VEE: VERY INEXPENSIVE

In C Modified, the Star’s primitive suspension was no match for the Zink Formula Vee of David Nuss. Nuss was a new comer to the sport. Nuss’s Formula Vee seemed to handle outstandingly. Either the car was much superior to the Star, or Nuss was an amazing driver. I knew that we would need to do a lot of work during the winter if we were going to compete on an even basis. Later that year, following the nationals, we were competing in an event in Hartford, Michigan. It was a half mile banked oval and paved track. There were several cars in our class including three Formula Vees. Coming off the national, we were running on nearly brand new Hoosier tires. The new tires made an outstanding difference in handling. I managed to top the fastest Vee’s best-timed run by only a tenth of a second ahead of Lee Ingersol, in his Autodynamics Formula Vee on the high-banked slalom course.

Following the event Lee and I talked about events we had run and the cars and courses. Others were having fun doing non-competition fun runs as we waited for the trophy awards. Lee asked if I would like to sit in the car to get a feel for it. He helped me squeeze into the cockpit of his Vee. I found it a bit cramped but comfortable. One thing was for sure. Once in the drivers seat, the driver and car became one. The cars shifter was home made and there were few gauges. Formula Vee rules dictate that the car must have spec tires. That is the Formula Vees are required to run road race ready, narrow pattern tires. This gives it a sort of a soapbox derby kind of aerodynamics.

Lee asked if I would like to take it on a fun run. My heart stopped and I was almost unable to speak. I nodded my head in confirmation. I drove slowly to the start line, learning the turn radius and seating position. The car had much more power than I had anticipated. Above all, the handling was so superior to the Star. I finished my run, shaking from the G-forces. Lee was shaking his head as I drove to the pit area. As I pulled myself out of the tight cockpit, Lee stopped, and then shook my hand. He said I had bested his top run by TWO SECONDS! Joyce and I drove home that weekend with many options to talk about. We could not afford a Vee, but the thought seemed to beckon us.

Later that fall, Lee called asking if we wanted to buy the Vee. My heart skipped a few beats, as I really wanted the Vee; however we had little money. I told him if I could sell the Star I would call him back. Three weeks later, we delivered the Star to a buyer in Indianapolis Indiana. Then it was to the phone to talk price with Lee for the Vee. “How about three,” Lee said. I wondered, “Three? Three what?” I asked him to repeat the price. It was three hundred bucks. “It needs tires but I will throw in the trailer.” That weekend the Vee was in our garage.

I spent most of the winter restoring it. Bruce Foss at Hoosier tires gave us a real deal on some new Hoosier slicks. I stripped the paint down and totally restored the body. Then we painted it a bright gold and it looked great! The rest of that winter went very slowly. In March, we were invited to a car show in Merriville, Indiana. Jim McKamey was helping the Northwest Ohio Region SCCA sponsor a car show.

With the car in tow, we left Holland Michigan, with a foot of snow on the ground. We got to the mall where we set up our display. I sat on a black carpet. I had jack stands under the suspension to get it up off the ground, where it could be seen well. Signs around the car told its new name, GOLDRUSH. Sprinkles of gold dust and various gold colored articles made the display a real eye catcher. That day our little Vee won its first award, Best of Show!

Spring came and found us a little too anxious. We drove three times to Indiana, only to drive the Vee in either rain or snow. By April, we found decent weather and began a streak of FTDs, (fastest time of day). Joyce was getting used to the car and competing in a parallel ladies class. In late summer, both Joyce and I both had become Central Division champions. As the national neared, we wondered if the Vee (and we) were up to the challenge.