20 yrs ago: Rd Atl Dip FA

[DaveW]

This has to be one of the great races ever.

Too bad I don't have a video of the 1977 Runoffs - 10-car train, any one of which could go to the front, and at least 4 in contention for the win until the last few laps.

[jim murphy]

1989, my first real runoffs, driving the very first F440 KBS MK5, (which had never been driven, let alone raced, before this). Some laps in, I was 6th, on the back straight coming on to a train of 2nd through 5th. Nobody told me I couldn't, so went around all four through the dip and up the hill. For about 5 seconds I was second, (behind David Elliott). But as Jay, I got light and spun. I had the good fortune to save it and eventually finished fourth. What a thrill.
Without a doubt one of the most exciting places on any race track.
John Puccini

John Puccini!! It has been way too long since I crewed for Mike Keirnes when ya'll made your pilgrimage from the west coast to the Runoffs. Now rent two F600's and a solo Jeep E Mod car. But I digress. The dip meant an audible grunt from me when the car bottomed out and popping ears from the resonating exhaust noise of multiple two stokes next to me - reminded me of an AA Fuel Dragster at full song. It was a little more scary to point the car at the right bridge abutment, hoping that it will drift a little to the left to just miss it and then watch the front wheels drop out of sight as I catch air at the crest under the bridge - and do this lap after lap.

Jim
Been messing with F4/5/6's since 1982