Looks like it!
Mid Ohio - Aug 2011
ilateapex
#43
Prepping for NASA Championship
August Mid-Ohio
Eight Spec E30’s showed up at Mid Ohio Raceway for the last weekend of the year before the Nationals in September. Sean Curran from North East joined Dennis Barker, Cameron Bullard, Robert Gagliardo (from Mid Atlantic), Simon Hunter, Sean Louisin, Anthony Magagnoli and Michael Osborne for a weekend of excellent racing. Kyle Smith was not able to diagnose his cars electrical problem and missed the weekend. John Ackerman’s wife is expecting and he thought it best to stay home. Rob Thornton had other obligations and Kevin Sweeney is still rebuilding after a roll last season.
Saturday morning began with Magagnoli oversleeping and missing the 7:15am drivers meeting and the early morning practice session. The qualifying session resulted in Gagliardo earning the pole with a 1:44.06. He was followed by Bullard, Osborne, Magagnoli, Louisin, Hunter, Curran and Barker.
There was a lengthy time period between qualifying and race time so hotdogs were grilled and the drivers and their crews discussed issues with the various cars and how to best overcome them. Jeremy Lucas, who was driving a Honda this weekend, stopped by with a new tiny video recorder about the size of a Toyota key fob, which Osborne tried out with some great results.
The Spec E30’s took the second green flag on the back straight right behind the GTS-1’s. Bullard passed Gagliardo at the start and Osborne held onto third. Magagnoli experienced what appeared to be fuel starvation during the race and gradually fell back in the pack while Hunter gradually moved up to third. Curran was trying for a pass for fourth but two cars went off in turn 7 with one of them flipping on to its top. The double yellow flags came out followed shortly by the black flag all. The race ended about five minutes early. The Spec E30’s pulled into the pits with Bullard first, Gagliardo second, Hunter third followed by Osborne, Curran, Louisin, Magagnoli and Barker.
Sunday started out cloudy but the track was dry for practice. By the time for qualifying, it was raining and most everyone went to the track with full tread tires. The first two laps were under yellow with a pace car on the track. Bullard went off the track at turn eleven after only two hot laps causing a black flag all to be put out and ending qualifying early. The pole for Sunday’s race went to Hunter with Magagnoli second followed by Gagliardo, Bullard, Louisin, Curran, Barker and Osborne.
Again there was a long break between qualifying and race time. Hotdogs were grilled again for all Spec E30 drivers and crew. There was lots of discussion about the Toyo tires and the differences being experienced with the newer tires. Apparently, the composition of the rubber has changed, and not for the better.
As race time approached, the radar showed rain all around. Full tread or shaved tires; that was the question! Some went to grid on full tread tires while others chose shaved and hoped the rain would hold off.
The race again started on the back straight, with the track damp and a light mist. The lead as measured at the front straight start/finish line changed five times during the race between three cars. Sometimes the sun would try to come out then it would drizzle on half the track while the other half was dry. On the last lap Gagliardo was leading with Hunter close behind. A car spun in front of them causing Hunter to go in the grass to avoid it and dropping to fourth. That let Magagnoli to move to second followed by Curran at third. Osborne moved from eight to fourth only to drop back and finish fifth. A lot of good racing on a slick track.
National are in September and a little over 25 Spec E30’s have signed up. NASA Great Lakes needs a good turnout as some of our drivers had a good chance to earn a spot on the podium.
End of Article
Rob_in_VA
#45
[quote=“Elephant4” post=59534]Did the Fasttech guys pick up a few new drivers? They look like they have potential.
[/quote]
awwww crap. Are they signed up for Nationals?
Elephant4
#46
[quote=“Rob in VA” post=59535]
awwww crap. Are they signed up for Nationals?[/quote]
I think they are going to be there, perhaps looking for a rental.