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As usual, the contestants used their skills and imaginations to create
buggies of every shape and description — from the Eagle team’s
sleek Thunderbird 20 to the considerably less shapely Jelly
Donut Special.
The track was similar to last year’s, starting on the hair–raising
downhill run to the first corner by the gas station. Buggies that had
solid rubber tires got a head start here. Even the Dream Team’s entry,
with its heavy iron chassis, got ahead of the pack. Lighter buggies with
wide tires were slow to start, but they had a lot more control on the
first corner. This section really tested the brakes for those using pedal
power.
Around half the buggies lost speed on the Filmore Park section of the
track. Entries with wide tires sped across the grass and gravel, leaving
the heavier, narrow–tired buggies to eat their dust. Racers who were using
person power had to work hard on this flat section of the route, especially
those who were pushing iron–framed buggies. It was even harder as they
emerged from the park and began to climb View Street.
Then it was down the winding Spark’s Hill Road, with its six hairpin
bends. Seven buggies lost control here, mostly those with rope steering,
which didn’t help with the quick changes of direction needed. Narrow
tires proved to be a bad choice here as well, especially for those taking
the turns at high speed.
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The happy winners: the Brewster brothers and their driver,
Charlyce.
Only half the entries made it to the long, final stretch. Here, the pedal
and engine buggies put on a burst of speed, passing all but one of the
person-powered entries that had made it that far. The colorful Rainbow
Rocket, pushed by the Brewster brothers, crossed the line seconds
ahead of Thunderbird 20.
I hear that planning has already started for next year’s event.
No doubt each team will have learned from the mistakes of others. I am
sure that the buggies in next year’s GB 500 will be greatly improved
models. I look forward to seeing them.
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