Tire Rack
Thursday, May 25th, 2006
Well it’s all over. How we got a top-ten trophy in this ninety car field is beyond us. This was really Joel’s year. In the past two years with the GT40 we got hotels for only three of the sixteen nights. People helped us constantly. This year we helped everyone we could.
We were at the scene of the VW accident to deal with the vehicle and trailer while others covered the hospital. We got the first Carl and Sammy when the PT Cruiser came to a stop on the interstate after a harrowing 510 foot slide with the tractor trailer bumper in their back seat.
Throughout the event Joel was under other peoples cars helping with a wrentch or advise. Buzz got to help the #2 finishing car of Danny Cochran change out a complete set of brake rotars after two broke on their 680 horsepower, supercharged Corvette. Danny, his son Kyle, and wife/mother/flaglady/generral coordinator Deb are in their 19th Cannonball. They drive down from Canada each year to compete because of the people.
I said this was Joel’s year because everyone, except Brock Yates who put us together, now knows that he is a source of knowledge and tallent. I can envision Joel at some future Cannonball with thirty people gathered round as the ‘Rain Man’ points out, or draws, or jesticulates to convey a faster and safer line for each competitor to get his or her car back in one piece. At least three of the top ten trophy winners thanked Joel for getting them there. As Joel said while receiving the trophy, “This is the most generous group of competitors and new friends that I have met in all of my racing experiences”.