It was a great weekend. Pouring rain usually freaks me out but I had brand new Hoosier rain tires and let me say - those tires stick like glue even in a major monsoon. I usually am a bit terrified racing in the rain but with these sneakers on - no problem. Tons of grip. Qualified 5th overall of 35 cars and second in class behind the track record holding ITR BMW. The lighter ITS cars are faster or equal to ITR cars at LRP - tight turns and no place to lay down big power except the front straight.
Cleared up for the race Saturday and we were the last race group so there was plenty of rubber back down on the track. I had a decent start and moved up to third overall and first in class. The fourth place BMW muscled me at the uphill turn with a bump and pushed me to the grass and I fell back to second in class. Then I got passed by two other cars and started getting pissed so I put the hammer down - still need to put full agression mode on at the start and not worry about warming up - these guys take no quarter and will immediately put you down a spot if a crack opens up. I got past one car and on the next lap was side by side with an S2000 up on the outside of T1 Big Bend and just ran out of track or talent, put the front left off and ZOOP! around I went, rejoining about 15 spots down. Now I'm REALLY PISSED! Shouldn't have stayed up all night partying yelling at myself in the car for being stupid :-)
Two laps later the leader was stuffed into the wall at the uphill with massive front end damage - no idea what happened but it was an easy 7K in damage - whole front end pushed to the frame. Wicked hit. Lost about five laps to a full course yellow. Restart and I was now in the full race mode - no mercy. Passed four cars on the start and just ran people down, pushed 'em around and took no crap. Got up to the 5th place overall ITR S2000 Honda - $75K car just off the floor of Flatout motorsports and he accomodated by driving off the track into a puddle right when I got up to his bumper.
So I finished 5th overall and 2nd in class. It wasn't a great drive and I was on tires with 4-5 race weekends so I couldn't expect much better. Cords were hanging out of the front left so I guess I got the miles out of 'em. I should be happy because that's my best NARRC finish but I didn't win so I'm not satisfied.
Finish order overall:
1st - ITS BMW 323 at 3000 lbs
2nd - ITS BMW 323 at 3000 lbs - team cars from Autotechnic with Full motec - 5 years of development - these guys are the champs and the best ITS cars
3rd - ITR BMW 328 at 2850 lbs
4th - ITS Mazda RX7 at 2680 lbs - great driver with a "optimized motor"
5th - ITR Porsche 968 at 3055 lbs - hungover driver who chilled with trackside honeys all night :-)
Damn I'm pissed I didn't do better! Pete - show me more power - I just got a bonus from work! Last race is 10/23 at NJMP
I'll try to post up some video. Did I mention I'm still pissed?
