Subject: Bags steps out and Lime Rock 2003
Date: 5/29/2003

The Lime Rock event has not been known for taking place during the best of weather. This year had the makings of another wet event. The forecast was for rain Thursday through Monday. Because the forecast was for extended rain and because NSXs do not seem to be a car that goes well through mud, I asked Pete if he thought I should come to the event with the Pilot and a tow strap. Pete assured me that we have never had trouble getting out of the field at Lime Rock during wet weather and he did not anticipate trouble this time.

My NSX was already dirty from another outing so I debated whether I should wash it before heading to the event. Pete had invited Tony, Bags, and myself to stay at his place Friday night. If we arrived early enough, we would be able to join them for dinner. I decided that with the forecast rain, I would wash the car once I got to Pete's.

Bag's had interest in seeing some of Pennsylvania while she was visiting from Georgia, so I decided to take leave on Thursday and take her on a tour (while Tony worked :-). The only grumble I got from Bags about my tour plans was that I wanted her to be ready by 9 AM. (Bags is not a morning person) I told her it would be a good exercise because she would have to get up earlier than that when departing for LRP on Saturday.

Thursday turned out to be better that forecast. I arrived at Tony's a little before 9 AM and entered the house to see a horrible site (sorry, to horrible to talk about). I turned my head and thought, "Go away...be gone," and when I looked back, it had disappeared. (whew!) Bags was ready, so we departed for the Gap (Fort Indiantown Gap). One of the preplanned stops was to let Bags fly the UH-60 Black Hawk simulator. Because I would have to work her in between flight schedules, I would try early and if the schedule wouldn't accommodate us, we would try later in the afternoon. A phone call from my office revealed that the simulator would not be ready until early afternoon, so we decided to go to Hershey Park's Chocolate World. Chocolate World has replaced the tour through the chocolate factory. It is a free ride completed in cars on a track through replications of the process used to make chocolate bars and kisses.

We got into line for the ride. The ropes that guide you to the boarding point start wide and then narrow to two wide. Bags has traits similar to Tony in traffic. Which is, if you see an opening, you go for it. Consequently, as the line narrowed, Bags was a fair distance in front of me. As I walked down the steps to the ride, Bags was waiting for me. We boarded the car and completed the ride. After you exit the ride, Hershey gives you free candy bar that is intended to wet your appetite for chocolate. Their intent is clear as you then walk into their large chocolate retail outlet. They have everything from miniatures to 5 lb chocolate bars. We bought some chocolate; had lunch; drove back home to change into my flight suit; then drove to the simulator.

I gave Bags a quick safety brief, got her buckled in, and put the simulator on motion. "Motion" is the term used when the simulator cockpit is raised into the air by hydraulic pistons. The three pistons extend/retract allowing the pilot to feel bank angles, climbs and decents, thus simulating flight. I explained the layout of the cockpit, which instruments represented flight and engine indications, which controls were for communication/navigation, etc. At first Bags was a little jerky on the flight controls (which is very normal), but then she started making smooth inputs and made a landing without crashing. For the limited time she was in the simulator, she did better than many beginners.

From there we went back home, I changed into my civies, and drove to Lancaster (pronounced LANK aster) to chase the Amish buggies around with the car. There were several buggies commuting to different places, mules pulling hay wagons and bailers. We stopped at Strausburg to view the steam locomotive and the train museum next door. After that we worked our way back to Palmer, PA. Tony was back from work, so we met at a Cracker Barrel restaurant that was halfway between our homes to have dinner.

Friday arrived with just a few sprinkles in the morning and the indecision of washing the NSX. The clouds were lifting and with the less likelihood of rain and Tony calling to say he wouldn't be able to go as early as he thought, I decided to wash the car. Washing the car always brings hoots, toots, and great car comments from people passing by. It is not uncommon for some to pull into the yard to look, especially if more than one NSX is in the yard. I loaded the car and struck off for Tony's. He wasn't there when I arrived so I alerted Sylvia that we would not arrive at their place until about 5 PM.

By the time Tony and Bags arrived I was sure we would still be able to make our arrival time even though it had started to rain. We departed heading for I-78 but the entrance was blocked by a state trooper. While we were waiting in line, Tony heard on the radio that an accident was the reason for the entrance being blocked. We headed down the road, not really knowing where we were going, looking for another entrance past the closed area. Bags was navigating and found a road that should intersect I-78. Because of traffic backups, I was getting concerned that we would arrive past the appointed time but before long we came to the entrance and got back on course. Traffic on the other side appeared to be backed up about 10 miles! Traffic on our side kept flowing until we got to Saw Mill, but that minimal delay only put us about 5 minutes pass our appointed arrival. Peter being gracious, had allowed Tony and I to park in his garage. Pete has a lift so Tony and I had to decide who was going to be on top. Tony said he wanted to be on top (he's old fashion). I thought, "His car is cleaner than mine and I want to check my brakes (they were squealing)," so I said, "OK." Tony said, "Good, now I can drip oil and dirt all over your car!" (great). We went into their home, exchanged pleasantries, and Sylvia gave Tony and Bags a quick tour of the improvements that had been completed on their home. Syl is excited about the improvements and tells them, "This was all Larry's idea and it wouldn't have happened without him!" Peter is giving me "the eye" while Syl is making her comments. It makes me squirm because the improvements I suggested seem to cost SIGNIFICANTLY more in Bedford Hills than what I would have anticipated. I tried to give Syl some credit, but oh no, it comes back to me. (she continues) "Everything Larry suggested, we're doing!" (I can still feel the burning from the eye, but the house does look good)

It is time to go to dinner, so Syl suggests a nearby Indian restaurant. Tony looks at me and smiles, I roll my eyes, and say OK. As we walk into the restaurant, I realize that I left my reading glasses in Pete's car. Tony smiles and says, "That's OK, Bags can order for you!" (Let me tell you about Bags selecting food for me.)

Although it has taken a while for me to learn that Bags only likes to eat HOT SPICY food. (it's a latitude thing) So whenever she offers me something, saying it's good. She means (from my perspective) "good and hot" More then once I have put her unknown offerings in my mouth without thinking. The results varied from tolerable to pain, but rarely was it something enjoyable, so I question everything she gives me.

Bags orders some appetizers and shares them with everyone at the table. I get input from Tony before I try them. With the sweet sauce, they taste pretty good. I see a lamb entree in the menu that does not have the words hot or spicy so I order that. The others are more adventuresome. I prep myself with two glasses of wine (to help ease the pain :-) before the meal arrives. The entree wasn't the piece of lamb I expected, but was small pieces done up in a sauce. Although it was a little spicy, it wasn't hot spices, so I was pleased with my selection. Everyone was happy with their selection also. With full tummies we returned to the Mills'.

With a plan as to who will use the bathroom first in the morning, we retired for the night. I set my alarm, and went to sleep. Pete was first to arise and the noise of water going through the water pipes woke me up. It's not that I'm necessarily a light sleeper, but I keep an ear open for specific sounds. Jets taking off at an airport will not wake me, but music set at low volume will. So water running through pipes is a signal that it will be my time to get up and use the bathroom.

I got up and waited downstairs for Pete to finish. When he was through, I proceed to use the bathroom. When I had finished, Tony was waiting downstairs. I was wondering if the water through the pipes had woken him? I'm not sure about the pipes, but the alarm I set on my Palm Pilot going beep...beep...beep...beep, apparently did! Seems Tony was trying to get out of bed and get to the alarm before Bags woke up (remember, she is not a morning person).

After breakfast, Pete headed to his business because he had some last minute stuff to complete before we departed for Lime Rock. Bob Ondrovic would meet us there. I put my cooler in Pete's car so that Syl would be able to ride with me to the meeting place. From Bell Office (home of the finest office furniture in the Northeast... your welcome Pete. Send advertising check to...) we headed to our ritual gathering point. Pete suggested Syl ride with me to the first stop and asked if I would lead the group because he had to go back to lock the office door. It was another rainy day and visibility was poor due to spray from the tires. As we got closer to the stop, I saw the nearby fuel dispensing depot...OK, gas station, and was looking for the Jehovah Witness building. Not seeing it, I kept driving because I knew it would be coming up soon. Bob calls on the club radio saying, "We just drove by the place." "Really?" I said. "Ya, the big Jehovah Witness sign out front gave it away," was the reply. We turned around, drove the short distance back, and low and behold, there WAS a big sign. I pulled in the driveway, looked in my rear view mirror and no one was behind me. (Guess the guys got blocked by traffic) The guys pull in and Bob says, "I got talking and drove right by the sign and had to turn around in the Getty lot."

Larry B/Son and Ernie/Vicky Ragin were waiting for us. Pleasantries were exchanged while we waited for others to arrive. I moved Syl's stuff from my car to Pete's and loaded my cooler in the front seat. "I thought I was going to ride with you?" Sylvia inquired. "Pete and I had discussed this in his parking lot and it was determined that he couldn't afford a longer ride." (Referring to the home improvement ideas that Syl and I inevitably talk about.) I asked Ernie where he parked his car. He pointed towards the building. "Ernie, did you forget this was an NSX event?" (he came in his Mercedes). Turns out he had just spent a lot of money to have his car detailed and didn't want to get it messed up on it's first time out. (fair enough) I told Pete that he should lead the way and I would bring up trail because my car was easy to spot. Pete made some comment that last was were I usually was anyway.

The drive, due to traffic, was a slow event. As we got nearer, the clouds were lifting and I saw a place off to our left that looked like the sun was trying to peek through. I told Pete we should drive in that direction. Pete thought it was a good idea except that Lime Rock wasn't in that direction.

Arrival at Lime Rock found the rain almost stopped and the other NSX members already waiting. Like Dave Moore and Susan Porter (no NSX, not his fault...well really it was:-), Rich Hutte and Amanda Mosebech (no NSX, didn't want to get it wet), Gary and Glades McNamee, Joe Lamoriello, and others. More pleasantries and then I was off to look for models at the vendors. By the time I "lost all my money at the track" it was time to have lunch with Peter Cunningham and the rest of the Realtime crew. I made a quick run to the car with the models and then ran down to the pits. PD gave us a quick down and dirty rundown on what was happening with the team while we finished eating. After lunch, we watched the racing. As the afternoon went on, members left one by one until only Pete, Syl, Tony, Bags, Bob, and myself were left. As we gathered by the cars someone suggested that we have dinner before going our separate ways. As I noticed how our cars were parked (theirs side by side, mine far down the road), I couldn't help but think of this song. "They wouldn't let poor Larry, join in any NSX games...") They departed before me, but I caught up. We stopped at "Four Brothers" restaurant for dinner.

Syl got into this conversation that if she ordered a certain entree, Pete felt he couldn't order the same thing. Which quickly became the theme for the rest of us. As soon as Syl would start to say she wanted a certain item, before she could get it all out, someone would quickly say they wanted that item and told Syl she was going to have to order something else. After we finished tormenting Syl, she and Bags went to buy some things they saw on the way in. Syl came back with a bag, said she found something, set the bag on the table, and went to the little girl's room. Meanwhile, a certain individual took the object out of the bag and replaced it with the container that held the sugar packets. Syl returned and we asked what she had in the bag. Syl was excited to show us, but when she reached in and pulled out the container, she looked at all the men and asked who took her tomato. Tomato? What tomato? And Syl, why are you trying to steal those sugar packets? She thought Bob took it for sure, even though he kept denying it. The questioning went on for some time and Syl didn't notice that the tomato had been quickly placed right in front of her. When she finally noticed it, we acted as if it had always been there. Syl then recognized a famous actor (famous to those who have culture) who was sitting at the table next to us.

After the meal, The Mills'/Bob left together and Tony/Bags and I left together. On the way back, to top off the day, I almost had a deer strike. Bob heard my deer strike comment on the radio and then silence. (he thought I may have hit it because of the radio silence, but he was just out of radio range) I called his cell phone to let him know all was right in Larry Land. I told him the deer was so close to hitting my car, that Tony thought the deer had gone between us and he was slowing down to avoid hitting it. Actually, the deer was no more than 3 feet in front of me. If I had not applied the brakes quickly, the deer would have been in the windshield. After that, Tony followed a little further behind.

(Am I getting better avoiding strikes or is the lack of impacts just a sign that the big one is waiting to happen?)

Larry G.