OLOA10 - Day 7 - Lunch break and some familiar faces.
The One Lap of America can certainly become “one” with you once you’ve competed. One of the things about this event that makes it special is that people just keep coming back; even when they are not competing. It seems that wherever we go, when the One Lap rolls into the various tracks, someone from the area who had run in the past makes an appearance. Today was no different as there were a few former teams gracing us with their presence and there to enjoy the racing! It’s in their blood, they just cant help it!
Case in point, shortly after we arrived and unpacked our car, this nice silver Porsche Turbo pulls into the spot next to us. This car, driven by Mark DaVia, last competed 2 years ago. When he did last run, he won overall. Along with the previous 4 years! Same driver, same car, 5 years in a row at the top! That was quite a team. He even brought out the trophy from his last win - a special one-off tire with the One Lap logo and Brock Yates Sr.’s signature carved into the tread! Way cool! The reason he hasn’t competed the last 2 years? Well, his daughter was born last year in the middle of One Lap, so he opted to stay home for that and spend some time with the family. It sounds like he will be back eventually…
The 2004-2008 One Lap Champ
Other than a few familiar faces of friends from previous One Laps, we also got to witness another familiar “face”. Or more correctly, the back of heads… Naps are starting to become common occurrences. While waiting in the rather long lunch line today, I looked over to see one of the drivers of the #54 Honda Civic with his head down while his co-driver was in line. That car is certainly very fast (300-ish at the wheels I think?), but it lacks what some would call any sound deadening or creature comforts. I don’t think these guys are getting much sleep on the road…. Welcome to the One Lap, pups!
