Subj: NH event
Date: 7/28/00

It's me again!
It seemed like my head hit the pillow once, bounced, and it was time to get up. The car is dirty from the trip up. I decided not to get up extra early to wash it because whenever I wash my car it rains and the weather report is iffy. So out of respect for Peter and everyone else who put a lot of elbow grease into their shine, I will take the heat about having a dirty car so that the sun may shine for others (Oh, being a martyr is tuff). After a quick breakfast, a club radio commo check, we depart for NH. Sylvia usually rides with me to keep me company, but I think she remembers me saying how noisy my tires were after I screwed up the alignment, so she goes with Peter. The trip up goes smooth. Peter and I are trading lead and on one pass I see Sylvia apparently sleeping. So I ask Peter on the radio if drool has started coming from her mouth (A joke from a previous story). A feminine voice replies, "What did you say Larry?" (Drat, I've been caught) I don't reply because there has been some stray transmissions from other sources, and maybe she'll think it is from them. Peter has taken the lead for our final leg and navigates us to our destination. The club radios work great as we were able to discuss turns and refueling options without confusion.
Pulling in to Sunnyside Acura, I can tell that most have arrived. Peter backs into his slot and I back into a position a few slots away so that my dirty car is not as noticeable. I learned this art in the military. Don't want the commander to notice the "lack of shine" on your boots? Stand next to someone with boots worse than yours.
We greet Rich and our hosts. Rich tells a story of his joint trip to the dealership with Miled. Miled has a reputation for being fashionably late. Sometimes the fashion has changed by the time he arrives! Hearing the story brings a smile to my face. "So where is he now?" I ask. "He's over at the car wash doing a quick wash." explains Rich.
My plan of not parking next to Peter has worked as people are telling me how nice my car looks. I know the sun glint off my Grand Prix White hood has closed their pupils and they can't see the dirt, but I know it's there, and everyone else's car looks so nice it makes me embarrassed. I think about taking a trip to the car wash, but Miled should be back any minute and I don't want to hold up the festivities. I proceed to show pictures of past events and later ask the most personal question. "Do you know if you are missing your rubbers, and where they might be hiding?" This usually brings "deer in the headlight" type stares, so I proceed to show on their car what I mean. My first victim was Aaron Chung. He pops his trunk and I point and say, "See your rubbers are missing!" I point out the damage to the paint and we start are archeological dig. Leaves, dirt, pine needles are being removed but it is hard to get the illusive rubber. I go into the service department to see if they have a wire finger grab tool. The mechanic there is more than willing to let me borrow the one that belongs to another mechanic. I return to Aaron's car, but his fishing for the rubber has moved it out of reach. This new information is flowing to the other NSXers and trunks are up, and many are catching their limit for trunk rubbers. I look around to see if Miled has arrived. Nope, still at the car wash. I look at my watch, look at my car, and think "Surely I don't have enough time, how long can a quick wash take?" I go back to mingling with the guests and out of the corner I my eye, I see Miled's car move. Yes, Yes, he's coming. "Everyone!, Miled is comin......g." Nope, just backed it around to wipe the other side. I now realize that I had more than enough time to wash mine. Well, so what, being with my friends is why I drove here; I continue to mingle. Miled finally arrives to applause. He states that once you get started, where do you stop? Peter thinks the holdup is from Miled dropping his towels off at the dry cleaners to get them cleaned, folded, and pressed!
Sunnyside states that they have set up an autocross in the back parking lot if anyone want's to try it. Both participants and audience move to the location. The dealership has a nice little course to include timers! Great; now who wants to go first. Just like at a dance, people hesitate until the first few start. Peter is one of the first from our NE Group. I stand with digital camera ready. Peter goes down; Peter comes back; and he has collected as many cones under his car as I hit bugs! I start laughing. I ask the timer how much of a penalty there is for hitting cones. He states he is thinking about 2 seconds per cone. When Peter arrives after he and another person have extricated cones from his car, I give him the good news. "Hey Pete, your drive time is less than your penalty time. Does that mean you haven't even left?" Pete is happy there is no damage to the car and this gives the rest of us inspiration to try the course. Aaron goes, Rob goes, Hank goes, and all return with big smiles. I consider emptying my trunk, but it seems like too much of a chore, as articles are vacuum packed tight. Knowing I'm the least experienced driver there, I opt for the 100 lb. bag of grain in the trunk of the other cars ( like weight placed in a jockey's bag at a horse race) to make them even with me (It's great being ignored). Rob makes the first clean run and I am inspired to do the same. Not knowing if the counter will go as high as an hour, and fearing harassment from the others, I try to keep a good steady pace and return before the timer runs out, with a clean run. Realizing I was slow, Pete and others try to console me by stating that had there been live animals for me to dodge, they are sure I could have shaved many seconds off my time. I agreed. My times lowered with each session which was satisfying.

(NOTE): Peter Mills has the time sheet, so if you'll pass your run number to Pete, we can post the fastest of your laps by name or number (your choice).

We said farewell to our hosts, and proceeded on our drive. The pull out to the highway went fine, but when we reached Rt. 3, we performed our imitation of the Blue Angels' Starburst. Half went Rt. 3 north, the other half went Rt. 3 south. Everyone found a place to execute the course reversal maneuver, and we all joined up by the first toll booth. We arrived at the NHIS, with no outstanding wants or warrants and enjoyed an excellent tour of the speedway and watched some of the races. One of Miled's highlights was to take Rob's NSX and listen to the sweet sound of the exhaust echoing through the entrance tunnel. A Parade of NSXs always brings smiles to on lookers and the trip to the motel was no different. When we arrived at the motel, I wasn't sure what the order of events would be. Some checked in, others prepared to go to the restaurant. I followed Peter and Sylvia to their parking space and then followed them to their room to see what the rooms looked like. The conversation went something like this as they walked to their room. "He's following us Sylvia"...............(Syl) "Why is he following us?" (Lar) "I just want to see what the rooms look like."...........................................(Pete whispering to Syl) "He's still following us" Sylvia has this look as if to say, "See what happens when you feed strays Pete, they keep following you and won't go home." (Syl) "Well he can't stay cause I have to freshen up" (Lar) "I don't want to stay, all I want to do is see the rooms, then I'll be gone!" I think if they had a brownie they would have tossed it and ran for the rooms. I take a peek at the room, then leave before a shoe gets thrown at me.
The dinner is being held at C R Sparks in Bedford, NH. Rich has arranged a separate room for our group. Francis and I are one of the first to arrive. As time goes on, others filter in. We have a dedicated waitress/hostess from Sparks, who is attractive and attentive to our needs. The wine, food, and friends make a very enjoyable evening. I find that people are associating who I am from my stories. It's, "You're the guy who hit the deer"; or, "You're the guy who writes the stories." I believe story telling makes our group very approachable. You may never have personally met the people I write about, but when you do, they will seem like old friends :-) As I listen to the days stories and those from past, I am starting to unwind. I have been careful not to drink to much wine, and just at the beginning, because I will be continuing my journey to Maine to visit my mother. I don't want to leave, but it is getting late. I say my good-byes and Pete follows me to my car to get a shirt he let me borrow in case we got to drive on the track. We give a hardy hand shake, I get in my car, then realize I should make a pit stop before I begin. While I'm in the men's room, Pete lets me know that I left my photo album in the banquet room. I tell him I know, (liar) and would pick it up in a bit. When I come into the room, people are looking at the album so I get involved with telling stories. Pete realizing he made a mistake letting me go back into the room (he should have brought it out) reminds me of my poor old mother waiting patiently for her son. I say my "I'm really leaving this time" good-byes, and make an uneventful trip to Maine.
My special thanks to Sunnyside Acura, NHIS, C R Sparks, and last but far from least; Rich Hutte and family, who made everything come together.

Larry G. (paid political announcement) Want to know more about our group? Then get on my story list. Just e-mail me and I'll put you on. If you want past stories, let me know that too. If you're brave enough, invite me over and you'll become the focus of my next story (no guts, no glory!)