So, OG Racing http://www.ogracing.com/pages/Home is having a promotion/contest where they are asking racers to offer to trade in their racing suits, and, if they want to enter the contest, to submit a story as well.  The selected suits will go up on the walls of OG Racing's stores.  Everyone who has a suit selected will receive a $100 credit towards a new suit and those who submit a story will have a chance to win $500 in store credit.  I just learned today (10/29/10) that I was one of those selected.  So, in the near future, in some store, in some part of the country, my race suit will, be hanging on the wall, along with a brief bio and, I think, the following story which I submitted for the contest.

The Story

I was doing the Skip Barber National Race at Lime Rock.  It was the second race. I came in 8th in the first race.  It was one of those races where no one was around me so it was actually more like driving than racing. I had no idea what lap we were on but was thinking it was pretty close to the end of the race.  I also had no idea what position I was in.  I later learned that I was 6th.  In any case, I came to the downhill full throttle and the car drifted a bit.  The left front tire dropped off onto the dirt and I made a mistake by looking.  Next thing I knew the back end had snapped around and I was spinning counter clockwise.  I distinctly remember, at one point, looking back up the track and thinking that it was a great thing that no one was right behind me.  I also remember thinking that I had this thing under control.  Then the spin continued.  I remember looking down the track at the end of the first 360 and seeing the white flag and thinking, again, that I had this under control.  The spin continued.  Next time I faced up the track the car had spun almost completely across the track.  I remember thinking it was still good that no one was coming down and any second now I would have the car under control.  The spin continued.  At the end of 720 I was on the grass and thinking that the car was now going pretty slow and all I had to do was hit the gas and drive it away.   But, the spin continued.  Next time I had the chance to look up the track there was another car coming.  But, I was so far into the grass at this point it didn't matter.  The car spun in time with the passing car and I remember that driver looking at me while I looked at him.  The spin continued.  Then, at that instant I knew that I had full control.  Unfortunately, also at that instant, I had run out of room and hit the tire barrier.  Not too bad I thought.  The car was pointed toward the track and still running so I threw it into first and hit the gas.  The car didn't move.  I hit the gas again and the car didn't move.  I figured it was stuck on one of the tires and tried to look in the mirrors to see.  That's when I noticed the fire.  It was definitely time to get out.  Which I did.  Then I put the fire out.  Then I got the bill for the broken suspension.  Later I noticed the rubber streak across the side of my helmet.  I suppose the moral of the story is to always remember that you go where you look and it's better to have the right equipment and not need it then otherwise.