CALGARY, AB (August 1, 2006) - There were a lot of firsts for the #56 Family Racing Collectibles team on Saturday in the NEWALTA Late Model Challenge Series fifth race of the 2006 season on the tri-oval at SunValley Speedway in Vernon, BC.
It was the first Late Model event for the team and first Late Model race by Series rookie and former IMCA Stock Car Champion Ryan Fee. And it was the first time on the track in competition for the car, the brightly painted #56 Chevrolet Camaro.
For the driver and his crew chief father, Randy Fee, these firsts were the rewards for the all the effort to get the program on the track. "We worked some very long hours on the car last week only to work until midnight Friday on the release bearing. It was 1am on the day of the race when we finally left Calgary for the eight hour drive to Vernon," said driver Ryan Fee.
And, it was with the help from a lot of friends at the track that the weekend was a success.
#56 Ryan Fee and Family Racing Collectibles Camaro in Vernon
For the driver and his crew chief father, Randy Fee, these firsts were the rewards for the all the effort to get the program on the track. "We worked some very long hours on the car last week only to work until midnight Friday on the release bearing. It was 1am on the day of the race when we finally left Calgary for the eight hour drive to Vernon," said driver Ryan Fee.
And, it was with the help from a lot of friends at the track that the weekend was a success.
"We lost a rocker stud during practice on Saturday and thanks to the 41 car, 104.7 car and the 21 car and the negotiations by #54 Craig Ball we got that fixed. Then the gas pedal snapped in half during the second lap of qualifying," explained Fee. "Thanks again to Garry and Jim and the rest of the #55 Team Lister crew for the use of the welder to get that fixed."
But there was a new set of problems after the green flag. "We got the car running for the main but had a bad push when we missed the set up for the track. We were running pretty good until the brakes went out around lap 40 when we spun coming out of turn two." Fee continued, "Not one to give up, we decided to stay in the race and try to finish which we would have done if we didn't blow another rocker somewhere around lap 119."
"But all and all I think the #56 Family Racing Collectibles car did pretty well for it's first time out."
But there was a new set of problems after the green flag. "We got the car running for the main but had a bad push when we missed the set up for the track. We were running pretty good until the brakes went out around lap 40 when we spun coming out of turn two." Fee continued, "Not one to give up, we decided to stay in the race and try to finish which we would have done if we didn't blow another rocker somewhere around lap 119."
"But all and all I think the #56 Family Racing Collectibles car did pretty well for it's first time out."