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There are many people out there that have reactions to different types of hair. Some react to cat hair and some react to dog hair. On the other hand I have big reactions to wild hairs. My latest reaction? Two-car trailers. For a while Andy and I have thought how nice it would be to have one truck and one trailer. This past month has forced our move. It seems that from here on out we will be attending the Chicago Region TRAC at Road America on Labor Day weekend. This year we decided not to drive out but to have the cars shipped out and fly to the race. Everything was all arranged. The transportation had all been scheduled, flights booked, hotel reservations made, and a rent-a-car waiting for us. We were all pumped that we didn't have to drive for 2-days out and 2-days back. Unfortunately there was dirty dealing in the wings. Apparently, the company scheduled to haul our cars had been sold a month prior without our knowledge and the manager and one driver had decided to make a few extra bucks on the side by taking our cars. The morning I brought my car over to EPE to load on the truck poor Bob Cohen was beside himself with frustration. This is when the whole scheme became clear and the parent company found out and told the driver if he picked up the cars they would confiscate his truck. So... Bob and I made a bunch of calls to get another truck but no luck. Andy, Peter Dikeman, Bruce Hauben and myself had to go home and load our own trailers and get prepared for an 18-hour ride out. All this pushed our two-car trailer plans way up. When we got back I ordered a 44-foot Classic Trailer from Gil and Dave at Atlantic Coast Trailers. They have been a long time sponsor of the Northeast Region and my present trailer was originally owned by Gil and his son. I could have gotten a 48-foot but decided to get a bit more than what we needed but not that much. This will be sweet. At first I was looking at an ATC aluminum trailer but decided on getting another Classic trailer. Classic make a steel frame trailer that is actually just a little heavier than the aluminum frame ATC. And it is about $6,000 less. We're not loading it up a great deal just a couple nice things. As a major cost cutter we decided not to have a built-in generator. We will continue to use our Honda EU-3000 and strap it down inside. We are getting a full light package with 2 quartz lights on the same side as the door and 25 foot awning. Then one 8-foot ceiling cabinet for the stuff we keep in the trailer. My last trailer had the diamond plate floor that held up real well and we decided to get that again. Our extra wheels will be kept in the front overhang along with the new toolbox. Hopefully it will be ready the end of October just in time for a maiden voyage down to the Carolina Club Race in November. Add a bit of cool Team Northeast vinyl and the 17" flat screen TV and we are good to go. Except for one thing. My diesel F-350 Super Cab, short bed is no match for a 44-foot gooseneck trailer. So the search for a diesel F-350 Crew Cab, long bed, dualie begins. I brought a big for sale sign with me to the Lime Rock race and sold the truck and trailer. I am just waiting for the respective buyers to pay up and take them home. Between the two I will have $24,000 to put towards a newer truck. The trailer I can finance for practically nothing. The dilemma is trying to decide what we want for a truck. Do I take the money and buy a 2000/2001 with high miles, buy a 2003 with the new motor and trans and low miles for another $5,000 or get a new 2004 for an additional $10,000. The 2005s are out of the question because there are no incentives on them. I will be glad when I finally decide. The Internet has told me exactly how much I should pay for each year that I am looking at but I have to get the dealer to agree. As of right now I am leaning towards the 2003-2004 since the new transmission has some new braking feature and the motor, even though downsized from a 7.3 to a 6.0 liter motor, the power and torque is increased. My main choice is a nice 2003 with only 18,000 miles. The problem is the dealer is asking more than it is worth. I can get the 2004 for the same price so I may have to resort to negotiating skills. As for the Road America and Lime Rock race... I won't bore you with the details but I have been progressing a lot lately and I finished 3rd in class and 18th overall out of 66 cars in the Road America enduro. I broke a heater hose in the Sprint race covering Andy's windshield and tires with a pink, Water Wetter, spray. This was the exact reason why I don't run anti-freeze anymore. If I had Andy would have visited with Mister Concrete Wall instead of just wiggling a bit. Fortunately I had the old hose from the S2 and fixed it in time for Monday’s sessions. Lime Rock's race day was steady rain so a bunch of us decided to leave early thinking it would not let up. But at the end of the 3rd practice (which grids you for qualifying) I was the fastest F-Class car out of 18 and 5th fastest out of the 35 E and F cars. Not bad for not driving that track for almost 2 years. So if any of you are looking to get into a better or bigger trailer be sure to contact Gil and Dave at Atlantic Coast Trailers. |
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