MSR Reality Show Update

On Tuesday this week we filmed my race episode for the show. Here are the results:

The track was VERY cold that morning. Wake-up temps were under 30 degress and no more than 35 during the initial warm-up. I really struggled getting any sort of heat into my brakes and tires. I couldn't stop and the car was oversteering like crazy under anything more than a moderate application of the throttle. I had no confidence in the car at all. Towards the end of the warm up I tried braking more aggressively into Big Bend, better to know the result now rather than later, and slid off into the dirt. Not a good start.

Luckily track conditions improved a bit before the qualifier and I was able to regain my confidence. Air temps were probably in the 40's but the track began to heat up just enough so that the oversteer problems I encountered earlier were no longer a serious issue. Stopping distances were still a bit longer, but at least I could put in a respectable performance. I was 2 seconds off my usual times, not bad considering the conditions.

For the race, I was paired against a Noble 12m3R with a very inexperienced driver and a beautiful 911 with a 3.6L carbed engine, coilovers, 10x12x17 wheels on Hoosiers, and weighing in at 2100 lbs. Only downside of the set-up, it was a new build with zero hours on the track. This was going to be a shake down run on a new car, would problems emerge? Those Hoosiers were also going to be a liability under these conditions. The driver was Don Istook, a pro who has been driving in the Grand Am series the last couple of years. I think I was 4 years old when he got his racing license. I am clearly out classed here, but I was looking forward to hearing the sound of that engine as he passed me.

Its a handicapped race with a staggered start based on expected lap times. Slower cars/drivers get a head start to make the race interesting. The Noble left the standing start first, then me, then Don. The Noble spun on the first lap at Lil Bend, so I had an early and easy pass there. My focus was then on my rear view mirror. I knew Don could easily catch me but I had no idea how much of a head start I had since my strategy was to remain focused on the Noble initially and never worry about Don. I didn't look back to see when he left the standing start. Throughout the first lap, I am looking back and I can't see him, its clean sailing and it feels like lapping during a Member Day. That said I'm still pushing hard trying to stay ahead of Don and I almost spin in Big Bend. With the longer stopping distances I end up trail braking into the turn and begin to oversteer - I catch it, wiggle again, catch it, and power through under full throttle. For a split second I did not think I was going to recover and thought my race would end early. This was right in front of a camera crane and should look great on TV.

Lap 2, and I all alone. Watching Don qualify I noticed that his engine did not sound so good. It was backfiring and seemed to cut out for brief periods. I know he was addressing the problem in the pit before the race but I had assumed he got it sorted before the race. The engine certainly sounded strong during our warm up lap before the start. I was following him then and he easily pulled on me. I am now starting to think that he has problems and its my race to lose.

Lap 3 and I'm still all alone. I pull back a bit knowing I'll I have to do is keep the car on the track to win. I do so and take the checkered flag.

Talking to Don after the race, he said he was driving hard but the car could not keep up. He would misfire here and there, varying between full power and 50%. He could never get going. Disappointing for me, I would rather have lost and had him at full speed. I also wish the Noble hadn't spun since I would have had fun trying to chase him down. It made the "race" a non-event. In all, a fun day and I had a good time hanging out with the other drivers. Even a cold day at the track is better than your best day in the office.

I go to the finals now, one of 12 cars in a race for the series finale. It should be fun and hopefully we'll get some better weather. The series should air some time in the first quarter on DISH network and I think CableVision. I'll keep you posted ....

 

Mark LoPalato (spelling?), the guy driving the black 911 turbo in the SPEED World Challenge is in. I also heard one or two others pros may be entered. Rex Bush should also be considered a contender, and of course Keith.
Besides giving me a head start, these guys might have to start their race from Hwy 377 if I expect to be in the thick of things.

Jack is just playing the role of track owner and time keeper. He gives us instructions during the day and waves the flag at the start and finish. I was hoping for a hot pit girl but all we got was Jack.

The in-car footage is actually done after the race. When it was over, the put hi-def cameras in our cars and had us circle the track with a camera car that took footage from the front and rear. So in reality, the close-ups are staged. The real race footage is all shot from trackside cameras.

 

Heat races would be fun and I think it would make for good TV, I hope they follow that format. 3 prelim races with 4 cars each followed by a 4 car final would create some drama. Given that we don't have corner workers it would also be safer to limit the number of cars on the track at any given time. Its all for fun, but competition sometimes makes people do silly things.

 

They have had some trouble getting enough drivers since the filming is all being done during the week. Its tough for folks to get away from work so I think they allowed some less experienced drivers in to fill the roster.

In my heat, I was worried about the guy in the Noble who had very little experience on a race track. I talked to him before the race however and got comfortable that he understood this was for fun and also wanted to be safe. He told me that he would let me go by if I caught him in the corners and I asked that he just hold his line and make me do the work. As long as he didn't make any sudden and unpredictable moves I figured I could get around him safely. Of course his habit of spinning on a frequent basis was still a concern.

We had instructions before the race to allow a pass if we get caught early, as the other car is clearly faster, but go ahead and really race if it were on the last lap or so.

Keith - why didn't you drive the turbo Miata? It seems like this would have been great publicity for you.

 

Another update:

We were supposed to tape the finals on Tuesday and got rained out. During warm ups we were spinning and sliding everywhere so we took a vote and decided to postpone until January 21. One of the dissenting voters was Verges. As good a driver as Keith is in dry weather, he is probably even better in the wet. I think he would have walked away with the win if we had run on Tuesday.

There will be three pre-lim heats with the winners of each heat going to the finals. I am going to be paired up against a Viper running slicks and a Turbo Miata (street version, not Keith's modified beast) on RA-1's (same tire that I run). This should be a blast. The Viper is only a couple of seconds quicker than the Miata and I, with the two of us running nearly identical times. It should make for an exciting and fun heat, a lot more fun than the first race I had. I expect all three of us to be bunched together for most of the race.