IT ENDS SPECTACULARLY / MAXTON MINI RALLY PHOTOS

[John]

Saturday morning arrived with overcast cars and a threat of
thunderstorms, so the Fiat was readied for it first run and taken to
the start line. Luke Skanlin, the driver donned his fire retardant
clothing and other safety gear and climbed into the car, the car was
pushed to the start line, after first being warmed up to the proper
operating temperature. Luke was first given a safety check by the
official at the starting line and then given the OK to start his
official run down the course, the car accelerated away,
sounding great, only to veer to the left of the first set of the
courses pylons and then back onto the course but at a greatly
reduced pace, his speed was 149 mph.

We got to the other end of the course, and asked Luke what had
happened, it turned out that when the new front end was built with
Luke setting in the car at the shop to make sure that he could see
out over the new front end, he was not wearing his helmet and he
could see, now with the helmet on his head, the smaller opening of
the helmet and the other safety equipment that he has to wear,
prevented him from seeing down past the new hood, so Randy modified
the hood, so that Luke could properly see and Randy and the crew
went back to the start line again and I went to the finish shutoff
area to get some photos of the car.

The Fiats next run was announced over the radio and I prepared to
get some photos of the car, as it ended its timed speed run. I could
clearly hear the car start its timed run from over a mile away and I
could hear Luke shifting the car up through the gears and
then...........a very loud noise and a large cloud of smoke appeared
from down the course! The engine had let go and self destructed, but
the remainder of the car was intact and most important Luke was not
injured at all, so now Randy and the rest of us took the car back to
the pits, assessed the damage it was determined that something,
perhaps a rod had come up through the center of the block
depositing shrapnel under the intake manifold, so the car was loaded
into the trailer. We then gathered for some lunch, prepared by
Barbara Vaughn and Paul Lazar, discussed what had happened and made
plans for the
remainder of the day, later that evening we all went into the town
of Maxton, for a free Buffet served for all of those attending the
race, by a local restaurant and then back to the 'Birds for another
campfire session, with out the campfire.

I asked Luke what his reaction was when the engine blew up, he said
his first reaction was to say loudly.........OH S#*%!, as a large
fireball came out from the engine compartment that exited directly
in front of him, as it exited from the hood scoop opening at the
base of the windshield and then the interior of the car filled with
smoke, but then quickly was vacuumed from the car, as the car
continued at way over 100 mph down the course, he then quickly
accessed the situation and determined that the EVENT was over and
done and the fire was out, so he didn't even use the emergency fire
suppression system and it was over almost as quick as it had
started.

Today I will drive up to Fayetteville, NC to pick up Woody, so that
he can ride back to Florida with Randy and Carol to pick up his new
to him 'Bird and the rest of the Florida contingent will head back
to Florida too, the remainder of us will stay here at the track to
watch the remainder of the racing and then go our own ways, as for
myself I'm heading about a 100

miles west to Charlotte, NC to visit with my nephew and his family,
before heading home.

I have moved the first photo from Friday as well as the new photos
from yesterday to Randy's web site at;

http://www.pbase.com/image/42747961

If all goes as planned Randy and the rest of us will return for the
next event here at Maxton, we hope that more of you will attend.

John Finn
"FINN'S INN EXPRESS"
'82 35FCRB
Hopkins, SC "ON THE ROAD IN MAXTON"
To Visit the Finn's Inn Express Remodeling Adventure go to;
http://www.pbase.com/iamflagman/image/24977457

[Jack and Liz Pearce]

Howdy, John.
Thank you for the report on Maxton. The photos were appreciated.
Bummer about the engine failure. Oh well, next time.

Regards,
Liz
Regards,
Jack and Liz Pearce
1993 Wanderlodge WB40
Homesick Texans in Lantana, FL