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WOW ! I got schooled....
Being new to circle track racing, I was very aware the learning curve would be challenging. I must admit, I did not know just how challenging it would be. My hat's off to the young and less young drivers. Nobody racing circle track can be called old in my opinion.
4-8-11 Orlando Speedworld 50 lap E-mod race....my experience. Sean and I changed the set-up on the car slightly to tighten it up a little off the corners until I get my confidence up and get a little quicker on the wheel. We took the car to tech as required before any practice could be made and I learned first hand why people get frustrated at tech. First-I need to know the rules and have a printed copy with me anytime my car is at tech. I recommend this to everyone. It does no good to get upset due to a tech ruling when you don't have a copy of the rules. The tech man is the authority and we have to follow his direction. It is what it is, and I understand....and I would NEVER want their job. Anyway, I was told to add 25 lbs because my fuel cell was
3/8" below the minimun height of 9". Easy fix, but not at the track. If I had aired up the tires to race pressures before tech.....it might not have even been an issue. Also we had to lower the rear deck to meet the tech's interpretation of the rules,no big deal since AMF Chassis installed the body with adjustable body mounts. Lesson learned....nuff said....
I tested the car to find the set-up change we made did in fact tighten the car to fit my comfort level off the corners. The car turns in like it is on rails, sticks in the middle, and slightly tight off.....perfect for me.
Qualifying - which way do I go ? - what do I do ? Thank God I was towards the end of the list which gave me the opportunity to watch a few others before going out....this was my first qualifying on a circle track. I had a new set of tires and Sean on the radio, what could go wrong ? When my turn came up to qualify, I got as much heat in the tires and brakes as possible and brought the car up to speed in 3 and 4, the butterflys were gone as soon as I saw the green flag waving. The car felt fine and I ran a comfortable pace on the first lap and stepped it up a little on the second. Sean said over the radio.....15:09.....woohoo....I was happy because that is right where my times have been in testing. We qualified 8th out of 15. Mission accomplished, a decent time and I did not crash in my first ever qualifying run.
I attended the spectator autograph session during the intermission. That was INCREDIBLE ! Seeing the faces light up on the kids and parents as I let them sit in my racecar and having people actually ask ME to sign their souvenir checkered flags and shirts. WAY COOL.... It's a great experience and we all need to attend because the fans really enjoyed meeting us and checking out our cars....it's a little something we can give back to those that support us.
Now guess what......whoever drew the pill for the invert did me a favor...or did he. I ended up on the pole for the 50 lap feature race. Nervous, heck no, scared.......absolutely ! The thought of spinning in front of everyone subsided when the green flag flew. I entered turn one on the low side with one car on the high side. In the middle of the corner he came down on me, I was right on the line, sorry pal.....I got nowhere to go. We touched, he spun, I held on and I immediately thought....oh crap, he's gonna be pissed at me. As we regrouped he waived with more than one finger and I knew he did not blame me. The restart was as exciting as it could get, things got a little aggressive and I remembered this was only my second start and my goal was to finish. I held my line but did not make any attempt to hold anyone off. It's my place to learn to race before actually racing hard with anyone. Well, before I knew it, I was almost to the rear. Sean said over the radio, freight train coming on the bottom. I stayed out of their way and let them go. Now, I could concentrate on what I need....... SEATTIME. After dodging a few cars that had brought out cautions, my car got that feeling everyone hates....I cut a right rear on some debris. I controlled the car without spinning and went into the infield in preperation to get a tire changed. It seemed like forever until the yellow came out to where I could exit the track and get my tire changed. As I sat there watching cars go by I realized, if I had spun and brought out the yellow, I could have changed my tire and stayed out on the lead lap.....humm....lesson learned. I was able to get back out on track a few laps down. I actually went faster upon my return....humm....still thinking about that one. Out of 15 E-mods, one crashed out and I finished 14th. Second to last but more seattime aquired.
I finished last my first race and second to last my second race...If I keep improving at this pace, I should win before seasons end....as they text...LOL.
Next up....testing on wednesday, maybe run with the big motor mods on friday at OSW for some more seattime and race the next OSW E-mod race in two weeks.
It's a real challenge...and I'm having a blast accepting the challenge !
Thanks to Sean Bass, Mike Sydnor and Bill Collyer for their help and encouragement and especially, my wife Barbara for letting me race cars.
Being new to circle track racing, I was very aware the learning curve would be challenging. I must admit, I did not know just how challenging it would be. My hat's off to the young and less young drivers. Nobody racing circle track can be called old in my opinion.
4-8-11 Orlando Speedworld 50 lap E-mod race....my experience. Sean and I changed the set-up on the car slightly to tighten it up a little off the corners until I get my confidence up and get a little quicker on the wheel. We took the car to tech as required before any practice could be made and I learned first hand why people get frustrated at tech. First-I need to know the rules and have a printed copy with me anytime my car is at tech. I recommend this to everyone. It does no good to get upset due to a tech ruling when you don't have a copy of the rules. The tech man is the authority and we have to follow his direction. It is what it is, and I understand....and I would NEVER want their job. Anyway, I was told to add 25 lbs because my fuel cell was
3/8" below the minimun height of 9". Easy fix, but not at the track. If I had aired up the tires to race pressures before tech.....it might not have even been an issue. Also we had to lower the rear deck to meet the tech's interpretation of the rules,no big deal since AMF Chassis installed the body with adjustable body mounts. Lesson learned....nuff said....
I tested the car to find the set-up change we made did in fact tighten the car to fit my comfort level off the corners. The car turns in like it is on rails, sticks in the middle, and slightly tight off.....perfect for me.
Qualifying - which way do I go ? - what do I do ? Thank God I was towards the end of the list which gave me the opportunity to watch a few others before going out....this was my first qualifying on a circle track. I had a new set of tires and Sean on the radio, what could go wrong ? When my turn came up to qualify, I got as much heat in the tires and brakes as possible and brought the car up to speed in 3 and 4, the butterflys were gone as soon as I saw the green flag waving. The car felt fine and I ran a comfortable pace on the first lap and stepped it up a little on the second. Sean said over the radio.....15:09.....woohoo....I was happy because that is right where my times have been in testing. We qualified 8th out of 15. Mission accomplished, a decent time and I did not crash in my first ever qualifying run.
I attended the spectator autograph session during the intermission. That was INCREDIBLE ! Seeing the faces light up on the kids and parents as I let them sit in my racecar and having people actually ask ME to sign their souvenir checkered flags and shirts. WAY COOL.... It's a great experience and we all need to attend because the fans really enjoyed meeting us and checking out our cars....it's a little something we can give back to those that support us.
Now guess what......whoever drew the pill for the invert did me a favor...or did he. I ended up on the pole for the 50 lap feature race. Nervous, heck no, scared.......absolutely ! The thought of spinning in front of everyone subsided when the green flag flew. I entered turn one on the low side with one car on the high side. In the middle of the corner he came down on me, I was right on the line, sorry pal.....I got nowhere to go. We touched, he spun, I held on and I immediately thought....oh crap, he's gonna be pissed at me. As we regrouped he waived with more than one finger and I knew he did not blame me. The restart was as exciting as it could get, things got a little aggressive and I remembered this was only my second start and my goal was to finish. I held my line but did not make any attempt to hold anyone off. It's my place to learn to race before actually racing hard with anyone. Well, before I knew it, I was almost to the rear. Sean said over the radio, freight train coming on the bottom. I stayed out of their way and let them go. Now, I could concentrate on what I need....... SEATTIME. After dodging a few cars that had brought out cautions, my car got that feeling everyone hates....I cut a right rear on some debris. I controlled the car without spinning and went into the infield in preperation to get a tire changed. It seemed like forever until the yellow came out to where I could exit the track and get my tire changed. As I sat there watching cars go by I realized, if I had spun and brought out the yellow, I could have changed my tire and stayed out on the lead lap.....humm....lesson learned. I was able to get back out on track a few laps down. I actually went faster upon my return....humm....still thinking about that one. Out of 15 E-mods, one crashed out and I finished 14th. Second to last but more seattime aquired.
I finished last my first race and second to last my second race...If I keep improving at this pace, I should win before seasons end....as they text...LOL.
Next up....testing on wednesday, maybe run with the big motor mods on friday at OSW for some more seattime and race the next OSW E-mod race in two weeks.
It's a real challenge...and I'm having a blast accepting the challenge !
Thanks to Sean Bass, Mike Sydnor and Bill Collyer for their help and encouragement and especially, my wife Barbara for letting me race cars.
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