What a weekend. From agony and thinking the season was over, to running my 22 best laps at Pacific Raceways (no typo…22), it was a truly full-spectrum experience.
Move-in is smooth on Thursday evening, even though I showed up with a car without running gear. Yep, just like Evan at Spring Sprints, there is no motor or transmission in my car. Despite having to run home for the correct race transmission (i.e. the one with the throw-out assembly installed), many skilled hands get everything put together and the engine, very kindly loaned to me by Rod “The Oracle” Duncan, test fired by 6:00 or so. Then we dine on pizza provided by the Volkerts.
Friday. Oh Friday. I’m going to keep this short. On the first at-speed lap of practice Friday morning the car suddenly spun during a conservative turn through 3A. What I initially assumed was smoke from a bit of oil tossed around during the spin turned out to be more and the car caught fire. I got out safely and was about to unleash my onboard fire bottle on it when e-crew showed up and put it out.
Later that day I found a badly worn brass bushing in the upper kingpin trunnion.
There were two near-miracles.
- The fire was caused by a melted vent hose that let a bit of oil mist onto the exhaust manifold. It ignited and lit the air cleaner on fire. Nothing was damaged other than the hose and the air cleaner.
- Someone in the paddock had a spare set of upper trunnions with bushings.
I didn’t miss even one session after the fire. After the car was towed in I collected myself for about 15 minutes in my street car, then went to change out of my race suit in the trailer. When I turned around no less than six of my co-racers and their crew people were working on my car. That…THAT…is why I race. We are one big family.
The last lap of race 1 on Friday afternoon is my fastest at Pacific Raceways…but not for long.
Rich starts calling me “Mr. Excitement” during our paddock potluck dinner on Friday. Saturday morning I take a pen and write “Mr. Boring” on my arm. I had enough excitement for the weekend (year, too) on Friday and am ready for some good, consistent, fun racing.
And that’s what I get, with one little exception.
Race 2, Saturday morning, I moved up four positions and recorded two laps under 1:42. The next session, just after lunch, is the year-planned Battle of the Brits. I start seventh and *just* nip Stephen, by less than a car length, to take third place behind two ace Mini driver/builders, Dennis Racine and Brian Waters.
I’m starting to feel my oats now, and in race 3, Saturday afternoon, Stephen and I go back and forth for several laps before I slightly over-cook 3B, get the tail loose, then drop a tire during correction and send the car around. My wife, in the media pool, captures my digression from my Mr. Boring pledge.
Watching the video, if I’d been more patient I’d have had a good chance to catch him, or at least attempt a more high percentage pass.
Sunday has just two sessions, races 4 and 5. After my misadventure Saturday afternoon I start 11th and finish overall 7th, behind a passel of very fast sports racers, but ahead of all the other production cars. Amid thrilling wheel to wheel racing with Stephen and Jason Roosa, I record four laps in the 1:41s and a 1:40.901, my fastest ever at PR. I don’t have a good explanation for how I cut 1.993 seconds off my previous best lap time, other than I like the tires, I like the Quaife LSD, and I feel comfortable with the car a little loose in corners…something that goes with bias ply tires. The engine loaned to me by Rod, built by Stephen Newby, is top notch.
Race 5 on Sunday afternoon has a thin grid. I start 5th, drop a position to Jason Roosa in his white TR4, hit a new highest speed at Pacific, 116MPH, then get the position back with an inside pass in 2. My last lap, on the run from Jason close behind, is my fastest of the session at 1:41.447.
The weekend, in retrospect, was sort of bipolar. First the agony of defeat, then the thrill of victory (you’re my age if you know that reference). Toss in a liberal helping of paddock camaraderie, a very patient wife, my daughter being there, the generous loan of the engine by Rod, and I came home feeling great…if tired.
Videos!
Practice, Friday. July 4:
Qualifying, Friday, July 4:
Race 1, Friday, July 4:
Race 2, Saturday, July 5:
Battle of the Brits, Saturday July 5:
Race 3, Saturday, July 5:
Group 1 Sunday Race 4:
Race 5, Sunday, July 6: