Bob Machinist had a great weekend in his B-21 Chevron, a 2nd in class with his Datsun 240Z in the enduro with plenty to savor then lament when a sway bar mount failed on his DB-4, making Sunday this Aston's day of rest.

Randy Lenz's Ginetta G-10 had some tuning problems at its first event of the season. Randy and the VRS crew persevered and turned in a good performance. He was very quick and up to speed in his McKee MK7 Can Am car until an errant Lola T-70 ended his race a tad early. My Spitfire and I managed a 1st in class and 10th O.A. on Sunday, followed by one of the weekend's premier attractions . . . . Our Eastbound return on the inaugural voyage of "Bob Air" and its new acquisition, a new Merlin Turbo prop eight-passenger aircraft. "Bob Air," you say? The Bob is none other than our own Bob Machinist. Bob has produced an airliner to service many of the major events VRS customers opt to attend. Luxury and convenience, with rates remarkably tolerable! Bob's slight of hand? Sorcery? Clever, creative financial arrangements? Who knows? Who cares! It's a beautiful plane, offering superb service & great company. Why look a gift craft in the mouth. "This is the way to go." (quote Larry Kessler 7/21/02, en route home from Elkhart). It all happens Sunday afternoon. The pilots are ready; the cooler is stocked . . . off the racetrack, and in just 20 minutes we are air borne. With a stop in Rochester to drop off the Kesslers, then Ellen Akin, Bob & myself are all back in the New York area in time for dinner . . . Easy! The VRS crew returned from Road America with plenty to get done. Post race evaluations of all the R.A. cars, completion and testing the Carrera Volvo and preparation of the RR racing TransAm Camaro for Jack Cowell at the Monterey Historics. Coastal rule differences demand a complete drivetrain change and numerous other detail changes. One day, in a race preparer's dream world, our clients' aching wallets will surely rejoice when the various vintage sanctioning bodies "think national" and standardize rules. Ah well, it's all work to us, so out comes the trick stuff and in goes the 1970 Vintage SCCA Trans Am drivetrain and period-correct suspension. Early August sees the car on Pete Racely's truck headed west.

Another July highlight was our 1-day jaunt to Lime Rock for the annual Aston Martin Owners' Club track day. Bob Machinist tried his DB-4 and Datsun 240, while Jean Goutal enjoyed both his street Elan and Ginetta G-4. Great day, great club, all ran well and safely.