LB begins mentally preparing for Race Day

LB works with Uncle Dale and Cousin Mike's "0" at the Waterford Season opener in 2009. 

In all the excitement and craziness of preparing the race car, it occurred to me I hadn't really talked to LB much about what all of this means to him.  I sat down with him recently and asked him his thoughts. 


KSB: How does it feel to be going from king of the hill to a guy who will have to work hard to qualify for the race?
LB: I am a bit concerned how I will feel about possibly heading home from the races without ever being in contention for the win.  Possibly without even being fast enough to make the race at all!

KSB:  In Race One at Waterford, what is your goal?

LB: I have several goals.  I hope to reach the first and then move on to the next. 

       1. Have car ready in time to compete,

       2. Make it into the event,

       3. Represent sponsors (should we have any) in a professional manner,

       4. Not cause damage to anyone else,

       5. Finish the event able to roll the car into the trailer

       6. Head home smarter, better ready for the next event, 

       7. Smile knowing we had a good time. 

KSB: What are you most looking forward to as you prepare to race in the MRS?

LB: The challenge of setting up a modified.  I have found myself really relying on my crew for their help and expertise assembling the car.  In the past, I have been able to do many things with a car that other "experts" have told me could not work...then drove the car to victory lane.  I hope that holds true someday with the Modified.  I also look forward to learning and working as a team on the car.  Jon, Amy, Kim, Rob, Jimmy and Ron have all been helping as much as they can to get this Modified #37 to the track. 

KSB: What are you most nervous about as you prepare to race in the MRS?

LB: Not being able to afford competitive equipment, and just plain old not being very good at it.  I do feel a bit better knowing that I have felt relatively comfortable each time I have drove a modified in the past (Dale's SK at New Smyrna, Todd Ceravolo's back up car at Thompson).  I also have been a "fast" study in my first events in the past.  I won on my first night of racing at both Waterford and Stafford. 

KSB: You'll be racing in the same series as your Holdridge Family relatives.  What is the most important thing you've learned from Uncle Dale and Cousin Mike as you've helped out on their crew for the past three years?

LB: Just to be a good person, and keep working hard.  Things will work out okay if you do that.  It seems that everyone respects both Dale and Mike on and off the track.  They will both be sources of technical information helping me with my car, and they will continue to be role models in how to conduct myself.  If I can keep Mike in view on the track, I will have had a good day. 
K: Well said, LB. 

Shop Nights in Moosup

Shop Nights are occurring with greater frequency as the first race of the season creeps closer.  Jonny, Jimmy and Wayne have been logging in serious hours, and we've got additional help from Rob Clorite, Ron, Jimmy's son Sean, LB's competitor on the series Max Zachem as well as Nate , Chi'kn and Yer Dad!  Plus, Amy has been working hard behind the scenes to develop a sponsorship program.  T-minus 41 days til the Opener! 

Nate shows LB how supermodified drivers exit their cars, or conversely, what to do in the event of Victory!

LB, Yer Dad, Ron and Jonny discuss how adjustments will be made on the fly to the quick change rear end. 

Smith Boys getting it done. 

Painting the Frame

After the crew took the car apart, bit by little bit, LB wheeled it outside, powerwashed a seasons-worth of grease and grime, and painted it red.  Because, well, you know, it is still going to be the classic 73 paint scheme. 

Turnkey turns to full strip

So, LB buys this "turnkey" race car, and what's the first thing he does?  Correct, he takes it ENTIRELY apart, bit by bit, just so he can "get to know the car" and "become one with it".  Ok, he didn't really say that, but it's what I think happened. 

If there's one thing LB is known for at the race track, it is being incredibly proficient at setting up and understanding everything about his 73 Sportsman and how it relates to its performance on the track. 

LB reasoned that the only way he could fully understand this new car was to take it apart.  The process of becoming proficient at setting up the modified begins now.  Plus, when he started delving into the rules of the Modified Racing Series, he decided that there were plenty of parts and components that he wanted to change to better make himself competitive.   

Step One - Buying a Modified



On November 5th, 2011, LB took a leap of faith and bought the #91 SK Modified.  It is a 2008 Troyer with a Gary Espinosa motor and tons of extra parts and body panels.  It was raced by Jeff Paul at the Waterford Speedbowl, where he had several victories with this car and came oh-so-close to winning the SK championship there in 2010.