The Central Area of Texas SVOs held its first Get Together of 1999 on June 20. We accepted the request of the Texas Spokes Sports Car Club to provide rain for their autocross at Palmer Auditorium in Austin. I guess they figured that driving on dry pavement was not enough challenge, so they invited us. True to our tradition of Gatherings and Get Togethers, it rained! Attending this event were Reinhold Braunberger from New Braunfels, Troy and Bob Storm from Cedar Park, James Clarendon from Austin, Charles and Christine from Round Rock, Jim Whelan from Leander, Marc Arenas from Canyon Lake,and Steve Pratt (dedication to drive all the way from Houston). Due to the wet conditions, only Marc and Troy opted to test the SVO water prowess and develop hydroplaning maneuvers on the pylon course. Over an inch of rain fell during the day. Some folks were seen borrowing windshield wiper blades from other cars so they could see the course. On a couple areas of the course, the cars disappeared as the splashes of the puddles rose higher than the cars. Both drivers appeared to enjoy themselves, and the only casualty, other than one wall of a half dozen pylons (or more, Troy?) was the charging system on the Saga SVO. We wish to thank Laura Dinkel (who races an awesome competition prepared 5 liter 'Stang) for her gracious offer to trailer the Saga back to Cedar Park. The Spokes are a great bunch of people, and invited us to attend again (preferably without the rain-making machine). If you have never driven autocross, you really should try it. It is a lot of fun! Here are the brave souls who attended the autocrass gathering. From left to right, Jim Whelan, Steve Pratt, Charles, ?, ?, Troy Storm, Jim Claredon.

One of the SVOs who were brave enough to race in the rain!

Bob and Troy Storm's saga!