Turner in Vintage Race!

["Steve Schaeffer" <borrani@domain.elided>]

It came to my attention that a pretty important event came and went and I
haven't written to the digest about it.  Last weekend (May 14-16) I vintage
raced my '67 GTV 'Turner' for the first time.  It was a culmination of many
years leading up to this event, I'll write a story on that later.  Now, the
pertinent facts:

I took 10 days vacation in Belgium and arrived back in Seattle Sunday, May
9.  I managed to spend a weekend at Spa, an event coordinated by my fine
host, Jochen Tydecks, that story will have to wait as well.  I have some
nice pictures, and even better memories of this regal, historic,
beyond-gorgeous track.  Here's a hint:  61 cars in the vintage Alfa grid.
Jos Hugense was there as well.

Upon returning home, every night that week I spent up past midnight getting
the finishing touches on Turner, such as switching differentials and other
mods.  I'd then wake up at 5:00AM due to jet lag.  Friday, May 14 was novice
racer day, a chance for us newbies to get acquainted with flag protocols and
race starts.  During my second time out on the track, just before the start
of the race, at 30 mph, I felt something break, the car felt extremely
loose.  Under acceleration the car pulled to the left.  I pulled back in the
pits and jacked up the driver's side of the car, I was able to spin the rear
tire.  I have a locked rear end in the car, so this shouldn't have been
possible.  Broken axle!!  It appears to have been nearly broken for quite a
while, the newly locked rear end and new sticky tires sealed its fate.
Turner has soul, she failed at 30mph, not 100.  The camaraderie among Alfa
owners (actually all racers) was amazing, they pulled together and 4 hours
later Turner was back on the track, it took 3 hours to locate an axle.
There were 6 GTV's racing that weekend, 3 Giulietta Sprints, and a SZ.

The rest of the weekend went beautifully, a drive in the park.  I had my
best race Saturday, and there were lots of NWARC members present to witness
it, that's the best part!  Alfas have tremendous brakes, I'm using carbon
pads and that's the only mod, yet I'm able to outbrake many cars out there.
I was able to consistently outbrake two 911's that day, very fun stuff.
Sitting on other car's bumpers throughout a turn is highly entertaining,
whether it be a Lotus Cortina see-sawing away, or a Mini-Cooper on 3 wheels.
The Alfa is very easy to drive, no dramatics, a real tribute to that
chassis.

I'm now thinking of tow vehicles and trailers.  I'm looking at late '60's
Dodge A-100 vans for tow vehicles, anyone got a great trailer for sale?  It
must have good brakes.

Regards,

Steve Schaeffer
Owner of Turner, now racing with real Turners!
Seattle, WA

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