hi guys!

had a GREAT weekend at NASA! here's a real quick race report with a few vid clips; i'm sure the other guys will chime in fairly shortly! sat was 'weather' day -- was it gonna rain or was it going to start to dry out? i went with my dry tires; shaved Toyo RA-1s which started at 4/32 (and this was their 5th weekend, so i'd guess between 1 and 2/32nds left). the rest of the PTE'ers went with full tread RA-1s, except for darren who went with the Hoosier Rains!

i think i drove a great race on sat (i had qualified 2nd by less than a tenth behind Wade. Scott was a tenth behind me. oh, and it was mostly dry for qualifying); i got a good start, but wade and scott really pulled me down the straight into T1 (but i 'ReidSpeeded' wade in the braking zone and rim-shot it around the outside, coming out ahead exiting T2!) during the race, i ran at 100%, slipping and sliding and trying my best to get a lead (i KNEW that Darren would be coming hard (i think he passed all the SE-Rs in one lap!!!!!); i knew that with those Wets on and the rain getting harder and harder that he'd be coming on strong!). he was over a full second per lap faster than i was, but he had a throttle cable break and went off behind me in T1; after that it was just manage traffic and stay ahead of scott (and it was raining more and more as the laps went on, so i had to be careful not to 'blow it' and slide off with my bald tires!). it's a pretty good vid clip; you can see i was working to keep the car going fast and not slip off the track!!! :):

http://www.vimeo.com/6241200

sunday was dry and hot! i qualified 2nd behind Darren (darren was flying!); he had me by about half a sec. i got a good start, and with some help from steve, got the lead exiting out of T1! Darren and i fought it out in a BIG way; i gave him everything i had, but i couldn't hold him once we got into heavy traffic. when he got around me, i tried my darndest to stick with him, but he was .5 secs per lap faster, and i slid back. he pulled out a big lead during the middle portion of the race, but near the end, i had closed to within less than 1.4 seconds at the finish; i wish there had been another 5-10 mins of racing! awesome job, darren!!!!

http://www.vimeo.com/6244932

well, that's the quick report!!! can't wait for VIR!!!

todd

ReidSpeed

Greetings!

I too would like say what a great weekend it was. As the newest addition to the NASA PTE group, I would like to extend my thanks to the entire PTE group for welcoming me in. I thought everyone was quite nice to the rookie at his first race weekend. I didn't feel there was any hazing at all, thanks a bunch.

My weekend didn't start so well. I purchased some of the "magical" Hoosiers that had one heat cycle on them, used of course. I had been running full tread RA1's that had just a little bit of tread showing aside from the tandem groves. I found they were not so grippy, so these used Hoosiers seemed to be just what the doctor ordered.

I didn't know what to set the cold pressures at, so I set them to the same I did the RA1's. I found out all too soon before the first lap was complete

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZRk5o4L7UE

I have to say, I was SO glad I saved that move for my first "race". It pretty much ruined my practice session mentally. The handling didn't seem to get much better and the car felt squirmy in every turn. I was chased and chased the 300zx for a lap or two, but decided it wasn't working well, and a tire must have been going down from my off so I pulled in early. Turns out the tires were way low, so it was a good decision in the end.

For qualifying, my Iphone was telling me it would be raining. I decided to switch to the slightly treaded Toyo's. Mistake 2, I got to grid late, and couldn't get a decent lap while passing all the Miata's, then the rain came. I knew in the end it wouldn't matter anyway since I was going to be starting at the back of the pack anyway so my dismal qualifying time put me in the same place I would have been with even my best lap.

Race 1 in the rain was not fun for this rookie. I got a decent start, but was afraid to go too deep into 1. Hitting someone in your first race, in turn 1 isn't a good way to get your full license. My "target", the 300zx spun in 3, so I thought well, I may be able to pull out one place improvement, yipee!

I did my best, but when the brakes locked up going down the chute sending me into the mud, James gained on me and with 3 laps to go caught me. On the last lap, I saw Todd in the mirrors as I was going into 1 and decided I would let him and P2 (sorry too many white SER's) pass unimpeded. James filed in behind them and there goes my position (see Todd's first video above), drat! If it wasn't for the Acura breaking, I would have been DFL. Some great achievement huh? (not)

For qualifying Sunday, I added some air to the Hoosiers, and recorded, at least for me, a decent time. I felt better about the Hoosiers this time, so I kept them on for the race. Rookie mistake 3. I got one hell of a start, and had a full car length on the 300 going into 1. I did however leave him lots of room, and since I didn't know where to hit the brakes, he drove right by when I hit the pedal at my normal brake marker. He was pulling on me a second or less a lap, but I couldn't seem to catch him by the time we hit traffic. The Miata's wanted to play with me, so passing them was work (for me at least). James just motored away. Again, attrition left me with a one position improvement overall (sorry to see that Harper).

I learned a lot this weekend, and had a blast. I have some work to do, not only as a driver, but on the car. I weighed in at over 2700 lbs. The car needs to go on a diet. I think in can find an easy couple of hundred lbs, but to get down to a decent race weight, I have lots of work to do. The first thing that is going on a diet is the driver :)

I was happy with the weekend overall, and am looking at a trip to VIR for the last race of the season. I am just not sure it's in the cards. Rookie license, and new track doesn't sit well with me. I may try for my SCCA license and do a MARRS race before the end of the year.

Thanks again, and I look forward to seeing you all again,
Bill

hey bill! it was fun sharing some track with you this weekend! welcome to the 'club'! :)

oh, and you should definitely come to VIR; you get to race two 'regular' races on sat, and then a 1 hr mini enduro on sunday! that's the best way to learn a track -- put some MILES in! lol! hope to see you there!

todd

PS you'll love VIR Full; nice and smooth and fast and flowing!!!!

good report todd, my anxiety is killing me for VIR!

Bill, good to see another out there. my first weekend was just as hectic but i had a little more luck on my side. the way i see it, get all the mistakes out the way early, then you'll be able to come on strong as you get more experience. what kinda car you driving?

good report todd, my anxiety is killing me for VIR!

Bill, good to see another out there. my first weekend was just as hectic but i had a little more luck on my side. the way i see it, get all the mistakes out the way early, then you'll be able to come on strong as you get more experience. what kinda car you driving?

I don't think you ever really stop learning. If you do, I figure you aren't paying attention :)

A B14 200sx It was originally owned by Ken Payson in it's showroom stock days. I have been working on the upgrade to PTE/ITA over the last 2 years.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZRk5o4L7UE



Ahh I see someone forgot to get back on the throttle at turn in. ;)

Ahh I see someone forgot to get back on the throttle at turn in. ;)

That wasn't the only issue :) First lap + cold tires + low pressures + excessive exuberance = SPIN!!!!

Though those tires only had one heat cycle, they have been sitting a while so I should have known better.

I learned SO much though...

That wasn't the only issue :) First lap + cold tires + low pressures + excessive exuberance = SPIN!!!!

Though those tires only had one heat cycle, they have been sitting a while so I should have known better.

I learned SO much though...

Cold tires are the best. If I go out on the pace and almost spin scrubbing in the tires I know the car is gonna be good for the race. :)

Sunday I finally had a race day where everything seemed to go my way. I had just spent 2 days at the Reisentoter PCA's DE event at Summit Point on Thursday and Friday so I had a chance to get some great practice time in. I was able to do a 1:27.5, and several higher 1:27's during the DE so I knew I was in pretty good shape for the races. As it turns out that was my best time in Sunday's race as well.

From pole I think I'm best with a rolling start -- I would be able to get the speed up high enough that my lack of power wouldn't hurt so much. As it was with the standing start, and I was right on it, the whole field of PTE'ers was faster. Todd placed his car in a great place and I was able to stay where I was and not worry about getting passed. Scott gave me a great push into T1 that helped me stay alongside Todd most of the way.

I battled with Todd a little while and then realized Scott was right behind us. I was confident with time I could pass Todd, but battling him and Scott was too much. I tucked in behind Todd and we pulled off a few fast laps to get away from the pack.

When Todd and I caught the slower traffic I knew I could take advantage of my faster lap times. Todd makes his car very wide but when we're passing slower traffic it's easier to take advantage of the speed differential. If you notice where I passed him, in T3, he was coming up to a much slower Miata and I was alongside him, so he couldn't move over.

After I got around him I put down a few fast laps and then backed off a little to both save the car and to try not to interfere with the Miata racers. Two laps from the end I got a yellow flag at T1 right as I was coming up on Keith who ran a best 1:43s lap. I couldn't pass him and as I was exiting T2 I realized there was no incident -- turns out it was a deer that was gone before I got there. Todd, behind me 20 car lengths, saw the yellow come and go and he was green the whole way. He made up 10 car lengths easily. Luckily there wasn't enough time for him to make use of that gain.

Saturday was unfortunate for me. I qualified poorly. What had happened was I was on grid for qualifying and my lense popped out of my glasses and went under the seat! I pulled off to the side and eventually got out for qualifying a few laps late. It turns out those were the only dry qualifying laps and as qualifying went on it got super slippery!

In the race I had a lot of grip and I was able to pass a few cars early. I was again being patient trying to pass Todd (mostly because I knew/thought I had time) and eventually I think I would have had him, or had a very good chance anyway. Coming out of T1 in lap 3 or 4 my throttle cable bracket broke and I had no throttle! Turns out I had it adjusted too tightly and it was flexing the bracket, causing the eventual failure.

I was very happy to have my first PTE win on Sunday though! And taking the checker in a race group is certainly enjoyable! I've put a lot of time and money (years and tens of thousands) into racing/track days (as we all have) and for me this race was the culmination of a lot of hard work!

Many thanks to my fellow PTE'ers for being great guys to race with.

On an unrelated note my 996 cage is done and today I put in the Moton Motosport Suspension. I'm planning to race GTS4 next year -- but I do have a 2 car trailer :)

nice report, darren.

on a side note, i'm trying to get my roommate to move from instructing/time trialing to racing. he said, "if you find anything $5K or under..." yours is above that range, but i showed him anyways (as well as he's seen it on track) and i'm trying to establish the peer pressure on him. we'll see.

you doing VIR in oct?

nice report, darren.

on a side note, i'm trying to get my roommate to move from instructing/time trialing to racing. he said, "if you find anything $5K or under..." yours is above that range, but i showed him anyways (as well as he's seen it on track) and i'm trying to establish the peer pressure on him. we'll see.

you doing VIR in oct?

I think I'm going...I'll know for sure in a couple of weeks.

you'd better be there, to not show would be like winning a big pot in poker, then cashing in your chips!I think I'm going...I'll know for sure in a couple of weeks.

on a side note, i'm trying to get my roommate to move from instructing/time trialing to racing. he said, "if you find anything $5K or under..."

I'll do 2500 for the death racer!
Find a VG something or an SR20 or ??? and he will have a fast cheap car!
Turn key for 4000
http://nasaforums.com/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=23391
http://nasaforums.com/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=27912&p=199939&hilit=late+model#p199939

sorry joelamite, he's looking towards the area of a honda he can run in PTE with me. spec miata is out of the question. he's not really into spece30s either.

you'd better be there, to not show would be like winning a big pot in poker, then cashing in your chips!

Ok, I'm coming to VIR :) I think I'm at a HP disadvantage though and that's going to really hurt at VIR -- at Summit HP is a lot less important.

Ok, I'm coming to VIR :) I think I'm at a HP disadvantage though and that's going to really hurt at VIR -- at Summit HP is a lot less important.

the draft is super important! especially for my tank, i could definitely keep it closer tailing someone on the front straight, including you, as opposed to being in fresh air. night and day difference.

i wish you all could see the hyperfest video. i dunno why my camera guy hasn't uploaded it, and i'm rather upset about it. it has good footage of darren, wade, and harper. when i get back home in september, i'll make it a priority to get it online.

How do you find the concrete patches for traction in the rain? Better or worse than the asphalt at Summit? Guy I run with claims they're slippery at Pocono North Course compared to asphalt in the "damp", running Hoosier A6's - still wet track but no rain. I find they're on my preferred line esp where you might want to dive inside if there's a large opening. Just curious what your experience is.

TIA

97 Subaru Outback S/W
99 Dodge Durango 5.9L Drinks more than I do.
75 Porsche 911S
64 Volvo 544 thats right bitches!
62 Chevy C10 NOW wtih 1UZFE power!
52 Pontiac To legally take the kids to the park without seat belts. Take that Nader!
1999 Monte Carlo ZX Nissan powered (2008 NASA MA Sports Racer Champ!)

No sh*t? A ZX power Monte Carlo? That must have shaved some weight!

Give me a shout when you get tired of the 911s ;)

Ahh I see someone forgot to get back on the throttle at turn in. ;)

Or turned in a little early and a little too much steering along with lack of throttle. I can relate.

Sorry its longer than need be, jump to about 4:30 if you want to see the main point, too quick on the steering, brain fart driving the dry line not the wet line, freakin huge puddle in turn 10 on the far left. Usually get on the throttle right at the apex . Did them all (wrong). Predictable results

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0nFW-rmWa5k

with any luck, we will be joining the PTE Greatlakes NASA group in 2010 after this winter and our 94 b13 build!!!

thanks for sharing!!!!!