(August 17, 2002) After a several days of mounting slicks, changing bars, adding taller shock mounts, a belly pan, and a few other minor details, the #20 team was ready for a new experience: racing on an asphalt track. With a lot of help from our NCMA friends Scott Holloway and Ed Amador, who loaned us a lot of the necessary equipment, and a lot of advice from experienced dirt and asphalt racer Don O’Keefe, we set out for the last NCMA race at Altamont Speedway.

The sheer size of the ½ mile track was enough to give me goose bumps, and the speeds on the track are incredible, a rush for any racer and a triple Tagamet day for a wife! The track does have an additional safety requirement for drivers; a Hutchens device which is another belt that is similar in effect to the Hans device.

Our adventure began when we arrived at noon, and were soon joined by 9 more drivers and crews. Practice sessions were scheduled to begin at 1pm, and we had some tires to mount that Ed Amador loaned us. Keith’s first practice session went very well. He stayed in the back, held his line, and ran smooth, and had a good long 15 minutes to get the feel of the track.

After making some more tire and stagger changes, we went out for the 2^nd practice session.  Unfortunately  #11 Russ Wullenwaber  broke a crank in his engine, spilled oil onto the track, and the unlucky #15 Kenny Rines and #29 Sam Fries hit the oil, slid into the wall and crashed. The scene in the pits was amazing, as every driver and crew scrambled to the damaged cars to assess and start making repairs. Russ’s engine was gone, and Kenny’s frame was severely damaged. Russ suggested to the #15 crew that they put the #15 engine in the #11 car, and let Kenny drive it, but after getting checked in the ambulance for a sore and swollen knee, Rines was unable to drive. That left the #29 car to repair, and our #20 crew members Pete and Phlash arrived in the pits just in time to do some welding for him on his frame.

Qualifying began at 3:30, and our #20 Keith did a great job, kept the car smooth, and qualified with a 20.898.Heats started around 5 pm. Veteran driver Don Hicks was racing in both a baby grand car and then hopped in the #7 wingless sprint car owned by Amador for the heat race. On the first lap, he hit the wall in turn 2 and flipped, which brought out the red flag, and the ambulance. It seemed a very long wait while the second ambulance arrived to take Don to the hospital, who was having back pain and apparently had a recent back surgery. During the wait, the track entertained the fans with big wheel races. Remember those plastic trikes? Kids from the stands raced down the front straight under pedal power, while NCMA officials were busy making calls and arrangements for Don. The heat race then continued, and was won by #41 Scott Holloway, with #8 Dan Gonderman 2^nd, #29 Sam Fries 3^rd, and our #20 in 7^th, who learned a lot about the effects of cold tires on pavement.

Scott Holloway won the trophy dash, and then we were entertained with a parade of PT Cruisers for the trophy presentation. During the break we also got to watch Russ Wullenwaber take a spin on the inside ¼ mile track in a rented cam car, which looks like a miniature dirt modified, with a 4 cyl. Pinto motor. Russ took his father out as a passenger and had a fun ride. He and his wife Kass were very kind and loaned us another set of gears, as well as 2 wheels and tires, and a whole lot of moral support.

 The 20 lap main started with #29 Sam Fries and #77 Bert Siverling on the front row, #44 Texeira and #41 Holloway in row 2, #76 and #8 Gonderman behind them, and #20 wisely starting in the back. The temperature had cooled drastically with the Altamont winds blowing, which has an effect on tires, too, and we quickly learned our #20 was still too loose, but he hung in and finished the race. A tight race was going on in the front, with Sam Fries, Scott Holloway, and Dan Gonderman at times going down the straight 3 wide. Sam Fries held the lead to the finish, and what a comeback after sustaining so much damage earlier. Congratulations! Dan Gonderman finished 2^nd, Scott Holloway was 3^rd, followed by Siverling, Amador, Texeira, and Shipherd.

 The entire #20 team had a terrific time, it was a very educational experience, and we thank all of the NCMA drivers and crews for their advice, support, equipment loans, and kindness! We were also thankful to learn that Don Hicks was sore, but OK.We will be back racing again on the old familiar dirt at Chowchilla Speedway on Friday, August 23.

Drive safe, have fun, and take care,

Deb