246
Wednesday, October 2, 1968
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
9
KU professor is also racing buff
By FRED PARRIS Kansan Staff Writer
To most KU faculty, weekends mean football games, midafternoon naps or bouts with crabragrass.
For Geoffrey Churchill, assistant professor of business, weekends bring the smell of gasoline, the roar of highly tuned engines and the chance to drive a sports car to victory and a trophy.
Churchill, who belongs to two area sports car clubs, says gymkhanas and rallies are the most popular activities in this area.
"A gymkhana," he says, "is a test of maneuverability in which a driver races against the clock through a twisting obstacle course usually laid out in a parking lot."
A rally, by comparison, involves using written instructions to follow a route, laid out on public roads, which is not known to the contestants.
His wife, Elliott, who has taught English classes at KU, is an accomplished driver in her own right. "I first became interested in racing while in college," Mrs. Churchill said. "In a way, it's strange, because I come from a long line of unmechanical English professors."
Family background notwithstanding, Mrs. Churchill said she quickly gave in to the racing fever. Before she met her husband, she raced quarter midget racers on quarter-mile dirt oval tracks.
Mrs. Churchill has found her motor sports knowledge a boon to teaching beginning English.
"Freshmen, and freshman boys in particular, are often a bit awed by college classes. I find that by referring to something they know about, I can often break the ice."
At present, Churchill is awaiting the arrival of a new car, a Triumph TR-250, which the couple bought on a summer trip to England.
"It's basically a standard TR-250, but with a few extra touches," he said. "I drove it some in England and I'm eager to drive it again. Right now, it's
Churchill says he runs into the same sort of situation, only with a different, undesirable twist.
on a boat somewhere in the Atlantic."
"Every so often, a student, knowing of my interest in racing, will try to switch me onto that subject in class," he said.
"I rarely let him get away with it. Neither my wife nor I teach a course in sports cars."
Both Churchills admitted, however, they are open to afterclass bull sessions about cars.
"I had one boy who brought copies of car magazines to discuss with me," Mrs. Churchill said.
"He would always ask me, curiously enough, if I thought such and such an idea would work."
"Don't let her fool you," her husband interjected. "She's the only one in the family who can tune a carburetor."
When not involved in motor sports, the Churchills also enjoy simple pleasure drives.
The only time the couple uses the Interstate is when they are pressed for time.
"If you have the time, the back roads are much more rewarding."
The Churchills have no children but are planning to adopt a child in October. With the baby's arrival, Mrs. Churchill will have to cut down her sporting activities.
One decision about the baby's upbringing has been settled already.
Says Mrs. Churchill in a serious tone: "Jeff and I have agreed that we will make no effort to force our own interests upon our child."
But then, "I wouldn't be too surprised, however, if his first word turns out to be 'carburetor.'"
(Kansan photo bv Mike Gunther)
Geoffrey Churchill in a TR 4-A
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