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I raced for years in the SCCA and HSR (thus the moniker Blueflag).

I guess you were shown the blue flag quite often! LOL! I'm sorry to hear that. That's a cool screen name.

p.s. For you NASCAR-types who don't know what the blue flag means, FreepMail me and I'll 'splain. :o)

Actually the "Blueflag" moniker harkened back to my first entries into showroom stock racing -- when my 1977 Spitfire redlined at 98 mph. I'd push it a little higher than than, but it meant replacing the overhead valve gear pretty often. That car also meant I saw the blue flag shown TO me a lot, as our class generally raced in a group that included faster classes. I swore I'd get rid of that stigma "someday"

When I graduated ($pent real money) to F production, I invested in RPM. I had a british fourbanger that would turn 9600 RPM without fail, but I usually chipped it to 9200. My engine builder told me he had put 'unobtanium' in the short block to hold it together, along with Cosworth pistons, Carillo rods, usw. That car would redline in fourth gear, and it was geared tall. I won my share of races early on (regionals) but saw the (Japanese) handwriting on the wall and left the SCCA for th HSR. In the HSR I never finished out of the medals and had a great spell having the blue flag waved for me -- not AT me.

One of my great HSR memories is a practice day in two sessions where I 'raced' a 911-4 for all we were worth. Try as he might, he could not lead a lap. He might pass me on the long straight at Road Atlanta, but he was mine again as we'd come out of 12.

< < sigh > > Those were fun times, and the older I get the faster I was.

It was a hard day when I sold that car (and spares, trailer, etc., etc.). It was a couple years before I could go back to the track to watch or work races. The guy who bought the car campaigned an old Shelby Mustang. He bought the car 'cuz I always kept him behind me! With some satisfaction, he continues to lap Road Atlanta a good 6 seconds slower than my avg lap times. (the course has changed). He's still racing, I'm not. Any ride is a good ride.

Long live the Blueflag racing team. There will always be an England.