Toyota Life Articles

Friday, 8/17/07, 2:30pm

The practice was fun for Saturday's race! The others tell me I was fastest, but I don't think so. I think Derek Bell was the quickest. I do know that I went into the gravel once, and not just through it, but over it! It's been a long, long, time since I drove a front-wheel drive car. I had a lot of push in the car - that's how I got into the gravel - but I'm sure that was just my style, not the car.

After practice it was so nice, and we just got out of the cars and hung around. I started talking with Derek, and he was complaining in a fun way about all the gravel I put onto the track! He claims he only put two wheels off the track, but I'm not sure. But I was looking forward, and not in my mirror. But the dirt is funny. You arrive at the corner and find dirt, and you have to keep going, you can't stop or slow. There's nothing else you can do. As Derek and I continued to talk, the others joined us one by one. It was a lot of fun - those guys are all good racers - and they're all nice guys. We were chatting and laughing for about 15 minutes. I've been racing for a long time, but I've never raced against Parnelli Jones or Vic Elford. That's what events like this are about, meeting new and interesting people.

On the track, the Toyota Scion reacts really well, but I don't think that there's much that you could do to get the rear end to come around. It's incredibly stable.

I was looking forward to coming here, it's a great circuit, and the event itself is amazing. So many people with wonderful cars.

And then we had the draw for the starting grid at the opening function for the Monterey Historic Festival Races. There was a wonderful crowd, and a really good atmosphere. I was really happy until the draw. I was given 10th, which is last on the grid.

Still it will give me a good view of the race!