When will we get one of your excellent write-ups on the VIR race. That was one awesone thing to watch…And so was the HC race too for that matter. Good stuff all around.
Carter
brain
#2
Chris,
What are the chances carter’s write-up can make it into Grass Roots Motorsports? Got any strings you can pull?
Carter
#3
Brain:
I’m currently working on a Spec E30 report for NASA’s Speed News section of GRM. It won’t be published for a couple of months but should help bring more attention to our group.
Regarding to VIR weekend, I can only comment on the Sunday race.
Morning warmup was wet so most of us used our full-tread Toyo RA-1 tires. Being somewhat conservative in any practice session, I didn’t drive all-out…but did try to get a feel for the conditions. I got past Carlton but never drove away from him.
Forrest was quickest in Spec E30, showing some serious low-grip driving skill. He turned a 2:04:4 (second quickest in the entire Autobahn group), Vic was second with a 2:05:5, I turned a 2:05:8, and Carlton rounded-out the top four with a 2:06:2.
Qualifying was dry and Chris grabbed yet another pole; a weekend quickest 1:48:4. I was second on the grid with a 1:48:6 and Carlton had an impressive (his first weekend on the North Course) 1:48:8.
At the drop of the green flag, I was just to Chris’ left, with turn one being a right hander. We took the green and I immediately (a-la F1) moved over right to keep Carlton behind. He stayed right with me, and I stayed right on Chris’ rear bumper.
After a couple of laps in this order, Chris and me no more than two car lengths apart, I got an opportunity to pass. Chris got a little sideways exiting turn three, a fast sweeping left hander and I got beside him for the 90 degree left hand turn four.
The lower esses just after turn four seemed to be my quickest part of the track and I pulled a few lengths out ahead. Turn six, the cut-though for the North course, came up and by the time I was half-way through the cut, Chris was on my rear bumper. He was clearly quicker here which meant I had to protect the line at the right hand "roller coaster" at the top of the hill.
After a couple of laps, I was balked by a 944 and Chris got by. Exiting the lower esses (my quick part, remember?) Chris did a good job protecting the line but I was able to drive up to his door each time before the cut-through…but couldn’t pass.
After a couple of more passes and re-passes between Chris and me over the next few laps, he got a little sideways coming out of Hogpen (last corner leading onto the front straight) and I was able to barely get by before turn one. Oh yeah…they had just thrown the white flag so my car was going to be VERY wide for the last lap! :evil:
Like Chris, I drove a protective line but never took more than one move. By driving a clean line, I kept Chris just behind until we took the checker.
Whew! That was the hardest-fought race I had ever driven. We were never more than 30 feet apart for the entire race and a person would have had trouble pushing a piece of paper between our cars a few times. However, he didn’t pickup any yellow paint and I didn’t pickup any white paint.
Our fastest lap times…mine was a 1:47:949 and Chris’ was a 1:47:950. That’s right; only 1/1000th of a second difference. And I was less than 3/10ths ahead at the checker flag.
Also, Carlton stayed with us the entire race and I was litterally thinking…"How am I going to explain how a first-year racer beat me at my home track" after seeing him get fairly close to my rear bumper one time.
I want to thank everyone for the clean, close, and exciting racing throughout the Spec E30 field. Everyone weighed-in over the minimum (Andrew Brendle was 3 pounds over!) and a good time was had by all.
Several drivers of other series, driver school guys and gals, and friends, came to the Spec E30 paddock and complimented us on the great show.
Next race; Summit in September.
Carter