So I did have my first race weekend on May 31st and June 1st at Pocono raceway using the North Course. Showed up by myself on Friday night all excited but certainly... uhmm... ehhh.. well... nervous as I can be (not that usual with me)... Running NASA GTS3 with a not optimal power to weight at around 12.9 when I should be at around 11 to be in the competitive zone.
Saturday was rainy from the start. Of course, I had no rain tires and no wipers. Just my set of R6s on the 16"s and my R6s on my 18"s. Rain had eased out a bit for the practice session so I decided to go out on my 16s. By the second lap, someone had clipped the flag station into Turn 1 coming off the Nascar banked turn 3 (>100 mph). I came around to the hectic flagger with less hands than flags waving while jumping up and down slow enough to nicely skate my way through 300 yards with absolutely no control as I floated over the oily water to a 5 mph pace somehow managing to keep it on the asphalt. About 8 other cars that were not that lucky were scattered all over the place. By the time practice was over (never did red-flag it), there was oil and water all the way through the infield making it effectively undriveable over 40 mph.
By qualifying, the HPDE peeps had cleaned up somewhat of a dry line and the rain had pretty much subsided for the most part. In about the 6th lap or so I decided I had enough clean track ahead and a good dry line for my money lap. One rookie mistake later I found myself in the same spot where the previous wreck was, not looking far enough down the track, forgetting I was on my 16" "training wheels", and trying to slow down a bit from over 110. A little slide... a bit off the only line at the time on the track, and around I went. Unfortunately, my drifting skills are obviously not very polished and I could not save it. Kept it on the asphalt for the most part.... needless to say.. NOT the money lap. First true spin ever. Somehow I finished the session while unable to breath, blink, or speak, and qualified second.
Race time came quicker than I expected and by the time I looked at the schedule after throwing on the 18"s, I had about 10 minutes to get ready, strapped, and gridded. Between the nerves and excitement, during the warm-up lap I realized I had no idea where the green was going to be thrown. As I am looking for it up high on the banking wall, I happened to hear and see the leader open it up. Well, a 10 cars deficit later, here I am going back into my now least favorite Turn 1. Much contact in the front running group, lots of pieces flying, smoke, and cars sliding. I get through unscratched on the inside as I tried to slow down. Finished the race under a red flag after a top running racer went off at; guess where, Turn 1-2. Started breathing again, and then, proceeded to get scolded for a "questionable pass" under yellow.... I was forgiven as the 2 cars I passed, passed me back, and I had little chance of stopping as the incident unfolded in front of me with cars behind, off-line, and with little room... and not even halfway through the first lap! Somehow, I managed to take 2nd. Very, very, very small trophy.. <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/unsure.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />
Sunday was a beautiful day. Pete came up and joined me for the day. Practice was fine. Again qualified 2nd. Pete helped sort out a few suspension annoyances and all sorts of important racing things I had no clue. I was a happy racer. Locked and loaded, obviously "a veteran by now" <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/rolleyes.gif" class="smilie" alt="" /> . As I pulled out Pete asked me for the 15th time if I had enough fuel. Again I said I was absolutely certain. remember, I am a veteran now. Had to keep the weight down. An extra 2 gallons would put me in the back of the pack for sure <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/huh.gif" class="smilie" alt="" /> . Nailed the start this time. Passed a car or two into Turn 1-2 and I was setting on a rhythm. Midway through the race... coming through... you guessed it.... Turn 1 right kink and into right Turn 2 heavy breaking zone, I stand on the brakes as usual, on a decent line (I think), and.. oops... right rear locks up (never happened before - fronts always locks first), car kicks to the right (opposite to turn), try to correct, and around we go. This time a little quicker and more dramatic than my first drift practice. Actually going off for a picnic on the grass. Managed to keep the car on.. so I rolled back onto the track 2 cars in front of the 3rd and 4th GTS3 positions. "Great", I thought, I have some cushion... Well.... for the rest of the race, I did not have enough fuel to not sputter out of Turn 4... By the end of the race I had lost the 2 car cushion (both out of T4 while graciously sputtering), but managed to again, somehow, find 2nd place. "I told you I had enough GAS!!" <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/rolleyes.gif" class="smilie" alt="" /> <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/mellow.gif" class="smilie" alt="" /> <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/ninja.gif" class="smilie" alt="" /> Did find out that somehow the right rear was loosing air throughout the race as it was flat shortly after the race ended.
Now I understand Jim and Eric. Goodby HPDEs.... Hello Racing! Enough adrenaline and excitement to last a century.... But my two first ever spins really put a check on my ego..... Coming first on both races was a very nice gentleman drivin a fairly trick E36 M3 with about 279 rwhp and right at the 11 power to weight ratio sweet spot for GTS3. About 1 second faster per lap.
A few pics from the weekend.... I'll try to post a few videos soon.... (BTW: Nerves were enough to make me forget to turn the camera on for my first ever race :-( .... oh well... sorry...) I think I do have both spins on tape though....
