posted 02-22-2004 08:58 PM         

Some FANTASTIC racing on Saturday at our 2nd Grand Bayou road race of the season out at No Problem. Bob Woodhouse (Viper Comp Coupe - Omaha, NE) took the win in Super Production over Johnny Walter (GT1 Vette) after 13 laps of dueling racing over the entire 1.8 mile course. Bob ran a 1:16:18 Best Lap Time (BLT) and Johnny had a BLT of 1:16:34. Johnny had six 1:16 lap times and Bob had four during those 13 laps. Jimmy & I each had new BLTs for today and we took 2nd place in Vintage V8. Jimmy had new BLT of 1:30:07 during the Feature and I had 1:31:80 during the qualifying. Another member of the Woodhouse team Bill Pemberton (Omaha, NB) ran in the Spec Miata class and won a tight race against one of our local racers. In winning Bill set new track record for Spec Miata of 1:26:30.

1st lap through turn #13 after green flag start in Feature race.

From the green flag start in the feature, it was quite a duel between Bob & Johnny. Bob would build a lead on the straight and Johnny would catch up to Bob's bumper by turn #13 and rolling through turn #14 onto the straight away. On a few laps they were almost side ways swinging around the turn heading to #14. Bob would take Johnny by four or five car lengths on the 1,900' straight away and into turn #1. You could pick them up again coming out of turn #8 and begin to see Johnny making up some distance as they came toward #13. Than, they'd get to #14 and onto the straight away for another round...

Johnny on tail of Bob in turn #13. Some laps they were even closer...

It was some spectacular spectator viewing. It went on like this until lap #13. Johnny's oil pump belt broke and flew off which dropped his oil pressure and he had to pull off the track. Bob took the checkered flag on lap #14.... Wow some race...

We had three cars in the Vintage V8 class Ken (Mustang who's run 1:28s), Richard (71 Vette - 1st time here but, has 12 years racing) and our 78 Vette. Jimmy and I split some lap time during the practice session and during the practice Ken blew his engine in lap #9 going through turn #1 and with the oil on the track and cleanup we ended our session five minutes early. So, that meant only two cars in our class for the rest of the day. I ran the qualifying session and stayed ahead during the entire 15 minutes of the Datsun (GTO car) & Richard (VV8). Although, I got lapped by Walters & Woodhouse (they kinda flew by me). On the last time around turn #14 going onto the straight away heading for the checkered flag Richard was close to me and went side by side drag racing for the checkered flag and I edged him across the finish line by one half car length. However, he got the poll position for our Vintage class since he had a faster lap time during the qualifying race of 1:30:55 (lap #7) compared to my 1:31:80 (lap #3). Since I didn't have the best BLT, Jimmy was going to have to start at back of the pack for the feature..

This was after lap #1 and Jimmy was on Richard's tail for a little while in the Feature race...

In our group (SP, GTO & Vintage V8), we had nine cars make it to the feature race. The Datsun (GTO) Richard's Vette (VV8) and Jimmy in our Vette (VV8) were running fairly close times. On the first lap after green flag Richard and Jimmy passed the Datsun with Jimmy on the tail of Richard for a few laps before Richard started pulling a little lead. On lap #10 the Datsun squeezed by Jimmy and than overtook Richard on lap #11 and held that position until the final lap #14 where Richard passed the Datsun and beat him to the checkered flag. Richard took 1st place in Vintage V8 class and had a BLT of 1:28:11 (lap #12) in the feature and we ended up with a 2nd place in Vintage V8 class and Jimmy's BLT was 1:30:07. So, we'll have to be satisfied with just improving our lap times for this day. And, I'll probably get a lot of grief from Jimmy by him getting to 1:30 before me. However, I do have a 1st place plaque...

We had total of 46 race cars which was good considering we lost 15 to 20 racers because of Mardri Gras weekend. We did pick up 10 to 12 racers from out of state and out of the area. There was another good turnout of spectators. The Hyundai club came out with 15+ cars and took touring laps during the lunch break. Our Grand Bayou Race #3 is on Saturday, May 7th.

More pics in scrapbook:
http://www.prowleronline.com/scrapbook/neweventview.php?id=379

Bob Woodhouse, Rick (lead Viper Tech), Joel & Bill Pemberton

Some of our local Vette friends talking race stuff with Bob. Mary Pat, Patty, Johnny (GT1 Vette), Christian, Mike & Bob Woodhouse.

Bill Pemberton and his Spec Miata.

More pics in scrapbook:
http://www.prowleronline.com/scrapbook/neweventview.php?id=379

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posted 02-23-2004 11:32 AM         

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