Hutchinson Island Race Report

#1

We have three SpecE30’s here. Myself, David Walsh, and Al Kritter. The Feature race ended a little while ago. David missed qualifying and started from the back. Because of the wet track this morning some folks skipped Qual and were back there also. I started third of eight and led the Spec E30’s for about half the race until David caught up. From there David and I had a nose-to-tail race to the checker with two lead changes. Finishing order was:

J. Levie
D. Walsh
A. Kritter

I finished 4th OA out of 8 starters.

#2

congrats on the win Jim!!

#3

Here is video from the first race.

http://vimeo.com/31314703

#4

Good job Jim.

#5

you’re on a roll jim, great job. plus we have confirmation that your rev limiter works.

#6

The first race today got off to a bad start for me when the left rear toe adjuster came loose on the pace lap. A power change resulted in a big lurch left, then right. This isn’t the sort of track where one wants to have that happen. Not being at all sure how the car was going to behave at speed I let David and Al go by. It didn’t get any worse and I pretty quickly found new ways around the course that let me get speed on.

Once I felt I had things under control I set about chasing Al down. With a little help from an out of class car I passed him with one to go. The finish was:

D. Walsh
J. Levie
A. Kritter

I re-aligned the rears before the second race. Starting positions were from fastest lap in the morning race. Which was Kritter, Levie, and Walsh. David got a great start and moved into the lead. Al’s car was dumping fuel on right hand turns (a lot). In the first lap I had a close encounter with a guard rail when I hit the fuel on track. The car just slid out. That opened a big gap and I decided to just run the race out and save the car rather than chase them down. The first & second place finishes give a me lock on BMW CCA SE30 National points. So a third place finish and an undamaged car to take home was fine with me.

By all accounts, David and Al had a nose to tail race all the way to the finish. The finishing order was:

D. Walsh
A. Kritter
J. Levie

It has been a wonderful weekend and I finally got a first in a race where you get a trophy! The car proudly sports a winner’s sticker.

#7

Jim, the track looked fast, however the left,right,left, after the hotel/before the main straightaway looked kinda stupid in that if your car pushed out or a slight spin and you would immediately find tires or a guardrail.

Although, I guess you could say the same about T7 and T12 at road atlanta.

Congratulations.

RP

#8

Way to go Jim! :woohoo:

#9

[quote=“Patton” post=60685]Jim, the track looked fast, however the left,right,left, after the hotel/before the main straightaway looked kinda stupid in that if your car pushed out or a slight spin and you would immediately find tires or a guardrail.

Although, I guess you could say the same about T7 and T12 at road atlanta.

Congratulations.

RP[/quote]
That was a tricky section and the potential for disaster was high. I have what I think will be some amazing footage in that spot that I haven’t yet edited. Perhaps today.

#10

Jim, thanks.

RP

#11

[quote=“jlevie” post=60669]Here is video from the first race.

http://vimeo.com/31314703[/quote]

Why don’t you use the trackvision overlay software with your iq3? I have been planning on buying it since I bought my iq3. Have you tried it?

#12

[quote=“turbo329is” post=60704][quote=“jlevie” post=60669]Here is video from the first race.

http://vimeo.com/31314703[/quote]

Why don’t you use the trackvision overlay software with your iq3? I have been planning on buying it since I bought my iq3. Have you tried it?[/quote]
I should probably look into that. Until recently I didn’t want anyone to know how slowly I drove. And even now I’m not sure that I want to expose my lack of ability.

#13

Great event, upscale setting, lots of activities and spectators. My wife and I had our Helmets signed by Hurley Haywood, Boris Said, Joey Hand and Bill Auberlen. Very cool to hear their race stories. The track was extremely fun, fast and nicer than I expected. The run off is less in some areas than we are use to, but its not alarming at all. (Then again, I kinda have a close relationship with walls anyway…:slight_smile: )
It was beautiful to have a golf course on both sides of the track in some areas. The view of the Bay Bridge and the Westin was spectacular, and the Saturday night Fireworks show was over the top cool.

Congrats to Jim on his win! I wouldnt have gotten by you if not for your small mistake, and I think the same for you.
Now thats good racing!!

Al either missed the meatball flag or ignored it until they gave up or he quit spilling gas. Whichever the case, I’m glad you did because we had a heck of a race the entire time.

Good times !!!

Dont miss it if the opportunity ever presents itself again

#14

[quote=“D Walsh” post=60728]Congrats to Jim on his win! I wouldnt have gotten by you if not for your small mistake, and I think the same for you.
Now thats good racing!![/quote]
That is mighty kind of you David!

That was good racing and it was definitely the highlight of my weekend. I sort of had the feeling during that race that “He who made the last mistake was going to loose.” I got lucky and avoided making any mistakes after the second lead change. I certainly didn’t have anything for you when you were in front.

Video from the second race is ready. There’s an interesting event at the 18 minute point that addresses Robert’s comments above and then with one lap to go.

http://vimeo.com/31452367

I’m hoping that we can do this again next year at the HSR event. If they will have us. I’ll come!

#15

Sundays Race 2 Decent track video but all the action was right behind me. Edited down to just a couple laps then the finish.

http://vimeo.com/groups/SpecE30/videos/31457732