Race Day, "Speeding is FUNdamental"
After a long hot two days (did I mention it was hot before? No, ya. Freakin' hot) we where at the day we've been working towards all winter, Race Day.
The morning again started at 8 a.m. for the drivers meeting. Then practice. Shawn had entered two races for the day with the Honda in the IT group and the Miata in the Prod/Spec Miata group. This would mean keeping focused on two different styles of cars. Practice for both groups went fantastic, no issues or problems. Then qualifying. Shawn put some fast laps down with the Honda and ended up 5th on the grid out of about 40 plus cars. The Miata was a learning experience, with a qualifying spot of 33rd out of 38 cars. A little disappointed with the time Shawn looked forward to getting back into the Honda.
Lunch came and I was given a ride around the track by Devin, who showed me the proper lines and also talked about how the car would react. I learned a lot on those few laps. Hopefully some day I can put them to use.
Race one with the IT group was up next. When the green dropped Shawn was stuck to the inside and dropped a few spots but quickly got them back and returned to his 5th place starting spot. As the laps clicked off so did the cars (waving twice to Andy), getting around a SM and a RX-7 put Shawn in third place behind a Porsche, and Bimmer which is how the race ended. Overall that put him in 3rd overall and 1st in class.
Race two with the Prod/SM group was next. Starting 33rd Shawn pushed as hard as he could and clicked off some consistent lap times, improving threw the race to push up into the 25th spot by the time the checkered flag fell. For the first time under race conditions in the rear wheel drive Miata that is already a sign of improvement. Seat time in the car will result in even more improvement in the future.
That put a end to our day at Blackhawk Farms. A great weekend with somewhere in the area of 6 or so hours of track time. We where spent, mentally and physically. It took around 3 hours to get packed up. Finally arriving at home sometime on the 11 p.m hour.
Sleep and A/C felt good. Til' next race
The morning again started at 8 a.m. for the drivers meeting. Then practice. Shawn had entered two races for the day with the Honda in the IT group and the Miata in the Prod/Spec Miata group. This would mean keeping focused on two different styles of cars. Practice for both groups went fantastic, no issues or problems. Then qualifying. Shawn put some fast laps down with the Honda and ended up 5th on the grid out of about 40 plus cars. The Miata was a learning experience, with a qualifying spot of 33rd out of 38 cars. A little disappointed with the time Shawn looked forward to getting back into the Honda.
Lunch came and I was given a ride around the track by Devin, who showed me the proper lines and also talked about how the car would react. I learned a lot on those few laps. Hopefully some day I can put them to use.
Race one with the IT group was up next. When the green dropped Shawn was stuck to the inside and dropped a few spots but quickly got them back and returned to his 5th place starting spot. As the laps clicked off so did the cars (waving twice to Andy), getting around a SM and a RX-7 put Shawn in third place behind a Porsche, and Bimmer which is how the race ended. Overall that put him in 3rd overall and 1st in class.
Race two with the Prod/SM group was next. Starting 33rd Shawn pushed as hard as he could and clicked off some consistent lap times, improving threw the race to push up into the 25th spot by the time the checkered flag fell. For the first time under race conditions in the rear wheel drive Miata that is already a sign of improvement. Seat time in the car will result in even more improvement in the future.
That put a end to our day at Blackhawk Farms. A great weekend with somewhere in the area of 6 or so hours of track time. We where spent, mentally and physically. It took around 3 hours to get packed up. Finally arriving at home sometime on the 11 p.m hour.
Sleep and A/C felt good. Til' next race
posted by B.j.Ruland at 9:17 AM
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