Edition 20, May 5th - 2008

We Try New Setup's at the World's Fastest Paved 1/4 Mile

With Mid Am racing taking the weekend off, the Berge race team traveled the short distance from their garage to Slinger Wisconsin for a Sunday afternoon race. If not already known, Slinger is located just north of Milwaukee, and is a bullpen with very high banking, much the same as a miniature Bristol. Many hot shoes love to race there as they can lay the car against the turns, then shoot down the straights. Several famous drivers such as Kulwicki, Reiser, Wimmer, Trickle, and Kenseth cut their racing teeth at this track and return when possible.

Our #97arrived at the track on this cool but bright sunny Sunday to compete in the Midwest Sportsman Division against 14 other entries. Many of the cars that unloaded for the various divisional racing on this day, were factory fresh, with no paint scuffs as the racing season in the upper Midwest has been on hold due to snow, rain and cold. This according to our team was the opportunity to try some new set ups. For anyone that has been close to a race team, the main reason for taking the car to the track is that it is there, and they have the competitive gland that wants to race whenever they can. Ken Schrader still races many times a week. I personally think drivers must get their fix of racing fuel fumes and can not tolerated clean fresh air for too long a period of time.

With no heat races scheduled, we would be placed in the feature according to our qualifying. We went out to qualify 8 th. The first seven cars maintained a mid 13-second first lap and low 13 to high twelve second 2nd lap. The Swan piloted Taurus posted a 12.899 first lap then ran a 12.754 second lap. From my vantage point in turn one, it appeared that the car was kicking out on the exit of turn 4; then gather good speed in the straights and repeat. The twelfth car out, #2 entry, posted a 12.601 second lap so we would be posted as second fast qualifier on this day. More wait time for the team as they tried to determine what set up changes could be made to help the cornering issues. We waited while three other divisions raced, including a 120-lap late model feature won by local hero Lowell Bennett.

Due to partial inversion, we were positioned in the fourth row inside for starting position. Due to some quirk that I cannot explain, at the start of the race two cars collected each other entering turn three, and were disposed of. Restart and we were placed in the third row inside. By lap 2 we were in the 4 th position, and by line 20 we moved to 3 rd, but could not mount any threat for the lead as the #47 entry ran away by a straightaway and took the checkers.

More long faces in the hauler as we were tight in and loose off all day and never made the proper corrections, so we will try again next week at the same track. I personally can accept the finish position, but I know that the team must correct the handling issue to start putting wins in our column when we resume racing with our fellow Mid Am circuit.

But all was not lost, as we had good fellowship telling jokes, talking about the new Taurus nose (ask any Berge race team member about this), and generally enjoying each other’s company. We truly are more than a sponsor and race team, we are associates working together. Come to watch us race and come over and talk to us, we love to talk to you about racing

And finally, at Richmond this last weekend, our collective team vote is that Kyle did run into Little E on Saturday night but probably could not avoid it. This still does not make this writer any more appreciative of Kyle’s driving style, as I fear for the health of his fellow competitors. I appreciate good racecar drivers, (we have the best) but I also want to see a little humble now and then. Remember Kyle, “Do not fall on your own sword”.

Racing to the Checkers,
Jim