Race Report

Back to the index.

CNN reporting Live from the Field - Thunderhill in Reverse

After watching the reports of the war in Iraq we were able to get to bed early and get a good night's sleep. We left the car at the track overnight, I'm hoping its still there when we get back this morning.

Today we run Thunderhill backwards, no not in reverse gear, rather in the opposite direction. Historically, times are two seconds slower in this direction. The NSX driver's are some of the few who have run this direction previously, it should be a help to us. Mark and Trevor have ordered new tires to replace the set that were flat-spotted yesterday in an all wheel lock-up. The tires should arrive at the track today via UPS. We have a quick driver's meeting to remind everyone we are going the opposite way, clockwise, clockwise, clockwise. No major mechanics problems to deal with right away today, race tires are already on the car so we start the day cleaning and polishing.

Trevor and Mark adopt our strategy and go out together in their first session to recognizance the track. They turn in a respectable 2:06, but remember that's with several hundred extra pounds in the passenger seat :-0. Todd and I go out to do the same in the third run group, my times also are slower on street tires ;-). But this allows us to both see the track from this less familiar direction, but this time we do something a little different. After 6 or seven laps we pull into the hot pits, I jump out and Todd takes over. After a warm up lap he finds clear room for a single fast lap at 2:08. The Porsche has a 2:07 and a 2:09. Looks like a dog fight today. We head back to our pit to slap on the shaved tires. Andrie and Tom continue to work on their car to keep it running, this morning they are replacing the left rear toe link. Andrie runs a 2:04 to temporarily go up on the other normally aspirated NSXs. In the second session Trevor runs 2:02.87, and a couple of 2:03s, good enough to stay ahead of the S2000 that had been giving them fits all week. The S2000 breaks down after posting a 2:05. Andrie runs in the 2:04 range. In our group Todd grids right behind the Porsche and Viper in the staging area. With 30 seconds to green the Molser driven by the infamous Rupert pulls up and sticks his nose in ahead of us. Well, ok, he is in a different class and is faster, perhaps he'll pull us along. As soon as the tires are up to temperature, the second lap in, we get a couple of 2:05s and a 2:06. Then the Mosler blows his oil pal and proceeds to drop oil around the length of the track, on the racing line! A number of cars slip off and the session is called. We have a good lead and decide to put our practice tires on so I can run the third session then we'll call it a day so we can head off early for the longest leg of the trip back to Willow Springs. In the forth session the S2000 in M&Ts class is fixed and they send out their fastest driver, David Kennedy, cards 1:59s, smoke'n.

We head out, linked electronically by radios, linked in spirit by the adventure.

Action Pics

[ Car 15 ] [ Car 52 ]