April 18, 2009

Well today Route 66 Race Track opened. On tap for today is the first Test and Tune of the year and the weather has cooperated. It is overcast and the temperature is about 65. From what I have been told the track is packed with racers, crew members, family and friends. It has been a very long winter and this day seems like it to took forever to get here.

It is a very strange day for Jaycee and me. I don’t think we have ever missed the first test and tune at 66 since the track opened but I guess there is a first time for everything. Nothing this year will be the same for us. As most, if not all of you know Chris Costa, (Jaycee’s brother and my brother-in-law) passed away on February 26, 2009. Jaycee and Chris own the 63 Split Window Corvette that has run in the Top Sportsman Class at Rt. 66 for the past 3 years or so. Today the car sits in the garage and Jaycee is working at the shop.My son is out at the track with his car as are many of our friends.

This morning I was getting ready to leave the house and Jaycee called from the shop. A Top Sportsman Racer was at the shop this morning to have the finishing touches put on the wing Jaycee built for his car. Jaycee was able to do what he had to do in the trailer. When he was finished he wished them Good Luck and Safe Rides and off they went. When he walked in the shop the song Time Of Your Life by Greenday started to play. It was then that Jaycee knew Chris was there at the shop with him. A few years ago I made a DVD of the Corvette and set it to music. Chris loved that DVD and after the first time we watched it at the shop he looked at me and said, I love this DVD but you made me cry Mar. It was the Greenday song that touched his heart. The song plays in the video at a place where there are a few passes of the Vette and then still photo shots of the car, family and friends at the race track.

 Chris loved the Corvette, he loved working at the shop with Jaycee, he loved going to the race track, he loved his family and his friends. He loved the MWTS Forum. He could always make someone laugh with a crazy picture or just one sentence in Chris “Speak”. He was the kind of guy who would do anything for you without asking why. He loved to laugh but knew when to be serious. He would crack up when I would get home from having my nails done and go out to the garage to help him work on the car because Jaycee was working at the shop. He told Pattie, I can’t believe her, she gets her nails done and then comes out to the garage and works on the vette. Chris had a big part in helping Jaycee build Dan Bills Mustang. He loved that car too.

It just seems that so much has changed in just one year for us and for many of you as well. We are taking things one day at a time right now. Life is so unpredictable and you must live each day with all you’ve got. Time stands still for no one. So be kind to each other, live, laugh, love and make sure you tell those special people in your life that You Love Them and Let Them Know How Much They Mean To You.

Well that’s all I have for now…… take care…… Good Luck and Safe Rides Mary Therese

Good Riddance (Time Of Your Life)

Another turning point, a fork stuck in the road Time grabs you by the wrist, directs you where to go So make the best of this test, and dont ask why Its not a question, but a lesson learned in time

Its something unpredictable, but in the end its right. I hope you had the time of your life.

The motor was upgraded and the clutch we had was an old one. Jaycee, Chris and I decided we would see if a new clutch would help our efforts. We did not take advantage of the test and tunes so this seasons disappointment is totally on us. We ended up racing and testing at the same time. You can’t do that with this Top Sportsman Group. You have to be on your game and ready to race when you pull in the track. We were not. We did have a few good passes this year and for that we are thankful. Mid Year our partners and us went our separate ways and we parked the Corvette. We are in the process of deciding what route we will take for next year. We hope to be back out there ready to race with the Midwest Top Sportsman At Route 66 for the 2009 Season.

At the Divisional Race in June we had a great time. We had a Beach Party on Saturday night after a full day of racing. It was so much fun. Just about everyone had on a Hawaiian Shirt, we had tons of food, drinks and a lot of laughs. It is a day that I will not forget and I am sure others won’t either.

We did race with Dan Bills and his 2007 Mustang with the Midwest Top Sportsman this season. Dan had the car out there for 7 of the 8 races. We made a lot of progress with Dan’s car so far and are looking forward to finding a little bit more. I believe Dan was always in the top 4 of the field, qualifying 1^st at one of the events. After Dan won his first round this year Jaycee shook his had and said congratulations you have won more rounds this year than I have. We all laughed, but it was true. Dan and his family are great people and we are really glad he decided to run with the Midwest Top Sportsman this year. As most of you know Jaycee built the Mustang and it is truly a work of art. The Mustang won two Best Engineered Car Awards this year and that is a very high compliment to Jaycee. He takes his work very seriously and is one of the good guys. I should know, I married him.

At the last two races for Top Sportsman this year we raced our friend Jeff’s car (AKA MOOSEY). He was kind enough to offer us his car to race and we decided it would be great to be out there with everyone for the last weekend of racing at 66. We did qualify but went out first round on Saturday. Sunday we qualified again but did not make first round. The transmission decided not to cooperate so we were done. Even though the racing did not go well for us, we had a blast with all of our friends at the track.

Since the last race there has been a lot going on. Brian Brown came up with the idea to do something for Jim Patten (AKA THE GENERAL) for all his has done for our Top Sportsman Group. It was decided that we would get him a jacket with the MWTS Logo on it, IRONWEBS, (Chris’s logo) and his name General Jim. The group all pitched in and it really worked out well. It was intended (Brian’s wishes) that Chris was to get a jacket from us too for all he has done this year but that did not work out. Chris went and bought himself, Jaycee and me jacket when he purchased Jim’s. I was stuck, I have since told him that he blew it because he was part of the THANK YOU JACKET TOUR. He took care of getting the embroidery work done at a local shop and did a wonderful job. Chris is a very modest, hard working, dedicated, caring guy, and no that is not mushy…..He does what he does because he is a kind man with a huge heart who will help anyone at any time, no questions asked. Again I should know I am his sister-in-law.

The jacket was presented to Jim Patten at Gatto’s on Sunday October 12^th. He was shocked to say the least. Chris and Tony (GRIZ) the Top Sportsman 2008 Champion presented him with the jacket and the look on his face was priceless. He does what he does for us because he loves this sport and loves all of us. NOT MUSHY. He looks out for our best interests and that is a very difficult task at times. He is the go to guy at the track when we have issues. He speaks up for us when he feels we are getting pushed around. He arranged the Inaugural Race at Et Raceway this year. For this Jim we thank you. It was a great evening and big fun was had by all that were able to attend.

Griz mentioned to me at Gatto’s that he would like to get together with the group a couple of times over the winter (and you know how long those are around here) just to catch up on everything. I told him I thought it was a great idea. If we get anything set up I will post the information on the forum and / or send PM’s or an email. Just something to think about and look forward to.

Chris has been updating the Midwest Forum Website and it looks great. The hours he puts in on the forum and all of the other sites he has designed is unbelievable.

A Big Thank You to Chris Costa for who he is and what he does for us.

Finally we may be taking Moosey’s car out one more time this year.

We also may try to go somewhere with Dan’s Mustang.