Wife's view from the pits - by Lynda Makinson (October 2013)
Disclaimer: This is my view and opinion, not the view or opinion of Bruce Makinson or anyone else.
October 18, 2013
Hi Everybody,
Well, this past weekend was the BOS Fall Nationals. The Sportsman race was on Friday night this year, full moon and all.
Forty cars had shown up to compete for 30 racing spots. The night started out well for our team, Bruce did a great job qualifying with a smooth last minute move to have him take 3rd in his Heat race. He ended up qualifying on the first try and now was part of the top 12 club. The top 12 qualifiers all got to ride in the “little bus” (yeah we joked about that too) to the front of the grandstands where they were to redraw for starting positions. Bruce drew 9th (noooo, he couldn’t have drawn the 3rd that was still available, noooo, he had to draw 9th). This was to be his starting position in the 50-lap Sportsman Feature.
The track was tacky and bumpy. This means everyone was fast but all over the track due to their cars being bounced around because of potholes. This definitely showed in the Rookie race prior to Bruce’s race. The Rookies race got shortened to 15-laps due to a caution filled race; there were 18 cautions within 15 laps. The track officials had to make a call to shorten it or the Sportsman race would have never happened.
Now for the Sportsman race, Bruce started 9th out of 30 cars, not always a great starting position, I think it’s better to start 5th or higher, or at the back (you’ll read why in a minute). The race was going along fine, a few minor cautions and Bruce was back to 15th at one point then there was a little cloud that could that decided to shed some rain on the track for about 15 minutes. So that put a stop to the race and the cars were sent to the pits for around 40 minutes. The rain did stop and the track officials were out there packing/drying the track. Now being in 15th is mid pack, this is not a good place to be, well after the green dropped soon after the yellow dropped. A bunch of cars had piled up on turn 4 and yes, Bruce was involved. He was hooked on one car and another car was hooked on him. Luckily the car was ok, a little bent but nothing major. Well, now he’s starting near the back of the pack (I think it was around 25th position). As the race went on Bruce moved up slowly but surely. First up to 20th, then 15th, then 13th, then 12th (all looking positive…doesn’t it) then one car was able to pass him after he hit a pothole and I just felt that trouble was around the corner (as I knew the driving styles of the cars ahead of him). And guess what, I wasn’t wrong. On turn 2 cars scattering everywhere and from the pit view point you can’t see turns 1 and 2 well and who’s involved. As I watch them come out of the corner I didn’t see Bruce drive down the back shoot. Yup, he was the one being hooked up to the tow truck. As he came in we could see why, each of the front wheels were pointing out in the opposite direction away from the car (spread eagle)…not a good sign. Bruce was out of the race, things that used to straight now had a definite elbow shape to them. I guess you could say he was at the wrong place at the wrong time. Bruce usually has an amazing way of avoiding accidents ahead of him but tonight wasn’t the night, he said that the two cars ahead of him crashed and it was directly ahead so he had no time to react. But we have to be thankful that this is the first race of the season where he was removed by the tow truck and the most damage we’ve had all season.
All said and done Bruce came in 21st in the big 50-lap race.
Well, that’s it for the season. It’s time to put the car away for the winter and plan for next year (yeah, I’m sure he isn’t ready to retire from racing yet).
I hope all of you have a safe and warm winter and a great Christmas, and thanks for all of your support.
Hope to see you at the races next season,
Lynda
Well, this past weekend was the BOS Fall Nationals. The Sportsman race was on Friday night this year, full moon and all.
Forty cars had shown up to compete for 30 racing spots. The night started out well for our team, Bruce did a great job qualifying with a smooth last minute move to have him take 3rd in his Heat race. He ended up qualifying on the first try and now was part of the top 12 club. The top 12 qualifiers all got to ride in the “little bus” (yeah we joked about that too) to the front of the grandstands where they were to redraw for starting positions. Bruce drew 9th (noooo, he couldn’t have drawn the 3rd that was still available, noooo, he had to draw 9th). This was to be his starting position in the 50-lap Sportsman Feature.
The track was tacky and bumpy. This means everyone was fast but all over the track due to their cars being bounced around because of potholes. This definitely showed in the Rookie race prior to Bruce’s race. The Rookies race got shortened to 15-laps due to a caution filled race; there were 18 cautions within 15 laps. The track officials had to make a call to shorten it or the Sportsman race would have never happened.
Now for the Sportsman race, Bruce started 9th out of 30 cars, not always a great starting position, I think it’s better to start 5th or higher, or at the back (you’ll read why in a minute). The race was going along fine, a few minor cautions and Bruce was back to 15th at one point then there was a little cloud that could that decided to shed some rain on the track for about 15 minutes. So that put a stop to the race and the cars were sent to the pits for around 40 minutes. The rain did stop and the track officials were out there packing/drying the track. Now being in 15th is mid pack, this is not a good place to be, well after the green dropped soon after the yellow dropped. A bunch of cars had piled up on turn 4 and yes, Bruce was involved. He was hooked on one car and another car was hooked on him. Luckily the car was ok, a little bent but nothing major. Well, now he’s starting near the back of the pack (I think it was around 25th position). As the race went on Bruce moved up slowly but surely. First up to 20th, then 15th, then 13th, then 12th (all looking positive…doesn’t it) then one car was able to pass him after he hit a pothole and I just felt that trouble was around the corner (as I knew the driving styles of the cars ahead of him). And guess what, I wasn’t wrong. On turn 2 cars scattering everywhere and from the pit view point you can’t see turns 1 and 2 well and who’s involved. As I watch them come out of the corner I didn’t see Bruce drive down the back shoot. Yup, he was the one being hooked up to the tow truck. As he came in we could see why, each of the front wheels were pointing out in the opposite direction away from the car (spread eagle)…not a good sign. Bruce was out of the race, things that used to straight now had a definite elbow shape to them. I guess you could say he was at the wrong place at the wrong time. Bruce usually has an amazing way of avoiding accidents ahead of him but tonight wasn’t the night, he said that the two cars ahead of him crashed and it was directly ahead so he had no time to react. But we have to be thankful that this is the first race of the season where he was removed by the tow truck and the most damage we’ve had all season.
All said and done Bruce came in 21st in the big 50-lap race.
Well, that’s it for the season. It’s time to put the car away for the winter and plan for next year (yeah, I’m sure he isn’t ready to retire from racing yet).
I hope all of you have a safe and warm winter and a great Christmas, and thanks for all of your support.
Hope to see you at the races next season,
Lynda
