Passed Tech!

I took the car up to Northern Virginia two weeks ago for its first tech inspection. This can be a nervous time, because the car is a brand new race car and though you read the rules there is always a chance that you missed something or misunderstood what was said.

Now I have done a lot of reading, studying, research trips, ask the expert etc. so I felt confident, but it is different once the official is actually poking around the car, pulling on things, pushing on other things and then referencing the rule book.

Especially since this inspector was SCCA licensed. SCCA has strict rules and has to because it has an agressive and highly competitive club racing program. But its rule book is not the vintage rule book. I am attending in October a SCCA school and they allow Vintage racers, but only because technically it is not "racing," but a school. Therefore the safety requirements are lifted enough to allow my car to participate.

So the car passed tech inspection. What does that mean. For me and the car, it means that it has been issued a log book and has been registered with the DC Region (my old "home" region). It also means that I can arrive and drive at the driver's school without the added worry and hassle of completing tech at the track outside of having my helmet inspected. It also means that my car has received an annual inspection meaning that it will not need to be looked at again until August of 2008. So, I can attend the March school too with the same benefits as the October.

Needless to say it was a successful trip. The first race car I ever built passed tech and is an official race car.

The Biscuit just got a new tow partner. This past weekend, my family and I drove up to pick up the latest edition to the Think Racing family - "The Cramper."

What exactly is "The Cramper." Named by my four-year old daughter, The Cramper, is a 1986 Winnebago Minnie Winnie. Don't be fooled by its faded exterior. This baby only has 56,000 miles and is pristine on the inside. Sleeps 4 comfortably, has a four burner stove, microwave, fridge, full bath and a bunch of storage just to name a few, this camper is the perfect match for our getaways to the race track and beyond.

Hopefully during the next week, I will get a chance to fire all of the appliances up as we begin to clean her up and make her ours.