OOOOWWW-D.....OVR Race

[vrona@ix.netcom.com (Steven Verona)]

Hello everybody.  It has been a few weeks since I have raced the 
OOOOWWW-D.  I had to skip a couple races because they were in 
Milwaukee...too far away for me.  I did get an opportunity to race in a 
Malibu Grand Prix Challenge for charity against Bobby Rahal.  I 
finished second behind a guy who weighed about 80 lbs. less than me.  
On the bright side, I beat Rahal by almost 0.8 seconds...he finished 
third.

On to the OOOOWWW-D.  We raced at the Fisher Guide Plant in Columbus, 
OH on Sunday.  I easily won H Stock by almost 3 seconds over the guy 
who finished 3rd at the national tour race in Evansville, IN.  My best 
time was a 41.6 while most of the HS cars could not break 45 seconds.  
After the 41.6 lap I was VERY excited.  Most of the people in the pits 
were running over to congratulate me, while some jokingly said to "go 
home" ;-)

To put things in perspective.  No full body cars broke 40 seconds.  I 
beat all but one FS car (Camaros with 300 hp and Mustangs).  I beat all 
of the Corvettes except one.  I beat the heavily modified Street 
Prepared cars in DSP and ASP, while beating all but two ESP (450hp 
mustangs and Camaros) cars.

The Bad News:  I can not go to the Nationals this year ;-(  
Unfortunately, I have a business meeting in Chicago that I can not 
miss.  I have been very upset about this for a few weeks.  I guess I 
can just start planning for next year.  Actually, I had originally 
planned on waiting for next year so I could gain more experience, but I 
felt like I was ready now.  Most of my fellow racer feel the same 
way...I should go this year.

The Good News:  In my first year racing I will be the OVR points 
champion and the BF Goodrich Central Division Series.  Looking back on 
the year, I could not be happier (except if I could go to the 
Nationals).  I am racing a car that most people said could not be even 
remotely competitive and have kicked butt.  I walk around the pits with 
my head up high wearing my Audi hat.  I think I have proved a point 
about the Audi's abilities.

Steven Verona
86 Audi 4000 Quattro