1928 Ford Model A Boattail Speedster
(from Team #73
Website) Cindy had been saying how “cool” it would be to
have a 1957 T-Bird. Our birthdays were coming up (1995) and the
auctions were in full swing in Scottsdale, Arizona. On my way to the
auctions for the day, I spotted a T-Bird parked on one of the
corners before entering the auction area. Not knowing too much about
the “little birds” I stopped and started talking to the gentleman.
Four hours later, I was the proud owner of a 1955 T-Bird. The reason
for getting a ’55 instead of a ’57 was because we were both born in
1955. The person I bought the car from let me keep it in his garage
the weeks leading up to Cindy’s birthday. The day of her birthday,
Cindy’s best friend, Yvonne, and myself went and picked up the car
and brought it back to the office. We all had lunch and then
proceeded to open the usual gifts. I gave Cindy a model T-Bird car.
She didn’t think that was to funny and definitely not what she had
in mind for a T-Bird. I then told her to look in the trunk. Out fell
a key. We all walked outside, and there in the parking lot was our
1955 Goldenrod Yellow (original color) T-Bird. She was happy!
We have had a lot of fun with this car. We have made many new
lifelong friends. The car has been in “Sonic Drive-In” commercials
and has been the centerpiece at conventions. A group of six t-birds
took a trip (1998) from Phoenix to Edmonton to Victoria and down the
Pacific Coast back to Phoenix. While at the auctions in 2001 I came
across the Great Race display and Sister McRae. We started talking
and before the auctions were over I had entered “The History Channel
Great Race”.
We watched one of the past Great Race videos and I asked Cindy if
she would like to be the navigator, she said “what part of that is
fun? Not if you don’t have time to stop and look at the scenery and
make pit stops when the urge comes.” So Cindy is in the support
vehicle along with the other support people. In our first year, John
Marchisotto from the T-Bird club, was my navigator. We won the
Rookie Division and couldn't believe it. John continued on with me
in 2002 and 2003. In 2004 Bill Loubiere was the navigator. We met
Bill when he was a navigator in another T-Bird our rookie year.
Charlie Wheeler our 13 year old nephew was the navigator for 2005.
We finished 1st in our division and 5th place overall. After being
in five Great Races and numerous regional races, Cindy knows she
made the right decision to be part of the support crew.
We had fun in 2005's race including our overnight stop in Urbana,
IL. It’s because of the Great Race taking us through small town
America that we get to see such great cities. When we are not on the
race, and traveling the country, we now make it a point to stop in
some of the towns that have hosted us on Great Race. When coming
through on the race we don’t have much time to enjoy what the town
has to offer. I look forward to going back to Urbana and being able
to see things leisurely.
In 2005 I drove a 1928 Ford Model A Boattail Speedster. The older
the car the better a factor you get. Example: if the T-bird finished
the day with 10 seconds and the speedster had 11 seconds, the T-bird
wins in raw score but after the factor is added the model A wins
with 8.5 seconds.
We will be taking a sabbatical from the big race in 2006.
In 2007 we will run the Speedster again and start our preparations
of the car and team for the 35,000km New York to Paris Around the
World Rally in 2008.
We look forward to the Great Race annual event with the anticipation
of another great time, seeing the many friends from the great race
family we have made, meeting new friends and most importantly
remembering that “to finish is to win”.
Bob LaBine
B & C Racing
- AZ Classic T-Bird Racing Team
Car #73 (73 was picked because that was the year that both Cindy and
I graduated from High School)
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Now in its 25th year, Great Race keeps the spirit of adventure and independence alive through family entertainment and community events in more than 900 cities, logging over 9,000,000 competitive miles on North American Highways. Find out more at www.greatrace.com