This morning, like most of them, started early... so that we could get to the TireRack in time for the group photo. Plus we wanted to unhook the rear swaybar (after getting the recommendation from several other participants) in time for the dry skidpad. Just as that and unloading the car got done, we were called up to grid (because the dry skidpad runs in reverse order). After a quick dash to pump up the tires (another cold morning!), it was time to go. I did pretty well, getting a score of 0.878. Jack was slower, but it wasn't enough to close the gap.
We loaded up the car, said goodbyes to those leaving early, and hung around 'till the award banquet. We also setup some arrangements to caravan back to NoVA with Brian, Woody, and Robyn (of the NoVA BMW contigent). The banquet was nice, albiet bittersweet, since it signals the end of another one lap. Around the tables, soft mummurs of planning for next year could be heard... along with a certain amount of Bull, and war stories from the week.
After getting some gas, we hooked up with the convoy back at the hotel and peeled out of South Bend at 3.15. Google things we'll get in at 2am. I think it'll be closer to 1am. Afterall, we're all lap dogs headed back, and know what it takes to drive long distances faster than google thinks is possible. I'll try to provide a recap of our event in the next day or so, and maybe bug Robert to give me another post.
-T
Saturday, May 7, 2011
Day 7: Autobahn Raceway
Robert and I got in to Joliet around 3:15am... after a long drive up from Alabama and a stop to help the M-roadster guys (Jim/Francis) and a long-ish dinner stop... getting in to the super8 at about the same time as Jack. The desk guy was a bit incredulous that we (both cars) were headed out again at 7am. Robert then got a talking to about using the front door (which the desk guy had to buzz us through) instead of the side door w/ the room key. We were up at 7am, and I packed the car while Robert showered. I tried to use my room key to enter back through the side door... without success. We both got a kick out of that bit of irony, then headed over to Autobahn... getting there around 7:45.
I walked the north track with him, trying not to sound like too much of a "limited experience, walking the track, giving advice of limited value." I haven't had a lot of experience walking a track and then driving it... so I can only give so much insight from doing that. I also have a hard time keeping the track picture in my head. I drive, on the street and track, by winding through a "visual movie" of where I'm going in my mind's eye. And it's hard to construct that movie while walking. Interestingly, we found out that Robert best learns a track using the track map... and making annotations to it.
Robert then downloaded and watched some spec miata videos of the north track while I unpacked the car. I checked the car over, and added air to the tires (the morning was a cold one)... after borrowing a portable airpump from Jim/Francis. Then it was time to stand around, check the GoPro, and wait for the last run group to go out. I made a deal with Robert, that if he spun the car during the North track, that'd drive the South track in the afternoon. Robert didn't, and slowly began to figure out what the car could do at the track. It can be very tough to be at a new track that you haven't driven before... which is a large part of the challenge of the OneLap. It is considerably more difficult to learn a new track from cold when you're still a Novice HPDE driver. It doesn't matter if you've got a lifetime of "driving quick on the street" and/or good car handling skills. Driving on the track requires all that, plus being able to judge how much braking is required and at what speed/gear each corner should be taken at. And with the miata, we don't have an excess of power to make up for braking early (or too late), taking a corner too slow, etc.
Robert didn't spin, so we started to prepare him for the North track in the afternoon, downloading some video. Then Tracy (from the VW TDI) came over and gave Robert some pointers based on his experience driving the track in the Spec Miata series (which our car is very similar to). Meanwhile B96 radio setup their tent and started broadcasting from the paddock. It was the usual "pop radio" shock jock inanity. The hilarity of it all was that we were originally told there would be "thousands" of spectators milling around because of B96 and them raffling away a new Mazda 2. Well, it was friday, in the boonies of chicago, the car raffle lasts for two months(?), and the track was charging $5/head of visitors. So, to no large surprise, a very limited number of spectators showed up. I can't complain about B96 too much though, because they and Autobarn dealership paid for our lunch... and they were a nice change from the regular track food.
After lunch Robert walked the track... well, half the track. As Brock came around while he was walking to boot him off the track because the first run group was about to head out. So, then it was a wait until we were to line up. We checked the oil and added about half a quart... well, since I was doing the maint (while robert prepped) it meant that half a quart came out of the bottle with most of it going in the fill hole. It looks like we've been burning a consistent 1/2 a quart a day... which, considering the age of the engine, isn't too surprising. After gridding up, I was surprised to see Howard LeFevre's Dodge Challenger lined up around our run group... since he and his car are usually considerably faster. Talking to him revealed that he had had his power steering go out. They'd flushed the fluid, and added new fluid in, but were still running essentially depowered. His codriver was asleep in the passenger seat, and Howard was also trying to buy a t-shirt (I assume from the track)... so he told me "the keys are in the car, can you pull it up if the grid moves?" Sure, why not. So, then I got to have a nice converstation with his codriver when I popped in to move the car. :) One Lap really is a unique environment to be around.
Robert went out at the tail end of the second to last group and did a good job of keeping the car on the track. His time was a bit down the charts... but he was still quicker than I was in a similar situation with the Fit two years ago. So I can't complain about his performance. Robert than took some seat time with JC in the RX-350, getting to see the line at speed. After that they pulled in, hopped in the miata, and swung out to the pits to get "conditional" approval to go out with my car. They spent a number of laps out there in the car, while I chatted up the people on pit road. Then he pulled back in to the paddock. No stopping in the pits to offer me the car (and my helmet), just back in the pits. Apparently, I was supposed to indicate my interest in driving the car in the open session ahead of time. As you might tell, I've been giving him quite a bit of good -natured grief about that since then. :)
Then it was a matter of packing up, and fighting Chicago traffic back to South Bend. We got there a little after 8pm, and then procedded to get absolutely lost trying to find the watering hole all the OneLappers were congregating at to relish the accomplishment of successfully getting back to South Bend. After some food, and a couple of barley-hops-waters and some good conversations w/ Tracy & Mattias (of the TDI) we decided to head back to the Quality Inn and turn-in. The last week had definitely caught up to us... despite the potential for continued carrousing back at The Gipper. This year's one lap definitely took a lot out of both of us... in part because of the later/longer transits (compared to '09), plus I picked up a fair bit of sun (unexpectedly) on friday.
I walked the north track with him, trying not to sound like too much of a "limited experience, walking the track, giving advice of limited value." I haven't had a lot of experience walking a track and then driving it... so I can only give so much insight from doing that. I also have a hard time keeping the track picture in my head. I drive, on the street and track, by winding through a "visual movie" of where I'm going in my mind's eye. And it's hard to construct that movie while walking. Interestingly, we found out that Robert best learns a track using the track map... and making annotations to it.
Robert then downloaded and watched some spec miata videos of the north track while I unpacked the car. I checked the car over, and added air to the tires (the morning was a cold one)... after borrowing a portable airpump from Jim/Francis. Then it was time to stand around, check the GoPro, and wait for the last run group to go out. I made a deal with Robert, that if he spun the car during the North track, that'd drive the South track in the afternoon. Robert didn't, and slowly began to figure out what the car could do at the track. It can be very tough to be at a new track that you haven't driven before... which is a large part of the challenge of the OneLap. It is considerably more difficult to learn a new track from cold when you're still a Novice HPDE driver. It doesn't matter if you've got a lifetime of "driving quick on the street" and/or good car handling skills. Driving on the track requires all that, plus being able to judge how much braking is required and at what speed/gear each corner should be taken at. And with the miata, we don't have an excess of power to make up for braking early (or too late), taking a corner too slow, etc.
Robert didn't spin, so we started to prepare him for the North track in the afternoon, downloading some video. Then Tracy (from the VW TDI) came over and gave Robert some pointers based on his experience driving the track in the Spec Miata series (which our car is very similar to). Meanwhile B96 radio setup their tent and started broadcasting from the paddock. It was the usual "pop radio" shock jock inanity. The hilarity of it all was that we were originally told there would be "thousands" of spectators milling around because of B96 and them raffling away a new Mazda 2. Well, it was friday, in the boonies of chicago, the car raffle lasts for two months(?), and the track was charging $5/head of visitors. So, to no large surprise, a very limited number of spectators showed up. I can't complain about B96 too much though, because they and Autobarn dealership paid for our lunch... and they were a nice change from the regular track food.
After lunch Robert walked the track... well, half the track. As Brock came around while he was walking to boot him off the track because the first run group was about to head out. So, then it was a wait until we were to line up. We checked the oil and added about half a quart... well, since I was doing the maint (while robert prepped) it meant that half a quart came out of the bottle with most of it going in the fill hole. It looks like we've been burning a consistent 1/2 a quart a day... which, considering the age of the engine, isn't too surprising. After gridding up, I was surprised to see Howard LeFevre's Dodge Challenger lined up around our run group... since he and his car are usually considerably faster. Talking to him revealed that he had had his power steering go out. They'd flushed the fluid, and added new fluid in, but were still running essentially depowered. His codriver was asleep in the passenger seat, and Howard was also trying to buy a t-shirt (I assume from the track)... so he told me "the keys are in the car, can you pull it up if the grid moves?" Sure, why not. So, then I got to have a nice converstation with his codriver when I popped in to move the car. :) One Lap really is a unique environment to be around.
Robert went out at the tail end of the second to last group and did a good job of keeping the car on the track. His time was a bit down the charts... but he was still quicker than I was in a similar situation with the Fit two years ago. So I can't complain about his performance. Robert than took some seat time with JC in the RX-350, getting to see the line at speed. After that they pulled in, hopped in the miata, and swung out to the pits to get "conditional" approval to go out with my car. They spent a number of laps out there in the car, while I chatted up the people on pit road. Then he pulled back in to the paddock. No stopping in the pits to offer me the car (and my helmet), just
Then it was a matter of packing up, and fighting Chicago traffic back to South Bend. We got there a little after 8pm, and then procedded to get absolutely lost trying to find the watering hole all the OneLappers were congregating at to relish the accomplishment of successfully getting back to South Bend. After some food, and a couple of barley-hops-waters and some good conversations w/ Tracy & Mattias (of the TDI) we decided to head back to the Quality Inn and turn-in. The last week had definitely caught up to us... despite the potential for continued carrousing back at The Gipper. This year's one lap definitely took a lot out of both of us... in part because of the later/longer transits (compared to '09), plus I picked up a fair bit of sun (unexpectedly) on friday.
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Day: 6
We got to Moody, AL and our Super 8 at a relatively early 10:30pm. I thought about writing a post, pushing pictures up, etc. I even thought about taking a shower. Instead, I made sure my alarms were set, changed into sleep gear and fell asleep on top of the covers. That was something of a relief. Robert and I had stopped for Waffle House on the way... just to change it up from chicken sandwiches, hamburgers, and Subway. I made the mistake of ordering coffee, and about 30mins out from the hotel I got a bit "jumpy", with the caffeine settling in the joints of my legs and calf muscles. In part exacerbated by having the helmet right in front of the passenger seat. So, finally getting rid of that feeling and "crashing" was quite nice. Plus I've relearned my lesson about coffee and the long road.
We got up about 7.30 and got to the track around 8.30 after getting a scenic tour of Leeds. Barber Motorsports Park is... beautiful. In a pretentious, "Judge Elihu Smails" kind of way. You definitely get a feeling that they're looking down their noses at other tracks. And that doesn't sit too well with me. There's just one thing that really spoils it all:
The track itself is awesome!
Man I had a lot of fun driving it. Driving it iRacing beforehand definitely helped. I watched some videos and all, but I could really tell the difference in my comfort in knowing what I should be doing with the car at Barber compared to Grand Circuit Bayou. So that made it very fun. However, iRacing really fails to convey the impact of the elevation change. It's better than a lot of things... but my basement doesn't have a motion system, my logitech g25 is too loose, and only have one monitor. A lot of this is my fault. But, I've realized I'd rather go drive the real thing.
Now, again, I wasn't able to extract it all out. I was still braking a bit more than I should for the turn 7-8 combo... but I made a lot of time up on the 911 in front me even running that section slightly below max. I was over braking turn 1, 4, and another (can't remember the number). Also there was another turn I couldn't take another flat even though I should be able to. However, there were a number of combinations that I managed to link up, and I finally figured out the corner combination leading onto the front straight, all of which was very gratifying. I also managed to almost catch Theo's 911 in both sessions. We managed to pull about 40points out of our next closest "all remaining cars" competitor (Jack in the 944T). Shaving the distance to 55points. We might be able to pull it off... but it's not going to be a cake walk. Funny, though, what I'm really saying is that I'm trying not to win the award. Believe it or not, there is a slight competition for not being last... although I'm not sure Jack is very much aware of it. So, ya know... don't let him know I said anything.
We pulled out of Barber at 3.15, and stopped at a Radio Shack in Cullman to get our "stereo" working, and get some more Mobil1 5w30. The car's been burning about a 1/4qt a day. But, it does have 183kmi on it now, and we've been flogging it mightily. We ended up meeting up with the guys in the VW TDI as we got back on I-65 and rode with them for a while. Until we say Jim and Frances (our SSGT2 competitors in the M-roadster) on the side of the road. I executed a quick 'ditch the highway and stop, then reverse' manoeuvre to see how they were doing. Meanwhile, Robert cleaned up his soldering... no really, Robert was soldering in the car. We have video proof too. The M-roadster's trailer had a axel that got loose and smoked the rear tire. There was a local already stopped and giving a hand. Robert crawled under and a gave a hand. I stood back and entertained the local and Jim. After a certain amount of cursing, and prodding the axle was forced back into a fixed position. Then we were all on our way.
Funny from the road for the night. On I-65, near Upton KY, there is an Adult shop with a large lighted sign (note, why are their signs always yellow?); while on the other side of the highway and directly across there was a sign that read "Hell is Real". Only in America? Only in Kentucky? Maybe both?
Anyhow, it's now about 11pm. We've had dinner, the car is running smooth, and we've got pretty good ways to go still.
We got up about 7.30 and got to the track around 8.30 after getting a scenic tour of Leeds. Barber Motorsports Park is... beautiful. In a pretentious, "Judge Elihu Smails" kind of way. You definitely get a feeling that they're looking down their noses at other tracks. And that doesn't sit too well with me. There's just one thing that really spoils it all:
The track itself is awesome!
Man I had a lot of fun driving it. Driving it iRacing beforehand definitely helped. I watched some videos and all, but I could really tell the difference in my comfort in knowing what I should be doing with the car at Barber compared to Grand Circuit Bayou. So that made it very fun. However, iRacing really fails to convey the impact of the elevation change. It's better than a lot of things... but my basement doesn't have a motion system, my logitech g25 is too loose, and only have one monitor. A lot of this is my fault. But, I've realized I'd rather go drive the real thing.
Now, again, I wasn't able to extract it all out. I was still braking a bit more than I should for the turn 7-8 combo... but I made a lot of time up on the 911 in front me even running that section slightly below max. I was over braking turn 1, 4, and another (can't remember the number). Also there was another turn I couldn't take another flat even though I should be able to. However, there were a number of combinations that I managed to link up, and I finally figured out the corner combination leading onto the front straight, all of which was very gratifying. I also managed to almost catch Theo's 911 in both sessions. We managed to pull about 40points out of our next closest "all remaining cars" competitor (Jack in the 944T). Shaving the distance to 55points. We might be able to pull it off... but it's not going to be a cake walk. Funny, though, what I'm really saying is that I'm trying not to win the award. Believe it or not, there is a slight competition for not being last... although I'm not sure Jack is very much aware of it. So, ya know... don't let him know I said anything.
We pulled out of Barber at 3.15, and stopped at a Radio Shack in Cullman to get our "stereo" working, and get some more Mobil1 5w30. The car's been burning about a 1/4qt a day. But, it does have 183kmi on it now, and we've been flogging it mightily. We ended up meeting up with the guys in the VW TDI as we got back on I-65 and rode with them for a while. Until we say Jim and Frances (our SSGT2 competitors in the M-roadster) on the side of the road. I executed a quick 'ditch the highway and stop, then reverse' manoeuvre to see how they were doing. Meanwhile, Robert cleaned up his soldering... no really, Robert was soldering in the car. We have video proof too. The M-roadster's trailer had a axel that got loose and smoked the rear tire. There was a local already stopped and giving a hand. Robert crawled under and a gave a hand. I stood back and entertained the local and Jim. After a certain amount of cursing, and prodding the axle was forced back into a fixed position. Then we were all on our way.
Funny from the road for the night. On I-65, near Upton KY, there is an Adult shop with a large lighted sign (note, why are their signs always yellow?); while on the other side of the highway and directly across there was a sign that read "Hell is Real". Only in America? Only in Kentucky? Maybe both?
Anyhow, it's now about 11pm. We've had dinner, the car is running smooth, and we've got pretty good ways to go still.
Day: 5 (Grand Bayou)
We got in to Circuit Grand Bayou around 4am. Or we got to a gas station off the highway at 4am. Then we drove to where the GPS indicated the track was and found a construction site and a cop there instead. We decided it probably wasn't the track, and that it was in our best interest to not disturb the cop. So we headed back the way we came, and then happened upon the track afterall. Since it was, by that time, 4:45am we decided to just park and sleep in the car... something I'd kinda been planning from the start. In part, just to try it out. In part, as a nod to the old school One Lappers. And in part, because I didn't particularly figure there'd be that many open rooms left. It wasn't *real* comfortable, and the car got a bit cold; but the real bummer was not having a shower.
However, the upshot was, we got a garage space (first come, first serve), and I managed to walk the track 2x before hand. This was good, because I was having difficulty holding the track in my head. Then it was sit & wait time, hang out w/ Walt & JC Krueger in the RX-350 (that's a 1989 RX-7 w/ a chevy 350 in it). Then it was time to grid up and wait, where we got to hang out with Jim from Jim Bob racing who has been running exhibition laps after he blew the motor in his corvette at Summit Point.
Then it was my time to run. I did pretty well, got a feel for the track... but did still manage to forget the final R/L/L/R 'hump' complex before you enter the long right hander that slings you onto the... "front" straight that takes you down the "braking" area of the drag strip in the first session. That was a bit of surprise, like "oh! yeah! there are more corners here!" I also never managed to take the left/right off the front straight flat out. The car can probably do it, but I was having trouble judging the turn-in. I got close in the final session. I left a bunch of time on the table, but then again, this is less about nailing every course perfectly for me. I'm still an intermediate level driver. Taking this car as close to the edge as I've been able to at a track I've never been to is a victory in itself after my first trackdays after buying the car. I got comfortable enough to nab some braking between corners and even *in* one or two.
However, the upshot was, we got a garage space (first come, first serve), and I managed to walk the track 2x before hand. This was good, because I was having difficulty holding the track in my head. Then it was sit & wait time, hang out w/ Walt & JC Krueger in the RX-350 (that's a 1989 RX-7 w/ a chevy 350 in it). Then it was time to grid up and wait, where we got to hang out with Jim from Jim Bob racing who has been running exhibition laps after he blew the motor in his corvette at Summit Point.
Then it was my time to run. I did pretty well, got a feel for the track... but did still manage to forget the final R/L/L/R 'hump' complex before you enter the long right hander that slings you onto the... "front" straight that takes you down the "braking" area of the drag strip in the first session. That was a bit of surprise, like "oh! yeah! there are more corners here!" I also never managed to take the left/right off the front straight flat out. The car can probably do it, but I was having trouble judging the turn-in. I got close in the final session. I left a bunch of time on the table, but then again, this is less about nailing every course perfectly for me. I'm still an intermediate level driver. Taking this car as close to the edge as I've been able to at a track I've never been to is a victory in itself after my first trackdays after buying the car. I got comfortable enough to nab some braking between corners and even *in* one or two.
Robert's First Post
I sent Robert and invitation to have access to posting the blog. He was, indifferent about blogging initially. However, he's finally be goaded into it, but it's too tough to get him access right now... so I'm just going to post what he started writing on Wednesday night on the road below (and finished tonight), with no further editing:
Robert here,
so as Tim stated earlier, I ran both sessions at Daytona yesterday. It was definitely an exilarating experience going around the high bankings and being pushed into your seat by the g-forces at 100+mph. I can only image what it must feel like at 200mph! The first session was very exciting. I spun trying to figure out how fast I could take turn 7 on my first timed lap, so I had to let the VW TDI that was behind me pass before I could get back onto the track. Once there, I was able to slowly reel in the TDI. Meanwhile, a Corvette went into the tirewall at the "bus stop" causing him and the Porsche behind him to go through the pits and get behind me. The Porsche then caught up with me in the infield and I gave him the pass by on the infield straight. He then caught the TDI and passed him on the high banking. I Finally caught the TDI myself at the exit from the infield on my third lap. He kindly moved up to the top of the bank and gave me the pass by so I ended up passing him on the inside of the high bank. After I passed him, he slide in behind me right on my bumper and drafted me all the way down the straight and into the braking zone for the "bus stop" talk about super exciting!
In the afternoon session I pushed my braking zone for the "bus stop" too far on my second lap and spun right at the entrance to the bus stop, kicking up a ton of dust, some of which got into the car. when the dust cloud cleared, the corner worker waived me back out and I put in a good remaining lap and a half. I was admittadly pretty bummed that I spun both sessions but I was happy to find out I still managed to shave 12 seconds off my lap time from my first session!
Robert here,
so as Tim stated earlier, I ran both sessions at Daytona yesterday. It was definitely an exilarating experience going around the high bankings and being pushed into your seat by the g-forces at 100+mph. I can only image what it must feel like at 200mph! The first session was very exciting. I spun trying to figure out how fast I could take turn 7 on my first timed lap, so I had to let the VW TDI that was behind me pass before I could get back onto the track. Once there, I was able to slowly reel in the TDI. Meanwhile, a Corvette went into the tirewall at the "bus stop" causing him and the Porsche behind him to go through the pits and get behind me. The Porsche then caught up with me in the infield and I gave him the pass by on the infield straight. He then caught the TDI and passed him on the high banking. I Finally caught the TDI myself at the exit from the infield on my third lap. He kindly moved up to the top of the bank and gave me the pass by so I ended up passing him on the inside of the high bank. After I passed him, he slide in behind me right on my bumper and drafted me all the way down the straight and into the braking zone for the "bus stop" talk about super exciting!
In the afternoon session I pushed my braking zone for the "bus stop" too far on my second lap and spun right at the entrance to the bus stop, kicking up a ton of dust, some of which got into the car. when the dust cloud cleared, the corner worker waived me back out and I put in a good remaining lap and a half. I was admittadly pretty bummed that I spun both sessions but I was happy to find out I still managed to shave 12 seconds off my lap time from my first session!
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
coyote ugly
no, this is not a reference to the movie.
no, this is not a reference to Robert and I taking advantage of scenic "dollar ballets".
this was meant to be a temporary place holder for me to relate what happened to me in the middle of the night in the panhandle of florida, west of pensacola.
The challenge of One Lap is more than just time on the tracks. It is the almost endless highway miles. Dicing it with the general public, which frankly, can't drive. Driving through construction zones in a car with "firm" suspension... *always* fun. Then there are the little love notes the truckers leave us, mostly on the side of the road. However, as happened to Walt & JC in the RX-350, those love notes are left in the middle of the lane.
There is also the challenge of wildlife. Bugs, Birds, Deer, heck Greer and I hit a bat in 2009! This year, I was cruising along in the right lane of I-10 when I saw the next car ahead, half a mile away brake then swerve half way into the left lane. Not that I was sleeping, but I was in 'auto-scan' cruise mode... and their manoeuvre definitely woke me up. Such that I saw something in the road, it looked large and maybe furry. Then I saw something dart into the road over the other object, and it looked up at me with two eyes illuminated by the miata's headlights. It was big, it's head was low... and was of dog-like proportions.
Now, this would most likely scare the excrement out of most people. However, I've spent the better part of this week finding out the limits of the miata. So, the instant I saw the situation I could feel in my fingers exactly how much I had to move the wheel left then right to pop into the left lane. What the feedback in the wheel would feel like, and how the lane change would feel through my backside. I did it on instinct, tapping the brake to set the nose, flicking the wheel. Out of the corner of my eye I saw it flee back to the right side of the road. We all got away clean, in large part to my driving on track and the instincts of whatever it was. It was an experience like I haven't had in a while. One that I've become prepared for, one that is a large part of One Lap... and I wanted to make sure I had a reminder that I should share it with you.
no, this is not a reference to Robert and I taking advantage of scenic "dollar ballets".
this was meant to be a temporary place holder for me to relate what happened to me in the middle of the night in the panhandle of florida, west of pensacola.
The challenge of One Lap is more than just time on the tracks. It is the almost endless highway miles. Dicing it with the general public, which frankly, can't drive. Driving through construction zones in a car with "firm" suspension... *always* fun. Then there are the little love notes the truckers leave us, mostly on the side of the road. However, as happened to Walt & JC in the RX-350, those love notes are left in the middle of the lane.
There is also the challenge of wildlife. Bugs, Birds, Deer, heck Greer and I hit a bat in 2009! This year, I was cruising along in the right lane of I-10 when I saw the next car ahead, half a mile away brake then swerve half way into the left lane. Not that I was sleeping, but I was in 'auto-scan' cruise mode... and their manoeuvre definitely woke me up. Such that I saw something in the road, it looked large and maybe furry. Then I saw something dart into the road over the other object, and it looked up at me with two eyes illuminated by the miata's headlights. It was big, it's head was low... and was of dog-like proportions.
Now, this would most likely scare the excrement out of most people. However, I've spent the better part of this week finding out the limits of the miata. So, the instant I saw the situation I could feel in my fingers exactly how much I had to move the wheel left then right to pop into the left lane. What the feedback in the wheel would feel like, and how the lane change would feel through my backside. I did it on instinct, tapping the brake to set the nose, flicking the wheel. Out of the corner of my eye I saw it flee back to the right side of the road. We all got away clean, in large part to my driving on track and the instincts of whatever it was. It was an experience like I haven't had in a while. One that I've become prepared for, one that is a large part of One Lap... and I wanted to make sure I had a reminder that I should share it with you.
Day: 4
Red Mist.
It's somwthing that happens at the track. Seeing it is often followed by bent metal. We managed a little of that, fortunately it was only a camera lens. :) And it was me that did it... and u wasn't even driving today!
However, Robert did find the limit if his talent twice... spinning 1x time in each session. The first time at the exit to turn 7, the second time at the entrance to the bus stop.
As such we were slowest in both sessions. However, Robert has learned several important lessons, and reminded me of them before we head to some of the more technical track.
Robert redeemed himself at the drags. scoring a 16.284 low et, and getting to the second round of the brackets.
We're now hunting dowm some chick-fil-a, then starting the long haul to Louisiana.
It's somwthing that happens at the track. Seeing it is often followed by bent metal. We managed a little of that, fortunately it was only a camera lens. :) And it was me that did it... and u wasn't even driving today!
However, Robert did find the limit if his talent twice... spinning 1x time in each session. The first time at the exit to turn 7, the second time at the entrance to the bus stop.
As such we were slowest in both sessions. However, Robert has learned several important lessons, and reminded me of them before we head to some of the more technical track.
Robert redeemed himself at the drags. scoring a 16.284 low et, and getting to the second round of the brackets.
We're now hunting dowm some chick-fil-a, then starting the long haul to Louisiana.
Day: 3
Robert and I decided to sleep in today since I knew CMP, and that we wouldn't be off for a while. We got to the track around 8:30, and the first group was just getting off. Unfortunately, later in the runs a porsche blew its whole coolant system across a quarter of the track. So I didn't go off until noon. I had a great time throwing the miata around the track... although I and the tires crested their peak at the start of the third lap. So, i dialed back & calmed myself and finished out the last 3/4 at good pace. Looking at the times I'm pleased... it showed a 22sec improvement over my run of the course two years ago in the Fit!
A lot of attrition increased our points hall even though we were only faster than a couple cars.
The second session started a tad late, and the Autobarn Mazdaspeed2 blowing up slowed things further. My run was good, and a tweak to the tire pressures helped manage them over the run. I couldn't quite get myself to take the kink flat out... since I was having a little trouble judging the turn-in while thinking about keeping it flat. But I did manage just a squeeze off, and the full throttle through it, ending up exiting around 95mph indicated.
Meanwhile, Robert was putting the excellent diagnosis skills he learned at R&R Automotive to assist the 535i... the *turbo* 535i... that was having inspecific engine problems. With his help, they get the car buttoned up in time for the second run of CMP.
We ended up shadowing the 535i half the way to the BMW Performance Center, since their engine happened to die just s they were passing us on the highway. We got there after a couple of roadside stops to let their ignition coil cool off.
Then I got to enjoy the madness that is the session at BMW performance. Because it's a late run, and everyone's itching to get in and out so they can get a head start towards the night's long haul... tempers are often short. I ended up landing myself in the middle of that accidentally by griding up a little bit early, then misunderstanding what group Brock wanted me to go out in. So I had to throw on my helmet and buckle in real quick. Dan and Mark of the timing and scoring team made sure I was safe a settled, despite be flustered. I did ok. The first lap wasn't great, but it was good. The second lap felt better, but there was still time to be had. I can't tell/remember if it's the same course as '09; but I did manage to shave two seconds off. All things considered, I'll take it.
When we got done, the 535i guys had followed Robert's suggestion that they move their coil pack to a cooler location. However, doing that they found one plug wire that was burned through, and another connector whose plugs seemed to have been pushed in. So, after I packed up the car, Justin (who owns the 535) and Robert hopped in to the Miata to take off to an Autozone that had the parts they needed to complete the fix. As such, we didn't end up leaving Greer, SC until 8.30pm. It looked like it was going to be a long night. I navigated Robert through the first couple of interchanges, and then took a two hour nap; during which we got a call from the 535i that they'd got the car running.
At about 10.40pm I took over. Despite a longish gas stop thanks to a closed Wendy's and McDonald's (that advertised late service), and stopping to check on the Optima Batteries Camaro that was pulled off on the side of the road just north of the Florida border (some kind of rear axle problem), we managed to pull in to Daytona at 3.30am. It's now a little after 4, and I've gotta be up at 7.30, so that's it for now.
-T
A lot of attrition increased our points hall even though we were only faster than a couple cars.
The second session started a tad late, and the Autobarn Mazdaspeed2 blowing up slowed things further. My run was good, and a tweak to the tire pressures helped manage them over the run. I couldn't quite get myself to take the kink flat out... since I was having a little trouble judging the turn-in while thinking about keeping it flat. But I did manage just a squeeze off, and the full throttle through it, ending up exiting around 95mph indicated.
Meanwhile, Robert was putting the excellent diagnosis skills he learned at R&R Automotive to assist the 535i... the *turbo* 535i... that was having inspecific engine problems. With his help, they get the car buttoned up in time for the second run of CMP.
We ended up shadowing the 535i half the way to the BMW Performance Center, since their engine happened to die just s they were passing us on the highway. We got there after a couple of roadside stops to let their ignition coil cool off.
Then I got to enjoy the madness that is the session at BMW performance. Because it's a late run, and everyone's itching to get in and out so they can get a head start towards the night's long haul... tempers are often short. I ended up landing myself in the middle of that accidentally by griding up a little bit early, then misunderstanding what group Brock wanted me to go out in. So I had to throw on my helmet and buckle in real quick. Dan and Mark of the timing and scoring team made sure I was safe a settled, despite be flustered. I did ok. The first lap wasn't great, but it was good. The second lap felt better, but there was still time to be had. I can't tell/remember if it's the same course as '09; but I did manage to shave two seconds off. All things considered, I'll take it.
When we got done, the 535i guys had followed Robert's suggestion that they move their coil pack to a cooler location. However, doing that they found one plug wire that was burned through, and another connector whose plugs seemed to have been pushed in. So, after I packed up the car, Justin (who owns the 535) and Robert hopped in to the Miata to take off to an Autozone that had the parts they needed to complete the fix. As such, we didn't end up leaving Greer, SC until 8.30pm. It looked like it was going to be a long night. I navigated Robert through the first couple of interchanges, and then took a two hour nap; during which we got a call from the 535i that they'd got the car running.
At about 10.40pm I took over. Despite a longish gas stop thanks to a closed Wendy's and McDonald's (that advertised late service), and stopping to check on the Optima Batteries Camaro that was pulled off on the side of the road just north of the Florida border (some kind of rear axle problem), we managed to pull in to Daytona at 3.30am. It's now a little after 4, and I've gotta be up at 7.30, so that's it for now.
-T
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Day: 2 (Summit Point)
Our day started when the previous day stopped, when we decided to stop in Winchester instead of heading the extra hour their and back to home. We rolled in about 1:30am, and got to bed about 2am. Then it was up at 6:30, and out to the track around 7:40... after a slight detour.
Robert got a walk around the track, while I unloaded. The fan club slowly trickled in while we emptied the car, checked the lugs, and set the pressures; and some various talking with other teams, and welcoming Sebastien from the Audi S4 who had finally caught up to us after having trouble flying in to South Bend from Denver.
Robert managed to slot himself into the tail end of the 3rd to last group out, and did quite well... or at least quite well for his experience, and our setup of the car. He ended up 65th, which is about where I expected us... since we're down on power compared to most of the other competitors... and also about where Brock expected us... given our car number. The one shred of brightness is that he managed to be faster than the m-roadster... helping us to claw our way back from the bottom of the class ranking. Well... we're still back there... but we might have a shot at not be last in class. Not that anyone will notice the 'non-battle' going on in the tail end of SSGT2SB.
We ate some lunch, and then lent what hand we could give to Sebastien, Rick, and Tony in the S4. He apparently was running a phenomenal warmup lap, and ended up at start and finish with no brakes and no clutch (the S4 apparently uses a common brake/clutch reservoir)... and ended up with smoke pouring out of the front of the car. I'm not sure, but I think he elected not to carry out the run, and came back to the pits to see what was wrong with the car. Adam Hennessey from the Dubler's team, Tim Harper from the Magnus Motorsports car, and our benefactor Rob of R&R Automotive tried to diagnose the problem. The end result is an agreement that the 100kmi clutch is most likely shot.
They decided to pack up and find an Audi dealer to see if they could get it fixed up in time to meet us at Daytona. If not, they're considering renting a car and driving the rest of the event in a Rental.
Robert lined up in 64, and then waited. Unfortunately, we were far enough back that the rain picked up by the time he went out, and the surface got very very slick. Robert didn't think it was quite that slick and tried to keep it flat on the gas through turn 9... which resulted in quite a bit of sideways action, and cross control to keep the car on track. It made for an entertaining in-car video... other than the continuing problem of the fact that the GoPro is exposing the picture for the detail inside of the car, which is causing everything outside the windshield to be overexposed and washed out. We ended up dropping 11sec compared to the morning session, but moving up to 64th due to our friend Jim Roberts blowing his corvette's motor in the morning session and having to tow his car back home. Word is he's going to grab another 'vette to finish the week out in the Exhibition class.
The end result of all this is that we've slipped back to 62nd over all. I'd say this is reasonable, but hopefully we can keep it there... or start gaining ground a little bit... so that if the Special Construction misses an event we don't end up last(?). :). We've also picked up 35points in class, which puts us 15points behind the M-roadster. So we can catch him if we continue to stay ahead of them, which may be a tall order with Daytona on the horizon.
Other than that, we got in to Lancaster, SC early. Unfortunately the blue laws meant we had to find our own source of ravel rousing... which was conveniently provided by the Tracy and crew in the VW TDI. Thanks again Tracy... you've got the spirit of OLoA well in hand!
Robert got a walk around the track, while I unloaded. The fan club slowly trickled in while we emptied the car, checked the lugs, and set the pressures; and some various talking with other teams, and welcoming Sebastien from the Audi S4 who had finally caught up to us after having trouble flying in to South Bend from Denver.
Robert managed to slot himself into the tail end of the 3rd to last group out, and did quite well... or at least quite well for his experience, and our setup of the car. He ended up 65th, which is about where I expected us... since we're down on power compared to most of the other competitors... and also about where Brock expected us... given our car number. The one shred of brightness is that he managed to be faster than the m-roadster... helping us to claw our way back from the bottom of the class ranking. Well... we're still back there... but we might have a shot at not be last in class. Not that anyone will notice the 'non-battle' going on in the tail end of SSGT2SB.
We ate some lunch, and then lent what hand we could give to Sebastien, Rick, and Tony in the S4. He apparently was running a phenomenal warmup lap, and ended up at start and finish with no brakes and no clutch (the S4 apparently uses a common brake/clutch reservoir)... and ended up with smoke pouring out of the front of the car. I'm not sure, but I think he elected not to carry out the run, and came back to the pits to see what was wrong with the car. Adam Hennessey from the Dubler's team, Tim Harper from the Magnus Motorsports car, and our benefactor Rob of R&R Automotive tried to diagnose the problem. The end result is an agreement that the 100kmi clutch is most likely shot.
They decided to pack up and find an Audi dealer to see if they could get it fixed up in time to meet us at Daytona. If not, they're considering renting a car and driving the rest of the event in a Rental.
Robert lined up in 64, and then waited. Unfortunately, we were far enough back that the rain picked up by the time he went out, and the surface got very very slick. Robert didn't think it was quite that slick and tried to keep it flat on the gas through turn 9... which resulted in quite a bit of sideways action, and cross control to keep the car on track. It made for an entertaining in-car video... other than the continuing problem of the fact that the GoPro is exposing the picture for the detail inside of the car, which is causing everything outside the windshield to be overexposed and washed out. We ended up dropping 11sec compared to the morning session, but moving up to 64th due to our friend Jim Roberts blowing his corvette's motor in the morning session and having to tow his car back home. Word is he's going to grab another 'vette to finish the week out in the Exhibition class.
The end result of all this is that we've slipped back to 62nd over all. I'd say this is reasonable, but hopefully we can keep it there... or start gaining ground a little bit... so that if the Special Construction misses an event we don't end up last(?). :). We've also picked up 35points in class, which puts us 15points behind the M-roadster. So we can catch him if we continue to stay ahead of them, which may be a tall order with Daytona on the horizon.
Other than that, we got in to Lancaster, SC early. Unfortunately the blue laws meant we had to find our own source of ravel rousing... which was conveniently provided by the Tracy and crew in the VW TDI. Thanks again Tracy... you've got the spirit of OLoA well in hand!