MAY 25, 2009 –--The Memorial Day weekend was another double race weekend except this time both races were GSC 410 and both nights, Saturday and Sunday, were at Calistoga. One location….two separate races, now that is a lot easier! 

Evan finished his academic year at San Jose State when he took his last final exam on Thursday and now the between race maintenance and repairs and pre travel preparation won’t be so challenging and last minute.

The Calistoga Fairground track, the site of races nine and ten of the Golden State Challenge Series, is a real half-mile and easily the biggest track Evan has run. We raced the USAC-CRA series in Perris in ’07 and thought that was a big track but it would easily fit inside of the rangy Calistoga.

Calistoga is known for its beautiful environs, enthusiastic fans, extraordinary tire consumption, highlight reel wrecks and blown engines. For us however, it was just one big scary place!

Saturday night Evan needed laps to get used to the size and the surface and he was able to do that by finishing 12th and staying out of trouble. 

Sunday we all felt a little more accustomed to the place as Evan qualified well enough to make the invert and start 11th in the main. I mentioned tire wear earlier and that was our nemesis. We started the main with all new rubber and when the red came out on lap 19 it was evident the rears, especially the left, were about gone. The rubbered-up track and wheel spin had taken its toll and Evan did real well to finish up in seventh while dogging Jason Statler.

The engine survived the incredible Calistoga night air and we pushed an intact racecar in the trailer Sunday night before heading back to Scotts Valley. With equipment intact we look forward to this weeks Friday and Saturday GSC King of California shows starting at Watsonville then on to Placerville. Both tracks are about half the size of Calistoga and a lot easier on the tires AND nerves!

Hope to see you this weekend at the races.

Thanks for checking in.

The Suggs