12/02/2007
Grand Bayou Race Series Round #3
Well we are now at the half way point of the Grand Bayou Race Series and I have to say, I
am pretty excited to be tied for 2nd overall in my class here in my rookie year of the series.
I am staying pretty consistent throughout so far with 3 second place finishes in a row. I am
still looking for that first Feature race win, but I am on my way and the car and driver are
just getting better as the season goes on. Now, off to the race recap...
Practice - The practice sessions for me really are pretty uneventful. There are a lot of cars
on the track and it is tough to get any clean runs without running up someone’s tail pipe all
the time. However, I was helping a friend out with his car and was a little late getting to the
grid so I started near the rear of the pack. I am going to have to remember this because I
actually got more open track this practice session than any other so far this year. I really
wanted to stress the things I had worked on the previous day at the practice/lapping day
session on my braking points in 2 sections on the track and carrying more speed onto the
front straight away. It seemed to be working well as I caught some slower cars and Spec
Miata’s a little sooner than I had thought. The car towards the end started to feel a little
under powered on the straight-aways. I looked at all the gauges and everything seemed to
be well within the limits. Except for the boost gauge, it was only hitting around 10 PSI when I
should be at 15. Got the car back into the pits and apparently the coupler on the lower
intercooler pipe had a hole blown through it somehow creating a VERY bad leak there. I did
not have more couplers with me so I had to run to the nearest auto parts store and buy
whatever they had there that would work. Ended up getting a descent coupler but it was
bright red (ricer) but it worked and I was saved. I will be getting all new 4 ply couplers
before the next event.
Qualifying - Well with the coupler issue all resolved and no more boost leaks, it was time
to qualify. As I went down the front straight all I could think to myself was I hope the new
coupler stays put and doesn’t cost me the session here. Scrubbing in the tires and heating
up the brakes a little bit on the 3/4 lap till we get to the flag station I start to zone in. GREEN
FLAG !!!....I take off in 3rd and full boost we have. I tuck in behind a black Porsche 944
from the bracket above me and try to stay with him the whole session. He pulls me a little in
certain places but he is not leaving me by any means. I stay on his bumper for the better
part of 3 laps when we get down into turn 4 and he goes in a little hot and locks up his
brakes and goes sliding off the track. I tuck underneath him on the low line and head on
about my qualifying session. Quick check of the mirrors and no one with in 3 turns of me
that I could see. Time to lay down some good times here. As I run the qualifying session, I
am so zoned in I don’t even realize that I am coming up to 3 guys that are in my bracket. I
put a little pressure on Alan in his BMW and he goes a little wide heading onto the straight
away and I just power around him on the outside. Next lap I pick Skeeter off in his Mustang.
As I got around the mustang I felt an adrenaline rush as I headed around the track. These
guys finished 1-2 last year in the points chase and I just passed them both. As the
qualifying session came to a close, Skeeter pulled up next to me on the cool down lap and
gave me a big thumbs up. Very cool guy and good racer to do so in my opinion. I go to
check the times after a quick tire pressure check. What a run for me. I grabbed the pole
with a time of 1:30.591 for my first pole of the season. I could not have been more excited
with that run and time.
Heat Race - Well since I won my first pole of the season, I was starting up front in my
bracket in the heat race. On the start, I could not have gotten any more lucky than I did. As
soon as the green flag dropped, the white BMW to my inside missed a gear and forced
everyone behind to jam on their brakes and go everywhere trying to avoid an accident.
That let me shoot past about 4 cars on the start. It didn’t last too long though, the faster
bracket cars came up on us on about the 3rd lap. During the heat race, since I got luck yon
the start, the 4 guys in my bracket all got tied up on the missed gear mishap on the green
flag so I was well out in front of my bracket the whole heat race. After a red 951 Porsche
got around me, I just latched on to his bumper and tried to follow him around the course.
He pulled away from me towards the end of the race, but I stayed with him a little better
than I thought I could or even would. In the end, trying to stay with him proved to be costly
to me. I had my personal best time to date in the heat race with a 1:29.512. With that being
a GREAT time for me, unfortunately in bracket racing, you must stay within your brackets
time. The fastest we are allowed to go in the blue bracket is 1:30.00. So going half a
second faster than allowed cost me a 1 lap penalty. So I physically won the heat race but
technically got 2nd. I did 10 laps in 15:49.356, the guy in second did 10 laps in 15.53.878.
So I had him beat by almost 4 seconds of track time. Needless to say, I was PUMPED UP
coming out of the car !!!
Feature Race - Well since I broke out of my bracket in the heat race, I lost my pole
position to Robert Bates in his BMW. In this series, you qualify for the heat race, then
based on how you finish in your heat race is how you are gridded in the feature race. So
since I technically finished 2nd in the heat race, I would line up in the 2nd position to start
the feature race. Not to worry though. So here we are in the feature race and there is a hint
of rain in the skies now. I am just hoping it holds off as I still have the Avon Tech R slicks on
the car. We come around to the flag stand and its GREEN FLAG time.....Off and running
and we head into the 1st turn and 2 Porsches get into each other and one goes sliding off
to the left and the other to the right. I spilt the 2 of them spinning and jump right on Roberts
bumper in the BMW. Skeeter in his Mustang takes a wild outside line through the sweeper
and sneaks past me. I floor it on the straight away and 15 PSI of boost later I rocket around
Robert in the BMW and tuck in behind Skeeter and the rest for 1st was on. Every time we
would come up to turn 4 (the hairpin), he would take a very slow and low tight line around
the turn, blocking my inside moves. Lap after lap I would gain on him in the sweeper, down
the front straight and into turns 1, 2 and 3. But every time I would make the move to the
inside, there he was slamming the door. About 10 minutes into the 20 minute feature we
are both coming up on a black 924 Porsche VERY fast heading into the hairpin turn. The
guy brakes way to hard and goes into a slide off the track, then as I go through the hairpin
he shoots back across the track and literally misses T-boning me and Skeeter by no more
than 2 inches. After we barely miss that accident we both head into the esses in the back
track. Skeeter goes a little wide and I see his rear tires spinning. I make the move to the
inside and I am right at his door going down the short shoot straight in the back. We come
to a right hand turn and you need to be wide to carry speed through it. Problem is, I have
the inside line, but it is not the line you want heading into the turn. So as soon as I jumped
to the lead, I had to concede it to make sure I didn’t end up out into the wall somewhere at
the end of the straight away there. After that mishap, I did all I could to make a move on the
Mustang but it was not meant to be today. I finished 2nd with 12 laps in 19.00.550 and
Skeeter took the win with a 12 lap in 18:59.817. He got me by .733 seconds. What a race
though. It was a lot of fun chasing him down and trying to get by him. I gave it all I had. A
few times maybe I could have pushed my nose inside him and forced him outside. But if I
am going to pass someone, I want it to be clean pass. This being my rookie season and all,
I do NOT want to be labeled a dirty driver. I am ok with 2nd place after a great race with the
Mustang.
Heading Home - Well after the trophy presentations, we walk outside to the pouring rain.
Luckily for me I had already got the car loaded up onto the trailer. Slow and steady for a
while for about an hour until we got out of the rain. Looking back on this weekend’s event, I
felt pretty darn good about things. The Saturday practice was very helpful to me during the
next day’s events. And another 2nd place finish for me makes 3 podiums in a row and still
in 2nd overall in the points chase. Not a bad spot to be at the half way point of the season.
I want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Next up Round #4 on
January 5th & 6th.
am pretty excited to be tied for 2nd overall in my class here in my rookie year of the series.
I am staying pretty consistent throughout so far with 3 second place finishes in a row. I am
still looking for that first Feature race win, but I am on my way and the car and driver are
just getting better as the season goes on. Now, off to the race recap...
Practice - The practice sessions for me really are pretty uneventful. There are a lot of cars
on the track and it is tough to get any clean runs without running up someone’s tail pipe all
the time. However, I was helping a friend out with his car and was a little late getting to the
grid so I started near the rear of the pack. I am going to have to remember this because I
actually got more open track this practice session than any other so far this year. I really
wanted to stress the things I had worked on the previous day at the practice/lapping day
session on my braking points in 2 sections on the track and carrying more speed onto the
front straight away. It seemed to be working well as I caught some slower cars and Spec
Miata’s a little sooner than I had thought. The car towards the end started to feel a little
under powered on the straight-aways. I looked at all the gauges and everything seemed to
be well within the limits. Except for the boost gauge, it was only hitting around 10 PSI when I
should be at 15. Got the car back into the pits and apparently the coupler on the lower
intercooler pipe had a hole blown through it somehow creating a VERY bad leak there. I did
not have more couplers with me so I had to run to the nearest auto parts store and buy
whatever they had there that would work. Ended up getting a descent coupler but it was
bright red (ricer) but it worked and I was saved. I will be getting all new 4 ply couplers
before the next event.
Qualifying - Well with the coupler issue all resolved and no more boost leaks, it was time
to qualify. As I went down the front straight all I could think to myself was I hope the new
coupler stays put and doesn’t cost me the session here. Scrubbing in the tires and heating
up the brakes a little bit on the 3/4 lap till we get to the flag station I start to zone in. GREEN
FLAG !!!....I take off in 3rd and full boost we have. I tuck in behind a black Porsche 944
from the bracket above me and try to stay with him the whole session. He pulls me a little in
certain places but he is not leaving me by any means. I stay on his bumper for the better
part of 3 laps when we get down into turn 4 and he goes in a little hot and locks up his
brakes and goes sliding off the track. I tuck underneath him on the low line and head on
about my qualifying session. Quick check of the mirrors and no one with in 3 turns of me
that I could see. Time to lay down some good times here. As I run the qualifying session, I
am so zoned in I don’t even realize that I am coming up to 3 guys that are in my bracket. I
put a little pressure on Alan in his BMW and he goes a little wide heading onto the straight
away and I just power around him on the outside. Next lap I pick Skeeter off in his Mustang.
As I got around the mustang I felt an adrenaline rush as I headed around the track. These
guys finished 1-2 last year in the points chase and I just passed them both. As the
qualifying session came to a close, Skeeter pulled up next to me on the cool down lap and
gave me a big thumbs up. Very cool guy and good racer to do so in my opinion. I go to
check the times after a quick tire pressure check. What a run for me. I grabbed the pole
with a time of 1:30.591 for my first pole of the season. I could not have been more excited
with that run and time.
Heat Race - Well since I won my first pole of the season, I was starting up front in my
bracket in the heat race. On the start, I could not have gotten any more lucky than I did. As
soon as the green flag dropped, the white BMW to my inside missed a gear and forced
everyone behind to jam on their brakes and go everywhere trying to avoid an accident.
That let me shoot past about 4 cars on the start. It didn’t last too long though, the faster
bracket cars came up on us on about the 3rd lap. During the heat race, since I got luck yon
the start, the 4 guys in my bracket all got tied up on the missed gear mishap on the green
flag so I was well out in front of my bracket the whole heat race. After a red 951 Porsche
got around me, I just latched on to his bumper and tried to follow him around the course.
He pulled away from me towards the end of the race, but I stayed with him a little better
than I thought I could or even would. In the end, trying to stay with him proved to be costly
to me. I had my personal best time to date in the heat race with a 1:29.512. With that being
a GREAT time for me, unfortunately in bracket racing, you must stay within your brackets
time. The fastest we are allowed to go in the blue bracket is 1:30.00. So going half a
second faster than allowed cost me a 1 lap penalty. So I physically won the heat race but
technically got 2nd. I did 10 laps in 15:49.356, the guy in second did 10 laps in 15.53.878.
So I had him beat by almost 4 seconds of track time. Needless to say, I was PUMPED UP
coming out of the car !!!
Feature Race - Well since I broke out of my bracket in the heat race, I lost my pole
position to Robert Bates in his BMW. In this series, you qualify for the heat race, then
based on how you finish in your heat race is how you are gridded in the feature race. So
since I technically finished 2nd in the heat race, I would line up in the 2nd position to start
the feature race. Not to worry though. So here we are in the feature race and there is a hint
of rain in the skies now. I am just hoping it holds off as I still have the Avon Tech R slicks on
the car. We come around to the flag stand and its GREEN FLAG time.....Off and running
and we head into the 1st turn and 2 Porsches get into each other and one goes sliding off
to the left and the other to the right. I spilt the 2 of them spinning and jump right on Roberts
bumper in the BMW. Skeeter in his Mustang takes a wild outside line through the sweeper
and sneaks past me. I floor it on the straight away and 15 PSI of boost later I rocket around
Robert in the BMW and tuck in behind Skeeter and the rest for 1st was on. Every time we
would come up to turn 4 (the hairpin), he would take a very slow and low tight line around
the turn, blocking my inside moves. Lap after lap I would gain on him in the sweeper, down
the front straight and into turns 1, 2 and 3. But every time I would make the move to the
inside, there he was slamming the door. About 10 minutes into the 20 minute feature we
are both coming up on a black 924 Porsche VERY fast heading into the hairpin turn. The
guy brakes way to hard and goes into a slide off the track, then as I go through the hairpin
he shoots back across the track and literally misses T-boning me and Skeeter by no more
than 2 inches. After we barely miss that accident we both head into the esses in the back
track. Skeeter goes a little wide and I see his rear tires spinning. I make the move to the
inside and I am right at his door going down the short shoot straight in the back. We come
to a right hand turn and you need to be wide to carry speed through it. Problem is, I have
the inside line, but it is not the line you want heading into the turn. So as soon as I jumped
to the lead, I had to concede it to make sure I didn’t end up out into the wall somewhere at
the end of the straight away there. After that mishap, I did all I could to make a move on the
Mustang but it was not meant to be today. I finished 2nd with 12 laps in 19.00.550 and
Skeeter took the win with a 12 lap in 18:59.817. He got me by .733 seconds. What a race
though. It was a lot of fun chasing him down and trying to get by him. I gave it all I had. A
few times maybe I could have pushed my nose inside him and forced him outside. But if I
am going to pass someone, I want it to be clean pass. This being my rookie season and all,
I do NOT want to be labeled a dirty driver. I am ok with 2nd place after a great race with the
Mustang.
Heading Home - Well after the trophy presentations, we walk outside to the pouring rain.
Luckily for me I had already got the car loaded up onto the trailer. Slow and steady for a
while for about an hour until we got out of the rain. Looking back on this weekend’s event, I
felt pretty darn good about things. The Saturday practice was very helpful to me during the
next day’s events. And another 2nd place finish for me makes 3 podiums in a row and still
in 2nd overall in the points chase. Not a bad spot to be at the half way point of the season.
I want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Next up Round #4 on
January 5th & 6th.