Race Report
Claremont Speedway, June 24,
2000
by April May
Gelineau
Editor's Note: April May drives an '84 Mustang in the Mini-Stock Division at Claremont Speedway, a one-third mile semi-banked asphalt oval in New Hampshire, U.S.A.
Mind meld time: Lift/brake/gas, back at it, stay down when you pass, get
to the rumble, if you get tapped hit the gas, lets get a trophy this
week—still reciting to myself. Think it is working?
Get to HECK out of my way!! I get to start in a new position this week,
7th on the inside. Oh just great, as soon as we get a break we
get a monkey wrench! We get to start on the inside right behind someone
who appears from the tape to be having a slight problem.
| help get him out of the
way... | By the time we got to turn 1 on the first lap the guy in front of me
and the rest of the row were about a half a straight away behind the
leaders! UGH!! So coming out of 2 he just about stops and I am right on
his behind and the only thing I could do with out stopping myself and
getting turned by the guy behind me was to help him get out of the way. So
I tapped him in the rear he got sideways I lifted for a second hoping he
would get it back, but when it became apparent he wasn't I got back in it
and unfortunately had to finish getting him out of the way. And just how
many times do you think that this has happened to me over the course of
the past 5 years?? To many to count I am sure!
Anyway, after the race he was telling me that when the front wheel
drive cars come out of the turn and he turns the wheel to get the car set
they bog down and it takes a second for them to catch back up. I just
stood there with my dumb blond look and didn't say anything, and
afterwards (of course) came up with the perfect response, which I will
save for the next time he tries to tell me I need to stop so he can catch
the car, NOT!! , is this, the thing with rear wheel drive cars is that
when you come out of the turn and give it the gas they tend to GO so you
might wanna make sure you're not in the way!!
We put 2 new tires on at the beginning of the evening and it took them
about 40 laps before they came into it. Needless to say the first half of
the feature was a little less than what I had hoped for. Once the tires
came into it though I continued on my quest, as a woman possessed. Charlie
and I almost got together coming out of 4 and were about to be 3 wide
going into turn one when I decided I didn't want to take out both of my
cars!!
Later Joe Tetreault in the73 and I were going through 3 and 4
with Charlie on the outside and all of a sudden something happened to
Charlie and from the tape it looks like Joe came down quick to get out of the
way. Unfortunately I was right there on the inside up to the front of his
front tire and he went around. I thought it had all happened so fast and
after viewing the tape, I don't know as if I could have done anything else
but keep going! I came in the pits then to check the tire and bumper and
Vic asked what I was doing out there. I said EVERYONE is STOPPING in front of
me!! He said I was foaming at the mouth and just told me to go back!!
HaHa. Talk about a woman possessed!
| I didn't have the
juice... | So now I am last there are about 10 laps to go and the tires are
starting to work and I ended up finishing 8th! (AGAIN??) That
front wheel drive car was in front of me and we had gotten into one other
another time so instead of dumping him again I tried to get around him,
but just didn't have the juice to get by him. I think we might need to put
the other rear end back in, because she just hasn't been the same since
the distributor broke and we changed the rear end gear. So we will see.
Next goal is STILL to win my
heat race!
Until next time, drive fast turn left!
22 Scratch Racing Team
April May (Driver) Victor (Owner)
Mark (Crew chief) Skeets, Denny (Dad),
Support Crew: Beth and Robin
JR crew: Matthew, Kaitlyn and Jenna and Tyler
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