Friday, October 17 - Race Day!
The alarm went off at 5:00am and I had already heard Ken and Michelle starting their cobra right under my hotel room window. Who needs alarm clocks?!
I arrived in my truck at the starting line on Hwy 285 at 5:59am just as the highway patrol was moving the barricades across the road, shutting down public traffic for the day. my course worker wrist band got me through, then I reset my trip odometer to zero for the 20.5 mile drive to my gate/station.
Setting up my truck tent in the pitch dark was much easier with my LED headlamp. I plugged in the provided 25w 2-way radio and antenna, and radio checks soon started coming in.
It was so still, quiet, tranquil watching the sunrise, dimming my morning view of the crescent moon, Venus on the horizon and Jupiter overhead.
While setting up my course worker station, random 18-wheelers passed by as the course was being cleared. About 8:00am, a race control truck passed by, sweeping the course and making sure that all was clear to begin the race.
Facing north for the first southbound racers
Around 8:45am the radio announced the race was underway and reported each car number as it left the starting line. The Unlimited class was the first to leave, about 3 minutes apart. Then the 160mph class, then 155, and so on, down to the 100 mph rookie class.
I had my old 35mm DLSR and zoom lens set up on tripod with a remote shutter release, and then planned on using my iPhone for video. The first car to pass was a Nissan GTR which i missed photographing; it came upon me so quick before I could grab my camera!
The next car was a 2019 ZR1 Corvette that ended up setting a new course record at the end of the day with an average speed of 173.004 mph, and a top speed of 213 mph! I could hear it coming several seconds before seeing it on the horizan, the screaming exhaust echoing through the canyons.
Be sure to turn up your sound!
Mike Martin of the Texas Cobra Club ran his 2017 GT350 in the 135 mph target class. I missed his southbound run because I think someone before him scratched and I wasnt looking for Mike yet on the run sheet. I would catch him northbound.
Doug Yates, former Texas Cobra Club President raced is 2022 Porsche in the 105 mph class, placing 2nd with an average speed of 105.003 mph.
Doug Yates
Ken Buchheit and Michelle Chewning ran their Lone Star Cobra in the 105mph target class. Unfortunately during the northbound leg, Ken had to withdraw due to bad gas in Sanderson causing his engine to stumble and lose power. He could not maintain the minimum 80mph speed. After the race ended and his engine and carb had cooled down he was able to restart the car and drive back to the hotel.
Another former Texas Club President,
Don Wallace, ran his Superformance Cobra in the 100mph class (required for all rookies), and placed 6th with an average speed of 99.822 mph.
Don Wallace
Don Wallace - Superformance Cobra
LUNCH BREAK
After the last car passed, a race control truck eventually came by to prepare for the turnaround to run the second leg northbound. While all the drivers and navigators had lunch at courthouse pavilion in Sanderson, i relaxed and had my solo picnic, and enjoyed the silence. For the most part. There were four airplanes monitoring the race from the skies, 3 in the air in 20 mile loops, north, central and south. As I was about to doze off in my chair one plane buzzed over not 100 feet above me! I watched a pair of chaparrals / roadrunners directly across the road. That was my only company the entire day. Before I new it, the northbound leg was starting up...
On the northbound leg I caught the winning corvette again..... wow!!
2019 ZR1 Corvette - 200+mph!
Mike Martin of the Texas Cobra Club northbound in his 2017 GT350 in the 135 mph target class.
Mike Martin - 2017 GT350.. 155mph
Mike Martin of Team Cobra / Texas Cobra Club average speed 134.866. 6th place
youtu.be
After all the entrants had made their final passes, the race control truck passed and we got the all clear, I loaded up my truck and headed back to our hotel in Fort Stockton. The final event was the banquet and awards ceremony that evening at the civic center in Fort Stockton. When we arrived, the winning corvette was under the awning, and LOOK: 118 miles in 40:55 minutes of scorching race fueled exhaust completely melted the rear fascia and taillights!
It was an amazing week, and now I have 50 weeks to prepare my cobra and myself for October 2026!
