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September 2005

Calling Lands End "one of his favorite roads", Owner Todd Cook set the pace early on in Saturday's practice runs posting a 5:18 the first time up the road. Well clear of all other competitors both in the Super Sprint and all CHCA classes. As the day went on this time dropped to a final post of 4:55. A time clear of even the Open Comp class by a few seconds.

All was not easy however as on the second run a rock the "size of a lunch box" says Cook, took out the right front A-arm on his TCE/Wells Coyote. "That rock had rolled down the hill and parked itself right in the line around a blind corner. I had no time to try and miss it and no way to go around it. The front end of the car came clear off the ground!" The part was quickly replaced during a brief down time by Crew Chief Gene Pacheco who made sure the car made the next and final run.

Asked about the damage Cook replied "When I got to the top on that second run I was shocked at the damages and couldn't believe I'd actually run as hard as I had after the contact. Not only bent, one rod end was pulling clear out of the part. I'm glad I didin't know it was that bad! Gene got me up and running again in record time and we managed the sub 4 minute run right after that."

Race day was again warm and clear, the road having been watered down a bit too keep dust low, it looked a great day for racing. Opting to run first in class (an option by way of fast time) Cook set out to 'post a time' and get something on paper. That casual run netted a 4:50 run time and after round one put the car at the top of the time sheet. Besting not only class but all the V8 powered cars as well.

The afternoon was shaping up to be the quick run of the day and Cook felt it possible to better his own record time of 4:45 with a clean run. Five seconds was well within reach by smoothing out a few spots in the coarse. The second run started off well and by half way it was clearly a record setting run in the works. But at about the four mile mark a sharp rock in a fast right hand turn had other plans...with a cut tire and a hand full of wild steering the car slowed to a stop at Eagle's Nest turn. No record time this weekend.

Despite this DNF the time of 4:50 proved good enough for the quick time of the day as even the big cars could not put the V6 SHO down!

"This is a great road and not only fun but very technical in nature. There are many blind turns, short chutes and differing surfaces this year. The bigger cars just can't get the power to the ground in these conditions as well as the smaller motor can". Cook say he also looks forward to returning next summer to once again try to claim the title "Fastest Man on the Mountain".

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