<VV> Da Mitty Finale

[Rick Norris]

We are home now, arrived about noon. Pleasantly tired! 

I don't know where to start...no, I'm not at a loss for words, just inundated with tons of memories from the big event.
I honestly thought the 2009 Mitty was the absolute best. Seven racing Corvairs in one place at the same time and my very first experience with vintage racing and the world famous and very intimidating Road Atlanta track.

Then came the 2010 Mitty. I went there intending to have another great time with no issues. It was not to be as the crankshaft broke during the Saturday morning practice and qualifying. It was not a loss though as I did enjoy the actives from a different perspective of a spectator with an old high school buddy. I was still disappointed that my car broke.

As the time for the 2011 Mitty drew near I was in a quandary as to whether I wanted to spend the money for another shot at the Mitty or use it to do several other less expensive events. As the months dragged on and I talked with Mike Levine about what we were planning he mentioned James Reeve might do the Mitty in Jeff Moore's Stinger. He had been offered the ride in 2010 but other commitments had prevented it.
Well this was some food for thought! Still, I was not going to commit, then James made it official, he was going to do it.
After spending the seventies living vicariously through James and other Corvair racers exploits reported in the Corsa Communiqué I had to do it. 
This was going to be an historic Corvair event that may never happen again. The paperwork was dispatched and the serious work was about to begin.

Most of you have read my earlier posts of my six days of trials and tribulations trying resurrect my race car from the year old piles of parts scattered about my shop. I really hadn't done anything to it since the previous Mitty when I brought it home, tore it down and left it sit over the cold, snowy, nasty winter months when all I wanted to do was sit by the fire and hibernate! 

Several days into my flog I was ready to throw in the wrenches. I felt overwhelmed by the amount of work to be done in a very short span of time.
In fact I was at a point where rolling it out in the driveway and setting fire to it looked like a good plan! Somehow the desire to be a part of this event and just to say I was on a race track with James Reeve in a Corvair became my driving force. ( puns are always intended! )
As work proceeded I still had doubts. I was worried I would have another engine failure or not get it all done in time to make the race.

As has been proven I did make the race along with James, Warren, Spence and mike. What a fantastic time! I was vindicated in that my new engine ran like a top, never sputtering or hesitating once. It didn't have any leaks either. It pulled like a train to my preset redline ( 5800 RPM ) and easily had more. However I did oil it down good when I forgot to reinstall the dip stick plug and went out for a test session. You all know it is amazing how well a quart of oil can be dispersed by the cooling fan!

Saturdays race was great. I had a dice with an MGB that beat me in 2009. It was great fun to race him and on my third try pass him and never look back. It was another one of those times when I had to catch my breath just to exit the car. My driving suit was stuck to me with sweat.

As Sunday rolled around we had to wait until late in the afternoon before our race. There are no more practice runs. I was already kind of letting down from the excitement of the whole thing and was thinking maybe I'd just go out and peddle around. The MGB guy and others had packed up and left Saturday so I was not sure with whom I could have fun. I had serviced the car so when the time to race came I suited up and we all headed over to the main grid on the other side of the track. It was the usual HSR fire drill trying to line cars up in a qualifying position. Also I could not get reverse so they had to push me backwards into the slot. When they finally waved us off I found myself behind Warren in the beautiful replica of his old Stinger. Man, those fat wide steam roller rear tires look like gorilla arms! I was wearing a set of wide Hoosier cantilever slicks on some nice wheels thanks to Bob Coffin who loaned them to me just to try out.
We all jockeyed around on the pace lap and the green flew as we came down the hill. I was following Warren thinking I'll go to school here and see what lines he uses. I was trying my best to stay nailed to him. 
I don't remember what lap it was but, I was really moving through turn six where I usually go third to second gear between them entering seven so I'll have good power out onto the long back straight. I was right on Warren's tail when I realized he had over cooked it in seven and went off in the grass. I tightened up my line as I exited noticing he hadn't lost it completely and was right beside me heading back on track. I said to myself or maybe out loud, I'm gonna pass him! He did say to me earlier in the day that with the smaller engine he expected me to pass him.
Damned if I didn't! I thought for sure he would catch me and try to repass but, I wasn't going to lay down, he would have to work for it. I hammered down that straight making sure I did not miss a shift and kept the loud pedal on the floor. I was driving like a mad man! I kept looking in my mirrors for that white Corvair to come boiling up behind me but it didn't. Huh? Not being sure what the trouble was I hammered down. I was gaining ever so slowly on Triumph which had just been passed by a Mazda that I had been following earlier. They have very obnoxious exhaust fumes and blow torch the pipes when they let off the gas.
My race ended too soon and I didn't catch the TR but, it was the best race I think I ever had at Road Atlanta. I could not have asked the car to run better. It was also great to see all the Corvairs complete our races in spite of some set backs. We all overcame the demons.
We could not have asked for better weather or for that matter, better friends.
We now have a new poster but, I'm not sure about reprints. That info will come later. I have a ton of photos to post and maybe some video.
Sorry I had to make this so short...GGG!