As this Chance Encounter was the Cherry on top of
my most enjoyable Day’s return outing to Portland International Raceway!
Following the conclusion of the Grand Prix of Portland,
“My Driver” Colin and I were walking back to His Car. After Colin had told me
that the line for our second Shuttle Bus to our remote Parkig lot was so long,
that by the time we got on it, we’d be to our Car! So we decided to walk back
instead, which was fine with me, especially after having been Sitting All Day
long!
Suddenly, a slow moving Car stopped alongside
us and offered us a ride. With the unknown Driver telling us we could probably
walk as fast as He was moving, but His Car Had Air Conditioning! As I have Zero
Clue if He saw my white Cane that was being used in an Unorthodox “Hook ‘N
Ladder” fashion?
Mark said it’s a Sedan, low to the ground. So
watch your Head, as I got into the front passenger seat! As Mark was a super
nice, friendly person who told us He was Working the Event. Oh? What do you Do?
I’m the District Manager for Total Quartz (Oil)
and was working the event for Graham Rahal’s Car, which we’re the Primary
sponsor of. And I was shuttling Clients Back ‘N Forth to the Timing Stand on
Pitlane…
As I found myself unable to resist, and said
isn’t that “Toe-Towel” as Graham (Rahal) pronounces it? To which Mark replied
Toe-Towel, Total. They’re totalEnergy now, and we’re the Fourth largest Oil
Company in the World!
To which I said, I know about total, since I’m
a longtime Formula 1 Fan. To which Mark made an astute observation towards. Noting
How Competitive IndyCar racing is vs. F1 being a Manufacturer’s Parade!
So I asked Him how did Graham do today? He
finished fifth. Although I found it funny How I was far more interested in
Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing’s (RLLR) newest rookie Driver Christian
Lundgaard, saying He’s been doing pretty good lately. Not wishing to mention
How I’m Rooting for Vanna, I wanna Buy A Vowel! Dale Coyne Racing with HMD
Motorsports David Malukas to win the Rookie Of the Year (ROY) title instead!
Oh, Lundgaard Didn’t do so well today. He Hit
one of our Banners in the Festival Curves, got it wrapped around His Nose and
Had to Pit. Then He Stalled His Car in the Pits… Before I asked How Do Jac Not
Bloody Nige” Harvey Do? Oh, He finished somewhere Mid-pack, I think.
Upon returning
Home Sunday evening, I learned that Harvey finished P15, ironically One place
behind Malukas. Whilst Lundgaard finished P21…
Mark told me that Total Quartz was Graham’s
Primary Sponsor for five races this season, when I noted Graham’s revolving
cadre of Primary Sponsors, albeit United Rentals was the only one I could think
of. But when I asked Mark if they were an Associate Sponsor during the other
liveries, He said that Total Quartz was Always on Graham’s rear wing and front
wing Endplates.
As Total Specialties USA, which I can only
Arse-Sume is Total Quartz’s “Parent” Company. Signed a Multi-year agreement
Wayback in 2018 to be the Official Lubricants partner of RLLR, for which I can
vaguely remember Graham Rahal making the announcement for. Which I think Graham
said was a five year deal?
So I asked Mark if He was going to Monterey?
Nope, but His Regional Manager was.
And I asked Mark if they sponsored any other
series? No, but we used to sponsor the TotalExperience, where you get to drive
selected Supercars, but we stopped after last year. Oh, you mean like where you
can drive a Ferrari, Lamborghini, etc. Ontrack?
Yes, we Held it at Pacific Raceways last year.
Oh, I know Pacific Raceways intimently! Since I used to live just five miles
from the track! And used to attend the SOVREN Historics Vintage Races yearly,
along with volunteering for one WASAAC
Shelby Track Day outing a long time ago. Where
they even made me a Corner Worker even though I couldn’t read the Car Numbers!
Yeah I got to drive the Ferrari 488 GTB and
Porsche 911 GT3R there last year?
Did you drive a car to the track? No, I Drove
them at Pacific Raceways. I got the Ferrari (488 GTB) up to 155mph on that long
Front Straight and then wasn’t sure if I would get it Whoa’ed Down for that
long first sweeping turn? Oh you mean the 180-degree “Sweeper” (turn) before
you go Downhill into Turns 3A-3B, Yes!
Ok Guys, this is about as Far as I can take you. About 75-feet further. Before we Thanked Mark for the ride and walked the rest of the way back to our awaiting Chariot which just so happened to have a Jaguar parked alongside us…
