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Written by Pinecone
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Sunday, 15 May 2005 |
Team WTF?! made a racing appearance at VIR May 5 - 8 at teh MARRS/SARRC
double SCCA regional races. Pinecone made the appreance for the team.
The event ran the Grand East course, which features 4.2 miles of racing
with some 33 turns.
The car of choice was Spec Racer Ford. More details inside.
The Spec Racer Ford is a purpose built spec race car originally
designed to powered by a Renault front wheel drive engine/tranny combo.
It debuted in 1984 with a good bit of success. Still a very popular
class for racing, it was updated to a Ford Escort 1.9L drivetrain in
1994 due to lack the Renault parts and support. Spec tires are
currently Yokohama A048 R comps.
The cars top out at about 120 MPH at VIR, with average lap speeds of
around 80 MPH. Best thing is you don't have to buy one to go racing,
you can rent one.
The event started with a pratice day on Thursday. Cars were divided
into three groups and each group got 4 - 30 minutes sessions and 1 - 15
to 20 minute session at the end of the day. The first session was great
fun as no one knew where the new section of track went, so NUMEROUS
cars went off. Of course Team WTF?! did go off. The Grand East course
adds some serious wrinkles to the VIR course, including two blind
crests with turns immediately after them. The uphill section is very
fast. Very glad for the pratice sessions. Total for the day 1 basic
off, 2 spins that ended up off the track. No damage.
Friday was qualifying. Lap times are dropping, and Team WTF?! is now
starting to run up into the pack. Final results are 26th out of 29 for
Saturday's race, 25th out of 29 for Sunday's race.
Saturday race. The
starter and pace car managed to have a totally screwed up start, with
the entie back of the field strung out at the green flag. MAJOR
accident in turn 1 took out several of the front runners. Managed to
get through that fine and after a couple of very nicely done passes,
Team WTF?! was in 16th dogging the 15th place car. After a few laps,
Team WTF?! made the pass and grabbed 15th, only to be repassed for the
position. Drafting down the main straight setting up the massive pass.
Everything was fine, pulled out to pass, braking. Looked at the corner,
and said, "Hmm, did I brake a bit TOO late?" Mind and foot conspired to
add a tiny extra bit of braking and WHAM, instant spin and smack the
other car, note to self, less rear brake bias in the future. Both went
off, and both retired. Some fiberglass damage and some suspension
tweaks.
Ended up finishing 23rd but classed as a finisher.
Spent the afternnon and early evening helping fix the car. Nothing
major.
Sunday race, checking the lap times for Saturday race, Team WTF?! was
running less than 0.2 seconds slower than the next 4 - 5 cars up the
grid. Should be a FUN race. Starter and pace car worked better and a
proper start. Passed a couple of cars in turn 1, got repassed by one,
dicing around the track. Middle of the new section, a car 2 - 3 places
up spun. Looks good, can sneak behind and GO. Only the other driver did
NOT lock the brakes and rolled backwards, so WHAM. Another accident.
Car handled fine so fnished the race, but more like a private track
day. Could see other cars, but couldn't catch up in the short race, but
then again, nobody caught up, so finished on the lead lap. Not sure
what position, but not DFL since the car that spun retired from the
race.
Great fun weekend despite the two crashes. Team WTF?! is getting faster
each track session.
More Team WTF?! members ought to consider trying this out. |
