The 2011 OVR PDX

by Mary Jane Berchak

The 2011 OVR PDX started out September 2 facing a couple of problems - the temperature was forecasted to be 95+ degrees and - there were many more students than instructors entered. However, by hook or by crook, the crew that put on the PDX pulled it off and ended up with a good event. The original schedule called for each entrant to get 4 sessions on track, but because everything went smoothly, there was an opportunity for a 5th session for those who wanted it.

The 2011 OVR PDX was conducted by Chairman Larry Hall, Chief Stewart Jerry Gabe, Chief Safety Stewart Dave Howard, Chief Instructors Dave Brown and Ken Berchak, Classroom Instructor R.B. Wright, and Driving Instructors James Schinn, Carol Shinn, Kyle Webb, Sam Halkias, Matt Downing, E.B. Lunken, Lowell Marx, Jeff Arendas, Willy Church, Brooks Church, William Albright, Dax Bushmeyer, Jack Bushmeyer, Rick Deerwester, James Hawthorn, Jim Krzyewski, Donald Marino, John Mills, Dennis Sirois, Tim Silver and Duane Ward. Jeff Loewe, Cincy member and photographer, was there with his trusty camera and will have photos to view and sell on his site jlofoto.net.

Only one incident spoiled the day for a couple of novice students and their instructors. At the end of the back straight, one of the students experienced a total brake failure - going into Turn 7 with no brakes. Unfortunately, his car struck another car and both ended up with air bags deployed and in the gravel trap. All four of the people involved were transported to Medical where they were checked out and found to be physically OK. The cars were removed from the gravel and the rest of the PDX continued.

An accident reconstruction engineer examined the cars later and determined that the brake failure was the result of the brake fluid boiling out of the master cylinder and that it was purely a mechanical failure.

At the end of the day, the students, instructors and officials gathered and enjoyed the usual post-event bull session. Based on my observations, they all had a good time except for the heat.

2011, September