FYI: Update Of My F2000 Season

First, HUGE thanks to everyone here who steered me towards getting a Formula 2000 open wheel winged race car. She is truly amazing! This past weekend won the first race and was to win the second race, then on lap 11 (race 2) the tranny/diff began to sound like ball bearing in a blender But hey, that's racing

Due to coming in second for driver's championship last year in SCCA (rookie year), now have about 10 sponsors! Am doing my very best and working with race engineer and driving coach Glenn Philips of GTP Motorsports. He's worked with Rahal and many others and really is a GREAT guy.

Again, MANY thanks to everyone here, the F2000 is a GREAT learning car and an excellent stepping stone to the next level in the adventure.

Just updated my blog and added a video, hope my driving is ok.

www.enjoythetrack.com/blogs/

 

EVERYONE: A most humble thanks my friends.

Gilles: It is New Hampshire Motor Speedway (formally NH International Speedway). On race 1 (Saturday) we used NASCAR oval turn 1 and 2, reaching about 130mph (whereas the best teams in NASCAR do 100mph). It is really rough transitions getting on and off the NASCAR section of the track, unlike Pocono where the transitions are pretty smooth (for an American track). The video shows the NHMS chicane/chicane configuration, so it is very technical with two additional on/off the NASCAR sections and keeps the driver quite busy.

 

Yes sir

(Humor) Especially the tip about the right pedal being the throttle. Wow, amazing how pressing that pedal down lowers lap times

Seriously, EVERY tip and advice helps!!!!!!!!! Am still learning, yet am (frankly) amazed that i am doing top National times with a mere 10 or so events under my belt. Might do the compete F2000 Championship pro series next year, as the learning curve is nice and steep there plus top drivers there are vying for positions in Formula Mazda, Indy, etc. Now if i could only shave 20 years off my age, it would be just about right...

 

A most humble thanks Prova85. Yes, the guy in front of me got VERY ragged and did not want to hit him, thus i let off the throttle (a bit too much) going down the hill (Turn 10) and spun. Kept my head about me, got going fast back into the action and attacked the brake points and hit the apexes... Past about 5 cars (including Mr. Squirlley Car) to be near the FA to fight for overall win and not 'just' my classification win. If you check my blog there is a chart with the FA and my lap times as the race progressed.

BTW Everyone: they allowed for parade laps after Race 1 and Prova85 drove a few laps in his amazing Testarossa. He drove the line well and hope to see him on the track again soon

 

WOW, your car looks beautiful! Would be great to have you back behind the wheel!

A most humble thanks.

Alas, no plans this year for the runoffs, as am trying to take it 'slow' and steady in getting my seat time/experience up while sorting out the normal rookie mistakes. Perhaps am going 'too slow' yet am taking a calculated position before making the leap into the Big Time. This (2007) was my first time with wheel-to-wheel racing and knew that there would be a learning curve. No ego per se, yet will admit am very good at sorting through traffic and altering my line/driving for passing and can always pull off a great qualification time, yet have other things where i am so self-critical that there is 'much more' to do imo. Color me my worst critic. Heck, EVERY TIME the wheels are on the tarmac there is ALWAYS something to learn, and love this fact from the engineering side to the driving and track analysis side. The F2000 is truly an excellent car for learning on so many levels imo. G-d willing, Formula Mazda series may be in the cards for 2010 given i have anchored a few sponsors (dependant on my performance of course).

The F2000 here has the old suspension, old aero, and old Pinto/Kent engine. This winter there are plans to get the car up to top National standards with Zetec lump and updated suspension and other bits so she will be up there with the top-level 2008/2009 specification cars in the F2000 Championship pro series. At THAT level there are some very impressive drivers and imo THERE is where we shall see how my skillset (combined with my car engineer and driver coach) compares to that level of drivers.

FYI: my engieer and driving coach has helped the Rahals and many others at advanced levels of racing, plus earned the #1 position in F2000 Championship in 2006. Like in F1, even the very best drivers need to be in a positioned in the best teams... and so am doing my best to be well-positioned accordingly WITHOUT overly rushing things before my skillset can handle things. This explains why 2007 and now 2008 are progressing as they are BEFORE i dive into the pros (hope that makes sense).