NO tl;dr

Well, I got invited to attend a Sony Distributor Appreciation event. My company and 2 of our big competitors were invited up to the Pocono's for a 3 day event.

We went to Pocono Raceway on Tuesday to do a 1 day race school with Skip Barber. We got to use the Skip Barber Formula Cars which were originally formula dodges. The raceway is a 2.5 tri-oval with 3 infield courses all utilizing a turn in the tri-oval. We were on the south course which was about 10 turns total and turn 1 of the speedway.

The cars themselves were 150hp motors in an 1100lb chassis. Single seat, open wheel and practically 1 inch off of the ground. You essentially lay down in the car and have just enough room to move your legs on the pedals and grab the wheel. The steering was lock to lock in about 3/4 turns of the wheel left to right. No power brakes/ABS and steering. The gear box was 4 speed and non-synchronized. In the class the lead instructor was explaining this to all the big wigs from the various companies there and pretty much said "It's going to grind when you shift it, but don't worry about it" In their 3 day race school they teach double clutch down shifting and all the various techniques. Our day was pretty much don't worry about driving the car right, just don't wreck it because it's 50 grand

There were 5 instructors there, all of whom have years of actual race experience and competed nationally in anything from Formula Fords to Vintage Mini racing. We started off the morning doing lead follow lapping with an instructor leading and 3 formula cars behind. After each lap the student behind the instructor would drop down on the bank and let the next car up to follow the line. We did about 3 sessions of that gradually getting faster and faster. All of the beginner drivers there were faster than the instructors in Mazda 3's on summer tires through the infield. You could drive like a complete asshat but still be on the instructors bumper through the infield. After the lead follow sessions and lunch, we then went out for open lapping with a stop box positioned at the start of turn 1 on the tri-oval. There you would come to a stop and the instructors out on the course would radio over the the guys running the stop box and critique your driving. Either way, this was really the first time you had open track to really push these cars. I was flat out all through the banked turn going into the hard left hander before the actual straight on the oval to go into the infield. Being an inch off the ground and having wind trying to rip your helmet off is quite the rush After a successful stop and go session, no spins, we were allowed to then do a 25 minute open lapping session. They talked to us all and said keep an eye on your mirrors because if you have someone behind you, you need to point them by on the straight ie.. turn 1 on the tri-oval. I spent the majority of that session driving my ass off really seeing what the cars could do. Flat out on the banked turn hitting a little over 100mph(I think, no speedometer) Hard on the brakes as late as possible to dive down off the oval into the infield. I ended up lapping the entire field, including a pretty significant time waster

Just to offer a little back story for the next part of my tale. We were at this even with 2 of the other top distributors for Sony in the US. My company comprises of 45% of domestic storage media sales and clearly the biggest for Sony of the Three Amigos as we were called by Sony for the couple of days. Out of the two competitors of ours there, one company is a gigantic asshole towards us. Calling us bad names and generally talking shit From that company, there were 4 people, 3 of which were owners. 2 of them 25% owners and one 50%. One of the 25% owners is the one who consistently calls us bad names and actually went to Sony and expressed to them that we should not be invited. Guess what fukcer! Sony likes us better After a nice opportunity to meet this guy, conveniently avoided by him, I realized this guy was indeed a douche and watched him for the rest of the day be a general jerk to my other co-workers there. I come to find out that this guy actually raced motor cycles and was an avid racer and really understood what driving fast on a track was all about. He was one of three people there that actually had some concept of what to do The other 2 being myself and my CEO who frequents the track in his 997 GT3. Come Tuesday, we all head out to the track and start the day as I explained earlier, this guy was in my group of 3 all day and was keeping up and showing that he indeed was not a lost soul out there like 90% of the people there. Sorry for the long story with what is probably a small pay off, but it really made me laugh and I became a small hero within my company because of this. In the final session, sure enough I was out there with this prick hammering through the course. I started out of the pit as the second car and made quick work out of the car in front of me and now had some open track to try and scare the shit out of myself even more I got about 2-3 solid laps before I came up on traffic. And you probably already guessed who I come behind I follow him for a good 3-4 laps, riding his bumper, or lack there of. Pushing him through every turn and doing my best to make it apparent he needed to point me by. After the 2nd or 3rd lap by the instructors I still was dying to get by this douche bag and enjoy my last 20 minutes in these brilliant machines. Finally one of the instructors pointed him out and made it damn clear to let me by. SWEET, douche bag had to point me by! It was right in front of my CEO, who was in the first group, and most the brass from Sony. Everyone definitely enjoyed the racing that was taking place out there and being able to watch it all happen from the sidelines. So I get some more open track, and right in time to hammer down through turn one on the tri-oval. I finally got the balls to try and go as fast as I can and ultimately trust this car on the steep embankment. I come hauling ass up to what I was calling turn one, a pretty much downhill 90 degree left into the infield. Well I should not have chose to see how late I could brake after gaining the testicular fortitude to go flat out through the big turn. I locked up the brakes and completely over shot the turn, going right onto the back straight through some cones, leaving behind a spectacular cloud of smoke from the tires. How convenient, I just got pointed by and ruined my couple of minuted of open track I had earned I get back on track and once again, I was stuck behind the douche bag. Only this time, he was aware of the the car behind him(me ). He saw me fly onto the straight away and through the turn that I obviously over shot. After all he was more or less a couple cars back from me after the point by previously. So back on track now, and not letting myself be phased by the obvious fukc up on my part, I get back into the groove and get rolling once again. I was passed by the douche bag and the car following him, so I had 2 cars to get by once again if I wanted to enjoy some more lapping with nothing stopping me but my fear I get by the the first car and find my self again behind the asshat. This time he knows I'm there, he had to drive through the cloud of smoke I left behind We make it through another lap with me right on his bumper, frustration building once again that he wont let me by. But I can definitely tell he is driving harder, a little over steer here and some missed apex's. Now the two of us are approaching the 2nd to last turn in the infield. The turn where everyone is watching, the turn where one of the instructors stands to make sure the drivers see him to know they need to point someone by. I see the instructor standing near the track to point out Mr. DB again to let me pass. Expect this time, Mr. DB definitely missed the apex went way off line and ended up going off track into a nice sized mud puddle. Completely covering his car and himself in mud and throwing a decent amount of mud at me, pelting my helmet and mask I wish I could have had a picture of the smile on my face after that happened You will never guess who was really nice to me for the rest of the trip

Sony took lots of pictures of us, so when they are up I will be sure to share.

I am realizing how long this is! God damn I got carried away, but it's Friday I didn't proof read it, so point out mistakes if you want

 

awesome!

 

Yay Ross!

 

 

jesus Ross, thanks for making me not work

Looks like a blast though!

 

I really got carried away writing that I don't even want to think about how long it took me to write 1,683 words according to Microsoft Werd. I should have put effort like that into my schoolwork

 

Awesome, Ross!! very

 

Nice Ross. It would have been nice to have an in-car camera of the drivers' face so that you could see the DB's face when he went in the mud puddle.

 

Great story Ross,

I want work for your company now.

 

Yay Ross! Two Syllables! Rock On! Get some! Race car! Woo-oo!