Happy Halloween

Happy Halloween from TF American Racing.

NEWS

Only item to report is on 10/23/2010 driver Tom Forst ask Jenilee Weaver for her hand in marriage. She said yes. The TF American Racing team is quite excitied and the planning has begun. Stay tuned for more information on the team and wedding plans.

Automobile Magazine

Here is the article in the Automobile Magazine, now online, from my little test driving on Belle Isle earlier in August. Big thanks to Mike O. for this great, great opportunity.

http://www.automobilemag.com/reviews/driven/1011_the_perfect_car_for_every_life_crisis/index.html

Bye, Bye Rusty

Bye, Bye Rusty

Took Rusty to the scrap yard on Friday. I got more money in the scrap metal then I paid for the car. Cha-ching!
It was a fun car, but time to move on (and get my driveway back).

RIP Rusty

In the newspaper again...

I did finish 10th overall in that race. But I finished better in the other races.
I wrecked in August not July. Still its cool to be in the paper.

http://de.theoaklandpress.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=T0xQLzIwMTAvMTAvMDgjQXIwMTcwMQ==&Mode=Gif&Locale=english-skin-custom

Overall points update!

So absolutely cool. Tom Forst finished 20th in overall points at Waterford Hills.
I did not think I was that high in the overall points, but that is definitely exciting.

Be safe, say a prayer and keep it on the road.

Some articles

This talks about the whole adventure of racing...sometimes the happenings off the track mean more then what happens on the track.

http://www.frontstretch.com/jpotts/31595/

This article is more about how NASCAR isn't racing...but there is a lot of true in it. Forget the hype, the plastic trophies, the people...other racers who you don't get along with...its about racing. You and that car, going as fast as you can go...nothing else really matters. Its really a blessing to be able to do it at all.

http://www.frontstretch.com/ahenderson/31601/

Be safe, God Bless, and keep it on the road!

Sunday Results & BIG thanks

For the feature race.
I started 10th overall, 3rd in class behind #81 Chris Tumpkin, #83 Kenny (my step-bro), and #35 Steen - an ITS car.
I got a good start and was right behind Kenny after lap #1. It took me three laps to get by Kenny and then going into turn #3 I took the protection line. The inside after the kink. Kenny got in the grass, hit my back bumper and spun out. Sorry bro.
It took me 3 more laps to catch up to the #81 car, who was, at least to me being held up by the the #35 of Steen. I got to Chris' bumper but kinda want to see how the battle ahead would play out. Coming to the white flag, Steen went off in turn #8 (swamp). It was just me and Chris now. I think I over drove the car a bit on the last lap and finished 2nd probably even to Chris' rear bumper with the front.

I am still very proud of how I did this weekend. And I got a few more stories to tell, and will update later...I got all winter.

For The Record
#81 Chris - heat cycles on tires - 5
#5 Tom - heat cycles on tires - 15

BIG thanks
Al - That is an awesome car and thank you so much for letting me rent it. Thank you for letting me prove to the world I can be a very good racecar driver, no matter what I drive. Thanks for working on that car and getting it to tip top shape. You are an awesome car owner and person.

Jenna - Welcome to the world of racing. Thanks for supporting me through all this and being proud of me. Not sure where all our priorities will fall in the future, but I know you support me doing this and that means everything.

Mom - Thanks for showing up and watching the races on Sunday. Sorry I made you cry with the whole Kenny and Tom racing very close to one another.

Kelly, Andrea, Michelle, Bryan - Thanks for all the support this year and the last few years, it has been a blast and I look forward for you racing next year Bryan (no pressure...LOL). And Sis thanks for getting up early and traveling from WV to watch both races.

Alan, and all the rest of the volunteers - You make this place great and without you...I am not sure what I or the rest of the drivers would do.

To my fellow ITB drivers - Great racing with all of you. Chris Marsh, congrats you are a great, great Champion! Tumpkin - I have no problem finishing second to you. You are a genuine person to the nth degree. A true winner...unfreeze your race suit yet?

Updates

Qualified 4th in class on Saturday. Ran a 1:21.9

Class race I finished 3rd in class 10th overall. Behind a very fast Dave and Chris Marsh. Chris won the points.

Sunday class race finished 6th in class after leading and running out of gasoline.
Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

Friday Practice

Just a quick note...ok it didn't turn out that way...LOL

Everything went very well today in the #5 VW Golf owned by Al. Secret is out now ;-)

I ran three practice sessions. After the second session, Al worked on the toe of the front wheels. Things were very comfortable, stable and fairly fast (like someone told me I ran a 1:23.5). I am driving it like a rental which is good.
The front tires are from Old Glory and the rears are old ones Al had. They are different sizes to make the car turn better. Good tires, but not great.
I sit a little different in the car, but the steering wheel seems easier to turn and shifting is heaven compared to the Mustangs. The car doesn't roll....(choose different word)...lean as far as I thought it would and even after hitting a curb or two.

FWD vs RWD - Big difference to me is that in a RWD car, you have to be on the throttle to get it to steer....FWD the exact opposite. I have to brake later in the FWD car and turn while braking, something foreign to me. And also use both feet and brake and gas at the same time...again...foreign. The Mustang was mostly one input at a time.

Oh, by the way, I am not missing the fact I have to brake LATER. Just what my mind needs...brake later...at least the brakes worked very well today. This is a mental game for sure...a mental game...the car is capable...the driver has to get there.

I must also mention that Dave's car was back. Looks like he left some of my paint on his car. It looks.....interesting.

Tomorrow brings, qualifying and class race #1...Mr. Marsh you sure you want to race? Oh and registration without my hard card...should be interesting.

I am having a blast in this little thing called life.

One last note...Al a frequent vistor to the blog, I have found out...told me to mention that when the car caught on fire, he was leading and still finished 4th (it caught fire on the last lap) and stop in front of the Fire & Rescue team to put out the fire! Heads up driving for sure.

Be safe, hope to see you this weekend and HEY! Keep it on the road. God Bless!

The Challenge...oh I like a challenge

Race weekend number six at Waterford Hills is coming up quickly. So, here is what to expect.

My Challenge - take a rental racecar I have only sat in once, that has a higher center of gravity, that is front wheel drive, that the last time it was on the track, it was on fire and win with it....while on probation...making up 12 points in the ITB championship...and trying not to scare the crap out of the car owner....my Mom...my family and friends...and my new girlfriend.

Oh...I like a challenge.

Friday is practice day for Tom to get accommodated with the new car, the car's drive train and what brakes feel like...LOL. I hope the rain stays away for the day but the forecast is looking like a mixed bag. And since race weekends are 4 for 5 in the rain department at Waterford Hills this year, I have feeling we will be seeing some rain. But that maybe a great equalizer...or advantage...front wheel drive cars do better in the rain.

Mr. Marsh only has to beat me in the first race to clinch the championship. 12 points is the maximum you can score in a race (well unless you break a class track lap time record...not happening), so if he extends his lead in the first race, the points race is over.

I do have to do some calculations to determine if racing the feature will be worth it...having a chance at the Top Ten! (Not holding my breathe).

So, stay tuned to this channel...ok...blog throughout the weekend. And we will see what God's has in store for me this weekend. I do know this...it is going to be really fun!

Be safe and keep it on the road.