Climb to the Clouds this weekend

[Mark J. Besso]

The Rutan family had a fleet of memorable vehicles.  Both Father (Bill) &
Son (Dan) had Sciroccos with Audi 4KQ drivetrains.  Bill's was the Mk1 body
style and Dan's was the Mk2.  The first time Dan brought his Scirocco it had
a turbocharged 5-cylinder, but the next year it had a GM V6 built for sprint
car!  I remember that evil black-primer 90Q with the radiator in the back.
It had redundant fuel injection systems!?!  It also had an enormous
turbocharger!  IIRC that car came from Maine.

The first year I competed, the starter (and event chairman) was John Buffum.
Glen was working one of the first 'major' corners.  Of course, in a 4KQ
you're going slow enough to recognize all your friends along the course.  I
actually waved to Glen and honked the horn as I passed.  I clearly recall
him waving back.

Jon Kemp was also an extremely fast competitor in a turbocharged Audi 4KQ.
He'd always pit with the gang from Shokan.  Four-Star Racing (the Sprongl's)
came with an eclectic array of vehicles too.  Their Audi S2 Coupe, a
gorgeous replica of an Audi A2, and a really sweet Datsun 510.

I remember overhearing Frank Sprongl say "....there are four."  I asked him
"four what?"  He said "four places where I have to use the brakes."  Had it
been anyone else telling me that, I would've figured they were trying to
intimidate me.  Not Frank.  He was being completely honest.  I never got to
a point where those rules applied to my runs up the mountain.  :-)

Chris Miller's images from 1999:
http://members.aol.com/c1j1miller/mt-wash99-1.html

~Mark



-----Original Message-----
From: Brett Dikeman
Subject: Re: Climb to the Clouds this weekend


On Jul 24, 2006, at 10:39 PM, Mark J. Besso wrote:

> Was that Glen Powell you're chatting with just before the start?

Yep, Glen's voice is pretty unmistakable, and I know he was the
starter at least once...I think I have photos of the start of one of
those runs, from the sidelines.

We all miss the event...there were a couple of Audis in it,
too...besides Sprongl and of course Bob, there was a turbocharged 90
(with radiator in the trunk!), and a scary Scirocco with a MC engine/
5000 drivetrain...

Nice video.  Was that the year the chief steward told the drivers
"there's no need to get air at the finish line" and everyone turned
and stared at Sprongl? :-)

Brett