2011 Track Junkie Thread
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 3,641
Likes: 1
From: Gaithersburg, MD
Hey guys, I also had a blast this weekend. Working for Meathead proved to be interesting and exiting experience. It's monday morning and I still feel tired 
. You should see my face, it almost as red as my lips!
Congrats to Rob and Nick on finishing the school! I took some pics... they are on my fb here
. You should see my face, it almost as red as my lips!Congrats to Rob and Nick on finishing the school! I took some pics... they are on my fb here
Community Organizer
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 16,673
Likes: 729
From: Maryland
Sounds like an exciting weekend, when I was over there for lunch I saw Rob's car, but didn't see anyone I knew.
Do you know if the driver that smacked the wall after turn 10 on Sunday was ok? It looked like a Miata, but I couldn't see that much from the field where I was working at the rallycross.
Do you know if the driver that smacked the wall after turn 10 on Sunday was ok? It looked like a Miata, but I couldn't see that much from the field where I was working at the rallycross.
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 6,337
Likes: 1
From: Gods Speed #57 Lemons #77
What a track weekend. The 3 1/2 day SCCA double comp school has officially whipped my butt. I'm exhausted. Yesterday in the school one race I had the front left spindle snap. The only thing that held the wheel on was the RacingBrake brake disk. I got very lucky when the spindle failed in Turn 5 at about 60 mph. I was able to keep the car on the track and not hit anyone.
I assumed my weekend was over but the SCCA community sprang into action and a S2000 T3 racer brought a hub from his Dulles shop and we found the bearing at Charlestown's AutoZone. The final piece of the puzzle was the ABS pulser. It fell off the car when the spindle snapped. The pulser acts as a spacer and is required for assembly. Luckily a track worker found it.
Oleg was working for Meathead as my track mechanic so he sprang into action and pulled the knuckle and used a shop press to assemble the hub, bearing and knuckle just in time for me to make the final afternoon session. Many of you know Oleg is an excellent mechanic and he did a great job on the major repair while I was in class and doing ride-alongs on track. I was very lucky to get the car together and finish the school.
Nick (leadhead16) absolutely kicked butt in the hyper-freakin-competitive Group 2 made up of Showroom Stock Miatas and Spec Miatas. He had the fastest Group 2 lap time every day and won both races. Very impressive Nick!
For Sunday's school two race, me, a Corvette Z06 and a Porsche GTS were gridded in the back of the 18 car Group 2 (Big Bore) grid. We were gridded by the instructors for their amusement so they put the three fastest cars at the rear to see how we'd do fighting through traffic.
The race started with two practice starts that allowed us to race from the starting line around to the flag station just before Turn 4. The first start was a standard two column start behind the pace car. After a double-yellow shown at Turn 4 we then re-formed into single file for the next start and raced from the starting line to Turn 4 again where a full "black flag all" was shown. Everyone entered the pits where we were split into two colums for the last start and a five lap race. Any position changes in the practice starts were kept for the final start. I went from 15th to 3rd in the 2 practice starts.
At the drop of the green I moved into second coming down the front straight and took the lead by ducking under an Integra coming out of Turn 1. I held the lead for 3 laps but the Z06 finally chased me down and passed me coming up the hill between Turn 1 and 3. He just had too much torque for the uphill run. I took a defensive line but he squeezed by on the left at Turn 3 entry. I stayed close to him to the end of the race but not close enough to try a Bonzai move into Turn 10 on the last lap--the only chance I really had of winning. The Porsche GT3 took a distant third. I'll post some video later.
Many thanks to my lovely wife Brenda. She took the voluntary crew class on Thursday night and crewed for me on Friday. She was one of the only wives at the track and I truly appreciate how special she is.
I had a great time, learned a lot but I'm really tired. Goodnight everyone.
I assumed my weekend was over but the SCCA community sprang into action and a S2000 T3 racer brought a hub from his Dulles shop and we found the bearing at Charlestown's AutoZone. The final piece of the puzzle was the ABS pulser. It fell off the car when the spindle snapped. The pulser acts as a spacer and is required for assembly. Luckily a track worker found it.
Oleg was working for Meathead as my track mechanic so he sprang into action and pulled the knuckle and used a shop press to assemble the hub, bearing and knuckle just in time for me to make the final afternoon session. Many of you know Oleg is an excellent mechanic and he did a great job on the major repair while I was in class and doing ride-alongs on track. I was very lucky to get the car together and finish the school.
Nick (leadhead16) absolutely kicked butt in the hyper-freakin-competitive Group 2 made up of Showroom Stock Miatas and Spec Miatas. He had the fastest Group 2 lap time every day and won both races. Very impressive Nick!
For Sunday's school two race, me, a Corvette Z06 and a Porsche GTS were gridded in the back of the 18 car Group 2 (Big Bore) grid. We were gridded by the instructors for their amusement so they put the three fastest cars at the rear to see how we'd do fighting through traffic.
The race started with two practice starts that allowed us to race from the starting line around to the flag station just before Turn 4. The first start was a standard two column start behind the pace car. After a double-yellow shown at Turn 4 we then re-formed into single file for the next start and raced from the starting line to Turn 4 again where a full "black flag all" was shown. Everyone entered the pits where we were split into two colums for the last start and a five lap race. Any position changes in the practice starts were kept for the final start. I went from 15th to 3rd in the 2 practice starts.
At the drop of the green I moved into second coming down the front straight and took the lead by ducking under an Integra coming out of Turn 1. I held the lead for 3 laps but the Z06 finally chased me down and passed me coming up the hill between Turn 1 and 3. He just had too much torque for the uphill run. I took a defensive line but he squeezed by on the left at Turn 3 entry. I stayed close to him to the end of the race but not close enough to try a Bonzai move into Turn 10 on the last lap--the only chance I really had of winning. The Porsche GT3 took a distant third. I'll post some video later.
Many thanks to my lovely wife Brenda. She took the voluntary crew class on Thursday night and crewed for me on Friday. She was one of the only wives at the track and I truly appreciate how special she is.
I had a great time, learned a lot but I'm really tired. Goodnight everyone.
Sounds like a very successful weekend Rob!
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 3,641
Likes: 1
From: Gaithersburg, MD
The guy who smacked the wall was ok. In a matter of fact, he hit the wall at the exact spot where me and another guy were standing at the moment. We were talking to each other, when I heard him yell "watch out"! I heard the car sliding, turned around and saw the car sliding sideways into the wall right where I was standing!! I had an "oh shit!" moment, then I jumped away from the wall and ducked, turning away from the wall. I felt the car hit and got showered by shattered plastic and water... Apparently tires and pieces of the car flew up as high as 20 feet, unfortunately I was too busy getting my ass out of there to watch the whole show.
The guy was able to get out of the car and jump across the wall. He was able to walk away from it, even though I bet he is feeling it now.
The guy was able to get out of the car and jump across the wall. He was able to walk away from it, even though I bet he is feeling it now.
Community Organizer
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 16,673
Likes: 729
From: Maryland
The guy who smacked the wall was ok. In a matter of fact, he hit the wall at the exact spot where me and another guy were standing at the moment. We were talking to each other, when I heard him yell "watch out"! I heard the car sliding, turned around and saw the car sliding sideways into the wall right where I was standing!! I had an "oh shit!" moment, then I jumped away from the wall and ducked, turning away from the wall. I felt the car hit and got showered by shattered plastic and water... Apparently tires and pieces of the car flew up as high as 20 feet, unfortunately I was too busy getting my ass out of there to watch the whole show.
The guy was able to get out of the car and jump across the wall. He was able to walk away from it, even though I bet he is feeling it now.
The guy was able to get out of the car and jump across the wall. He was able to walk away from it, even though I bet he is feeling it now.
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 12,740
Likes: 1
From: md
Glad you're ok.
Former Moderator
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 4,634
Likes: 28
From: West Virginia
Here's a 10 minute clip of one of Sunday's sessions. Me, a Porsche GT3 and Corvette ZO6 arranged beforehand to stick together and pass each other as we worked through traffic. The ZO6 in the video is the guy who beat me in Sunday's race. Remember to click on 1080p for the video size.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bHMAJFpiwCQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bHMAJFpiwCQ