It’s no longer for the faint of heart, but Figure 8 racing is “about the most fun thing you can do on the racetrack,” consistent with reigning Tiger Cat Figure 8 champion at Oxford Plains Speedway, Kevin Varney. Eric Hodgkins took a car a half-mile down the road and stated subsequent elements he knew he became within the beginning lineup for a Saturday night time Figure 8 race at Oxford. Hodgkins said Michael Haynes, the buddy whom Hodgkins had sold the car, said Hodgkins — who had sat in the stands but by no means pushed a car — changed into killing himself. But that didn’t end up being the case.

I got 2nd vicinity, my 2nd race out, and the rest is history. I became hooked,” Hodgkins said. Figure 8 racing isn’t new to Oxford Plains, but the department commenced in 1969, took a spoil after 1988, and didn’t go back until 2015; that’s the 12 months Hodgkins started. He said after looking at the primary three weeks, he decided to sign up for the fourth week. Varney turned into the inaugural champion of the Wednesday night Tiger Cat department for 4-cylinder cars. It takes a little bit of crazy to race Figure 8s in the first region,” Varney said.

At Oxford, the Figure eight course is laid out inside the pits along the front stretch, with drivers curving around a giant tire at one give up, then a sand banking at the alternative, all simultaneously seeking to cross-move at the “X” in between. Larry Lizotte, the contemporary Saturday night time Figure 8 factors chief whose father has 4 points titles sandwiched the nearly 30-year ruin, stated the close calls in the intersection appealed to him to take to the division. Lizotte started racing the Saturday night collection in the last 12 months, and he stated he became “shaking the entire time, ready to go at the tune” the primary time he did it.

Dustin Salley, the modern Tiger Cat factors leader, admitted it changed into “a little nervewracking” the first time he tried Figure-eight ultimate year. However, veteran vehicle proprietor Larry Hewins and other friends eased his issues byby telling him what to anticipate and what not to do. For Salley, the fear doesn’t take an area inside the center of the course. I would say entering corners, and I take my time till there’s a gap. Far because the X is going, I don’t consider it,” Salley stated. “Most of the time, you recognize if you may make it or no longer. I keep it and desire for the nice.

Lizotte stated he lifted off the gas at the intersection.

In the meantime, Hodgkins still doesn’t recognize if there’s a positive-hearth mystery to it. Timing, boy, that’s a difficult one to explain. You could usually maneuver in the front or behind at the X, but we all make judgment errors. Last year, it was my turn (at Oxford),” Hodgkins said. “Figure 8 using isn’t for absolutely everyone. It takes quite a few skills, timing, forethought, and an entire bunch of testosterone. Hodgkins got such an itch for Figure 8 racing that he knew he needed to be part of it when he heard about the World Figure 8 Championship. He soon discovered that the world championship cars had been an entirely exceptional animal compared to the Oxford Plains divisions. Hodgkins likened it to Super Late Model technology in a motive-built Figure 8 vehicle.

After attempting out the former global championship runner-up car he bought in Kentucky at some stage in practice on the Indianapolis Speedrome, he delivered the auto returned to Oxford and felt the pain of the X. Hodgkins stated it took three months to restore the automobile and all winter to get it competitive. Now he’s racing at the countrywide circuit in opposition to the quality Figure-eight drivers round.

The back of his vehicle reads, “Why Yes, Mine Are Brass.” It stems from a passer-through remark asking if the automobile Hodgkins and racing partner Gary Powers had been running on changed into a circle-track Wednesday nighttime automobile. Powers stated, “No, it’s a Figure 8 automobile,” the man said, “Wow, you gotta have a pair of brass balls to do this. That pronouncing has caught ever given that,” Hodgkins said. But it’s equal components, loopy and comedy. We beat and bang and get out in victory lane, guffawing our butts off,” Varney said.