The 968 P car and I finally made it back to Philly indeed on Thursday around midnight after enduring a snow storm in Colorado at about 9,000 feet (crazy talk), and a few tornadoes touching down around us in Kansas (NOT nice!).
An overall outstanding 2nd Annual UTCC at Buttonwillow. All my doubts about making the 6,000 mile round trip were quickly erased the moment I arrived Buttonwillow on Thursday night where I was greeted with open arms by everyone offering nothing but support, tons of help, and much needed driving advice for this rookie’s first visit to the track.
I practiced Friday in open track day, and three HPDE4 type sessions with NASA on Saturday. Managed to destroy my 16"s due to a tie rod coming off the A-arm that I did not discover until mid-day Saturday. Had to buy 2 R888s on track just so I could finish practice and save the 18"s as I realized that they were worse than I thought. The event on Sunday was simply first rate and the competition assembled was simply top rated. God knows this underdog from the East Coast was over his head! Nevertheless, everyone made us feel right at home and could not helped but be excited about the UTC Challenge, the magazine, CarDomain, the rest of the sponsors, and all supporters across the board. It was a truly rewarding experience in a fantastic track, with a NASA Sother Cali staff that is second to none.
They made the first session on Sunday a practice and "qualifying" session so I was forced to switch back to the 16"s (combo with R888s in front and Hoosier R6s on back - crazee talk!) so I could save the 18"s for the timed sessions. Byt this kind o backfired as I only managed a 2.05 on the mismatched "training wheels" which pooled me with the slower Group 2 (well.... Independent JV was supposed to be the slowest group anyway but.... I was hoping....). So it was a little harder to get clean fast laps. I actually ended up setting the fast lap of the day on the first timed session (second run of the morning). From there, the tires just deteriorated, the track heated much loosing precious grip, and the head gasket kept getting worse by the minute. Somehow there always appears to be drama in this racing business! <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/unsure.gif" class="smilie" alt="" /> LOL!!!
I personally do feel I exceeded my expectation having a strong finish (I think) with a car that came into Sunday with less power and more weight than the top competition in the Independent JV class. Not to mention my mistake of coming in without a set of sticker tires instead of my used (Sunday practice corded) tires. The failed head gasket hurt as well. But it was all challenging and exciting. Especially as a rookie with only two races under my belt and never having run a time trial before! What better place to do it but at Buttonwillow with everyone watching, taking pcs, and shooting video while running against some of the best competition in the nation. Does not get any better than that! Well.... nerves aside.. <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/cool.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />
The feedback from everyone has been great, and the 968 got lots of attention from everyone; spectators, GRM Staff, CarDomain staff, and racers alike. I am truly looking forward to perhaps getting invited again next year (hopefully east coast). I am also very much looking forward to the magazine's UTCC feature story and overall impressions from the editorial staff at GRM and CarDomain.
Some pics..... Will post Vids once I can get a Video editing software that does HDV... The final lap times will not be posted in mylaps.com until after the story is out so I am really not sure how we placed outside of knowing I ran the one 2.02.4 lap...
These next two pics show shots exiting Turn 9 "Magic Mountain". A blind sharply cresting off camber exit right handed nasty turn that is...... ...actually AWESOME! If you look closely, you'll notice both right tires up in the air... and that is without any help from berms or turtles...
A little me just to make it a bit more personal.... since you all know me now for a while....
