All,
Last weekend, I achieved my primary pre-season goal of winning the 2004 SCCA MidWest Division T1 title! While I don't get anything for this except a very nice trophy, it is something I wanted to do before going back on sea duty for three years next year.
This wasn't attained by some wonderous on track performance, it merely became mathmatically impossible for anyone else to catch me based on my previous results with only one race remaining before the Runoffs.
While my season started very well with a win and a new track record at Memphis in March, it only became more difficult from there.
In the second race of the year, at Mid America, after qualifying on the pole, over two seconds a lap faster than the nearest other T1 car, I was involved in a 1st lap altercation that sent me spining to the back of the field. While trying to work my way back up to the front, my timing chain failed, ending my day and causing me to miss the next two races.
Unable to afford a new motor, I had mine rebuilt, but it was never the same. In race three, again at Memphis, I was over three seconds a lap slower than I had been in March. I managed a win solely because I was the only T1 car who showed up.
In race four at Topeka, I was soundly defeated by Mike McGinley, but as I had little time on the track, and none in the new configuration, that didn't surprise me too much as it was his home track. During the race, the car developed a very slight, occasional misfire that tripped an engine fault light, which was the start of three very trying weekends for me. I was satisfied to walk away with 2nd.
On July 4th weekend at Hallett, my car died rolling off the trailer on Friday and refused to start until a lose ground wire to the main fuse panel was found the next day. During the race, the misfire woes continued and the car was clearly down on horsepower. I again managed to come away with a 2nd, this time losing to Chris Brannon.
Unable to determine exactly what was causing my misfire, I replaced plugs, plug wires, air filter, 02 sensors, and cats.
Extremely excited about my prospects for Gateway, I took to the track in practice on Saturday, only to have the misfire return worse than ever. After getting advice from a couple other racers, and experts in the field, including Phoenix, another Vette owner who I had never met, then stepped to my assistance, calling around to find me an open Chevy dealer and then driving me there and back to pick up a fuel filter and the only fuel injector they had. On Sunday, I only got in two laps of qualifying due to a red flag, so wasn't sure if the problem had been fixed. But during the race the car ran perfectly, and I won my third race of the season. This turned out to be enough to win the division, allowing me to sit out the last two races of the year and save some badly needed money for the Runoffs.
Next stop, the SCCA National Championship Runoffs presented by Kohler, Sept 20-26. T1 race is at 3:20 p.m. Friday, Sept 24th and will be shown tape delayed on SPEED. SCCA Runoffs
:thumb
Yea, I think you cheated! That TT427 really helped your straight line speed, and those Goodyear slicks (as opposed to DOT tires) really got you through the corners. I just could not figure why you walked away from me so much until I found out the truth!
Seriously, Brad. You did real well this year. Hope you can run four Nationals at the beginning of next year, and maybe, just maybe, get some leave to show up at Mid Ohio in September 2005.
DMP
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Kryderacing/Phoenix Performance/Hoosier/WRP Investments #40 SCCA T1 Dodge SRT10 Viper
Other cars: 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe LTZ/2002 Chevrolet 3500 Crew Cab Dualie/2005 Cadillac STS 4
Seriously, Brad. You did real well this year. Hope you can run four Nationals at the beginning of next year, and maybe, just maybe, get some leave to show up at Mid Ohio in September 2005.
David,
There are enough early season races in the SE that I can get in four before going back onto sea duty, but my work schedule may preclude me from attending some of them. We'll see. I'm going to give it my best shot.
Congratulations on winning the 2004 SCCA MidWest division T1 Championship. I think that is quite an accomplishment and attests to your talent as a driver and your determination, especially in only your second season in T1. I wish you a wonderful race at the Championship Runoffs.
Dave, Rob,
Thanks! The result was what I wanted, but the road here certainly wasn't how I envisioned it. After the first race I thought it would be a piece of cake. After the second, I thought it would be extremely difficult. After the 4th (6th in the Division), I thought it would be unachieveable. But my fortunes changed rapidly at Hallett and St. Louis.
For me this year, the Runoffs is icing on the cake. Whatever happens at Mid-Ohio, I will be proud of what I accomplished this year and look back on it with fond memories.
Umm Brad, did I forget to mention the out of division race Mike flew to and rented a T1 car at a couple weeks ago? Just kidding buddy! You did a great job hanging in there and staying with it. I am extremely excited to get to Mid-O in a couple of weeks. The #50 car was back in full stride this weekend at HPT. Brannon broke a timing chain today after qualifying. Believe it or not it broke at idle while sitting still in the paddock. Anyway, Chris needed one more start to qualify for the Runoffs so Mike let him use his car to get it. We took Chris' car to the dealership so we can get a new powerplant installed in time for the Runoffs. Congradulations again and see you in a couple weeks!!
Jeff,
Trust me, I was talking to people at the Double National up in the NE to make sure Mike didn't do exactly that!
I held off on posting this until there was only one race remaining in the year in the entire nation so Mike couldn't sneak past me somehow.
Sorry to hear about Chris' timing chain. What a great gesture of Mike to let Chris use his car to qualify for the Runoffs. The people are so wonderful in T1. So Chris is going to have a new motor for the Runoffs as well. I think I will be about the only guy with an 03 motor in my car...
Look forward to seeing you and Mike there in a few weeks.
Congrats again Brad... T-1 racing is the best there is and it is the people that make it great!
Thanks for all of the kind words.. All of us here at Phoenix appreciate the wins!!!
Thanks Joe!
For those that haven't read my posts during the year, Mike McGinley, driving a brand new Phoenix prepared Z16 Vette this year, was my main competition for the MidWest Division title. I thought he would be the man to beat until a late season string of bad luck took him out of contention. After getting his car put back together after a wreck during qualifying at Gateway on Aug 1st, he was set to get in a race this weekend at Heartland Park Topeka to test the car before the Runoffs. That he allowed another MidWest Division T1 driver, Chris Brannon, to drive his car this weekend so he too could qualify for the Runoffs is extremely heartwarming.
I actually had forum member David Pintaric make me the same offer last summer. Turned out I didn't need to take him up on the offer, but nonetheless, an amazing offer.
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That TT427 really helped your straight line speed, and those Goodyear slicks (as opposed to DOT tires) really got you through the corners. I just could not figure why you walked away from me so much until I found out the truth! 
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