Finally ..... the new engine is in! In sparing you the details, John Archer and his guys were able to install the engine one day before transport to VIR ... home of America's longest straight (so I have been told). Apparently, also home of the climate most like the rain forest, or center of the sun if you ask me. As beautiful as the track is, I preferred the comfort of the new villas that have been recently built on the esses. And I mean ON the esses ... you can just about reach out and touch the cars as they go by!
In keeping with the good old "that's racing", we had some challenges with the new motor right from the get-go but managed to work through them with some outstanding track-side support and collaboration between Dodge and Archer Racing.
The Saturday race was my most bizarre experience with several interruptions to the race, one of which saved me from going a lap down as the motor overheated and I had to pull over for mechanical instructions. Regrettably, Saturday gave us a third but by the time Sunday rolled around we had a car, and more importantly a motor, that was ready to go. And go it did with a start to finish lead for a very important solid win on Sunday. The car ran well, we didn't have one off-track or miss a shift and it reflected. This set the stage for our SCCA Pro Racing debut in Ohio the foll0wing week.
As pleased as we were with the results, we need to thank a few people for working hard to get us running on the weekend as well as scrambling to get the car prepared for the World Challenge debut including: John Archer and his crew, Tom Francis, Gary Johnson and Jim Stout (Jeff - many thanks) for the mechanical hospitality and logistics support to get my car staged for Mid Ohio.
All in all, it was nice to have one more thing knocked off the "handicap" list. Off to the big pond next.
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