AF98 (delete now if you just can't stand it any more)

[Ed Kellock <EKELLOCK@ECS-INC.com>]

What can I say, it was a blast!

Met up with Osman, Brendan, Jim, and Bob in Louisville.  Met Doug Q from
there, who kindly sold me his CB antenna (which worked great!  Thanks Doug!)
since he was unable to go.

Five guys in 4 cars arrived in St. Louis and pulled up behind Gary at a
light on our way to Applebee's where we met Scott Mallet from there.  

Six guys and 5 cars arrived in KC to find Dave Head and Christian and Breeze
already at the hotel.  We hooked up with Gary's brother Don who booked us at
a great BBQ restaurant and then accompanied us on our trip.  Brendan got
into wrench mode early by trying to diagnose my low boost problem.  

Ten people and six cars headed out for the final leg of the trip, which was
the most fun.  We were lead by Dave Head and his Valentine One at a cruising
speed in the 90mph neighborhood.  We owned channel 12 for most of the time
and used it liberally.  A stop in Hayes for historical perspective proved to
be too accurate, historically speaking, as Gary's '86 5kcstq was the one to
spring a coolant spring this year.  Fortunately it was an upper hose and
Brendan was able to make short work of it.  No jack stands this year.

The rest of the journey was a Breeze :-) or more like a blast.  Once we got
into Colorado, our cruising speed rose to about 100.  There were slower
moments when we encountered traffic and then some quite faster moments when
some were separated by that traffic.  Jim Griffin and Christian Long
reported that my avant feels quite fine at 133mph.  Glad to hear it as I was
having fun in Brendan's A4 1.8t finding the 125 speed limiter.  I'll tell
you, extended driving in that car at 110+ was completely comfortable.  That
factory sports suspension is very nice and the cockpit adjustability is
superb.  Throttle tip in at 90 is instantaneous... as soon as you move your
foot, it goes.  I also drove Osman's '95 A6q automatic loaner for an hour or
two.  It is no slouch.  At 80mph, foot to the floor, it downshifts to 3rd,
shifts at 100, and runs up past 110 quite nicely.  It owes no apologies.

The final two lane flog was the true test, as it served to highlight the
differences between the normally or lightly aspirated cars and those with
the heavy breathers.  Passing was once again a "plan ahead, plan way ahead"
exercise for some.  ;-) 

Arrived at the Sheraton at 5:30 and checked in.  Geeked around in the
parking lot, went to dinner, bumped into Chad Clark on the way.  Later more
heads under hoods and a couple cold beers, then off to bed.  Ingo and Scott
Justusson arrived at an unpublished hour sometime later... ;-)

Saturday AM we rounded up at the museum and headed up the hill.  We had to
talk our way through each check point as the information of our presence
apparently had not preceded us.  Once we arrived at Devil's Playground, we
were met with our most formidable opposition.  A 16 year old who kept us
lined up on the course for about 20 minutes while mustering the gumption to
make an "executive decision" about where to put us since he too had no prior
knowledge of our arrival.  We finally got situated very nicely and proceeded
to enjoy the race.

The weather was very nice and it seems there was much better coverage by
ESPN.  I'm quite sure I saw a helicopter with cameraman hanging out the side
fly over and pan the whole Audi collection.  It's about time.  Let's just
hope it makes in on the air.  The rain once again helped to wash us down the
mountain and back to the comfort of paved roads and actual oxygen in the air
:-).  More geeking around in the parking lot helped to lighten my load by
about a case and a half of local beers from the Southeastern US, as I had
intended.

Off to dinner in downtown Colo Springs where we found an S6 Avant with
Minnesota plates.  It was determined to most likely belong to Steve Beddor
who appeared to be seated at a table in the window of our intended dining
destination where he had a clear view of his car.  Neither he nor the
restaurant appeared to have much interested in our party so Ingo scouted out
another place to eat and finagled the whole downstairs for our group which
proved to be an excellent venue to finish off a stellar day.  Back to the
hotel and to bed to prepare for Track Day!

Another "A-train" ensued south to Pueblo and arrived at the track at about
9:20.  Scott J held a brief meeting to establish some guidelines and off we
were.  We had that track to ourselves except for two motorcycles who were
there for a couple of hours and were largely unnoticed.  Temps were high but
everyone and their hardware performed very well.  I am definitely hooked.
Scott Mockry replaced my bypass valve while I aired up the tires for some
more runs one of which was with Scott J at the helm.  Scott is a wagon owner
himself and seemed to really enjoy himself.  I know I did.  I later tried to
imitate his lines and learned that I have a lot to learn.  I can't wait.  I
will also be stepping up my plans to freshen the Coupe GT so that it can be
pressed into track duty.  Jim Griffin took a couple of turns at the helm of
the Big Blue Beast and seemed to enjoy himself greatly while still taking
good care of it as it still drove beautifully on the way home.

Left the track about 4:30.  Total out of pocket cost, ZERO.  Next year we'll
have to find a less expensive venue ;-).  Maybe one that will provide free
lunch and a few sets of tires.  Ha!  Back to the parking lot with some more
frosty cold ones.  The Baton Twirling assocation was there to practice for
an event to benefit MADD.  I would love to know what they thought of a bunch
of guys sitting in the parking lot amidst a sea of empty beer bottles just
across from a group of teenage girls dancing in unison to music and throwing
batons in the air.  I would hope they understood our driving for the day had
ended and no beer was consumed prior to that point of the day.  Of course
there was the 300 yard trek to Chili's.  Which we closed.  Well, only a few
of the more intrepid soles anyway.  ;-)

Monday morning was departure time for many.  Christian and Breeze needed to
catch their flight home in KC at 6pm so they and Bob and I departed before
7am.  Bob and I took advantage of each of them as co-drivers.  I am
especially thankful as I was feeling a bit rough after numerous Fat Tires at
Chili's.  We reached KC, said our goodbyes and I was off to St Louis by 8pm.
I stayed at the Red Roof Inn just about 100 yards from Applebee's.  Red Roof
gets the nod often since they are pet friendly at every location.

The last day was hot, lonely, and 13 hours long, but passed without much
fuss.  My AC blower finally started to enter the throes of death and I had
to stop a couple of times to revive it.  Tried to run without it and almost
melted in the seat.  Leo too.  It was a steady 92 to 98 all day from St.
Louis to Knoxville where it finally started to cool a bit.  Sure miss that
dry and somewhat cooler summer weather in the Springs.  

Thanks from this lister go out to all.  Special mention goes out to Ben
Howell, Steve Eiche, Chad Clark, and Bruce Bell who provided local support
and organizing both before and during.  Another thanks to Steve for pulling
double duty with a BBQ at his house and then BBQ, Part 2 at Devil's
Playground.  
Thanks to Jim Griffin, Brett Dikeman, Doug Quebbeman for doing their part in
the organiztion efforts.  Thanks to Christian and Breeze for driving across
Kansas for me.  Thanks to Brendan, Ben, Scott M and Scott J for their
diagnostic input both direct and indirect.  Thanks to Ingo and Don Steinbru
for their valuable negotiating efforts which benefitted the group on a
couple occasions.  (Don went up against a county sheriff and got us out of
Devil's Playground on the heels of the race cars parading down the hill.)
Thanks to Scott J again for a great ride in my own car.  And thanks from Leo
for putting up with his furry hide.  It made my life a lot easier to know
that he was looked after and enjoyed by others.

If I missed anyone, it was only due to a failing memory.  8-}

Here's to AudiFest 99!