Racing to BHM

[DAB21]

Last Wednesday I had the pure enjoyment of racing Lyle Cain to BHM. Driving my Tundra down pit road (Hwy 69) from Cullman to I65, I was maintaining pit speed, scanning my gauges, and reviewing my race strategy. I did not have a certain meeting time in BHM so top speed was not crucial on this run. All of a sudden Lyle Cain blows by me like a hurricane. As I’m reading the SCCA stickers on the back of his big Ford 250, he stands on the brakes allowing me to pull even. We roll down windows and exchange pleasantries as we were rapidly running out of 2-lane. Being the gentleman racer I am, I backed-off to let him in front to proceed to pit-out. There is no money in trying to muscle-out someone prior to the big dance. Randy says that’s not the battle to pick. So over the bridge and a hard left hander down to the I65 playground we both launched and maintained acceleration up to about 84 mph. I was wondering what pace he would set being in front. I normally don’t run that hard- I like running under the radar- literally. But, you know, this was a lot more personal. I settled in behind him about 3 lengths back content to pace rather than to challenge so early. I knew he would collect some money for being in the lead for “x” number of miles, but that was not my focus. I kept reminding myself to run my race and not be distracted. We were running from the 304 down to the 262, Malfunction Junction, so there was plenty of traffic to negotiate and plenty of time too. We rocked along working through the traffic down to the 284 where Lyle unexpectedly had to pit. I don’t know if it was to take on fuel, tires, or just to take a leak, but it worked-out great. You know the old adage “you have to finish to win”. I cruised to Victory without having to execute a “drafting and sling-shot” finish on that rough north BHM pavement through the construction zone! As I turned left onto 59north20east I could hear the cheers all the way to Leeds, or was it Inverness where Alan and Tammy were at work! That’s right, chalk up another one for Toyota!

[Welacey]

Way to go Dave. We all knew you were just waiting for the kill. Good story too.

[mpcavana]

You are a bit old to be street racing aren't you?

I didn't know that Lyle was from Cullman.

[Cholewa]

lock please

[mpcavana]

lock please

Why?

[zukitek]

down with caesar ...no locking allowed at least without my or Jamie Holladays agreement .Mr Branch was just giving one of his blow by blow colorful storys.Thats too funny .I guess Micheal must not know ya DAB

RR

[Jedi1]

Don't lock. Back up and look for the "Humor".

[Cholewa]

public forums should not describe breaking laws, such as speeding... unless you got slips or pics from the track, no illegal activities.. but i guess they just do that on big boards.

[zukitek]

Don't lock. Back up and look for the "Humor".

Nice Avitar Yoda.Thats cool .

RR

[Shea Serian]

public forums should not describe breaking laws, such as speeding... unless you got slips or pics from the track, no illegal activities.. but i guess they just do that on big boards.

That would be fine if there were speed limits rather than suggested speed guidlines.

Bwahahahaha.

[Welacey]

Chill out Kahlua. You are talking to motorheads.

[DAB21]

I'm sorry- this is how it really went-

Last Wednesday I had the pure enjoyment of racing helping Lyle Cain to (get to) BHM. Driving my Tundra down pit road a dusty road (Hwy 69) from Cullman to I65, I was maintaining pit a very slow and safe speed, scanning discovering my dash has my gauges, and reviewing my itinery. I did not have a certain meeting time in BHM so top speed was not crucial as always totally out of the question on this run. All of a sudden Lyle Cain blows eases by me like a centipede with corns hurricane. As I’m reading the SCCA stickers on the back of his big Ford 250, he stands eased on the brakes allowing me to pull even. We roll down windows and exchange pleasantries BBQs as we were rapidly running out of 2-lane his was from Williams, and mine came from Johnnies with extra sauce. Being the gentleman racer I am, I backed-off almost to a dead stop to let him in front to proceed to pit-out Birmingham. There is no money in trying to muscle-out someone prior to the big dance doing your good deed for the day. Randy says that’s not the battle to pick way to pick your nose!” So over the bridge and a hard gentile left hander turn, then down to the ultra-safe I65 playground boulevard we both launched eased down and maintained acceleration up to about 8.4 mph. I was wondering what pace he would set being in front and not knowing which way to go. I normally don’t run that hard- I like running under the radar- literally. But, you know, this was a lot more personal; Lyle is more like a brother or cousin or something. I settled in behind him about 30 lengths back content to pace rather than to challenge so early wander aimlessly, hoping against hope he would not take an exit. I knew he would collect some money bugs on his windshield for being in the lead for “x” number of miles, but that was not my focus, well, that was his problem, not mine. I kept reminding myself to run my race to just barely keep him in sight and not be distracted. We were running from the 304 down to the 262, (dare I say RACING backwards as it were, with all the traffic wizzing by us at a terrible clip), to Malfunction Junction, so there was plenty of traffic to negotiate us and plenty of time too. We rocked along working (backward) through the traffic down to the 284 where Lyle went and did it! He unexpectedly had to pit. I don’t know if it was to take on fuel, tires, or just he had to take a leak, but he said he it worked-out great. You know the old adage “you have to finish to win be a man, not like sis, don’t sit down, ………” . I cruised to Victory Birmingham without having to execute a “drafting and sling-shot” finish on pit stop of my own in that rough north BHM pavement area, and through the construction zone although I had been in my truck for a little over 3 hours. As I turned left onto 59north20east I could hear the cheers restrooms calling all the way to Leeds, or was it Inverness where Alan and Tammy were at work! That’s right, chalk up another one for doing a good deed EVERY DAY!


Please, please, pleeeeease don't rat me out to Obama.

[engled]

Please, please, pleeeeease don't rat me out to Obama.

You sir, owe me a new keyboard and a beer.

[jimkana]

You know, this board has always been a fun place to stop by and shoot the breeze. Its not a heavily trafficked forum, but the regulars like to keep things up with fun posts filled with goofy statements and zany photoshopped pictures. Occassionally we get stories posted that have exagerrations and embellishments along with a bit of truth. A portion of those are going to be misinterpreted by a few as encouragement to break the law or behave indecently.

Cholewa, you may be used to more of the heavy handed boards out there. I am too. They tend to be big and they have to watch what is said more carefully than we do here. The folks here see each other on a regular basis and usually know when other folks are talking big for the purpose of fun. If not, they need to learn to think while they are reading instead of reacting.

I know, I know, someone will take the "high road" and say "We should never encourage or even talk about speeding." The same kind of people say "If you aren't breaking the law, you have nothing to hide." I don't trust people like that.

So lets all lighten up and have some fun. Bring on the girls! Bring on the great stories! And leave the soapboxes at home!

[Cholewa]

This thread makes me and baby jesus cry...