PSCA Racing Season Finale in Fontana - Lateral-g Forums

LVCamaro · #1 11-19-2005, 08:41 PM

We qualified #1 today in Real Street even though we had a fire inside the '66 Nova at the big end of the track. The Halon system worked perfectly and Gil is fine, if not a little shaken. It was a helluva mess inside the car with fire retardant everywhere after shutdown, plus the rules disqualify us if OUR CREW tows/pulls the car to the pits after a run. But, in the spirit of true sportsmanship...the #2 qualifier, Rich Hoyle [the guy we just beat], ran over to us, tied off and HE towed us to our pit. Going into this final season race, we only had a scant 5 point lead over Rich Hoyle in the season overall points chase and it's been a seesaw battle all year. Yet, without hesitation, he bailed out and hooked onto us and towed us safely back to our pit. Rich lurks on this board because he knows I hang out here, so I want to personally thank him for his selfless act of true sportsmanship! Thanks Rich

...and we'll see ya tomorrow in the elim's.

SS

**camcojb** · #2 11-19-2005, 09:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LVCamaro

We qualified #1 today in Real Street even though we had a fire inside the '66 Nova at the big end of the track. The Halon system worked perfectly and Gil is fine, if not a little shaken. It was a helluva mess inside the car with fire retardant everywhere after shutdown, plus the rules disqualify us if OUR CREW tows/pulls the car to the pits after a run. But, in the spirit of true sportsmanship...the #2 qualifier, Rich Hoyle [the guy we just beat], ran over to us, tied off and HE towed us to our pit. Going into this final season race, we only had a scant 5 point lead over Rich Hoyle in the season overall points chase and it's been a seesaw battle all year. Yet, without hesitation, he bailed out and hooked onto us and towed us safely back to our pit. Rich lurks on this board because he knows I hang out here, so I want to personally thank him for his selfless act of true sportsmanship! Thanks Rich

...and we'll see ya tomorrow in the elim's.

SS

That is awesome and rare in this world, to say the least! Good luck Steve and

to Rich.

Jody

**Stuart Adams** · #3 11-19-2005, 09:19 PM

Wow that is an awesome showing of sportsmanship. He probably did that because he knows he would get the same treatment from you. One class guy to another. Steve good luck tommorrow, I'm pulling(get it), for you and your team. I know this means alot to you guys, get r dun.

**XcYZ** · #4 11-20-2005, 07:04 AM

That's really cool, Steve. Make sure Gil knows he has a big fan club here on Lateral-g.

RussMS · #5 11-20-2005, 09:16 AM

That is great Steve! Post some pics when you can.

LVCamaro · #6 11-20-2005, 12:51 PM

LOL...I'm sure Rich's helping hand was partly a factor of him knowing we're not running Real Street next year [he ought to dominate that class next year without competing with us], but it was nice of him to handle it the way he did! Because of the Nova fire, Gil decided not to run the Cavalier in Outlaw Class this weekend. I don't blame him a bit...a fire in the cockpit is a racer's biggest nightmare!

The floorboard area above the exhaust headers got so hot it "flash" ignited the carpet and filled the cockpit with smoke. Thankfully, Gil had already crossed the finish line and pulled the chute...so he was rapidly shedding speed when the fire erupted. What a mess of fire retardant [and smoke] all over him and the interior cockpit. Fortunately, it only burned a couple wires and the fire was extinguished before it BBQ'd the onboard computer. It had to be a very scary moment for Gil to look down at 170 MPH and see flames crawling up his leg knowing he still had some quantity of pressurized NOS and race fuel onboard. It could have been much, much worse!!!