Racing Dreams
By Peggy Steck

I wish I had known about autocross when I was 17-18. It would have saved me a lot of grief and speeding ticket expenses and getting my license suspended and having to go to traffic school with a bunch of truckers. I was the only female and the only person under probably 30. And it was held at LCC. I lived in Springfield and I did what any head strong self-respecting teenager did then, I drove myself. I was just more careful and did not speed. And then as long as we had good attendance, we passed and I got my license back and shortly after, I moved to Seattle.

The EESCC club was around then and there were probably autocross clubs in the Seattle area too. But the internet was not, so how was I going to find out about a club to get my need for speed met. Especially with parents who thought racing was for degenerates. The old Eugene speedway was in business then, (out west 11th) and I had friends whose families went and I was not allowed to go with them. It was not a place for teenage girls.

While living in the Seattle area, we would go to the circle track races in Spanaway. Back then it was a dirt track if my memory is correct. They also had destruction derby in the center of the track every race event. That was my favorite. You could also buy the lowest level of race cars for $300. You just went down to the pit and bought it out from the owner. Then it was your responsibility until it got bought from you. I wanted one so badly. I had $300 saved up in tips, but we lived in an apartment, had no garage or tools, etc. And had a Honda civic. Couldn’t even tow it. That was a bust. I could just imagine the fun I could have had with a beater race car!!!

Once we splurged and bought tickets to the drag races at Seattle international raceway. It was all the big names we had watched on TV. That was so awesome. You could feel the heat pass by when the Jet engine cars went down the track and the noise, blew your ear drums out.

Fast forward almost 20 years, I bought a Camaro, found auto cross, met Tim and the rest is blissful history. And parts and more parts and more cars. And expense and more expense. And fun and more fun!

What A Long Strange Trip It’s Been

By David Lumbra

I used a Grateful Dead reference because as I am writing this, traffic is backing up to my driveway for the Country Fair. Way back in 1988 when Rindy and I first came to Larison Rock with our 2 kids, who were 7 and 4 years old, Nolan Scheid and I were standing at the start for the first run group ever to go up the hill. He and I were deciding who would be first. I let him take “Fang” up first. I still remember my first run to this day. It was exciting but not very fast. 2:35.790. My gas pedal was loose and I forgot to mention that to Rindy. It fell off on her run and she claims it slowed her down! Fast forward to 1998 and both Rindy and I are hovering in the 2:02 to 2:03 range but could never quite get over the 2-minute hump.

This year my son Evan decided to give the old hill a go for the first time. We spent a lot of time going over the hill on Friday. I was pointing out my line and showed him all the turn-in points, apexes and such. Well, it didn’t take him long to get the hang of Larison. On his second run on Saturday, he got a 2:02.547. I managed a 2:02.518. on Saturday. The M-Technic was running awesome. The new tires were great; the suspension changes we made worked and the gearing was right for a change. I was working the finish as usual when Evan made his Sunday morning runs and we were shocked when he flew by at 1:57.088 on his last run. As his dad, I couldn’t have been prouder. As a car builder, I was happy. As Evan’s competitor, I was worried. So, the good news is I finally built a 2-minute car. The bad news is, I didn’t do it yet.

At the lunch break I heard from at least 18 of my friends” You really have your work cut out for you now, Dave”. Thanks for piling on a little pressure. My wife supported me like always. Andrew Hafner shook my hand and told me not to go out and get all crazy. I assured him I wouldn’t. Now, I can run 2:02s without leaving my comfort zone. But, to get under 2, I was going to have to push that comfort envelope like I never have. Aaron Thien loaned me his camera and mount for the occasion. I was encouraged by Jim Daniels how to use the Kumho tires to their best advantage. I went for it and when I got to the top pits, I knew it was a good run because I was shaking so bad I couldn’t turn off the camera by myself. Marc Johnson gave me my time slip and told me I was getting a pin like he was wearing. It said 119.144. I admit it, I started to cry. The elephant was finally off my back.

I want to thank Evan for pushing me out of the comfort zone I was stuck in. If there were tires this good 10 years ago, I wouldn’t have had to wait this long to break 2 minutes. Brad Moffett filled in for me at the trophy presentation because I was still emotional from the run. He handed me my run card to save. That was cool! Typical Dave move was to leave the card in my back pocket and toss my jeans in the hamper. You guessed it, the run card couldn’t survive the washing machine and is now pocket lint. Bummer! I have the memory, if not the card and can’t wait for next year. My new goal is to bring the “Streetfighter” back and break 2 minutes with it. No 2002 has ever gone that fast and I want to give it a shot. Thanks Bonnie and Jim for all your hard work.

This Larison was extra special. It would have been a perfect result if my buddy Bruce was still with us to witness it, but I think he was watching anyway. Evan and I were talking about him while setting up the hill and I could feel his presence. No one was more fun to pick on than Bruce. He and I always set up the hill together. On Saturday after all runs were completed, we would move the cones and corner signs off the road and set them up again on Sunday morning. I always made a point to toss one of them down deep in the ditch. Sunday morning, Bruce would always jump back in the truck cursing the SOB who did that to him. For several years, he had no idea it was me. One year I was sitting there laughing while he was in the ditch fishing out the sign and he noticed it. He looked me right in the eye and said “F#@* You Lumbra” He knew!