T A O F A S Racing

I have been to four of these tracks and have had the good fortune to run on two of them. Two are still around and two are gone. One is a housing development and the other is a shopping center. An empty shopping center!!!

Speed Odyssey Can Am Film about the history of the Can Am series.

Frank talking about "Alien Girl" reminded me of our first trip to Willow Springs. Well, it was Frank's first trip. I had been there in the early 80s in my formula car days. Anyway, we went for Driver's School so I could regain my License. I don't remember exactly when it happened but during one session sitting became very uncomfortable. That night in the shower I discover a lump on my ass. I get out and look at my ass in the mirror and there is a perfectly round blister a little larger than a quarter and in the middle there is a 3/8" hex shape. Lil Beastie was not built around me. I bought her from a guy that had to stand on tip toes to be 5'6". There is no seat in the car when I drive it, just a thick steel plate to sit on. It is the only way that I will meet clearance under the rollbar. Turns out I was sitting on a bolt. We use round head hex bolts to mount part of the safety belts to the floor. I still have a slight reminder of that burn to this day. The next morning on the way to the track, we stopped at a grocery store (they didn't sponsor us so we won't say which one) to grab some goodies. As we are getting ready to pay I remembered I needed something else. I took off and returned to meet Frank at the checkout. I had two turkey roasting pans with me. "What are you going to do with those?" NOTHING, they're for you! When we got to the track, we found that the bolt I was sitting on was right next to the exhaust. Those roasting pans became make-shift heat shields! Necessity is the mother of invention!

Sean and I have had many adventures and travels. We’ve met great people and some not so great. Once in California racing at Button Willow we had to get parts for the car at a local Home Depot. We knew that a Papa John’s was close by. Sean asked the girl at the checkout where it was. She told him she was not originally from the area and only been working at the store 8 months. Once we got outside Sean commented that “When she said she wasn’t from around here, I didn’t think she meant planet Earth “ I said that’s harsh, to which Sean pointed to the Papa John’s only 100 yards right out the front door of the Home Depot

A 16 year old girl made my day today! Now aint your mind in the gutter? I sold my black Type R Miata over a year ago. The girl that bought it brought it by today to show me how she had fixed it up. My brain said "Man, I wish I still had that!". My back said "Nooo you don't!".

Ask 'em why they spent lives 'cross the ocean
Ask 'em why they spent millions on the moon
Well, until they make things right it's hard for some people to believe they tried
They better make some changes and do it soon

They're goin' ruin the air that we breathe, y'all
They're gonna ruin us all by and by
I'm tellin' all you beware, I don't think they really care
Think they just sit up there and just get high

Have you ever lived down in the ghetto?
Have you ever felt the cold wind blow?
If you don't know what I mean won't you stand up and scream?
'Cause there's things goin' on that you don't know
If you don't know what I mean won't you stand up and scream?
'Cause there's things goin' on that you don't know

RVZ

Gunnar Nilsson's heartbreakingly short F1 career that bore a great legacy Gunnar Nilsson never had time to deliver on his F1 championship-winning potential, writes Matt Bishop. Claimed by cancer after only two brilliant grand prix seasons, the Lotus driver nevertheless continues to inspire

Note this is dated June 1985

The Constructors - 5 Formula Ford 1600 Engine Builders The constructors ot Formula Ford 1600 engines are in a peculiar position. They are, if you like, an establishment, men who have been doing their job for years, who see young drivers…

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www.facebook.com

Who knows what this is?

I love David and Goliath racing. When a small, agile, quick car WHOOPS UP on a bigger faster car. Lil Beastie and I have done this on many occasion. Here we have a Ford Escort (1600cc) going up against a Big Bad Ass Camaro whose engine is 3½ times larger. ENJOY!

Crystal Palace "full version" 1971 British Saloon Car Championship The 1971 British Saloon Car Championship racing at the Crystal Palace circuit.

REPOST

I haven't really looked at the page lately. Today, messing around on the page, I clicked on Followers. I was surprised. I messaged Frank if he knew all the followers. He said not all of them. We appreciate everyone who follows our page.
We started this page to promote a veteran's group that was on the car at one time. Unfortunately, no new TAOFAS content has been added in the last nine years. In 2011, I started having some physical problems. In some of the videos we've posted you can see me flexing my hands. I thought it was a circulation problem, but it was the beginning of neuropathy symptoms. By the time of our last race in 2015 I was in pain for 1-2 weeks after a race. The pain was overruling the desire to race.
2020 was when I knew racing was no longer in my future. The money I had been saving for a new engine for Lil Beastie was used for a down payment for new car. A comfortable, easy to get into, and easy to get out of new car.
What I plan for the page is to post memories of my racing related activities. I can't say it will be in chronological order but as I remember them. It's also so that as my memory gets worse I can read about my exploits and hopefully remember them. I'm hoping Frank, family, friends, and others will add to the memories.

Guesses anyone?

Where can I find some of the really loud earth shaking fireworks tonight? I want to get some and at 3:30 in the morning I want to set them off on my neighbors front porch!

Does that make me an ass? NOPE, I am an ass. That's what made me think of doing it!

4 out of 7 tracks I have raced at in California are gone. My best race occurred here. After mechanical problems, we started 24th on Saturday. Throughout the race we started turning faster times than we had ever set here. Ended up finishing 4th overall. I made the decision after the race that we would run the same tires Sunday.

Sunday morning, feeling good, the car is almost ready to go. Frank is setting air pressures and I'm torquing the wheels. "Hey Frank, I want to switch to the other set of tires." "I thought you liked this set." "I do . . . . . " Frank comes around to the wheel I'm torquing and I show him the large spot where the tire is worn down to the cord. Qualify 4th.

Not as much passing today but more race craft involved in the passes. While I am moving up to second the leader has drawn out to a nice lead. I can see I am catching him but is there enough time to pass him. Straightline speed he has me but I have better traction and I am right behind him with a lap and a half to go. Last time through the hairpin, I dive under him and we come out side by side. I look over at his car and see him understeering out of the turn but on the straight he pulls ahead and I finish second.

I am convinced the proverbial "one more lap" and I would have had him. I think coming out of the double lefts after entering the infield I could have been ahead by the time we got to the hairpin. He agreed. He told me his front tires were shot. Consolation prize, I set the fastest lap of the race.