Tranny Issues - Can't find first, I need help diagnosing please Options

[TROJANMAN]

First has never been a problem. In fact, in high school, i used to just sometimes skip to second and steal third, before taking home. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/chairfall.gif)

But this weekend, first became a problem. The story goes as such:
I drove the car 5000 miles to what felt like the center of the earth in a small town called Lamar,CO. The place they show on the news every morning as the day's "hot spot" in the state. I proceeded to track the car on Satruday and Sunday. (BTW there is absolutlety no reason to EVER travel east of Denver. It all looks the same, and you can actually see the curvature of the earth.) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

First gear was fine all weekend, no problems. After my second to last run, it was gone. I say second to last, because i tracked the car one more time without first gear and without any problems. Every other gear is just fine. No problems shifting, or finding any other gear. I drove the car home without incident. (hit 118 on the speedo. and trust me NO ONE was around) We drained half the tranny oil at the track, and there was no metal to be found. I just can't find first gear. We checked the linkage, and everything seems to be moving ok, except when i am looking for first. all bushings appear to be in tact, and i am guessing if i had a problem with my firewall bushing, i would not be able to shift so smoothly to the other 4 gears (+reverse) that i am using. I did have some slight grind when finding third on the track, and maybe i was hitting first, but i sincerely doubt it. especially since my fist gear has always been tempramental. I only ever shift into first when i am at a complete stop, and i wait for it to pop in, before attempting to move forward. Plus, I didn't grind any other gears all weekend, just on the last run, and it was only, ever so slight. BTW, on the track, I only used 3,4, and 5. 1st and 2nd were only used at the starter.

Thanks in Advance (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

(brant, care to add.....?)