DarkSlinky

Posts Tagged ‘Dad’

Yesterday was one of the best days I’ve had in a very long time.  I had to get up at 6:30am after not sleeping well the night before, but it was well worth it.  It was a beautiful day.  My day started with getting ready to go to Lakeside raceway with Dad and his car club, to watch some old cars and motorbikes race.  Dad decided to take his Chrysler AP5 Valiant.  My brother, John, and his fiancé, Nicole, are both in the car club too and I was really happy to see them both.

John had the package from ThinkGeek for me containing my ‘dark slinky’ and ‘42 towel’ that I’ve mentioned before.  Both of them are great!  I’m very impressed with the quality of both of them.

When we first arrived at the racetrack we learnt that our cars would be on display, parked in the middle of the race track.  What a bonus!  We were literally right in the middle of the action.

After the cars had been parked in the display area and we set up our shadey-tent, Dad and I had a go in a V8 simulator, or ‘stimulator’ as Dad was calling it all day, which everyone found amusing.  Haha.  It was a lot of fun.  I kept thinking about how much I’d love to have a ride in a car on a racetrack; or even drive one myself.

On our way back to the area where we were sitting with my brother we stopped in to get some stuff out of the Valiant, and sitting on the front seat of the car was an award for ‘Best Chrysler.’  Dad was stoked; he said it’s the first award the Valiant has ever received.  John took a photo of Dad and I with the Valiant and the trophy, so I’ll post that when I get it off John.

After this we learnt that the cars on display would do a ‘Show and Shine,’ which is basically a parade run around the racetrack.  I was so excited to learn I’d get a ride on the racetrack, even if it was just a parade run.  We were then told that while the first lap would be slow, we’d have 20 minutes afterwards to do as we wish on the racetrack.  For those of you who don’t know, my Dad used to race cars.

This was definitely the highlight of my day.  We set out as the 3rd car on the track, my brother behind us; however we overtook the 2nd car to line up with the 1st so that there were two lanes of cars.  The first lap was great, cruising in the Valiant with the window down, wind in my hair and everyone admiring the beauty of the old cars.  This is the Valiant in its prime.

We turned the corner to the straight and there was a man in uniform there waving us on.  This was the moment Dad had been waiting for.  He floored it and we came out way in front, after reaching 120km/hr.  He obviously hasn’t lost touch with his racing skills.  We ended up coming up behind the pack of cars we had been leading before they even finished their 1st lap and overtook them all; coming out in front again.  Second lap, same thing, overtook everyone.

Up behind us came a brand new Ford GT Cobra (picture below), worth about $80,000 driven by a young guy who obviously thought he could take the old guy in the Valiant.  He overtook us on the corner and began to drift.  I saw his break lights come on – BIG mistake.  If you ever drift in your car, do NOT hit the brakes.  Go with it.  He lost control and slammed head first into a barrier while still doing 80km/hr or more, the force spinning their car to face us.  Dad slammed on the breaks in case the Ford shot back onto the track after being spun around, luckily it didn’t.  Since the car was spun around we could see the full extent of the damage which was really horrific, but we could also see that the two people inside were okay.  The metal barrier was the same shape as the front of the car.  Dad found out today that the car has been written off because there was about $40,000 worth of damage and insurance wouldn’t cover it because it was on a racetrack.  Now he calls me his ‘racing partner.’ Hahaha.

Ford FPV GT Cobra.

Definitely a story to tell my children and grandchildren.

Also my speed capped was lifted and Liam was away for the night so I was able to relax and spend some time with Alan, Lynnette and Nicki watching youtube and playing Nintendo 64.

At the moment I feel like crap because tomorrow is the 22nd.  Whatever.  I don’t want to talk about it right now.  Maybe later.

<3 DarkSlinky.

EDIT by DS’ brother John… pictures added below from the day this occured.
Check out the link in the comment below to see the Trophy Picture.

Bob Pritchard in his 1964 Valiant AP5 about to enter the race track at Lakeside. John's EJ next in line.

John Pritchard's 1963 Holden Premier EJ about to enter the race track at Lakeside Raceway.

John's 1963 Holden Premier EJ coming down the straight at Lakeside Raceway at over 100 miles per hour trying to catch crazy Bob in his Valiant.

Ford GT Cobra - after hitting the wall at Lakeside (click for larger view)

Please see the PDF link in the comment below to see
Jayne, Bob and The Valiant with the Best Chrysler Trophy photo!