Shop TiresOfficial Start time for Stage 7 was 8 AM from the University Plaza Hotel in Springfield Missouri. Both Car 88 (T and C Coker) and Car 2 (C Graf and B Gezon) were out early. That meant that we had to go to bed early and no fired up night life. I tell you we are looking for the bed as soon as we can!
Today I blew the pants of Six Time Grand Champion Wayne Bell. Ok… I will tell you the REST OF THE story (Paul Harvey). After the first Pit stop in Historic Miami Oklahoma, we were all parked under a tree at the edge of town and Wayne walked over to the rear of my Shafer 8 and set he’s clipboard on the car to work on his numbers. WE were parked in the shade! I ain’t no grand champion but I can get in out of the rain or sun!
Our time to go on the clock came up so I just started my race car with the straight pipes belching exhaust and black soot all over Wayne’s shorts. Oops!
Lunch was in historic Parsons Kansas. They fed us well. Theresa used to call the Great Race “eating your way across America” UNTIL she got in the race car and the competition takes over and you get so keyed up or busy you forget to eat or don’t care!
Both cars are running well but the Packard fights Curtis because she wants to Vapor lock. Maybe the special rubber Bruce Gezon’s friends are sending will solve that. The Shafer 8 is about bullet proof but the throw out bearing is making some noise. Am not going to explain what it is for you non car persons. Ask Somebody.
It was hot, hot and hotter today.
Our afternoon pit stop was in Fredonia Kansas. What a great turn out. Each Race Car was escorted to the square by police or trooper cars. They gave us one of the warmest welcomes we have ever had. Great town. They get my vote for best Pit Stop.
Andrew n Jerry got to Wichita about and hour before we did. Sounds like the tractor trailer boys slept in Springfield!
Scores for Team Coker:
Car 2 in seconds 04, 05, 01, 04, 05, 02, for a 13..9 total with age factor discount. They are still in Sixth place overall.
Car 88 in seconds 03, 03, 02, 11, 04, and 02. For a 28th place for the day and 33rd place overall.
All for now. Tomorrow AM we are off for Pueblo CO.
All the best,