Mid America Apr 24-25: SCCA Pre-Race Report

[Subdriver]

All,
Race two of my second season in the SCCA is next weekend at Mid America Motorplex, just south of Omaha.
As a "regular" guy with a "regular" job, I have set a few achievable goals for the 2004 season.
- Win the SCCA MidWest Division T1 Championship
- Qualify for the 2004 SCCA Runoffs
- Finish in the top five at the 2004 SCCA Runoffs
- Garner the attention of Hugh Hefner who invites me to the New Year's Eve bash at the Mansion before I roll back onto sea duty next Jan.

Okay, maybe those last two aren't so achievable. I'll keep adding them each year until a miracle happens. If any of you know Hugh, put in a good word for me. I have been a faithful subscriber since 1978.

The race will be at Mid America Motorplex:
http://www.midamericamotorplex.com/

My SCCA class, T1, will be in race group 3. The weekend schedule should go something like:
Sat Apr 24th
9:00a Regional Qualifying
1:00p Regional Race
Sun Apr 25th
8:40a National Qualifying
1:00p National Race

There are currently 4 T1 Vettes entered and it looks like a fast crowd. Track record holder Pete Looby is attending. He walked away from me in my only appearance at Mid America last June. I am hoping for a better showing this year. New comer Mike McGinley, a seasoned SCCA racer switching to the T1 class, will also be there. He broke my track record at Gateway in St. Louis a few weeks ago so he will be tough to beat as well. And local favorite Natha Waldbaum (TrackQueen) who is also very quick at Mid America is registered. Should be a great weekend of racing.
I hope some of the MidWest crowd can come out and watch.

Pre-race Preparations:
- Installed new Carbotech XP10 pads front. The pads wore about 40% in one practice day and a full race weekend at Memphis, but I didn't want to push it at Mid America, so new pads were in order.
- Swapped rear pads inside to outside. The rears have lots of meat left.
- Replaced driver's window net with mesh type instead of web. The web is hard to see the mirror through. Last year I could wiggle my head around and see it okay, but this year with a HANS device and a helmet cooling hose, my ability to wiggle my head is much more limited. The new net is much easier to see through.
- Re-aligned car slightly for Mid America, which runs CW, but has several left hand turns.
- Changed out engine oil, tranny and diff fluids
- Bled brakes
- Checked all suspension bolts, fluid levels, serpentine belt.
- Replaced air filter with new K&N filter
- Mounted up a new set of Goodyear GS-CS tires on my race wheels
- Installed XM in my F350 to make the long drive more pleasant.

[Mufflerbearing]

Best of luck Brad.

Hope this season is even better than last which I thought was outstanding for a T1 newbie.

Pat

[xsiveone]

Best of luck Brad! I want to see you coming home with another win.

X

[rpallas]

Brad, we'll be pulling for you to be the "Omaha King" and the one to beat in the upcoming events!

Bob

[ROSSO Z]

Good luck! The competition sounds real tough. Be careful.

I will be waiting for the results.

[ZEDohSIX]

I hope everyhting goes well for you on the track. Go for it!

[Subdriver]

Thanks all!

Got a new radio system today and installed it this evening. PTT button on the steering wheel. Radio bracket mounted on the rollbar behind the passenger. Antenna in the trunk... going to give that a shot before drilling a hole in my trunk lid.

Car is ready to roll! Not looking forward to the 716 mile drive though.

I'll let you all know how the weekend went when I get back.

[xsiveone]

Awaiting your race update Brad. This is like watching the damn Champ Car's this year. Can't find them on tv.

I'd like to hear how David did at Gingerman this weekend too.

X

[No Doubt]

Here's a link to the 2004 season C.A.R.T. TV schedule:

http://www.cart.com/Event/TVSchedule.asp

[jub jub]

It sounds like tough competition. Here's what you do to win...get in behind the leader and stay there until the last lap. On the second to last turn set-up like your going to try and pass on the outside and then cut inside for the blitz. Keep it nailed to the checkered. See, piece of cake. I saw that on speed channel once so it should work.

Anyway, hope you do good. Make us and the Navy proud!

[xsiveone]

Here's a link to the 2004 season C.A.R.T. TV schedule:

Yeah.. I saw that. The problem is that half of these races are tape delayed. Champ car can't even get a live race on a half-ass tv station like Spike tv? This is what's going to kill Champ car. This is what I believe hurt them a few years back. The tv package has always sucked.

It sounds like tough competition. Here's what you do to win...get in behind the leader and stay there until the last lap. On the second to last turn set-up like your going to try and pass on the outside and then cut inside for the blitz. Keep it nailed to the checkered. See, piece of cake. I saw that on speed channel once so it should work.

No. I think you saw that in the movie "Days of Thunder" with Tom Cruise. Maybe you can give that tip to Juan Pablo. The problem was that he couldn't stay behind the leader.

X

[xsiveone]

Any word on Subdriver? I'd like to know how he made out last weekend at MAM.

X

[Subdriver]

All,
Sorry for the delay, been a rough week. Got home at 3:15a on Monday, then spent the last two days catching up at work. Will get a detailed race report out soon.

Short story:
- Rained all day Saturday.
- Qualified 1 of 4 in class, 1 of 17 starters overall despite not one lap of practice.
- Left TC on at the start (long story).
- Was passed by two other T1 vettes on the first straight.
- Caught one under braking and managed 2nd into turn 1.
- Attempted a too aggressive pass into turn 3 and the leader didn't see me pull inside him leading to my first fender to fender contact, spining me off the track.
- Rejoining in last, I worked my way back to 3rd when the timing chain broke.

I'm off to Norfolk tonight to take the car to my brother in laws for engine repair.