The thread of discussing my stupid cars and how I waste my

[sharkythesharkdogg]

Just got back from a pretty decent weekend at Carolina Motorsports Park.

Before the race we improved our intake routing (it was still the stock set-up left over from the SM days), and added an oil cooler. I was seeing the oil temps spike to 270-280 at Barber last year. This was a pretty warm weekend, and with the new cooler the highest the temp I saw was around 240.

In the first race I used qualifying to put a heat cycle on some new Hoosiers we purchased, and qualified first in ITA with a 1:54...something. 1:54'3 or somewhere in there.

For the race, we didn't have a good set of tires, so we scrounged around and "rented" a set of tires with four heat cycles from another team. Not too bad. I tried the best I could to keep up with the two faster cars from a different class, but I was only good for about 2-3 laps before they're starting to loose me as a drafting partner. (Those two are quite fast. ) The car felt pretty decent the whole race, and I built up a pretty good lead over the next ITA car. I didn't have a cool suit, so around lap 18-19 I was starting to loose some focus. I came in, switched drivers, and after a bumpy first lap dad came home with the win.

The second race I also used the qualifying session to put a the first heat cycle in a new set of tires. (We're trying to have a few sets that have had a chance to cure. That way they'll last a while. Hopefully.) I qualified first in ITA again with a 1:53'6-something. I had a great start to the race, and worked two or three cars between myself and the next ITA car. I was turning consistent 1:54's in the beginning, but every time I looked up the second place ITA guy had reeled me in a little more and a little more. Eventually I got stuck behind a slower ITS car that had the speed in a straight line just enough to slow me down in the corners. That let the other ITA car close right up on me.

Suddenly he went to try and out brake me into turn 7, pushed too hard and spun to the outside. After that I had a nice lead, ran some consistent times, and he wasn't able to close the gap. It turns out he was on brand new Hoosier R6's, and might have cooked them a little when he ran me down. (Those tires are better than man, but naturally more expensive.) I didn't have a working cool suit again, and the radios never work. So I was hot, and decided it was time to come in for my pit stop. I wish I could have had a radio to check, because my pit spot was completely blocked. I randomly pulled in at another spot, and waited for my people to start timing me. We must have pitted too long, because I came out behind the second place car. We had a good race for a few laps, and I was hanging with him just fine at that point. He was driving his mirrors a little too much and crossed his car up in a few places. I almost hit him, but managed to keep the race clean.

Eventually it was my turn to screw up. I wanted to get a run on the inside at turn 11. This is a tight turn at the end of a long straight, and a good place to pass. I think I set up too wide at the dog leg on the back straight, and put my self off line in the marbles. I said I "think" because we just found my that the bolt that goes to the top of my left rear up right is sheered in half. (Yes, again) Did it break and cause the spin, or break from the spin? I dunno. The car did feel more loose after that, but not that bad.

Either way I had a nice spin to the inside that destroyed a braking marker, and that gave him first.


I didn't flat spot the tires at least, and still got second place.

The car is coming along, and I'm pleased overall with the weekend. The next race is at Charlotte.

I know I've said this before, but I might actually have video this time. Every other time, the camera has messed up or been forgotten.