Racing News Archives
2004 Grand Bayou Enduro Race
October 3, 2004
By: Patty Poupart
The fun continued on Sunday when Mike Poupart & Johnny Walter
co-drove
Chris Wilkin's #0
Spec Miata in the 90 Minute Enduro race. Johnny negotiated this
ride ahead of time in which he was supposed to co-drive with Chris
Wilkin in this car. Mike proved that you should always have your
helmet in hand. When Wilkin stepped out of his own car to
co-drive with someone else, he asked Poupart to step in and co-drive
with Walter. What an interesting (and somewhat comical)
opportunity this was for two drivers used to high horsepower cars to
step into a little Spec Miata. Among the many remarks made before
and after the race, there were two that stood out. . . "When we entered
the straights and mashed the
pedal to the floor. . . that was it!" . . . "Wow, the track is wider
than I thought!"
Walter qualified the #0 Buckeye Racing Miata in 14th
place and
Poupart qualified the #1 Miata in 13th place.
The #1 car belonged
to another of Chris Wilkin's drivers who was unable to make the
qualifying session. Walter would drive the #0 car for
the first
segment. The field was very large with a
varied mixture of
cars. It was close quarter racing in the
beginning of the race
until the faster cars stretched out the field. Mary Pat Walter
& I
stayed in the hot pits and I took pictures of the racing and the pit
stops. Exciting
stuff to watch and they had a blast!
Those Miatas have about 1/3
the
HP of the Corvette & Viper, but they fly around on the track and
you hardly need to lift in the corners! Due to getting off
schedule for the pit stops, Walter was in the car for about 50 minutes
before coming in on lap 34. The pit stop was timed very
well. The crew changed
4 tires, put fuel in the car and they swapped
drivers within the mandatory minimum 5 minute period. Poupart drove the final 19 laps to
finish out the last 35 minutes of the
race bringing the #0 to a 14th place finish.
Mike
Poupart, John Walter and car owner, Chris Wilkin