They're Ba-ack!

Ignore previous blog entry (dated March 31, 2012).

ChumpCar wants Fart-hinder Racing to participate at the Brainerd races on June 30 / July 1. That means DRIVERS WANTED! The Saab is entered, but we need drivers to help pay the bills, so sign up ASAP.

Here are the job requirements:
1.) Ice racing, rally, road racing, autocross, rallycross or other motor sports experience.
2.) Age 50 or above.
3.) More interested in having a good time than being competitive, because the Saab is not very competitive at BIR.
4.) Willing to do some work on the car to get it ready.

I have been telling those already invited to participate to budget about $1000 for the weekend's racing, plus personal expenses such as travel, food and lodging.

Why older guys, you may ask? You may ask.

The team name for 2012 will be Vintage Ice And Gravel Rally Racing Association... V.I.A.G.R.R.A.

If there's time, the car will be painted pastel blue.

Contact Tim Winker via e-mail, Facebook or by phone. (None of which are listed here because any likely candidates should be able to find a way to reach me.)

Closing down Fart-hinder Racing

No one showed up for any meetings called this year, and it's time to register for the B.I.R. race this week. With no confirmed drivers, it's time to call it quits.

The 900 race car and its many spares are for sale. It would make a good starter car for someone. Once sorted, it lasted the entire 25 hours at Iowa and is ready for more. Make me an offer.

Three months to the race at BIR

Need to have a meeting of potential Fart-hinder team members ASAP. Entry deadline for the BIR race is next week. Driver? Crew? Team chef? What would you like to do?

Let's get together on Thursday, March 22, at Clyde Iron in Duluth. How about 6:00 PM?

Road America in April? Probably not.

The deadlines for registration and payment of entry fees for the April 21-22 ChumpCar race at Road America have passed, so I guess we won't be competing there. Too bad, cuz it's a fun track.

In the meantime, the Saab rests quietly under a car cover with little snow on it.

2/19/12 update: Did I say quietly? I charged up a battery and put it into the race car today. It fired right up. I let it run a couple of minutes, but not too long because there is no coolant in the system.

Fart-hinder in print

The tale of the Iowa ChumpCar race from our blog has been picked up by the Intermarque Monthly magazine out of the Twin Cities. Here is a downloadable version.

http://intermarque.org/images/IMM1203.pdf

2012 ChumpCar Schedule

‎2012 ChumpCar schedule has been announced. Here are the races relatively close to home:
21-22 April - Road America, two 7 hour races
2-3 June - Gimli Aero-Raceway (north of Winnipeg), two 7s
9-10 June - Gateway Motorplex (E. St. Louis), 14 hr
30 June - Brainerd Int'l Raceway, 14 hour race
25-26 Aug - Iowa Speeway, 24 hour
20-21 Oct - Road America, Double-7

While it might be fun to go to Gimli or Gateway, the reality is there are four ChumpCar races within reasonable towing distance. Gimli is about 400 miles away, roughly the same distance as from Duluth to Road America or Iowa Speedway, but there are more 2-lane roads and it's only four weeks before the BIR race.

Here's another event for you Fart-hinder fans. Tim plans on being there.
Minnesota ChumpCar Happy Hour
When: Saturday, November 19th
Location: Poor Richards Commonhouse (Hwys 494 & 100), Bloomington, MN.
Time: 6PM to Whenever (We have our own room with three TVs so bring some videos to share). Look for the Chumpcar sign/banners.

By the way, I spoke with Herm Johnson a couple of weeks ago. He is home in Eau Claire, recovering from his injuries. Sounds like he is doing well.

Herm Johnson injured in traffic accident

One of our drivers for the July race at B.I.R., Herm Johnson, was seriously injured in a car accident on Saturday, Sept. 17, on Highway 371 near Brainerd. Herm, who lives in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, was in Brainerd as an instructor for the Rusty Wallace racing school.

Herm had been at Zorbaz on Gull Lake for dinner, and to listen to some friends playing in a band. He told them he was tired and headed back to his motel room. He was making a left turn from 371 when his car was struck in the right rear by a Ford Taurus. Herm's condition was initially critical as he struck his head on a windshield pillar. He was airlifted to North Memorial hospital in Minneapolis and was in the ICU for over a week.

Latest reports say he is up and walking around, and his condition has been upgraded to Good. He will still have a long recovery. Our best wishes that it won't be THAT long.

For updates, check the Caring Bridge site: http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/hermjohnson