Chapter 279    February 2020

SLJHMR @ COTA with SCCA MAJORS

It was the best of times.....it was the 'not the best' of times...

"That's racing!" certainly applies here. (spoiler alert: we still went home smiling, so it certainly was not the worst of times)

---vid link at bottom---

"Take 'em on the outside!!!"

So Louis and I decided we would again dip our toe into the SCCA pool. While two weeks ago it was for a local SOWDIV race where we did quite well, this time it would be the Hoosier Super Tour at COTA, just about the deepest ocean the SCCA has this side of the runoffs (June Sprints might argue that point, but still). Doubly so, since the SGT guys in Trans-Am who run GT2 would be here for two good reasons: to build points to qualify for the runoffs, but also practice time on the new COTA surface for the TA race here in the fall. 

The entry list was stout, with the three big players being from the FALL-LINE pro team bringing 997.1 and .2 gt3 cup cars. These are fully developed big money pro cars and are absolutely gorgeous. They run TA as well had already won the Super Tour opener in Sebring. #FastGuys Overall, there were 13 GT2 cars in Group 1, with GT2 being the biggest class in the group. There was a smattering of GT1 cars (some faster, some not) and then some Touring cars and a few American Sedans and a prototype. 

We skipped the test day Friday to save tires, funds and, oh yes, I have this thing called "work" that I do. Instead, Matt White and I rolled into COTA past dark on Friday and unloaded in the upper paddock. We worked late getting the proper decals on the car, fabbing up some rear "flares" to cover the rear tires, and a few other items on the to-do list. 

Our rear flares have graduated from foam and tape to abs plastic and epoxy, so yeah, you could say things are getting pretty serious. 

Late nite flare building!!!

Being group 1 we qualy first. Louis shows up early as does Frank Fertitta, Nick Mollison and Paul Simmons. HUGE HUGE THANK YOU TO THESE GUYS! 

We put SLJHMR on pole (although we have some issues) and then in the race we started very well having a great battle with the two FALL LINE pro Trans-Am SGT/SCCA GT2 porsche 997.1 and .2 cup cars (cars are proven, well sorted, and gorgeous!). We had some GT1 car issues (ug), but in the end it was looking pretty strong for a podium until an exhaust valve got too exhausted to exhaust anymore and dropped out. (get it? dropped out??? hahahah). We still went to impound, had lots of things checked (restrictor pulled, etc) and came out clean! 

So, we came in on a rope in our first ever DNF for SLJHMR. With an empty afternoon and a full crew, the motor was out in under 1.5 hours and the carnage was viewed. Yikes. Thank you Chris Taylor for the hoist!!!

From NASA ST2, we've added power, added weight, raised the car and a host of other small changes. All of this means our optimization went out the window and honestly we did not show our potential, and we're pretty happy about that (meaning we have speed not capitalized on yet). We're also happy that we ran as fast as we did and got to measure ourselves against the top guys in TA SGT and GT2. 

Dis crew? Dis crew best crew!!!

----->>>>BIG thanks to Mark Martin and Adam Zale Tobolowsky. Mark talked me through some recent COTA changes and sent some pics, then Adam sent a bunch of vid clips and we talked through them all, going over what the pavement/re-profile looked like and figuring approaches that should work for SLJHMR. With this information and ***ZERO PRACTICE*** we were able to snag pole and start at the front. #Amazing #Network 

Next up? Who knows.....I'm sure the HPR's Erik and Anthony will have the motor this week and we've got some things to figure out on the chassis for sure. 
As always, huge thank you to Louis and the GSpeed crew (Kris, Ian, Rodolfo, Corey, Erik, Joe) for giving me such a fun little hot rod. 

https://vimeo.com/390372117  <<<-----clicky clicky