Two Larrys Racing and the Green Booger started their 2012 BAP adventures like any other race. #1112 was completely gutted on Friday, February 17 due to finalized repairs to the roll cage from the VORRA USA 500 plus maintenance, and a complete and running car performing donuts in the field like any respectable car should by Sunday evening. Tuesday evening’s oil change revealed rod bearings that were questionable, so the engine was taken to the short block and new bearings installed in four short hours in preparation for Thursday’s trip from Northern California to Primm, NV. Two Larrys was indeed just two Larrys this time around, as Larry C and crew was unfortunately unable to make the trip this time. Larry G, Larry M, and the Green Booger were blessed with good weather and an uneventful nine hour drive in the aforementioned Suburban Beast to where the action really begins.
Dawn broke in Primm, NV on Friday with few clouds and minimal wind. With last minute preparations to the car, we set out for a fantastic pre-run in which we realized that it definitely rougher than when the Booger graced the track two years prior. We also realized that we were losing our ignition system, judging by the cutting out at the beginning of the run. Further inspection after our return revealed that the switch had shorted out, and after some minor rewiring we had a new (used) one put in place. Someone else thought they might help with the rewiring in the Booger:
Saturday was another beautiful Nevada day. Two Larrys began the morning at 5:30am. Regular morning pre-race inspections were performed on the Booger, mainly utilitarian motions to keep nerves at bay. The Class 11’s lined up with the Class 9 cars at 8:15, and the race was scheduled to begin at 8:45. #1112 was placed in the final position in the last row, number 14 out of 14. There is nothing like the tense moments and the hurry-up-and-wait of the starting line. All racers know the feeling of anticipation, second-guessing, last-minute thoughts of all the preparation put into the car, self-expectation of performance, hopes of not going over onto your lid, and a lot of throat clearing. We did realize we had the advantage of a rear-view to the possible chaos of the thirteen cars ahead, and that we would be able to possible avoid accidents should they arise. Silver lining to being at the very rear? Once that green flag waves, all nervous thoughts are forgotten and replaced by the single focus of racing effectively, safely, and competitively. The course was fast for the Booger at certain areas, and challenging in others. A particular one-tire landing with spinal compression comes to mind. During one area of deeper sand and silt, we managed to avoid a particularly large rock (boulder?) until the last lap, where the rear of the car was sliding towards it and we could only hope it wouldn’t cause too much damage. After completing the race, we learned we taco’d the rim but luckily it can be hammered back out and we have yet to get a flat tire on the Booger. With consistency and ice-calm, Larry G piloted the Booger through three laps of amazing track complete with whoops, jumps, silt, and including the famed Primm dyke jump. At one point leading to the dyke jump, we caught #1166 (Ryan Mc Crory) and battled it out down the stretch. Upon reaching the jump, #1112’s forward momentum carried us to the lead as the tires left the ground and resistance was minimal. It’s an ethereal thing for one moment a car being directly beside you, and the next it is airborne and sliding backwards out of peripheral. We lost track of the cars passed, whether through duel or on the roadside, and were pleasantly surprised to learn we were the fourth car to cross the finish. By time and having come from fourteenth to fourth in a mere three laps, The Green Booger took second place for Saturday behind Dave Cote’s orange #1191.
Knowing Saturday from the back and forth of the needle that we did not have a temperature gauge, or the oil cooler fan, we looked the car over again and repair the failed electrical relay and temperature wire. Sunday found the Booger raring to go as it usually wants to. With the smell of 110 fuel wafting through the air, the 11’s and 9’s once again lined up and awaited their turn at the track. #1112 was upgraded to position two in the second row, which is guaranteed short course action and possible rubbing of fenders. Most of us simply do no like body work, and managed to stay away from one another. While swapping leads through the big turns in the start, Robert Johnson #1100 had a better line than #1112 and we backed off for a particularly muddy turn. #1100’s tires splattered mud across the Booger with such ferocity that the cab’s latent sunlight instantly dimmed and our vision completely impaired. We were totally blind…and then we realized the windshield squirters refused to work. If that wasn’t enough, the wipers began to short out and crackle over the intercom with each attempt at the toggle to influence them to do their job. Five cars made it around us before we were able to persuade the wipers into action, which we lost again early in lap three for good. With the wipers smearing the drying mud, we were once again blinded by glare when driving towards the sunlight, though eventually they made it enough. Later inspection revealed that our squirter container had literally blown apart and all fluid was somewhere on the track.
Consistency is one major key to Class 11 driving…eventually we caught and passed many who had gone around us. It was amazing to see how many cars throughout both days were disabled due to failures or rollovers. We’ve never seen so many in two days, and a special thank you should be extended to the SNORE emergency crew placed strategically throughout the track. They were vigilant and usually on scene within short minutes of an accident. One crew sprang into action immediately after we notified them of a roll-over. The track was definitely rough, especially after the running of the larger vehicles on Saturday, and drivers had no room for relaxation. In the third lap, we knew we had managed to work our way to the top five again but didn’t know what placing. When we caught sight of #1191 about a half-mile ahead, we knew we were making a fast lap and the Booger picked up the pace as the Booger can when it wants it, especially with the promise we made to it for a new wiring harness. The crowds were on their feet and screaming with excitement at the challenge being issued from the green car to the orange car as each neared the finish line. Later we learned Dave looked in his mirror and was surprised by nothing but green hood. An intense half-mile ensued, and the two 11’s finished seconds apart in the Sunday race, with Dave Hendrickson #1158 first by roughly two minutes, followed by Dave Cote #1191 and Gary Herrod #1112 officially three seconds behind. The Green Booger #1112 secured the second place win for the BAP weekend with its third place finish on Sunday.
In all, it was an amazing race and a great weekend, brought to you by SNORE. Thank you to SNORE for putting on another great event and allowing us all the opportunity to restore the proper amount of race in our blood, as well as their quick action on the course to keep everyone safe. Thank you to the other Class 11 teams for their hospitality and sportsmanship. It was wonderful to make the acquaintance many of you whom we haven’t met before, and great to see some of the friendly faces that we have. A special congratulations goes out Dave Cote and Chip Rodriguez #1191 for their first place finish at BAP. Congratulations to King Dave-co Hendrickson #1158 with his spectacular two plus minute win on Sunday, and Robert Johnson #1100 with his official third place for the weekend. We hope to see you guys again, and maybe you could come visit us on our home turf in NorCal and Nevada with VORRA eventually.
Official SNORE results for the 2012 Dusty Times Battle at Primm:http://snoreracing.net/images/results/2012/bap.pdf
Photos that are already up at the time of this race recap write-up:
Photos by Wanda
Mike’s Race Photos
Colton Gubler’s BAP 2012 DVD teaser on YouTube
We did take some photos of the Trucks and Class 1’s, but of course with our geriatric camera to match our geriatric racecar and geriatric tow vehicle and trailer, they aren’t the best. You can view them soon in the Gallery section listed above in the navigational bar.
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