S2K Challenge Series 2010: Laguna Seca Raceway Results

Original write-up by Mike (Dipstick)

Hello Again, Mike here filling in for the popular and busy Mr. Ed… The 2010 S2000 Challenge continued with ROUND 6 at LAGUNA SECA Raceway on July 10, 2010.

Competitors came in from all over CA with many turning the long trip into a fun weekend of racing and quality time with family and friends. Morning weather was dominated by a thick marine cloud layer resulting in cool temps ~50F. When the fog burned off by mid-morning, conditions were mild and breezy ~mid 60’s.

Due to the tight run schedule, a dedicated time trial was not possible so the format was FTD – Fast Time of the Day.

Mishaps and black flags took their toll on track time and cars.

A Lotus 211 caught fire leaving oil on T5.

An EVO lost it’s way in T6, impacted the inside wall and deployed all its airbags.

A Z06 looped it after T11, went across the track and smashed into the hot pit wall.

As the day wore on, folks settled in, giving pointbys, staying out of the kitty litter, and lapping faster and faster…as with Spring Mountain, the times actually dropped with each new lap even as the day warmed up.

>>>STOCK CLASS fielded a lone contender, RICHARD SEEGMAN (Richard EVO). “The Sheriff” ran fast and consistent posting a 1:51.795 in Red 3 and took home a TRANNY/DIFF FLUID CHANGE from TONY FUCHS RACING. Nice Driving, Richard!

Richard in T3

>>>STREET CLASS saw the return of NAM YOON (VitaRenovatio) who had been on hiatus to take care of simple life priorities such as getting married and higher education.

BRANDON WILLIAMS (bwheels02), FIL CRACIUN (Kinchu007) and BEN RIGAUD (Ben22) filled out the field of four in STREET.

Brandon running the new 949 6ULR’s

Fil in T3

Ben

Brandon promised to break into the sub 2:00’s before the day was out and made good on it during Red 4, with his fastest time of 1:57.211, putting him in 4th.

Brandon tellin’ it like it is…

Unfortunately, Ben’s titanium exhaust/straight pipe was tripping the noise meter at 97.1 dB (the limit is 92).

A couple of sound countermeasures were tried including a smaller diameter exit pipe and a borrowed turn-down pipe from Craig’s Miata but, in the end, Ben was forced to lift slightly as he exited T5 for the uphill climb past the noise police, running a 1:52.265 for 3rd place.

Despite the noise difficulties Ben still enjoyed driving and spent the day grinning from ear-to-ear…proving that even a “hard” day at the track is still a fun day at the track!

As Red 3 closed, Fil narrowed the gap behind Nam, trailing by only .595 seconds.

However in Red 4, Nam was able to lay down a 1:46.854 in the LAST LAP of the session for the STREET class victory.

FIL was a close 2nd with a 1:48.700 during Red 3.

Get’em next time, Fil!!

For 1st in STREET, Nam took home a FULL FLUID SWAP (ENGINE/TRANNY/DIFF) from RISING STAR MOTORS.

>>>MOD Class fielded three competitors, PAUL ASTERLIN (SDRacing), joining us from Sacramento, plus Jim Tway (jimtway1) and yours truly (Dipstick), coming up from Socal.

Paul – MOD

Jim – MOD

Mike – MOD

Paul previously attended the Thunderhill S2kC in 2009 and brought a Forced Induction MOD class S2000 with CR suspension.

Unfortunately, during the 1st lap of the 3rd session, Paul spun in the braking zone leading up to the Corkscrew.

Traveling backwards into the gravel, the car brushed up against the barriers with just minor fender, wheel, and tie-rod damage.

Paul decided head home in one piece leaving his best time at 1:51.307.

That left Jim and I to duke it out for 1st. Both of us came to practice Friday as well and with no one else to dice with, we ended up playing LS Cat-n-Mouse both days, alternating the lead every few laps…

During Red 1, Jim was already a second faster than Friday’s practice running a 1:41.702.

In Red 2, the time difference between us was just .617 sec with both of us running 1:41.xxx, Jim still in the lead.

(er, trying the Zanardi line through the bottom of the ‘Screw…um, doesn’t work)

Then in Red 3, Jim opened up the gap breaking into the 1:40’s while I was still stuck in the mid-1:41’s.

During the final Red 4 session, I pushed it as hard as I could.

With Jim right behind me, we finally got some open track during lap 7.

I was on a hot pace and was able to ring up a 1:41.342…but Jim had just a little more, with a 1:40.606 for 1st place!

FYI, Corvette MOD class cars were running 1:40.xxx… Awesome driving, Jim!!

Jim took home an EVASIVE Alignment for 1st place in MOD.

>>>UNLIMITED fielded two competitors RYLAN HAZELTON (Krazik) and Casey Dennis, both F.I.

Casey ran a 1:42.898 in Black 2 while Rylan was in the 1:35’s in his fully race prepped S2k. During Red 3, Rylan ran his fastest, taking 1st in UL with a 1:34.634 before retiring with a slight water leak.

Ry’s faithful dog RAZ took 1st with the kids and spectators…

UNLIMITED Class and the remaining podiums were awarded SPEED VENTURES track day credits…THANKS to all our PRIZE DONORS and Congrats to the Winners!!

Thanks also to the SPEEDVENTURES Crew (Aaron, Dave, et.al) and to Grant for his timing expertise!

Thanks to Nam and Sharon for the pics!

Ed will tabulate the driver’s standings, will post those shortly!

The next S2000 Challenge #7 will be held at the ACS ROVAL on August 15, 2010…sign up EARLY and see you at the track!!

Mike

S2000 Forums-> 2010 S2K Challenge #6 – RESULTS from LAGUNA SECA

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