Wife's view from the pits - by Lynda Makinson (September 2021)
Disclaimer: This is my view and opinion, not the view or opinion of Bruce Makinson or anyone else.
September 4, 2021
Hi Everybody,
The last race of the regular season at BOS was this past weekend. We were feeling good about the set up and all revved up to go.
It was perfect racing weather. Warm when the sun was out then cooled off for the evening.
The Heat didn’t start out too well, Bruce was in the second heat in 4th out of 8 cars. But the start didn’t start too well, he got up into muck and his rear quarter hit the wall, made him bounce into another person and they had to restart the Heat, this put Bruce at the back. He ended up finishing 6th which wasn’t too bad.
Then the guys worked feverishly on the car to make more changes for the Feature. I do have to say it was like a full moon night of racing. Each class had a hard time getting their Feature race off to a start. I’d say the first, at least, 5 laps were caution filled and the 358’s race was the last one of the night. So, needless to say, our race was late in the night. They started it after 11:30pm and the first 10 laps were caution filled as well.
The Feature: Bruce started 17th of 25 cars. This was the first time I actually said to Bruce “maybe you should start at the back“. I was feeling this way because of how all the other classes were full of cautions.
And, yup, it was a caution filled start for the 358’s as well. But Bruce was doing well and holding his own. All of us felt that the car and Bruce had at least a 10th place car and were very hopefully…. until IT happened. On lap 10, on a restart, a group of cars ahead of Bruce bunched up and were sideways everywhere completely blocking corner four. From my vantage point, it didn’t look like Bruce went in too hard. It kinda looked like he bumped into some cars. From Bobby’s vantage point, “no, he hit hard”. But I was sitting there thinking, OK, back up and get out of there. As he did, I heard Mike on the radio inform “#81 your shock tower is broken”.
After 10 laps and with a car that was a contender for possibly 10th place…we were done! Bruce limped back to the pits, and we loaded up. Some people might think “big deal 10th”, well when you’ve been struggling with the set up all season, a 10th would have been nice. Instead, he ended up with a 22nd place finish (by the way it should have been 21st because the car that finished 21st actually left the track before Bruce did, but when you’re that far back, no use in pointing out the error to the track).
Bruce was happy and disappointed. He was happy that the car was hooked up and he felt great in it, but disappointed about being in the wrong place at the wrong time. You may not have ever heard this from me but “racing is stupid!”. Today I say it because we finally get the car working and it turned into a fiasco.
On the brighter side, older brother Billy came out to hang out in the pits with his brothers and it’s the last regular race of the season. Now we’ll be thinking about which fall race we will partake in. Brighton or BOS?!?!
Once a decision has been made, I’ll let everyone know. We have to take a look at what damages happened this past weekend because last time we thought it was a small thing it turned into a big thing. If it’s small, we race one more time this year, if it’s big we don’t. Pretty straight forward.
I’d like to take a moment to thank a few people:
Sandy Vanier for another year of sponsorship. Thanks for being there for us!
Manotick’s Napa Auto Parts for another year of sponsorship.
King’s Your Independent Grocer from Richmond for another year of sponsorship
Rick at the Races for some on track pics this past year, as always, they were great.
Mike Kelly for being a great Race Director at BOS. I’ve really enjoyed listening to how you manage the races and encourage the drivers.
Henry Hannewyk Photography for a pic or two of Bruce on track.
John Lyng for a pic or two on track.
Maybe next year Bruce will be performing better and provide better photo ops for track photographers. I know this year he wasn’t standing out as much as he would have liked to. But thanks for the photographers for the pics that they did give us.
Thanks for BOS for a good year. It was a hard one with COVID restrictions and mother nature not always cooperating. We truly enjoyed having a pad and as a wife, I enjoyed the newer pit washroom facilities. I’m sure other ladies would agree that we almost judge a racetrack on their washrooms…lol.
Well, we at least have a couple of weeks off. I hope you all have a great fall and hope to see you at the races!
Cheers,
Lynda
The last race of the regular season at BOS was this past weekend. We were feeling good about the set up and all revved up to go.
It was perfect racing weather. Warm when the sun was out then cooled off for the evening.
The Heat didn’t start out too well, Bruce was in the second heat in 4th out of 8 cars. But the start didn’t start too well, he got up into muck and his rear quarter hit the wall, made him bounce into another person and they had to restart the Heat, this put Bruce at the back. He ended up finishing 6th which wasn’t too bad.
Then the guys worked feverishly on the car to make more changes for the Feature. I do have to say it was like a full moon night of racing. Each class had a hard time getting their Feature race off to a start. I’d say the first, at least, 5 laps were caution filled and the 358’s race was the last one of the night. So, needless to say, our race was late in the night. They started it after 11:30pm and the first 10 laps were caution filled as well.
The Feature: Bruce started 17th of 25 cars. This was the first time I actually said to Bruce “maybe you should start at the back“. I was feeling this way because of how all the other classes were full of cautions.
And, yup, it was a caution filled start for the 358’s as well. But Bruce was doing well and holding his own. All of us felt that the car and Bruce had at least a 10th place car and were very hopefully…. until IT happened. On lap 10, on a restart, a group of cars ahead of Bruce bunched up and were sideways everywhere completely blocking corner four. From my vantage point, it didn’t look like Bruce went in too hard. It kinda looked like he bumped into some cars. From Bobby’s vantage point, “no, he hit hard”. But I was sitting there thinking, OK, back up and get out of there. As he did, I heard Mike on the radio inform “#81 your shock tower is broken”.
After 10 laps and with a car that was a contender for possibly 10th place…we were done! Bruce limped back to the pits, and we loaded up. Some people might think “big deal 10th”, well when you’ve been struggling with the set up all season, a 10th would have been nice. Instead, he ended up with a 22nd place finish (by the way it should have been 21st because the car that finished 21st actually left the track before Bruce did, but when you’re that far back, no use in pointing out the error to the track).
Bruce was happy and disappointed. He was happy that the car was hooked up and he felt great in it, but disappointed about being in the wrong place at the wrong time. You may not have ever heard this from me but “racing is stupid!”. Today I say it because we finally get the car working and it turned into a fiasco.
On the brighter side, older brother Billy came out to hang out in the pits with his brothers and it’s the last regular race of the season. Now we’ll be thinking about which fall race we will partake in. Brighton or BOS?!?!
Once a decision has been made, I’ll let everyone know. We have to take a look at what damages happened this past weekend because last time we thought it was a small thing it turned into a big thing. If it’s small, we race one more time this year, if it’s big we don’t. Pretty straight forward.
I’d like to take a moment to thank a few people:
Sandy Vanier for another year of sponsorship. Thanks for being there for us!
Manotick’s Napa Auto Parts for another year of sponsorship.
King’s Your Independent Grocer from Richmond for another year of sponsorship
Rick at the Races for some on track pics this past year, as always, they were great.
Mike Kelly for being a great Race Director at BOS. I’ve really enjoyed listening to how you manage the races and encourage the drivers.
Henry Hannewyk Photography for a pic or two of Bruce on track.
John Lyng for a pic or two on track.
Maybe next year Bruce will be performing better and provide better photo ops for track photographers. I know this year he wasn’t standing out as much as he would have liked to. But thanks for the photographers for the pics that they did give us.
Thanks for BOS for a good year. It was a hard one with COVID restrictions and mother nature not always cooperating. We truly enjoyed having a pad and as a wife, I enjoyed the newer pit washroom facilities. I’m sure other ladies would agree that we almost judge a racetrack on their washrooms…lol.
Well, we at least have a couple of weeks off. I hope you all have a great fall and hope to see you at the races!
Cheers,
Lynda