Rob at 2007 SCCA Runoffs

Overall I'm happy with the day. 1st qualifying session they draw for position and I was in 6th. Had been worried about our combined session with SSB as that would have been 60 cars on track, but they split session in two. We had a less crowded track, but only gave us 10-15 minutes. First hot lap I had clear track and did most of corners well, just some minor mistakes and I think it was a 1:51.6 or so. Next two laps I blew the new first corner. Later when looking at the data I see why. Between cool air, tailwind, and a new cat on the car my trap speed down straight was 6 mph more! I was just going in there too hot for the additional speed. So laps 2 and 3 I threw away, 4th lap I didn't have a great first turn, but OK and kept the lap going. That was my 1:51.3 and they threw the checker so Showroom Stock could go out.

They try to impound each car at least once during the week and today my lucky number came up. You are locked in tech shed for at least an hour while they go through their checklist. They had about a dozen things to check including gas analysis. I passed everything and they let me go, good news is little chance I will be called back to tech this week, although they still do some random checks.

It is crazy how the racing year goes with new drivers, new cars, and new rules. You try to figure out the field the best you can, but the cards are only shown and you don't get the truth until everyone is actually here and running door to door in anger. The Cobalts are where I expected them at 1:49's. The factory RX8's of Rich Gilhart (2006 champ), Scott Shelton (2nd 2006), Dennis Holloway (4th 2006), and Jim Holloway were all about 1-1.5 seconds back of Cobalts which is what I expected. I am about a second back from last year's champ in RX8 Rich Gilhart which I expected. No way I can compete with that knowledge and the factory resources. Now the unexpected is that only one S2000 (Wiley Timbrook) is in Top 10. I think the best S2000 driver might be Kristian Skavness or Joel Lipperini and neither of them ran today, so I expect more from them. The other big surprise is Robert Huffmaster in a RX8 was less than a tenth back from John Heinricy in the Cobalt and 3/4ths a second faster than last year's champ in a RX8! I have no idea what is up with Robert, he did say he got 4 clear laps. He is an awesome driver who has won ARRC and runs some pro events. However, his car was built by same person mine was and they don't have full factory support. Maybe some of the pro mentality was brought over and put in the car.

It will be interesting. I think I have more time to gain, but today was about as good as the conditions will get. Cool, sunny, and tailwind down the straight. It will be hard to hang onto Top 10 for qualifying, but think I can move up in the race.

 

Monday Qualifying...
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I haven't talked to Colin yet. They just got in Sunday night and this qualifying was only about 5 laps long, hopefully nothing serious.

 

Sunny and still a tailwind down the straight, but 5-10 degrees warmer so slower conditions. I drove a tad better, but ended up with the same time as yesterday. Most of the RX8’s went same time or slower except for Rich, but the Cobalts and S2000’s made a big move as expected. I’ve dropped down to 12th. Really think with good track conditions I can do a 1:50.5, that should be around 10th end of qualifying.

The new trans already came in, so we’ve already started working on that. Will get there early before the 4:20 qualifying and finish it. Also put new rotors on the front. Tomorrow’s qualifying will be interesting between the new trans and expected lower temps.
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Ohh, I really should have listed Hoosier and Mazda myself, Mazda gives me cash when I win and Hoosier tires. Those are just standard contingencies, more than that type of support it seems a key success is manufacturer support. The Cobalts are supported by GM with “special” parts. Just look at who leads T1, T2, T3, SSB, and SSC. Beyond GM and their funny business, the 4 cars being run by Mazda R&D VP Robert Davis are well supported. The owners of Mothers Polish are two of the team’s drivers and supporters. They are well funded! For the 4 RX8’s they have two Mother’s Polish luxury 18 wheelers with tents that come out and meet in middle. Each has 3 flat screens they hang on the outside. Wouldn’t believe it unless you saw it for a pro race, much less this “amateur” racing.

 

If you look at the results for SSB, SSC, T1, T2, and T3 this year something fishy is up. Here's a joke press release I put together over on a SCCA forum...

 

Today went OK. Got there before lunch to finish putting the new trans in. Went smoother than expected, so a few hours of down time waiting for qualifying. Conditions fastest they have been all week. Sunny, tailwind down main straight, and cool 75 or so degrees. Today was very short qualifying, only 4 laps, in my last one I hit every corner right except one and got my PR for the week 6 tenths faster. Everyone went faster though, many people 1-2 seconds and many less than my 6 tenths. Ends up I’m still in 12th as 2 S2000’s moved in front of me and I went in front of Scotty in the Mustang and a S2000. I think I can drop more time, but hard to imagine getting into 49’s. I see maybe a low 50 will keep me in 12th. Qualifying tomorrow not until 5pm.
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The AWD Subaru and Audi's would have an advantage. Not sure how the front wheel drive Cobalts would do, although they have problems with traction even in the dry, so they might struggle. The S2000 and RX8's are well balanced RWD and would be about the same, I would love a rain race. I do really well in the rain as learned from a former rally and ice racer when doing Spec. RX7. Had one in February, check out these results as I was lapping the entire field in 9 laps.

http://www.sowdivscca.org/raceresults/2007/20070120/Group6.pdf

Back in August I was down shifting to 3rd at 9, but now going through there much faster staying in 4th. I lift and jab brakes for early turn in aiming about 10 ft. short of apex and the car will slide out about right. Better to miss early as cars are straddling the curbing and putting the unloaded tires in the dirt. If you miss late then you have to worry about the next left, otherwise it is just a straight shot.

 

I'm back in Texas now, got in last night after 470 mile drive. I'm OK with my result, finished 10th and met my goal of Top 10. Thunderstorms came in Saturday morning and although it looked like they were clearing the lightning came back right at scheduled race start and all workers were pulled from course. Finally got started at 11:45 with some rain, but no lightning. Almost everyone on rains. Had a terrible start crossing the start/finish in 16th. Scotty in Mustang, Shannon in RX8, and Richard in RX8 were ahead. The water spray reduced visibility to very little and it was hard to stay on the gas when you couldn't see. I kept on the gas just a little longer than Scotty and Shannon so passed back by Shannon at top of hill and then out braked Scotty into 1. I passed Richard back turn 3-4 and he spun behind me taking a couple cars out so I had no pressure from back. Joel in S2000 was having traction problems and I passed him on inside into 9. So after some hard work and half lap I had gotten my 13th qualifying position back and moved up to 12th with Joel. I could see the Team Mazda RX8's just up ahead. Even as I got more aggressive, I just couldn't gain ground on them. Seemed like they picked up speed whenever I did. 2nd place qualifier Kevin F. in a Cobalt came back through the field as he didn't have rains. He would pass me on straights and then spin in one of the corners, this happened about 3 times before finally he never passed me again. So now I'm in 11th. Rest of race was straight forward, I had no pressure from behind and although I kept the 4th-10th place cars in sight, I couldn't gain ground. John Heinricy had a huge lead, but was black flagged for sound violation lap 10. So that moved me into 10th and where I stayed. After the race and entire drive home I had many thoughts if I should have been more aggressive and made a run at that next pack. After reviewing the in-car video I think I drove it correctly. I was driving aggressive and about 9/10ths, which on the slick track kept the risk lower for an off and getting stuck or hitting something. Even if I could have caught 9th, making a pass is another story. I drove hard and made sure I didn't give away my 10th for an even worse position.

It was a good year, out of 7 Nationals I had 5 wins and 2 seconds. Runoffs I reached my goal barely of Top 10 out of 28 drivers. See if I can sell the RX8 now and concentrate on the 355 C with NASA. Thanks for everyone's interest. Thanks to stephenofkanza for the picture below, these are the only pics I have of the Runoffs this year.
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