I was going to start this thread last Friday (April 1) but then I realized no one would believe it.
I'm posting this in the "Getting Started" section because it is about being a novice, just at a bit higher level.
Background:
Last fall we were doing way too much bench racing and came up on this hair-brained idea of sending a old, never-was, mediocre, regional driver to the Runoffs. We had been spectators only since 1970, and we are not getting any younger. Add to that, the opportunity to do the last Runoffs at M-O, it seemed like a good idea at the time. Looking at the results for the SEDIV for 2003 and 2004, it looked do-able. Obviously, it would be next to impossible in the CENDIV. (You may not get a chance to pick your parents, but you do get to chose where you live.) It looked like if one finished four to six SE nationals one could qualify. Financially, since we have been averaging 8 to 10 races per year for seven years, it even seemed to be within the budget. (yet to be seen)
GT1Vette is always preaching we have to have a GOAL. With a narrow track '98 Tatuus in the shop, we figured the new goal was to get an invite to the Runoffs, make the race, and don't get lapped. (We have not been accused of being over-achievers)
Obvious to us, considering our driver, if goal was to get points and avoid crash damage, we had to skip the first two nationals (Sebring and Moroso). With full fields of fast carbetbagging yankees to contend with, we would be wasting our already limited money.
Where we are today:
Well, we made one mistake. We announced on Apexspeed.com that it appeared that the fields in the SE looked thin. Thus even more yankees, half yankees(DC region), and even some Canadians came down to all the late winter nationals to mess up our plan.
Then two young whippersnappers up and decide to qualify for the Runoffs in the SE. It looked like Mr. Morgan's and Mr. Vassmer's entries were going to shuffle us even farther back in the points.
Maybe this isn't going to be as easy as we thought...
But alas, we are now into April and we are 5th in SE points and have completed 3 of the 4 minimum races we need.
Monday we received confirmation that Topeka has accepted our April 1st entry. We had feared that our reputation might have preceded the entry to Topeka and somehow in Fastrack it would be discovered that frogs aren't allowed.
We are still on course. Hope lives on.
What we have learned so far:
The national guys are better. They are more intense. They work harder at it. They spend more, lots more. That said, when there is a slack moment they are just as friendly. The fields are probably safer to race in. They are just as willing to be helpful and encouraging as regional guys.
I'm amazed by how much encouragement we are getting from folks all over the SCCA map.
Our tired ol' 22 hour motor aint going to cut it. So for the first time in 8 years, the self proclaimed "King o' Cheap" sent the motor to a professional engine builder last week.
Emotionally, I'm starting to feel like it's 8 years ago and I'm trying to get ready for drivers school. Sort of like Jamie Cole last January. Remember when you went out to the mailbox and got that novice package in the mail before your first drivers school? Well, thats how I felt seeing that verification email from Topeka.
We registered on the first day to try to get our sacred number 48, and save the cost of a vinyl cutting party.(Thanks DaveW for the advice.)
There is a whole bunch of new stuff to learn. I feel it has re-invigorated my interest in the sport. Or... is that the fear of looking like a complete dork that I feel? I feel something. I feel my wallet lightening.
What we still need to learn:
We need to learn how to completely re-assemble a Tatuus. Just where did Sean put all the bolts?
Then we need to practice, practice, practice on doing repeatable setups.
We need to basically memorize what one "flat" does on any corner of the car.
We have to convert our thinking to millimeters for the Tatuus. All the conversions back and forth to English is a pain.
We recently got a set up pad. Now, how to get scales?
Figure out what brand of tires to run.
Thinking way out ahead...
Mid-Ohio. Never driven it. Have spectated. Sort of know the numbers of the turns.
We're thinking of maybe doing a June race at M-O as sort of a learning experience.
I think the August "school" weekend would be too hot, and require two long trips timed too close together for our budget.
Used to have the "Cart 98" Playstation game. It worked great for learning Road America. Of course now we can't find it.
Come September we don't know where we will stay. It appears in the Supps that we can't sleep in our trusty trailer in the paddock because it is not what they call a self-supporting RV.
There is no possible way with the day job to afford nor get the leave to do any of the early testing before September 19th, so by the time we roll in we will be paddocked probably somewhere closer to Columbus than the grid. We are used to smooth paddocks, don't own special paddock wheels, so we have to figure out how to get to grid. (in that respect Topeka will be better.)
Then we have to figure out how to get the required race fuel. I guess we will need a designated crew person just to stand in the long line. (Somebody probably could make a few bucks providing that service...)
We don't have any motorized pit/paddock vehicle, so maybe we'll have to research renting something at the track. But we do have bikes (pedal type) and the supps say they are allowed in the paddock. (Spectators will probably pay extra to see Mrs. Frog pull a Tatuus to grid with a bicycle.)
Sponsorship? Get real... But, then again... as P.T. Barnum said...
Maybe let all the residents of Sopchoppy and Panacea Florida sign the bodywork for a dollar... Forty dollars is forty dollars more than we had.
As the next 5 months happen, I'll try to keep posting what we are learning.
By now, Messers Weitzenhof, Shafer, Defer, et. al. are already afraid to answer their phones for fear they will hear 20 more stupid questions. I promise to keep bugging them and even post the tidbits of knowledge they say I can.
As always... stay tuned to Apexspeed.com for the zaniest news in F2000 racing.
I had to jump in and wish you the best of the luck! My first runoffs was in 2003 and I still wonder how we made it there but I dont for a second regret all the time and money (it took me till after christmas to pay off my debts!) Can you think of a better vacation than a week+ at a race track with a couple of hundred folks with the same addiction as you!
We learnt a lot and I hope some of this might be helpful to you....
To keep cost down we stayed at the KOA campgrounds - they have small cabins that are inexpensive if a little bit of a drive from the track.
Last year we ran the double regional two weeks prior and left everything out there. We got quite a bit of track time and it was cheaper than the school. It also meant we got a nice paddock space. I would avoid the "test days" like the plague unless you have time and a yearning to pay 100's of dollars for 15 minute sessions.
A combination of a bicycle and truck were sufficient for pit transport.
As for getting to know the track I used a combination of Nascar heat and the mod from this site plus "In the drivers seat - a lap of mid ohio" which I ordered from the website.
Best of luck and please feel free to contact me offline if you have Q's
I declare myself PF's #1 cheerleader...wait...I'm gonna give that title to my dad, I dont want anything to do with any type of cheerleading till after the Run-Offs and the rest of our Nat. Season.
Racercar driver + cheerleading = broken shoulder.
SEDIV: 2
Yanks: 3
___
Give em' Hell Kid!
Holy Topeka
The Gainesville Baller
In Loving Memory of David Dietrich, a father, a friend, a racer. (1954-2006)
Speaking of cheerleading, we never did get the full cheerleading story. I still want to know if her dad is still looking for you w/that shotgun??
On to the Frog and his planned journey to the runoff's................ Without question, PF stands among the few, that have played such an important role in the racing "lives" of so many of us drivers on this forum. Tx PF!!!! GO - FROG - GO!!!
HardRock Motorsport is backing him 100%. Our only prereq is that the "do" under the helmet is the (in)famous purple when the cap comes off at the end of that event!
I've got another angle for you. If you come out to Mid Ohio for the Gold Cup Race and test day in the end of May I'll spend the day with you helping you sort out your Mid Ohio techniques. I have not turned Mid Ohio into an art yet but, I've gotten pretty good at it.
Maybe it should have been stated up front that I have been involved in the sport long enough to realize there is a bit of travesty in this effort. IF we finish in the top 10 in the SE and qualify to go, we are still basically eqivalent to a backmarker in a CENDIV field. I sort of feel for the guy or gal that finishes 11th in CENDIV.
On the other hand, the rules are the rules. If we can't qualify in the SE, well then I guess we'll be moving to Wyoming.
Even with all the clowning and joking around, we do take the "on track" part of this exercise fairly serious and hope to make a respectable showing.
Ian, I here you about the KOA plan.
GR, the purple hair dye is always readily available in the race trailer. You should try it some time. It's always a big hit in downtown Pooler on Saturday night.
On the lighter side... or could I be real serious?... Have you ever seen the "take off" stacks at the Runoffs? Holy Moly! It's like I died and went to heaven.
I'm envious of Frog and where you live, living in the Cen-Div would make it impossible for me to ever make it. Don't worry about Paddock wheels - Mid-ohio is paved on just about all of the Paddock and if you take the advice and come early and leave your trailer you will end up in the paved area. Getting to and from the grid is no problem - all smooth asphalt. There is an airport in Mansfield - I don't know if they have a problem selling AV-Gas, perhaps by then they will have a spec fuel identified.
Last time I was at M-O only the vendors and the big boys were in the paved paddock. Everyone else was in the grassy fields with gravel roads. Did they pave those roads?
Runoffs Supps specify that we will be burning track fuel and restricts it to 110 or 112 leaded.
Considering budget and leave I don't think we can make two trips to M-O relatively close together. I don't think I'll have the option of leaving the trailer up there early. Anyway, I need the car close to home so all my sponsors can autograph it.
I just want to be in easy walking distance of St. Clair's canopy.
frog,
most of the grassy areas have paved roads to them. only the very back paddock areas that butt up against the crew parking have gravel roads. which is where we ended up being paddocked last year.
Douglas,
I pondered all day for a good response to your invitation to run the Pro Gold Cup event at M-O.
The politically correct answer is (direct from my press agent): At this time, due to financial constraints, Purple Frog Racing cannot vie for two different championships in one year, and has chosen to compete only for the SSCA National Championship in FC during 2005.
Need to complete Daytona in May. It would be a streach to pull off M-O in the same month.
Plus, if you have read other posts, I may be confused as to whether I am a regional or national driver, but I know for sure I'm not a pro driver.
Personnally I think the easing of restrictions for getting into the Gold Cup Championship is the best thing to come down the pike in a while. It was real tempting to just do that series this season. It was even more tempting to do Road Atlanta next week. (I wanted Jon to be able to enjoy watching something other than VDs) Maybe it's a good thing the engine is out at the rebuilder, else I would be seriously tempted to chase GR around with the Tatuus.
It could be possible this year to see more pintos on the grid than Zetecs. There are a lot of winning points about the Gold Cup deal, especially hobnobling with the goobersnitchers in the paddock. Being right amougst those ALMS teams, CART teams, etc. Cool.
Like NY is saying... maybe next year.
Froggy, what will you do with yourself when you see the takeoff piles...make sure someone is around to catch you and apply a cool rag to your forehead. PF Racing might need another trailer for tires...
And no GR there was no shotgun involved...Well, I'm not positive about that, I didn't stick around long enough to find out...
I can't wait for Daytona boys, the SWIFT is finally getting beautified, and I heard if you cut the wings in half and put .00001 degrees of wing angle on whats left of them the car goes like fast in a straight line or something...NASCAR, HA, I'm about to start the newest trend in FC, BUMP DRAFTING!
___
Give em' Hell Kid!
Holy Topeka
The Gainesville Baller
In Loving Memory of David Dietrich, a father, a friend, a racer. (1954-2006)
that's the thing about youngsters. they always think they've thought of something new that's never been done before. in reality there ain't much that hasn't already been tried. bump drafting formula cars? been done, specifically at the sprints a few years ago ala byers and winkler.
Froggie,
If Mrs. Frog is indeed as understanding as you state. She would obviously support the
"Mrs. Frog bikini car wash clinic" to help fund the road to M-O. You always praise how good she is to you. You just have to convince her that if she really loves you, and wants you to chase your dream that...............
Don't go to M-O "cold turkey". My experience last year at the Fall Sprints Regionals may offer some insight. I had been to the track a half dozen times to crew or spectate but never turned a wheel on course in my FF. A friend loaned me the school video shot on track and I gave it serious viewing. Schedule precluded running a shool day so I found myself lining up about 60th in a 70 car grid combining FF and FV for Saturday qualifying which included rank novices such as myself and Runoff qualifiers out for some extra track time. After one warmup lap stuck behind two Vees swerving side by side to warm up tires we were off in a cloud of dust only to be met by two sets of waving yellows for cars in precarious spots followed by a red while said cars were pulled out. One more lap and a waving yellow approaching the bridge by the pits announced 4 cars scattered across the track missing various pieces. Another red flag and the session was over: my total time on track less than 10 minutes and two sort of green laps.
Happily the Fords and Vees were split for the afternoon race and about 3 dozen surviving FFs took the green for the EW Challenge race. I fell in behind four madly dicing CFs and slowly got a clue about where to turn right and occassionally left. Last lap and three of the dicing group came together launching one unfortunate into a barrel roll almost over my head!
Sunday went better and I almost fell into a rhythm driving the difficult course. What a ball, kind of a roller coaster ride with the ups and downs and blind turns. I was still woefully off the pace of even Regional runners and have a lot to learn, but look forward to my next chance at the course (not the Runoffs!) I wish you best of luck in your efforts, but strongly suggest running at least a school day or Regional before September.
We haven't posted on this thread in about 6 weeks. Danica has sort of drawn all the open-wheel racing attention in May, and deservedly so.
A little status update. Purple Frog Racing has now completed 4 national races and has managed to get into 4th place in the SEDIV in points. We sent in a Runoffs entry. Recently we did the math, and it looks like mathematically we won't get bumped out of the top 10, even if we pass on the rest of the SEDIV season.
We have been racing on a shoestring to preserve the budget, so now we are going to click it up one notch.
We purchased a new set of Hoosier 35s and we leave tomorrow night for Mecca (otherwise known as Mid-Ohio). We are entered in the June National at M-O. Figure it's time to get a few laps on the place and see what all the fuss is about. Rather be hughly embarassed in June than September.
We haven't hauled a race car north of the Mason Dixon Line since the 2000 June Sprints. Should be nervous, but right now we are too busy trying to get loaded to be nervous. I admit it's going to be hard to drive right past that national they are holding at Road Atlanta this weekend.
I have tried to catch all the in car camera footage of M-O that I can catch on Speed, but I realize TV flattens the course and eliminates the "feel". At least I should know which way the next turn goes, even if I don't know how to go through it.
Thanks to DaveW for posting the baseline gear selection.
Many thanks to Bruggeman for sending down the painting equipment that enabled me to get slightly ahead on Mrs. Frog's painting projects so that we could go racing.
In advance I want to thank Marshall Aiken (Aiken Racing) for generously offering his shop in metro Atlanta for us to use to try to sort the setup on the car this coming Thursday. The Tatuus is going to look like an ugly duckling when it rolls in past his fleet of primo Zetecs.
Thanks also to Butch Kummer (B K Racing) who has generously offered to loan us some radios.
Don't know where we will try to paddock. Sort of know how to get to grid. Hope to be there early enough Friday afternoon to get through registration and tech, etc. We plan on camping at the track.
Stop by and say hi. More importantly, tell me how to get to the St. Clair tent.
Mid Ohio is great. Even if you are just a spectator. Madness is well, mad!!! The spectator/community support is awesome. Be sure to visit the roadhouse and engage in peanut warfare!!!!
Just a word of caution about Mid-Ohio. Typically, unless you participate in the practice day on Friday, you can't get into the place until Registration opens. For this event, that's 6:00 pm. What that does is it creates a great land rush as everyone sprints to find a paddock space after having lined up all the haulers while waiting to get through registration.
Rick Bolt and I (#27 and #28) will try to be in the uppermost paved paddock space, but that's always a crap shoot.
FIrst trip was in a car with doors on it, so we'll skip it - doesn't count, right? Next trip was 1980 in FF. Got punted in qualifying by a backmarker and lost lots of track time opportunities. Thanks to Steve Lathrop, we got the Zink fixed and qualified. I was lost and mired towards the rear of a huge field of FF guys convinced they were the next Andretti. At the green, I got a great start and passed maybe 10 cars before the keyhole. Then, the same backmarker slowed way down in front of me. I smoked all four tires trying to avoid him and the guy behind me couldn't see it coming. He went right over me like I was a skateboard ramp - left some nice tire marks on my helmet. We thought that was it, but noooo. During the race another testosterone soaked newbie lost it and drove into our parked-in-the-grass-and-partly-damaged-cars. Mine was OK, but the other poor guy's was pretty trashed. I figured the place owed me one, but then I quit the sport for 25 years.
Last June I returned to enter the SVRA Sprint Vintage Grand Prix. Fancy name for a vintage race. My DB2 loved the place. We did the test day on Thursday & got tons of track time. I managed to win on Sunday and it was the thrill of the season and my belated return to racing. So, I guess she decided to even up with me. I'll be co-driving an S2 Tiga in the SVRA enduro there in a couple weeks. Can't wait. Sorry for the length - reading all this just got me going.
Looking forward to meeting you guys when I bring out the DB3.
OK, 1980. That wasn't me, took that year off (wrecked it at end of '79).
Hey Frog. Gotta watch those regionals leading up to the Big One. I tried to save some money and run a double regional in '97 looking for cheap track time, and never made it round once. Got collected by a cookie magnate trying to break the lap record on the lap out of the pit in the first session Sat. am. and cost me a couple of wishbones. Try to walk the track a couple of times while you are there. Once a day is also a great way to relax and really see what you need that you can't at 60-100mph.
BTW, St Clairs trailer is easy to find, follow the beer cans. They will take you there. He usually has plenty of the famous Roadhouse peanuts to go around too. St. Clairs annual bash is a must visit to complete the Runoff's experience.
We don't plan on running the Roebling national. A few reasons:
I think we already have enough points to stay in the top 10 and get to the Runoffs, even if we skip Roebling and VIR.
Savannah in July is too dang hot to enjoy racing.
By skipping it we can save some money to put towards the Runoffs expenses.
Savannah in July is too dang hot to enjoy racing.
Skipping it saves hours on the new motor.
Savannah in July is too dang hot to enjoy racing.
Mrs Frog won't go because Savannah in July is too dang hot to enjoy racing.
The Tatuus is sweet, but it is not air-conditioned.
Oh, and did I mention Savannah in July is too dang hot to enjoy racing.
OK sportsfans,
We are well into August. It's been 6 weeks since we posted anything about our journey to the Runoffs. It's been that long because we haven't done anything. Or, I should say we haven't done anything about racing.
Now, all of a sudden it seems like it is only 5 weeks away.
I'm getting emails from Topeka asking who I think should be worker of the year. Also getting emails asking for good storylines for the FC race from Jerry Prill. It rapidly dawned on me that I'm not getting these emails because they covet whatever the Purple Frog has to say. I'm getting them because I'm an entrant, and on the entry was my email address. All the other entrants are getting them also. I say to myself, "quit hyperventilating stupid."
I'm sort of stuck on who I would nominate for worker of the year. One of the million dollar heroes was the flagger at T5 at Road Atlanta that had the presence of mind to point to me what side of the track to move to as I was cresting the blind hill with a car parked sideways on the other side in the racing line. It had happened so fast that the yellow flags weren't waving yet. If he had spent time reaching for a flag instead of pointing for me.... ouch.
Another hero this year was a flagger on the outside of T11 at CMP. It was raining. I was having a disaster of a race. Then I spun off and was highsided. If that flagger had not come out and pushed on the rear wing, it would have been game over. He pushed, I spun mud on him, and we got a finish out of that mess. I don't even know these heroes names, how do I nominate them?
And that storyline for the FC race at the Runoffs that Prill is asking for... I know about 24 good stories to tell Jerry. Jeremy and the Photon, Vassmer from Venezuela, the youngster Morgan, the new Piper, Nicki's big season in the CenDiv... But I still like best the story about that 'kid' in the yellow and red Citation.
I do have to report I have had second thoughts about this whole Runoffs deal. The costs added to the fact of having to take a whole week off from work is looking a bit expensive. Using that same amount of time and money I could run three weekends in the Southeast. Being an employee, not the employer, I only get a fixed amount of leave every year. A week is a big chunk. Then there are the travel and lodging costs... Note that none of this would be a concern if I thought I was really competitive. But is it worth it for the priviledge of saying to the grandkids, "Way back in ought-five your grandpappy raced in the National Championships.." ?
Anyway it's the second week of August and we are still in. One of these days I need to go out to the shop and look for the race car. I remember unloading it after M-O in early June. I'm pretty sure it's out there. Maybe I should fire it up. Maybe I should get a plan together. Book flights for Mrs Frog. Find some rooms somewhere south of Cleveland. Move the rainlight. Figure out why the push-to-talk button gets triggered in every left turn. Call Hoosier.
I guess I better start getting busy. Afterall, it is the last Runoffs at Mid-Ohio.
Your advice and help over the time I have know you is worth far more than that, but I have a new baby to take care of now. You really help us regional drivers quite a bit.
Good luck at MO.
Rick
================================================== ==============
Carters: I'll be donating to the site also, which BTW is way past due for me.
Last edited by rickjohnson356; August 8th, 2005 at 7:22 PM.
Reason: forgot about Apexspeed donation
Hey, Mike: I'll give you $100 if you get a top five. Don't have a clue about engines, so this is the best I can do. My CFC is eating cash like a Las Vegas slot machine. Go for it, man. My last trip was 1980. I remember it well. Cruel, but memorable. You'll be glad you did it.
Froggie,
I take a lot of kidding from you and many others. After all I am great material for it. But seriously, I did make the Runoffs in 1982, after 3 years of trying and spending every resource I had to qualify.
Is it expensive Yes it is.
Does it take a lot of time off from work Yes it does
Does it require driving great distances Yes it does
But I can tell you this: It was the greatest experience in racing I have had and probably ever will have. You will regret it forever if you don't go.
We have just heard from a new sponser of PFR (who wishes to remain anonymous) that will be providing genuine "Purple Frog Racing" crew shirts to all contributors.
These will undoubtedly become valuable items as it shows you supported the oldest living continental racer!
Now is the time to pay the Frog back for the years of free advice (still the #1 poster) and get a shirt to boot!
Well it's been another month since the last post. We are now getting close to the last post for this thread that we started back in April. This time next week we should be done with the first practice session of the "official" Runoffs schedule. OBTW, as I type this some folks have already been up there for three days! It's four more days before we even depart. I can't even imagine the budget it takes to be up there over two weeks.
This past month I've had lots of phone conversations with many top shelf people. There was a point where I was thinking the juice wasn't going to be worth the squeeze. Budgets being what they are. I was going to withdraw. But many people have come out of the woodwork to encourage me to throw my money into the black hole called the Runoffs.
You know its getting closer when Weitzenhof gets quieter. But he did take some time to give me a few pointers.
Chas Shaffer told me three weeks ago he was already more nervous than a racoon in a dog kennel. He wanted the event to be here already. Something tells me Chas has found the handle.
A special thanks to Joe Tovo for his encouragement. I first thought Joe was special a few years ago. He had quit towing racecars with his Ford Expedition, so he shipped me his Expo towing mirrors... gratis. Class act.
Brian Burke (who graciously came down to the ARRC in 2003 and stuck a pin in the best season I'd had to date) has been on the phone going over driving techniques he's picked up running his Carbir at M-O. His advice is helpful because he too is more of a novice at the place. We talk good novice back and forth.
Sean O'Connell, who was appointed North American Vice President of Promotion for Purple Frog Racing, has produced some killer crew apparrel for the event. Sort of in the vein of, "It's not how fast you go, it's how good you look".
Keith Averill was full of encouraging words just this morning.
Ulrich Vassmer has been emailing many kind words.
We need to get a photograph of one thing for sure. Not one, but two sets of sticker tires arrived in the shop this week. It wasn't that many years ago that would have represented two seasons!
I've spent the past few weeks trying to get ready. Taking a three month sabbatical from racing required some warming up to all the routines. Sorting the trailer and going over and over the car. I told Mrs. Frog about two weeks ago that I had about 4 more hours of stuff to do before we can put the car in the trailer. Since then I have probably spent 40 hours in the shop. One thing leads to the next. Finally last night after three months of the Tatuus being up on the table, I put wheels on it and set it on the shop floor.
One thing becomes very clear when you spend all those hours for weeks on end prepping for one race.... If I win the Lotto, I'm going to be like Defer and Jordan, and somebody like Rob St. Clair is going to have a car ready for me when I arrive at the track.
Seriously, I have even more respect now for guys like Weitzenhof, Shaffer, LaRue, Brewer, Silver, Minor, and the like, who operate at the top of the sport as one man/one couple teams. Chief mechanic, engineer, truck driver, gofer, and race driver all rolled into one. It takes a lot of serious time to pull it off alone. Whew... The week at the Runoffs should be like a vacation compared the the past few weeks holding down a job and being a race team.
Now, in the lull before the storm, I'm starting to get nervous. Chas is right, I wish it was next week already.
It's been 35 years since the first time I leaned up against the fence at Road Atlanta to watch the Runoffs. Now, at last I'm going to be on the other side of the fence. Reading all those names on the entry list is sort of a who's who of FC racing. I check it every week or so, just knowing that "they" are going to finally realize I've snuck in and boot me out for being some sort of imposter. No illusions here of winning. I want to have fun, enjoy the whole scene, take pictures, buy the t-shirts, hopefully have a good strong race. The big goal is still to do the thing without getting lapped. Which at my level will be victory enough considering the quality of the field.
Please, if you are at the Runoffs stop by, introduce yourself, say hi.
This will be my first runoffs also. Wish i was driving instead of paying. Lest we forget in addition to the expense of the event you are still dealing with the stress and expense of trying to recover your lost family member.
Frog- I just got back from 3 days out there (the cars and trailer are tucked in for the week while I try to earn a living). The level of intensity is already starting; I can't imagine what it's going to be like next week at this time.
Niki and Ricardo are already fast, really fast. I, on the other hand, found out that turn 7 actually goes right :-)
Seriously, the track is everything I was told it was and harder- but wow, is it fun! I took the Mid-Ohio school last Friday, and it was probably the best money I will spent the whole time. I think without it I would be completely lost.
See you out there- BTW stop by if I don't find you first- I'm paddocked on the main road to the grid, sort of near the maintenance shed/showers.
The Road to the Runoffs
(in that respect Topeka will be better.)
GO - FROG - GO!!!
There are a lot of winning points about the Gold Cup deal, especially hobnobling with the goobersnitchers in the paddock. Being right amougst those ALMS teams, CART teams, etc. Cool. 
