Well. In retrospect, the 2025 CRC was a somewhat mitigated microcosm of the entire 2025 season. Thankfully, I came home with an intact car and engine this time.
The 180 mile drive to the track is pleasant and I arrive in the paddock at 12:45 and find a spot in the Spridget Compound, at the direction of Stephen. Having Stephen and Lori organize us, save space, and tell me where to go is a divine pleasure; I don’t have to figure anything out…just go where I am pointed.
The afternoon *flies* by. Brin and Cory arrive in their Bugeye and Triumph. Brian arrives, Rich, and finally Kurt and Tiffany. We unload, setup, and enjoy a casual pot-luck dinner. My plan to do a track walk is foiled when I suddenly notice that the entire day has gone by and it’s getting dark.
We drop new driver Kurt and his lovely S.O. Tiffany at their hotel, proceed to ours, and crash for the night.
With an early driver and media meetings, we’re out early…tragically before the breakfast bar opens. Unlike last year, the paddock is cool in the morning and we’re not expecting searing-hot temps. It was well over 100F on the asphalt last year, and I ran a portable AC unit in my trailer to cool off.
We’re out later than usual for a miserly ten minute practice/qualifying session. I’m breaking in (another) new engine, so I poke along and remind myself about the line and nuances of this very flat track with a bunch of changing-radius corners.
Our next session is the fifth and last Sprite-Midget Challenge race of the year, with a Le Mans style start. Sam does a brilliant job running and I get out second (after a lucky pole-position draw), right behind Greg Heacock, who always seems find a way to teleport to the lead on these starts. I get past him just after the chicane and with the fastest cars caught up in traffic, I have substantial lead at the end of the first lap. It doesn’t last long though, as I make an entirely stupid error in the chicane. To make things worse, I do it again later. Sheesh, Loren. Amid confusion over a pointed blag flag and my number on the “bad board”, I go off early. Whether race control wanted that or not, I deserved it. The highlight is a 1:35.3 in my fifth lap, my best of the weekend and three full seconds off my previous personal best at this track.
We go right back out 30 minutes after the end of the SMC race for our first group race. The timing system didn’t work during qualifying, so we are gridded in order of arrival. I would have been near the back anyway, but our grid of 38 cars is scattershot in terms of lap speed and it makes for a chaotic race. For the few laps I’m in it, anyway. I develop a misfire on the back straight and come off early. In the paddock we find that the shoddily machined water pump has cut through its gasket and is spewing water onto the right side of the engine…where lives the distributor. I make a paddock mod to the pump and replace the gasket and am ready for the last session of the day, our 2nd group race.
The second group race goes well and I record another 1:35 lap along with a 1:36 and gain 12 spots, after starting 27th. I’m happy to end the day on a good note and enjoy an evening of laughs and fun and beer and pizza in the paddock.
Sunday morning is casual, as we aren’t out until later morning. I pick up five positions in the first lap and then the car suddenly goes around in the chicane…yes, again. Confused, I run two more laps at much lower speeds until I notice the brake pedal has become soft. On the back straight it goes to the floor and I pull off early again. Paddock investigation reveals that the hard line to the right rear wheel cylinder has broken at its flare. In a year full of very weird breakdowns, this fits right in. Thankfully there is enough spare line to re-flare it, and Andy at Armadillo Racing has a flare kit. It’s buttoned up and tested in time for the second and last session of the day.
After going off early, I start 18th for Race 4. In a tight battle down the front straight with Dave “Sweetness” Sweet, I get on the brakes late, but they work very well and I just make it around for the chicane. Not the ideal line, but I keep the car straight and on the track. The last five of my twelve laps are less than 0.5 seconds different, nice consistency, and I finish 9th to end the weekend, happy to close it out with good driving, and for the first time this year, I put the car in the trailer without the engine needing to come out when I get home.
Brin and Cory book it for home, on back roads in their Bugeye and Triumph, while I dawdle around as usual and slowly pack up. Rod and Owen roll out with me, and crash at our place that eve. Owen heads home Monday AM on the Clipper, while Rod, Brian, and Sam pitch in on the Arnold car for the day.
Tuesday Rod does a bit of consulting work with me…a neat way to enjoy that friendship that doesn’t involve racing.
One more weekend left this season…Fall Finale September 27-28. Look for the live stream, or better yet, come out to Pacific Raceways and spectate!
Now, VIDEOS!
Saturday Qualifying
Saturday Sprite-Midget Challenge Race 5
Saturday Groups 1-4 Race 1
Saturday Groups 1-4 Race 2
Sunday Groups 1-4 Race 3
Sunday Groups 1-4 Race 4