How Sarah Burgess Almost Killed Me!

WSL Willow Springs literature

September 2013

In this issue How Sarah Burgess Almost Killed Me! A rich man with a nice car

Cars pay the bills, culture pays inspiration

willowspringsraceway.com

Š

Why

we

have the best racetrack for California miles

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Raceway Calendar

Issue 4

September 2013

Week 1 Sat July 1 Shift Se3tor B.W.S. Stock Car Racing Night Drag Racing

Sun July 16 California Superbike School HSR West

Week 2

Wed July 19 Open Track Racing

Sun July2 Speed Ventures Motoyard

Fri July 21 Test and Tune Night Drag Racing

Mon July 3 Motoyard Motorcycle School Fri July 7 Test and Tune Sat July 8 Colab Porche Owners Club M1-GP Alfa Romeo Club

Week 3 Sun July 9 Porche Owners Club M1-GP Alfa Romeo Club

Rich Man and Car 8

Week 4

Sat July 15 Just Drift California Superbike School HSR West

Sat July 22 Danny McKeever’s Fast Lane Porche Club of America B.W.S Stock Car Racing Week 5 Sun July 23 Danny McKeever’s Fast Lane Porche Club of America Thurs - Fri July 27 & 28 Motorcycle School Sat July 29 TrackXperience Extreme Speed Week 6 Sun July 30 TrackXperience John Fairbanks

Lexus LFA 21

Willow Springs Literature is published by Speed Literature. The views expressed in this magazine are those of Speed Literature. Willow Springs International Raceway is in no way responsible for the remarks made in this publication.

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©

Cadillac Challenge 16 Sarah 11

Pirelli World Challenge 18 willowspringsraceway.com | WSL 7

And to borrow it we had to bribe Fred Sutherland, the owner of this beautiful car. In exchange for a simple plug as to the real reason he was at Willow Springs he would let us photograph the car that any pop star named Justin Bieber would kill to have. So, here are the pictures. Now here is his plug.

See the real reason for Mr. Sutherland’s visit lies with that ugly orange thing hidden in the background. Usually, I would pay no attention to a project car but this orange beast is as loud and obnoxious as Tony the Tiger. And since I believe anyone who is invited to the Pebble Beach Golf Course 8 WSL | willowspringsraceway.com

Since we are still new to the industry, we feel we are due for an introduction.

While we do a great job

appearing to have the money of a russian billionaire, we don’t. And this Fisker Karma—while it may seem like we’re finally goin’ green—guess what? We borrowed it...

to attend any event must be of much importance, we will give Sir Sutherland the respect his car is due and refer to the orange thing in the background by it’s real name—a Mustang. It’s a vintage one at that.

So vintage in fact that it will be included in the Monterey Historics race event and tied in with one of the most prestigious car shows in the United States—Pebble Beach Concours.

Still, having said all that, there is no pressure Fred, because that has to be the loudest Mustang that has ever lived. WS willowspringsraceway.com | WSL 9

Property of Willow Springs Raceway

When the cost of acceleration is speeding tickets...

Willow Springs Street Drag Racing August 24 September 14 & 28 October 19 November 30

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How

Sarah Burgess almost

KILLED! me

I’ve been an average photographer at best for the last couple of years. That’s why when Sarah reached out and stated she needed a photographer, well, to say I was surprised would be an understatement. No matter, today was the day that I moved from amateur to David Hockney and I was determined to make sure that everything went right.

“Can we ask you to come a little later?” was the first message that I’d received from Sarah the day of the photo shoot. I agreed and figured I’d loosen the nerves by conversing with the beautiful models working for some insignificant organization’s booth. After I was rejected by every single one, I decided to make sure my equipment was in order.

After a while of waiting I got the next call saying she was ready. I have to admit, there was a part of me that expected some burly, musclebound woman with hairy armpits who 12 WSL | willowspringsraceway.com

could snap my neck with the flick of her wrist, but instead, upon meeting her, I realized she was quite the opposite.

We nervously met, shook hands and exchanged courtesies. There was a point where we even discussed flowers, rainbows and even those pretty little berets that women often put in their hair.

Afterwards, I wondered how could a woman whom is so interested with the more feminine things in life operate such a massive, ferocious piece of machinery? Well, like all rainbows, her flowery side came to an end and soon it was time for business.

As I took my place behind some orange bales of hey, I began to check my equipment once more. Soon I discovered my nervousness was not the biggest problem, it was the camera itself!

For some reason I couldn’t do the one thing I was being paid to do—take pictures—and I needed to find the problem. “Aperture, ISO,

shutter speed??” This was all too confusing and I soon realized I didn’t need a Canon, I needed a disposable Kodak. If only I could just wave her down and communicate I was not ready yet...

But it was too late. Screeching, smoke, fire and explosions are what I heard and saw next. Okay, the explosions may have been imagined but I promise you Sarah had something to do with the rest. The next thing I knew she had transformed right before my very eyes into something of a monster. Where she was a sweet innocent woman before, now she was this horsepower-happy, smoke-machine having, crazed lunatic!

Surely I couldn’t stop her at this moment, especially after she informed me of the upgrades in which she made to her car and all the sponsors she needed to impress with these pictures. If she wasted a set of tires and received nothing from me to show for it, Sarah Burgess would surely have killed me!

But at the same time, she was also a magician of sorts. To drive a car, it’s logical to say that one needs some type of solid surface, concrete or dirt even. For Sarah, however, she had a natural ability to slide from side to side across the concrete almost like it was the still water of a lake.

I was hypnotized to say the least.

The only thing I could think of in that very moment was the pressure to deliver. The next idea I had involved me purposely smashing the $5000 camera I was completely incapable of operating

and blaming it on some imagined rattlesnake that lunged at me in which I somehow escaped.

So I lifted the lifeless camera to my face to seem as professional as possible while she launched past me. I knew the camera would not take pictures but her Mustang was so intimidating, so frightening, I pushed the shutter button out of habit.

I was no longer just an incapable photographer.

I now assumed the role of Matador to a new breed of Mustang / bull. As the car blew past me again my baseball cap flew off my head.

“Baseball... cap...?” Ahh ha! I’d finally found the problem. Now you may think I’m a complete idiot for leaving the lens cap on the lens of the camera during such an important moment, but in my defense, the cap is the same color as the rest of the camera. I propose Cannon add a “Warning” sign to their cameras, sort of like the emergency brake or “Check Engine” lights on your car.

As I share my story with all of you, I realize that all is not lost. For one, this story will hopefully get me a trip to the hot import nights / XDC event where I may grant some ladies wishes of being graced with my presence. But as I leave you all I would like to stress the three best ways to continue your career as an auto sport photographer.

1. Always check for your memory card.

2. Always check your lens cap.

3. Never name yourself Brandon Mann. WS willowspringsraceway.com | WSL 15

The Cadillac Challenge presented by Toyo Tires Round 6 had a quick turnaround race. With just a few days off, the series was back in full effect after the competitors returned from Sonoma Raceway. From wine country to the high desert, the speedy Cadillacs look to pick up where they left off. However the conditions for this events race where drastically different compared to the cool northern California air. Track temp was a steamy 100 degrees with the occasional hot air gusts. Can that deter the competitors while on the track?

If you were with us at the most recent round of the Cadillac Challenge you recall that Team Trinity Tek and their driver Sean Southland had a run in with a barrier. Unfortunately their team was not able to answer the bell when it was time for competition. However Tim Adolphson and his Northwest Terror from Washington was able to make the call come game time.

Continued on 18...

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Lawson Aschenbach of the Pirelli World Challenge practicing at Willow Springs International Raceway

This advertisement in no way promotes drinking and driving. For more information, please visit budweiser.com.

Yes, this is the desert.

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Willow Springs International Raceway is a very high speed track. This will be the only time the Cadillac Challenge runs this track this year. So it is important to make good with your track time and setup the vehicle as quickly as possible before the unbearable heat starts to sink in. The Corsa Performance Exhaust C1 Class was up first.

With a relatively cool track for the opening session the class favorites were already starting to stretch their legs. Current points leader Steve Collins was absent from the event leaving the door open for his competitors to cut into his lead. Hard charging Matt Martin was looking to jump on the opportunity. In addition to the C1 wagon, Stacey Martin and her Red CTS-V Sedan was looking to also 20 WSL | willowspringsraceway.com

take advantage. With a bunch of hungry drivers and a hot track the vehicles moved onto the track to establish their initial pace for the day. Stacey Martin was quick to take to the track. She turned out a 1:55.385 lap time and looked to make improvements moving forward through the day. Matt Martin was new to this particular track but that didn’t stop him from learning the lines and trying to do his best to keep the pace of the field fast. Matt managed to pound out a blistering fast 1:40.259 lap time moving him to the top of the Corsa Performance Exhaust C1 Class. Certainly that would have gave points leader Steve Collins a run for his money had he been racing this day. Stacey and her CTS-V Sedan was looking to shave time. However the weather

might have gotten the best of her as the track started to really heat up. With her runs being late in the afternoon, the traction just wasn’t there for her. Matt Martin just needed to finish the race. He took a stab at trying to improve on his previous best lap time and did so in resounding fashion. Matt M powered his red CTS-V Sedan to a 1:39.537 lap time. That lap time secured the victory and allowed him to cut into Steve C’s point lead in the Corsa Performance Exhaust C1 Class.

Team D3 Legionnaire secured a solid second place finish.

The series will check back in a couple of weeks when the Challenge heads north to the infamous Laguna Seca for Round 7 of the Cadillac Challenge presented by Toyo Tires.

All at your favorite track visit topgear.com for more

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Check out our new video of the Optima RedTop in Mark Stielow’s incredible 1969 Chevrolet Camaro at Willow Springs International Raceway

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