This weekend I ran the Bremerton (WA) Double Regional. Race Group two was 7 cars, all in different classes ranging from a new Stohr DSR setting all-time lap records to me. First session on Saturday, I had forgotten to set tire pressures and spun on the second lap, taking out a traffic barrel with the right sidepod. Minor body damage and buckled the undertray a bit. Qualification went well, no off course excursions and a time of 1:10 and change, putting me last on grid (no surprise). When the green flag dropped (I couldn't see it past the SR in front of me) I took the SRF, but let him back by in the braking zone because he was cornering faster than I. Should these cars outrun an SRF on the straights? I picked up to the mid 1:05s in the race, starting to put things together - one missed braking zone into Turn 1, lots of runoff room; good thing because that braking zone is so bumpy, I never found a smooth braking line. Won my class (DUH) and also clinched the Regional F500 Championship. The Chief Steward signed my book with the comment "Good job of watching mirrors." The DSR was 15 seconds a lap quicker, saw him in my mirror a lot. :-)
Sunday started out great, good practice session and the left EGT gauge started working again - one less thing to troubleshoot. Qualified in the 1:05s, once again tail-end-Charlie in the group. Headed to grid for the race, the left rear tire tossed a stone into my mirror and broke it - only one small piece missing, so I could still see the traffic. Started drizzling a bit while on grid; maybe the mirror was an omen. Started the race anyway, same kind of start. About two laps in it was raining harder on some sections, I spun in one on the second lap, gathered it back and kept going. Then it really started raining. Several corners on this track cross the rubber tracks of the drag strip, when wet there is no traction on those tracks. I wasn't able to get slowed down for the first corner (again...) and ended up with a cone jammed in between the left front and the sidepod and another nested on the nose like it had been stacked there, wish I had a camera with me. I was done, but they flagged the race due to conditions and I got credit for the win (not running at finish). Got the Chief's signoffs for the race and the License, so the orange squares come off the car! National License here I come! Gene near Seattle ________________________________ FormulaCar Magazine - A Proud Supporter of Formula 500 The Official Publication of Junior Formula Car Racing Subscribe Today! www.formulacarmag.com or 519-624-2003 _________________________________ _______________________________________________ F500 mailing list - [email protected] To unsubscribe or change options please visit: http://f500.org/mailman/listinfo/f500 *** Please, DO NOT send unsubscribe requests to the mailing list! ***
