There used to be a diehard group in our area that raced frequently for years lending credence to the name "BGNRA", then attrition began to take its course. Eventually it became the "Jason Hall / Neal S / Morgan H / Jeff Rand & Ray" Show more often than not at Fontana. Neal, Jason and myself would make the trip to LVMS and run. Frankly, I loved Speedworld, but again, how many So Cal guys made that trip and ran? Neal and I, at least that particular year. Given that I prefer 1/4 mile racing and didn't need to test suspension setups, I stayed away from Barona.
When Jason sold his burgundy Stage II Limited the writing was on the wall for me. I was already on the fence about keeping my GN, and my life was being pulled in other directions as I was getting heavily back into music (for those that don't know, I play a number of brass instruments and have been a musician for 40 years now.) After a long hiatus, I also got back on a motorcycle. My GN was too much for our local streets and its omnipresent LEOs. Quarter mile track options were (and still are) few, and on a few occasions I'd be the only Buick of any sort out at Fontana.
At the same time, I became very disenchanted with the whole "Yo!"/flat bill ballcap (still with pricetag) worn on the side/import a$$clown scene at the track, 400-car days (of which only 50 were fast), and pimple-faced, UTI-jacket wearing morons telling me "...your car would go faster if you just put a small block in it." ("Ah, I see you flunked 'turbocharging' at UTI.") In short, I was putting my heart and $oul into a hobby that simply wasn't fun anymore. I put my GN into a storage unit, took it out only on a few occasions, then once again to load it onto a trailer destined for Canada. Neal sold his Stage II T-Type a few months later, and my blue sleeper TR Limited had to find another home when job prospects were bleak. Within 18 months three of the stalwarts of the So Cal TR racing community since the mid-90's were done.
I now spend much of my free time rehearsing & performing with brass ensembles and trombone choirs (I have a full slate of performances this summer), or riding my H-D Sportster short chop with my kid. After summer school ends my son (he is 11 now) and I plan on taking a "Lap of America" road trip on the Harley in mid-July which will take several weeks.
This was just a long-winded way of saying that times & people change. I loved the racing part but disliked dealing with idiots at the track; unfortunately, idiots are not a dying breed, in fact, many go on to lead very fulfilling lives as managers, radio talk show hosts and politicians. I admire those that still have the energy and wherewithal to keep the GN/TR presence alive at the track.
When Jason sold his burgundy Stage II Limited the writing was on the wall for me. I was already on the fence about keeping my GN, and my life was being pulled in other directions as I was getting heavily back into music (for those that don't know, I play a number of brass instruments and have been a musician for 40 years now.) After a long hiatus, I also got back on a motorcycle. My GN was too much for our local streets and its omnipresent LEOs. Quarter mile track options were (and still are) few, and on a few occasions I'd be the only Buick of any sort out at Fontana.
At the same time, I became very disenchanted with the whole "Yo!"/flat bill ballcap (still with pricetag) worn on the side/import a$$clown scene at the track, 400-car days (of which only 50 were fast), and pimple-faced, UTI-jacket wearing morons telling me "...your car would go faster if you just put a small block in it." ("Ah, I see you flunked 'turbocharging' at UTI.") In short, I was putting my heart and $oul into a hobby that simply wasn't fun anymore. I put my GN into a storage unit, took it out only on a few occasions, then once again to load it onto a trailer destined for Canada. Neal sold his Stage II T-Type a few months later, and my blue sleeper TR Limited had to find another home when job prospects were bleak. Within 18 months three of the stalwarts of the So Cal TR racing community since the mid-90's were done.
I now spend much of my free time rehearsing & performing with brass ensembles and trombone choirs (I have a full slate of performances this summer), or riding my H-D Sportster short chop with my kid. After summer school ends my son (he is 11 now) and I plan on taking a "Lap of America" road trip on the Harley in mid-July which will take several weeks.
This was just a long-winded way of saying that times & people change. I loved the racing part but disliked dealing with idiots at the track; unfortunately, idiots are not a dying breed, in fact, many go on to lead very fulfilling lives as managers, radio talk show hosts and politicians. I admire those that still have the energy and wherewithal to keep the GN/TR presence alive at the track.
