This weekend VARA held their annual British Extravaganza race weekend at Buttonwillow Raceway near Bakersfield, CA. The event included the regular race series, as well as the British car only Challenge Race, the Classic Motorsports Magazine Small Bore Challenge Enduro, the Central Valley British Car Club carshow, lunchtime track drive-arounds, and the Saturday night BBQ and karaoke hoedown. Saturday’s weather was suprisingly cool and wet compared to the hot and dry we usually see in June, and Sunday was dry and just a little warmer, perfect for racing! Turnout was fair with about 120 entries over 5 groups, with my mid-bore group having 35+ cars. We raced track configuration CW13 with the Bus Stop complex, a fun config I had never run before. And Andy Reid from Classic Motorsports, and his recently acquired Volvo P1800, joined us for the weekend.
Overall the Wagon had a good weekend, no leaks and I drove it on the trailer Sunday afternoon. Unfortunately I DNF’ed the Sunday morning enduro with 3 laps to go (doh!) as the shift lever came out in my hand (yes, again). I guess I need to make that repair a little more permanent, lesson learned. With help from Joe Harlan of TopTech Motorsports I had the fix done in time for the Sunday afternoon Flag race, and I took the starting grid slotted into 5th. I had a couple great battles with two BMW 2002s and an Austin Healey Sprite, and finished 2nd with the leader in sight but out of range. I took home fast lap of the race for my first time which made the weekend worth every penny spent!
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