I participated in the Father’s Day autocross on June 15, 2008 at the Live Oaks campus in Milford.  Many thanks go to Terry Weiss, Walt and Pinky Staudenmaier, Jackie Bergdahl, Mike Norris, Dick Weiss and other volunteers for their efforts to organize and ensure that these events run smoothly and safely.

I was fortunate enough to get my morning runs in but my car died as I approached the starting line for my first afternoon run.  With the help of Terry and several other drivers and spectators, my car was moved to the sidelines in hopes of diagnosing and correcting the problem.  On this day I would have no such luck.  An apparent case of vapor lock or an electrical gremlin that affected the fuel pump would deny me my afternoon runs and threaten to leave my son and I stranded and waiting for a tow truck.

Enter Bob Piper, a fierce autocross competitor whom I have casually talked with at several OVR autocrosses that we both have attended.  You can see a picture of Bob’s car on page 14 of the May (April) Bent Pylon.  It’s the black 944 on the lower right.  Bob proposed to tow my car to my house with his truck and tow dolly and allow me to drive his car sohhe would not have to return to the Live Oaks campus.  I accepted his generous offer and we executed the plan.  (For those that may be interested, my 914 started easily after being towed and after cooling off in the garage for 30 minutes or so.)

Bob refused to accept monetary payment for his good deed or to cover his expenses.  After all, I did burn up his gas driving his car to my home.  Furthermore, he threatened to write a letter to the editor of this very publication and say some nasty (untrue) things about me if I continued to pressure him.  I was hoping he would accept some monetary payment and put the money towards a set of rims that match.  In the end he accepted an ice cold drink (non-alcoholic) for the rest of his ride home and my promise that I would help some other person in need like he had helped me.

My sincere thanks go to Bob, to those that helped push my disabled car around, those that helped diagnose the problem and those that offered a sympathetic word.  I hope to see them all again at the next autocross.