|
|
|
|
2001 PCA Race Results Pocono - June 2-3, 2001 My first PCA club race was a really exciting time. Nothing like that first practice start with 40 cars accelerating down the front straight at Pocono to 120+ mph then braking for a right-hander into the infield section of the course. I would call the first event a success for the following reasons; I got the car home in one piece (unlike several others) and I qualified inside the top 10 in class. I learned a little about the brakes on the car as I overused them and boiled the fluid. Needless to say, I was unable to finish. At some Club Races, you receive a digital photo of your car in action during practice. I think this is an awesome shot of the car.
Watkins Glen - June 15-17, 2001 My second PCA race of the season was an opportunity to race one of the legendary motorsports tracks in the country. In addition to a sprint race (approx. 40 min.) there was also an enduro. The enduro was scheduled for 90 min, but rain late on Saturday afternoon forced a reshuffling of the schedule which shortened Sunday's enduro to 60 minutes. It was still a lot of fun and I managed to finish 5th in the sprint race and 4th in the endurance race.
Summit Point - September 29-30, 2001 Finally at my home track, I think I should have an advantage. Coming into the weekend, I was still struggling with the 911 vs. my Boxster and was running some disappointing times. However, when practice sessions started and I switched to a fresh set of tires, I dropped over 3 sec/lap off my time and put the car in the Top 10 overall and 3rd in class. I was a fantastic race as all I had to do was keep position and I would finish with my first podium. BUT, the brake gremlins got me again as I learned yet another lesson, don't race on an old set of pads. Needless to say I was quite disappointed in my 4th place finish. How 'bout this for a close start? Driver's Ed this ain't!
Carolinas Motorsports Park - Nov. 10-11, 2001 Determined not to have anymore brake trouble, I installed a brake cooling kit, fashioning my own intake scoops out of Aluminum for a custom look. In addition, I started the weekend with fresh brake pads. This was my first visit to Carolinas and the track is notoriously tough on brakes. This weekend included both a 30 min. sprint race on Saturday and a 90 minute endurance race on Sunday. I qualified a respectable 5th for the sprint race and after a mistake by the 3rd place car coming onto the front straight at the end of the first lap, I was in 4rd. I was 1 sec/lap off the pace of the 3rd place car in qualifying so I didn't really get a chance to challenge for third. With just a few minutes to go, the flag crew showed me the mechanical black flag mistakenly and I lost everything that I had worked for in instant. I finished something ridiculous like 16th. Needless to say, I was hot and ready for revenge on Sunday. With new rear tires and the 3rd place car from the sprint race gone, I just had to hold on to 3rd to get my first podium (sound familiar?). At last, after 90 min. behind the wheel, I managed my first podium finish, finishing 3rd. You can see a video of the first lap of the race by clicking the links below: Real Player G2 Large File (approx. 5MB) Real Player G2 Small File (approx. 1MB)
|
