April 2010 THill weekend comments

#1

First let me say thank you again to the entire Spec E30 field. You all make it a pleasure to drive 7 hours to Willows to race with you. It is interesting to hear so many other race group drivers walk up and say" what is going on over here? you all seem to be having so much fun!"

6 Races 6 Different Winners!

We appear to have several more drivers looking to join and some with significant backgrounds in racing, with professional time under their belt as well. It says a lot I think, that they wish to join us.

Observations: it seemed to me for the most part in the Spec E30 racing was quite clean. I understand there was major contact in GTS and that is sad. Although I am sure the drivers involved, when giving it serious consideration will improve. In Spec E30 the field continues to condense, lap time wise. Awareness of where everyone is, usually is quite good. THill does give opportunities to Draft and Bump Draft and that was fun. Get a tow Strap though Sir Lancelot!

Personally I learned a lot, and watching the video I have from Saturday was educational. The line at Thill reminds me of Buttonwillow where if you screw up one corner several other turns will suffer as well. Some of you guys have that down really well. I enjoyed racing against Bennett on Saturday. I thought he was a simple Gentleman Farmer out for a nice weekend at the Track…No Way that guy was willing to put me in the wall! Good smart racing Bennett, totally fair move and well executed. I was happy to return the favor;) I noticed huge improvements in your driving and race craft. Add Bennett to the list of guys charging for the front.

Sean Trapp too I thought made major improvements in his driving and race craft. In a very short time you have come along way and I was happy to see how you shared your enthusiasm with everyone around you! Major improvements in your ability to qualify and get a good start. Your tires set you back on Sunday, lesson learned.

Congrats to our two race winners Scoot and Greg (nick name to follow). Both of you guys showed real poise under pressure and kept your emotions in check while leading. The paddock buzz Sunday morning was “Greg is ready to win” and that proved true! Congrats for the win in GTS as well. Also Greg I have your “real” bottles of Pinot. Scoot and I were talking Saturday morning about how tough the field has become, and how tough it would be to win and bingo, bango, he goes out and pulls it off.

Now BTW you guys who have won can kick back and rest on your laurels, …really…please. A bunch of you other guys did really well but I am done complementing my competition.

No more mister nice guy. Comin’ through.

Cheers,
Shoe

#2

I would agree in that the SE30 crowd is one of the most respectful and fun group I have seen. I continued to lean a lot about race craft (thank you Adam :slight_smile: ) and have fun while doing it. I’m bummed I won’t be able to make it to TH CW as I have work commitments, I look forward to a great race in June!

#3

Great write up Kevin! Dan (and your brother Ken) it’s great to have you guys join our merry band of racers.

Here’s my summary:


EGR Hard Charger Sean Trapp (Sir Lancelot) and Scott Neville (Scoot) and Mr. Benny Franklin!

Donny Edwards and Kevin Nichols (last month’s EGR HC Winner) were enlisted to make the selection for this weekend’s SE30 Evil Genius Hard Charger Award since Mr. Evil Genius (John Pagel) was not at the track. This month’s Evil Genius Racing Hard Charger was Sean Trapp of SpeedTrapp Racing. With his beautifully prepared SE30’s and is positive attitude, Sean is a great ambassador for NorCal SE30. He has consistently showed a Hard Charger attitude for his own racing and has unselfishly helped and encouraged others with their racing. This last weekend he learned how to bump draft and how to be bump drafted. He made tremendous improvement in his lap times on a track he had limited experience with. Donny and Kevin agreed that Sean deserved the award for his actions over the entire weekend with a package of proper attitude followed up by his on-track performance all while finding the time to help and encourage others. Well done Sean! Congratulations!


Derek Welch was the Exedy Clutch winner.


Dan Gorman won the $100 AIM Tire certificate http://www.aimtire.com in a random draw for those SE30s that finished Saturday’s race in 6th place or lower.


Greg and Kevin (Shoe)

Greg and Dan

The winners of the North Face hoody sweatshirts (courtesy of Greg Peterson’s company Sonoma Outfitters http://www.sonomaoutfitters.com/ ) went to the driver who finished behind Greg Peterson in Saturday’s race (Kevin Nichols) and the driver who finished in front of Greg on Sunday. Because Greg won Sunday, it was decided that the last place SE30 driver on Sunday should get the sweatshirt…that driver was Dan Gorman!


Greg and Kevin

The winner of the fine Central Coast wine, sponsored by Nichols Wealth Management http://nwmslo.com/new/kevin.nichols/, was Greg Peterson! Greg won both bottles of wine! The plan was that Saturday’s winner would go to the driver who finished ahead of Kevin Nichols. Kevin finished in 4th and Greg took 3rd place. Sunday’s winner would go to the driver who clocked the fastest race lap…that driver was first place winner Greg Peterson. Because Kevin didn’t have time to pick out some Central Coast wine…he made a quick trip to the Wal-Mart in Willows and grabbed the best wine he could find that didn’t have a screw top. Greg took home two big bottles of Wal-Mart’s finest vintage. Thanks Kevin and congratulations Greg! (BTW…Kevin will be sending Greg some actual Central Coast vino later…Greg, just keep the Wal-Mart wine in a paper bag and nobody will notice…I’m told that vintage is pretty good at removing rubber tire scuffs…you might save it to detail out your race car).

Cheers,
Scoot

BTW…Kevin in now in charge of assigning nicknames for all the NorCal drivers :laugh:

#4

Last year Jim and I were lamenting about selling the Spec Miatas and retiring from racing. But having to keep a body guy on retainer and competing in a 70 car field was just too much. We heard Spec E30 was the way to go so we came out to last fall and checked out the group. We were assured by experts that the E30s were less money to run, less body contact, with our Miata experience we would be competitive right off the bat, and it was a great group of drivers. Well one out of four aint bad. This is a great group of people.
Considering our previous weekends this was relatively uneventful and we learned a lot. We learned that front brakes arent worn until you see sparks, we learned how to re-attach the splitter 6 times with duct tape and zip ties, and most importantly we learned to mark said splitter so we (I) don’t have to hike all over trying to find it. Thanks to the Speed Trapp crew we purchased a new Heavy Duty splitter that should solve the problem. They say it has an aero advantage, but I know the truth. If this one comes off it will be much easier to find on track because the bumper and grill will still be attached!
I did have a issue on Friday test day with an errant Corvette that knocked me off at 10. http://www.vimeo.com/11336316 This one actually dissected the splitter and air dam depositing them 50 yards apart. In fact all the really bad things that have happened have not been E30s. That is saying something for close as this group races.
I know we made the right choice and look forward to seeing everyone in May. Good thing for us, bad thing for you, Jim and I are getting faster every weekend. Then again everyone is getting faster. Most important our car is really getting fun to drive.

Dean Walker
#68 Team B&W Racing

#5

dwalker wrote:

[quote]Last year Jim and I were lamenting about selling the Spec Miatas and retiring from racing.

I did have a issue on Friday test day with an errant Corvette that knocked me off at 10. http://www.vimeo.com/11336316 This one actually dissected the splitter and air dam depositing them 50 yards apart. In fact all the really bad things that have happened have not been E30s.

Dean Walker
#68 Team B&W Racing [/quote]

Dean:
First of all, I am glad you made the race and nothing serious happened as a result of that incident with me on Friday, but I have to comment and show my in car video of the incident. I don’t advocate rough driving and it was never my intention to drive you or anyone off the road. It wasn’t a race after all.

As for being errantly driven, I was running about 3-4 seconds faster than you and was on your tail from turn 7 trying to get by. This wasn’t a “race” test practice but an HPDE and the common courtesy is to let the faster car by. I wasn’t driving a 400+HP Z06, but rather a 292RWHP, 3600# momentum Corvette. I thought your E30 was pretty fast on the straight and I could not of blown by you. At first, after the incident I thought you intentionally tried to race me thru the corner, but after watching your head movement and body language in the video, I now realize you were oblivious to my presence next to you on the track. You didn’t lift off a fraction and you didn’t give me an inch as I tried to take the proper arc thru 10. Earlier, when I tried to pass you before turn 8, you didn’t back off but I lifted off the gas(as you should of done) and no big deal. When I watched your video, I clearly saw my car getting a run on you down the hill; did you look in your mirrors? Did you even know I was there? Were you trying to make it hard on me to pass? Only you know. Had you of backed off, your lap time probably would have been a 2:12.0 rather than the blistering 2:11.9 you were no doubt capable of.

Anyways, have fun and be safe plodding around the back of the SpecE30 field and be sure to look at those shiny silver things to the right and left of your car as well as above your head when the field starts blowing by you.
Sidney

http://s161.photobucket.com/albums/t225/sidney004/?action=view&current=Thill42310.flv&newest=1

#6

sidney004 wrote:[quote]momentum Corvette.[/quote]

Funniest thing I’ve seen all week.:laugh:

#7

Sydney,
The responsibility of making a safe pass is on the person making the pass, not on the guy you’re passing.

PERIOD

The BMW was tracked out FAR right and gave you at least 2 car widths to make it happen yet you insisted on hitting the car you passed. In your video you said you were ahead of him for at least 5 seconds. If you were in front how did you side swipe the BMW? 292rwhp corvette is not a momentum car, a 2800lb BMW with 145RHWP is a momentum car. If you cannot pass that car safely at Thunderhill between 9 and 10 you need to really rethink your driving strategy. You could not pass him on the straights? Are you serious? My 3100lb 240RWHP BMW IP car passes them very easily, but then again I can drive.

#8

Dean,

Sorry this happened to you on Friday. Clearly from the video the Vette driver had no clue and moved over on you. That is a bummer and sad to see him join the forum (1 post, joined today) to try and defend himself instead of a simple apology to you at the track, which was defintely inorder.

It is good for us all to see your video and be reminded of what a mistake this move is. When we are passing we need to be sure to complete the pass safely and not move over until we are sure we are clear of the car being passed. Or if chances are we will not be able to move over to our normal line, then we need to make sure we get our braking done and stay to the inside.

Also when we run a open test/track day/DE extra caution and room are required as the other drivers often do not know proper passing technique. That same move he pulled on you rolled a guy at the Lemons race last year in the same spot. I am glad you did not suffer the same fate.

You and Jim looked good out there. You were both a pleasure to race with. I appreciate your team approach to the weekends as well. Keep up the good work.

Cheers

#9

sidney004 wrote:

[quote]dwalker wrote:
Anyways, have fun and be safe plodding around the back of the SpecE30 field and be sure to look at those shiny silver things to the right and left of your car as well as above your head when the field starts blowing by you.[/quote]
Woah dude, slow it down.

Sure, he could’ve let you by in T8 or T9 (though you could work on presenting yourself better). You had a fine inside line into T10 for a cooperative pass. From Dean’s camera, you were maybe in front of him. Maybe. Why would you try to move 1.5 car widths to the edge of the pavement in the braking zone, applying the brakes as you did it? You just barely got past him, so you had to know where he was, right?

If it was me, I’d chalk it up to a little red mist clouding your judgement, learn from it, and move on. Or maybe I’d talk shit on an internet forum about my Corvette’s badassed HPDE lap times? No, I think I’d just settle for moving on.

#10

To Sidney004,

Sure looks to me like you moved right way too soon before you were clear and punted Dean right off the track. You could have made a clean pass just by staying on the inside. You as the over taking car have the responsibility to make a clean pass which you clearly did not. Enough said you made a mistake move on and learn from it!

Scott C

#11

You forget that this was a Trackmasters event, group 4 with open passing, most cars were on street rubber and stock brakes. If you listened at the drivers meeting Doug asked for the PASS BE COMPLETED before turn-in and it was also said “this is not race testing and everyone wants to take their toys home in one piece” so why were you pushing such a tight/late pass in the first place?