Heading down a straightaway and hearing a huge bang from the gearbox followed by parts rattling around his carB次元官网网址檚 transmission had become an all too familiar race-ender for Bill Okell in recent years.
B次元官网网址淭hose are just not comforting feelings, you know, hearing this noise, then the big explosion,B次元官网网址� the Saanich driver said. B次元官网网址淵ouB次元官网网址檙e thinking B次元官网网址業B次元官网网址檓 in a small car, whatB次元官网网址檚 coming at me here.B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址�
He competes in the Sports Car Club of AmericaB次元官网网址檚 (SCCA) Hoosier Super Tour series, which consists of about 40 drivers competing in races all over the continental United States.
While the gearbox he was using is fast once it gets going, Okell was only able to finish about half the races with it, so he took the out-of-the-box decision to switch it out for one that was more reliable heading into 2023 B次元官网网址� a move thatB次元官网网址檚 proved worth the cost and risk.
B次元官网网址淭here was just no worry it was going to come apart, itB次元官网网址檚 really the biggest change that made the most significant difference this year,B次元官网网址� Okell said.
His red and black MG Midget crossed the finished line first four times this season, vaulting him to the third-overall position in the national point standings championship B次元官网网址� the best result the 68-year-old has ever had.
That means heB次元官网网址檚 qualified for the SCCA national championship runoffs in Virginia this fall, but Okell has yet to decide if heB次元官网网址檒l compete at the year-end race after a run-in with a hurricane during his last trip there.
This season also saw Okell take his second SCCA Western Conference Championship in seven years. Rolling off four wins in a row began with an adversity filled start to the season in Bakersfield where torrential rains took him right off the track during a slippery first race of the year.
B次元官网网址淭o go there and compete and win, and spin out and get back in the race, it was a huge accomplishment.B次元官网网址�
After investing thousands to rework his engine and transmission, Okell said itB次元官网网址檚 nice to see success while having some major costs behind the team.
B次元官网网址淎s my crew chief said, B次元官网网址楤ill, just go race the car,B次元官网网址� so thatB次元官网网址檚 what IB次元官网网址檓 looking forward to,B次元官网网址� the driver said.
He enjoys not just staying competitive but being able to keep getting better at his age, noting one of his local sponsors whoB次元官网网址檚 the same age says they like to live vicariously through him. ItB次元官网网址檚 that support from back home, and at car shows he travels to, that helps keep the 68-year-old geared in.
B次元官网网址淧eople recognize you and say well done and keep going,B次元官网网址� Okell said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 nice to be sort of a spokesman for that age era.B次元官网网址�
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