Chuck Christ Relives the 2004 Sebring Historic Races
- Charles Christ
- Steve Church
- Stefan Vapaa
- Mary Anne Fieux
- Randy Cook
- Ed Diehl
- George Vapaa
- Jon Ewing
- William Harding
- Chris Moberg
- 1960 93F
- 1973 97 Sonett III
- 1968 97 Sonett V4
- 1964 Quantum Formula SAAB
- 1967 Brand'X' Sports Racer
- Racecar Group Photos
Crews
- Tom Cox
- Chip Lamb
- Sune Nilsson
- Laura Briggs
- Don Wollum
Last Updated: Mar 26, 2006
7/5/2004
Some Assembly Required
I had the 93F aligned after installing freshly refinished control arms, new nylon front suspension bushings, and new adjustable Koni shocks w/new urethane shock bushings. After completing more tasks, like: changing the water pump; welding two tears in the inner fenders, and repairing loose exhaust at the front muffler of the 93F; changing the oil, and greasing the chassis and U-joints on the van; repairing inoperative trailer brakes and a license plate light bulb (.. and more!) .. my van, trailer and race car are ready to roll south to Sebring.
The SVRA Surprise
SVRA did something very exciting, yet frightening, at this event. They mixed the Vintage and Historic classes together for a 1.5 hour enduro (versus holding two, 1-hour enduro's, one for each class). And, SVRA required the cars to make two pit stops instead of one.
I was out with stuff like big block Can Am cars, 427 and 454 Corvettes, and other incredibly fast cars like GT Class Porsche 911's! I was the smallest displacement car and spent most of my time watching my mirrors.
Chuck finishes the front straight before entering Turn 1 (R. Harrington photo)
Problems? No Problems!
I came in for my first pit stop with no brakes (.. again! "Shades of Summit Point .."). My co-driver Ed Diehl and I decided to continue the event with no brakes. So, Ed got in and had an absolute blast in the car!
Yet, one more failure during the enduro plagued the car. The main power feed to the ignition switch came loose from the switch. That stranded Ed out on course with about two laps left. However, we had completed enough laps, and our two required pit stops, so we were awarded a class win! In addition, we were not dead last over all! Alas, the only Porsches that I passed were expired ones out on course.
Chuck's beautiful SAAB on the move (Richard Sloop photo)
During the 1/2-hour sprint race the car again quit out on course. It just shut off! It cranked and tried to re-fire, but to no avail! Two corner workers pushed me off course through an opening in the safety fence, and then two spectators actually pushed me all the way back to my pit area. They disappeared before I could thank them.
After getting out, I opened the hood and took off the distributor cap to find the rotor screw had loosened, allowing the rotor to spin freely on the shaft. I reinserted the screw and the car fired up like it had never quit!
Sometimes the SAAB has to rest and recover (E.J. Macaluso photo)
Ed's comments were that the car could use a bit of loosening up in the front-end because it was loose going into a corner and tight coming out. However, the Koni's are a real pain to adjust at the track so we opted to leave the suspension the way it was. Ed is rather well known in the Corvette world as one of the 1960's factory Corvette 'Grand Sport' drivers. His credentials also include driving Saabs during the Sebring 4-hour endurance race that preceded the 12-hour event in years gone by. He is, in my estimation, probably the best candidate to drive a vintage Saab based upon his experience and ability.
One Good Spin Deserves Another
I spun out during my first practice session when following a Brumos Porsche 914 into a corner too fast. He was on race tires, and my street radials just were not up to holding as well as the Porsche's tires. I ran out of track coming out of the corner and ran off course, spinning in the grass.
Entering Turn 3 (T. Rouus photo)
My second and last spin of the event was during the Enduro pace lap. Yes! I spun on the pace lap! There were about 50 cars ahead of me going like heck behind the pace car. I was second to last and having to do my best to try to keep up because the pace was almost as fast as I could run. I came around Turn 16, running 'flat out' onto the old airport straight, and found the entire field of cars PARKED in front of me! I stabbed the brakes and realized I was going too fast to come to a complete, safe stop behind the car in front of me (which I had lost sight of due to the speed of the pace lap). So, I dove off into the grass to my left and swung the tail of the car around nearly perfectly in alignment for my return back on course right where I belonged in the field!
What Is It THIS Time?!?
Now, why did the brakes fail? I'm uncertain. However, the (very short and rigid - Ed.) left front brake tube broke in half! My guess is the car has been flexing, and the flexing has been stressing the tube (between the brake master cylinder and the mounting point on the inner fender - Ed.). Now I have replaced it with a tube with a coil in it, as opposed to a straight run of tubing, to accommodate flexing and vibration.
The ignition wire that came loose will never do that again, either! It has been crimped to the point that it "snaps" onto the terminal when reinstalled! The distributor rotor screw was just a fluke thing.
Running over the concrete ridges (Richard Sloop photo)
Sebring's surface is horribly rough in spots. It's a flat airport course yet it is horribly tough on equipment. Some areas of rough surface seemingly try to throw you off the course! It's no small wonder that the 12 hour event is a true test of endurance and reliability!
Other Competitors
A good friend, Lance Smith, who drives the Greenwood "Spirit of 76" Corvette, dropped by and was very concerned about my dropping out with mechanical problems. He wanted to be certain I was all right and offered assistance if I needed any.
I gave a few gallons of race fuel to Chris Sylvestri on his way to Tech Inspection in his MG Midget; it ran out of fuel right at our paddock space. He had just hopped in his car right out of the trailer. It's always a bit of a "rush" to get to Tech Inspection and get that over with. And, after all, he's a fellow competitor who needed a bit of assistance. Therefore, I helped him out.
Chuck stays determined (R. Harrington photo)
Out on course it is not uncommon for fellow competitors who are overtaking you to wave as they pass and this event was no different. Numerous waves reminded me of the level of camaraderie out on course.
A Taste of Sebring
The in-town photo is one of me arriving in downtown Sebring for the "Taste of Sebring" "re-creation" around the town square. The entire town turns out for this event and openly welcomes the cars, drivers and crews. It is a wonderful experience and the folks that attend are really quite interested in the old cars, and share stories of days gone by from Sebring's past. There are food stands all around the square, with all kinds of local and exotic delicacies for sale, to support various charities and local clubs. It is a top-notch affair that is not to be missed by anyone attending the Sebring event!
Driving the streets for "A Taste of Sebring" (R. Harrington photo)
The local police escort the racecars during the drive into town and back to the track, but the pace can be 70 MPH, to near 100 MPH, at times! Sometimes the group gets a bit spaced out from car to car, and you get a chance to really wind out your car (in order to catch up with the car ahead of you ..) going through the orange orchards. The scent of the blossoming orange trees, when combined with the smells of burned race fuel from the long caravan of racecars, is an incredible, intoxicating aroma!
Spectators
Oh, dear Lord! I have my own gang of Saab groupies at Sebring! They are evident out on the spectator's mounds waving and hooting as I pass. You can actually hear them! A few groups came by in the paddock and stopped to chat with me. One group was about ten guys who had persuaded their spectator mound to cheer for me every time I went by, and had even named the car "Big Orange." A young lady came by and thanked me for bringing the orange Saab because it reminded her and her dad of the cars he had and she was "rooting for me" at every pass. Yet another, quite intoxicated group came by and must have shook my hand 6-9 times, thanking me for bringing the "funny orange car" that everyone loved.
Sliding for the fans (R. Harrington photo)
In this day and age of high tech, wind tunnel-designed race cars it's refreshing to see spectators who are interested in 44 year old technology. I opened the hood of the Saab for the last group and they could not believe, saying repeatedly how shocked they were, that it only had three cylinders and how tiny the motor was!
Trying to Get Home
My tow van "ate" the right axle shaft on the drive back north, so I limped up to Chip Lamb's "West of Sweden." Then I spent a few days going to a Richmond-area 'pick-n-pull' salvage yard to find a decent axle shaft. I replaced the axle, axle seal and bearing in Chip's shop; I needed a level and flat surface to disassemble the rear and do the work.
All's Well That Ends Well
I'm pleased to report that the orange Saab returned home unscathed from any contact. It is completely repaired and has new seat belts installed to comply with the new SCCA requirement of replacing belts every 2 years.
Diving into Turn 1 off the front straight (R. Harrington photo)
Sebring is a "must do" on my personal calendar of events. It is the farthest event from home I attend. The round trip expenses are astronomical! Nevertheless, the quality of the event and the track festivities are just amazing!
The Central Pennsylvania Saab Club, Don Fatzinger of Fatzinger Automotive, Chip Lamb of "West of Sweden," Marc Fails, Randy Cook, and a few other people were instrumental in my getting to Sebring. Without their combined help and support the effort might not have happened!
Chuck