was taken after I had already started cutting across the track for turn 16.  I tried to get within an inch and was only black flagged for crossing it once throughout the race.

Andrew Hurting After a Driving Stint

Random Guy Getting Down on a Banana

Photo is the work of Yenns.

Andrew Monitoring from the Pit Wall

Andrew Finishing the Race

Team Shot - The Green Stigs

Porsche Race Cars on the Main Circuit

As we were leaving Summit Point we were treated with a few Porsche Boxter racecars doing night laps on the main circuit.  They were there with a Porsche Club event.  These were not normal boxters, but fully prepped race cars.  It was an excellent sight and sound to witness.

Mary's Gash, Mineral Bottom Hang Gliding Cliff Launch with Base Jumpers

The pursuit of human flight has been a path forged in dreams and cemented in blood.  If not for the greats, Da Vinci, Lilienthal, and Rogallo to name a few, chance happenings like the one below would continue to exist only in dreams.  The fact that I live in an age where I can safely and repeatedly drive to a launch and experience flight in its most organic form is not lost on me.  It is exactly why when I had the opportunity to work with photographer Krystle Wright I didn't hesitate to drive 14 hours roundtrip for less than 5 minutes of flying.  The resulting image below, an instant in time artfully captured forever, is the realization of that dream.  Read on for the full story.

Photo Courtesy of Krystle Wright

Mineral Bottom cliff launches have long been a staple of autumn for OB, Dr. West, and myself.  Last year I had to opportunity to huck off Mary's Gash over Mineral Bottom for outdoor photographer extraordinaire Krystle Wright.  Krystle and I had been talking through the internet for months, but finally converged in Moab last October.  That's no small task considering Krystle hops continents more often than most people leave their hometown.

For me it was a typical speed run to make it to Moab in time for a sunset cliff launch.  I met Krystle at the giant conestoga wagon north of town and we headed west into the desert.  The first day of shooting was hampered by a persistent cirrus layer that flattened the light, muting the red rock walls of the basin.  We set up on opposite sides of the canyon and, quite comically, coordinated the launch by yelling at each other.  We were so far apart that our echos took over a second to reverberate.  Only the piercing quiet of the desert would allow such analog communication.  Our hope was that the sun would peak below the cloud layer on its way to the horizon and ignite a short explosion of golden-hour colors, but sadly our patience was not rewarded.

A Roadside Toyota Camry Rendition of Lightning McQueen

The Mystery Machine

Mary's Gash and Mineral Bottom

After it became apparent the sun was not going to break through the clouds I launched.  It was the first no stepper cliff launch I've done in the Wills Wing T2C.  It handled the fully-stalled exit beautifully. I kept the initial dive shallow which allowed an extended tour of the valley.  Good lighting or not, launching Mineral Bottom is a spiritual experience.  After a superb flight I touched down on the soft sand of the flood plain with my soul recharged.  Late that night Richard and Kresta met us just in time to enjoy the last embers of our fire.  Late that evening the clouds gave way to brilliant stars that only the high desert can offer.

Cloudy Solo Launch





Launch Photos Courtesy of Krystle Wright

The Sweet Smell of Burning Juniper

We woke up in the dark to stage for a dawn launch.  As first light broke over the red cliffs it was obvious the day would reward us with a good light.  Richard and Kresta were going to exit in their base rigs as I launched so we would all be in the air at the same time.   On Krystle's cue Richard and I planned a staged exit with with Kresta to follow.  I would run off so I could capture Richard exiting just ahead of me.  It went off perfectly, except that my helmet mounted Go Pro died.  That was unfortunate because watching him fall away as I dove off the cliff was a view worth sharing.  After we all exited I was tempted to swoop their canopies, but I didn't want to add any surprises to the mix.  Instead, I swooped the hill on the west side of the LZ then tested my glide to the Green River for a future river swoop.  I never zipped up harness, but with full VG I reached the river with tons of energy to spare.

Dawn Launch
Photos Courtesy of Krystle Wright







Rigged



Richard and Kresta



Launch
Photos Courtesy of Krystle Wright

Screen Shots

Video

After celebratory hugs all around it we headed back up the hill to pack up camp and part ways.  On the drive home I opted to follow the Colorado River through the canyon it carves upstream of town.  The E30 sliced up the varying radius and camber turns with ease.  Even a eighty pounds of dead weight on the roof could not unsettle the original Ultimate Driving Machine.  On the way I scoped the next project.  I had to ford a few creeks on the way, but it looks doable.  I won't hold my breath for the next time four transient souls meet on a random piece of rock in the desert, but when it happens, it'll be worth the wait.

Fording Creeks in the E30

Time Lapse of the Colorado River Canyon

Cars and Coffee, Lafayette, CO 2012

My descent into vehicular enthusiasm has been a lifelong downward spiral.  It started with growing up around the crude, yet graceful British machines that my dad lusted for, longed for, hated, and was left stranded by.  As an early driver it evolved into air cooled VW's in the form of a '74 Karman Ghia and a '73 Westfalia Bus.  The former cemented the value of owning a unique auto, the latter delivered cross-country road trips and a forced introduction into self maintenance. It also resulted in many stops by law enforcement for "burned-out tail lights." My own British cars followed with several Triumph TR6's and MG Midgets.  They simultaneously advanced both my skills behind wrench and the wheel.  I proudly championed my ability to use a small car's light weight and cornering ability as slap in the face to the American doctrine of big cars, big power, and poor driving.  British cars also facilitated the need for a reliable alternative for such annoying hassles as getting to work, school, and general transportation - things the rest of the world use their cars for. Unable to compromise the automotive values forged in rusty metal of poor quality I was left with only one affordable alternative, old BMWs.  The Bavarian car's lack of what a British enthusiast would call "soul" (observed from their stranded perch on the shoulder) is more than made up for in driving dynamics.  In my opinion, the E30 (the 1984-1992 BMW 3 Series), maintains a perfect balance between technological advancement and an involved, visceral, and connected driving experience.  The Z3-based M Coupe and Roadster only advanced this notion with more power, a more involved driving experience, and a little British inspired "soul".  On the track, the driver must come to the fatalistic realization that the M Coupe's 315 horsepower, short wheelbase, and trailing arm rear suspension all conspire in unison to promote only one outcome - his or her untimely death.  The reward of overcoming these hooligan tendencies in the name of fast lap times is pure driving bliss.  This is the lens through which I view the automotive world.

Last fall after 36 years of finely tuning my lens, I discovered a vehicular landscape only seven miles from my house that rivals the most dramatic snowcapped peaks of Colorado's Front Range.  Cars and Coffee is an informal meeting of car owners and onlookers on the first Saturday of every month.  The Northern Colorado C&C meet takes place in the parking lot of Atlas Valley Wine & Spirits in Lafayette.  I have to plug Atlas Valley Wine & Spirits because its gracious owner selflessly allowed me to use his "non-public" facility after I suffered a sudden and unexpected caffeine induced need to do so - immediately!  The great thing about C&C is the informality of its attendees.  Cars and owners of all sorts show up with six figure exotics to everyday beaters who's lack of value is overshadowed only by their questionable mechanical integrity.  Cars of vast disparities in value, origin, design, function and condition park next to each other in a level harmonious democracy that would make Andrew Jackson blush.  At first light, cars from the British, Italians, Germans, French, Japanese, and Domestics funnel in and color the white lines of the empty lot.  After a few hours of standing, story telling, coffee, and emissions violations everyone departs as randomly as they arrived with the majority of their Saturday still intact.  Perfect!

August 2012 C&C

Ferrari F430

Original Ford GT-40's

Lotus Elite

Early Triumph TR6

My E30 

Audi UR Quattro

October C&C - Colors of Fall

C&C Democracy in Action (left to right):

Dodge Challenger, Acura NSX, BMW M Coupe, BMW 325is, BMW 3.0CSi, Hot Rod

A Familiar S54 E36/8

E9 BMW 3.0CSi

E9 BMW 3.0 CS

Shogun Ford Fiesta

This one warrants a story.  In the late '80's custom Porsche builder Chuck Beck shoe-horned a 3.0 liter V6 Ford SHO engine into the back (that's right, the trunk) of a stock Ford Fiesta.  The rear wheel drive car was significantly modified to accommodate the mid-engine design and significant power increase.  The result was hot-hatch sleeper with the performance to match its outlandish body mods.  Less than a dozen were made, including one that resides in Jay Leno's garage (here).

Morgan 3 Wheeler

More Traditional Morgan

Austin Healey 3000

Aston Martin Vantage

(Ferrari) Dino

Proper Use of an Early Porsche 911

Mini Coopers

Original Mini Clubman

My Train Horn Equipped MG Midget

Classic VW Type I

American Designed, Italian Built Pantera

Iconic BMW E30 M3

Super Rare Type 34 VW Karman Ghia

Lotus Super 7 Inspired Caterham 7's

Ferrari 575

Ferrari FF

(See my FF experience here)

Ferrari 458 Italia

Active Aerodynamics

Ferrari F430

Ferrari 308 GTS

These last few shots have a story behind them.  I bought some M3 tires from this gentleman and his Chevy LS powered Cobra.  He admired the MG nearly as much as I admired his Cobra, so we did a little photo shoot in his office parking lot.  Both cars featured impressive plumbing, the Cobra's on the sides and the Midget's in the trunk!

Midget & Cobra