He's going 130 mph.

In September, Seagle steered his Porsche 911SC 80 to the class championship and a 14th overall finish in the Targa Newfoundland road race, a 1,320-mile, seven-day test of stamina, speed and driving skill through scenic villages and over scary terrain.

Along the winding way, Seagle and navigator Stan Pendergraft had to deal with a blown starter, destroyed battery, massive oil leak and electrical problems, not to mention emotional stress and physical duress.

"By the forth day, you and the car have taken a tremendous beating," Seagle said. "You are exhausted from the constant flow of adrenaline and the need to be constantly at your peak. You are tiring from the late nights fixing the car, limited sleep ... You say 'I just want this to be over.' "

Seagle earned undergraduate and law degrees at North Carolina, finishing in 1977.

He raced motorcycles for many years, then shifted to road racing at age 57 after reading about the Targa Newfoundland event.

Seagle owns the car and pays part of the cost, which he said he has not calculated. Major sponsors Time Warner Cable and Road Runner High Speed On Line contribute. One business provides tires. Another does repairs.

Though Seagle hasn't gotten a full endorsement from his wife, Linda, he said: "She's pleased I'm racing cars rather than motorcycles."

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