Doug's News May 2018
Doug's News May 2018
Dear Friends:
Wow! What a great week we had last weekend. It was the 13th running of the Chihuahua Express, a 3 day, 1200 mile rally that takes place in and near the city of Chihuahua in northern Mexico. We’d won it before and were hungry to do so again. Last win was 5 years ago. 5 long years ago …
Testing the car the day before it left was not promising. It smoked badly, so badly I could only do a few laps. And the front end was not well set up; the car would “push” and not turn into corners. Off it went with crossed fingers.
But no point in telling co-piloto Manuel the bad news. Ignorance is bliss, as they say. Besides he would find out soon enough!
We somehow qualified 4th (of 60+ cars) so started the first day 4th.
Day 1 we beat one guy ahead so started Day 2 in 3rd. The Olds was not a comfortable car to drive at speed, but looking a little more positive.
Day 2 we beat another guy so started the last day, Day 3, in 2nd. And only 3 seconds behind. Hmmmm … miracles could happen.
And then Day 3 it all came together. Jim made fantastic suspension adjustments and the car handled like a dream. And was literally a rocket.
And we won overall, by some 12 or 13 minutes. A great tribute to perseverance and teamwork.
As the saying goes, “Losers let it happen, winners make it happen”. And, literally, we did make it happen.
Cordially,
Douglas A.J. Mockett
President