Bill Gude: Engineer, OPC Racing, Stock Outboard Racer

THE RACING TEAM
By
Bill Gude
1/11/13

Racing has been my passion for a life time; I loved to Design Build and Race
almost anything.

One very wet cold and stormy night, Night Heck More Like 3 AM in the morning
in a pouring rain storm, my self and my trusty side kick and Teammate Tom
McQueen, selected the best looking boat shaped oak leafs we could find, and
launch them into the fast flowing current of the flooded street. We cheered
and coached (if possible) our selected leaf, and the first leaf to go down
the storm drain wins the race.

Now I know this is not too unusual for 10 year old kids, but for 30 year old
men in a pounding down pour racing leafs for an hour or so at 3AM in down
town Thousand Oaks, California is just a little too peculiar, and by no means went unnoticed by
the local police patrol.

We were busted floating leafs in the rain, the officer was sure we were
hooked on some type of drugs, and didn't mind telling us so.

The officer was right we were hooked on something. What we were hooked on
was better than drugs. It's competition and that's what brings out the
Driving ability in some, the Creative Engineering, or the Mechanical gifts
in others. All striving to be the very best at what they do, living with cut
fingers, broken wrist, burned hands, bumps and scrapes, and for some paying
the ultimate price for what they loved.

But in the end it's more than the challenge and glory, it's the team work
and trust, that creates bonds that last for a life time and beyond.

Note:
Bill currently builds after market parts for all kinds of cars. I got the above article from him and thought I'd like to share it.