VIR T1 Race and end of SEDIV full report

[wtknght1]

This was a long, hard year, but well worth the issues we faced. Phil Croyle and I battled all year long and unfortunately for him, he wasn’t able to compete in the season’s finale at VIR. Phil is a fabulous driver and a good friend and it was a huge let down not to be able to settle the SEDIV on the track. Good luck getting everything fixed buddy. That should wrap up the year for both of us other than testing and of course the Runoffs in October.

As far as the VIR results go, I was on the pole and converted that into my 5th National race win of the year, and improved on my own track record. There were no major problems to speak of and everything went as planned. Butch Kummer, my crew chief, did a terrific job and called a great race for me on Sunday!!

As far as a year-end review – Consistency was the key. I managed to win 5 – CMP, Memphis, Road Atlanta, Roebling and VIR. I was not able to find a freakin’ power steering pump to start the 2d race at Roebling in July, but other than that, I had no DNFs and my lowest finish of the year was 3d at Homestead. Phil Croyle had a great run during the middle of the year and was able to win at Roebling and Road Atlanta in March and then Daytona in May. He easily won the 2d race at Roebling in July while I was packing up my broken car, which gave him 4 wins for the year. VIR was to be the shootout for the championship, but it never materialized.

Kumho tires sponsored me the whole year, so big thanks have to go out to Rudy and Mike for their support. Without it, I could not race the whole year! The tires, personnel and whole organization are just first class!!!!

Larry, Dan and Matt at Carbotech make the best Corvette brakes on the planet. With their help, I ran them all year long and my confidence to stop was always 10 out of 10!!!

The biggest turning point in the year though was due mostly to just a casual meeting, tape order and subsequent driving instruction at Mid Ohio which took place LAST year! In 2005, Mike Scornavacchi, a T1 racer in the Northeast Division was just getting into this sport last year and asked me for help. I came up to Mid Ohio, instructed him and gave him plenty of pointers to help get him to the pointy end of the grid. He has some serious talent and will content for many titles in the short future. That turning point I was referring to was when he OFFERED TO BUY ME A NEW ENGINE THIS YEAR!!!!! The engine I had was very poor and it was obviously the weakest part of my car. He did buy me a new 04 crate engine and Kurt Ohmstetter and the rest of Joe Aqualante’s Phoenix Performance guys installed and tuned it. For the 2d time, the Phoenix guys brought my car back to life! Without that, I would not have been able to keep up with Phil! Thanks Mike!!! You da’ best!!!!!! You just never know what events in your life will affect the others!!!!

Rich Shafer’s Cool Shirt remains a very wonderful thing in keeping me frosty thru the hottest of days; and Gary Hoffman’s (Hardbar) input and products are just simply first rate.

My part’s guy, Jerry McKinney at Lawrence Chevy, was a HUGE help to say the least!!!!!

Thanks to my family for your caring and support. My Mom is now officially a cancer survivor!!!! Thank you to all the volunteers who helped assist me during the year – David, Teddy, Chris, and many others!!!

Last, but certainly not least - My crew: Butch Kummer and Michelle (love of my life). Your support of my ‘crack habit’ makes all this possible and so much fun. I could NOT do it WITHOUT YOU! Thank you from the bottom of my heart! Yep, we work very well together!!!

Next event is the Runoffs – October at Heartland Park, Topeka, KS! C U all there!!!!!!

Qual: It was about 85 during qualifying today after some intermittent rain showers for most of the morning:

me - 2:05.26

Jorge Narario - 2:09.65

Joseph Gaudette - 2:10.52

Steve Epley - 2:11.43

Michael Filistovich - 2:17.60

Love VIR!!!!!!!!!!!



RACE:

T1

Chris Ingle 2:06.86

Jorge Nazario 2:09.39

Steve Epley 2:09.25

Joe Gaudette 2:10.22

Michael Filistovich DNF

[smithsc]

Chris,

Congrads on a great season! Great season writeup as well.

Hopefully, we will see you at Topeka in October.

Steve

[DennyM]

Congratulations on the season and thanks for the post.
Good to see Rookie Joe Gaudette hanging in there as well; hopefully "Sleeper" will post up as well.

[sleeper02Z06]

Chris,


Congrats on your win and the hard fought SEDiv championship. It's ashamed that Phil and Tim had incidents but I have no doubt they will be back stronger!

It was great to race you guys even though I drove the most horrible race I have had this year. How is it that the last race of my rookie year I drive like, well, a rookie!! LOL. I felt really good coming into this weekend, finally having all the issues of this year with my car worked out and coming to a track that I have been on before. After the first practice I felt really good, turning a 2:08.3 lap time on used tires. I would never get that back again. My qual time was slower, my race time was slower. After a full season of being very timid on green flags starts I was focused on the green like never before. I actually had a great start, grabbing 2nd in T1 from Nazario going through Turn 1. He grabbed the spot back under braking into Oak tree and i knew it was going to be one heck of a race for 2nd through 4th because Epley was right in us. Epley overpowered me on the back straight and I tucked in for 4th knowing it was a long race and I had time. a couple laps later my impatience bit me when I tried a late braking move on Eply into 1, dropped the driver front onto the grass and then the entire car followed. I didn't spin and entered the track right behind Epley again, but somehow the traction control system had activated ( my elbow may have hit it, who knows ). I spent the next 1/2 lap trying to get the damn thing turned off but by then Epley had checked out chasing Nazario.

It took me a while to get my focus back after getting passed by a ton of cars when I blew Oak tree and the top guys in T2 shot by me. Man, was it a bad race for me! I spent the next few laps making it a point of not finishing behind any T2 cars ( not important for anything except my sanity! ) but not interefering with thier race. For the few minutes I followed them I watched a heck of a run, props to Marty, Rob and Henderson for a great 3 way race.

I finished up with no car issues, perhaps just a bad alignment now from all of my offs, nothing big though. For the first time this year my car was perfect, the problems were all me. This was my last race of the year, I was hoping for a 2nd place finish because I would have grabbed my 8th spot for NEDiv points back, it looks as though I will finish 9th now.

In looking back on my rookie year, I am proud to have completed the 2 most important goals of the year. 1. Make it to the Runoffs on a very competitive NEDiv. 2. Gain the trust of my competitors as well a a hint of respect by showing that I can race safely and clean, and not putting any part of my car on any part of anothers. Period. I also round the season out with 2 regional races and 6 National races with no DNF's or DNS's, and a 2nd place podium finish at Memphis, my best finish of the year. I am very happy with that.

Again to Chris congrats on your Championship! Congrats to Marty and his "Va. Tagged" EVO on his first national T2 win, and of course Stan for the T3 win, I hope someday to experience that feeling!

Thanks to all of my friends and competitors for all the pointers and help this year, especially Brad Neff, Dave Pintaric ( and the Kryder crew ) and Chris Ingle. The faith these guys have in me is amazing! Joe A. and the entire Phoenix crew have helped keep my car running even after all of the problems! I have to thank Dan and all the guys at Carbotech for some awesome brakes, my Turn 1 off may have been a lot worse had I not had those 12's on the front! Awesome brakes!

Rhonda and I hope to see you all at the Runoffs! Topeka here we come!



Joe Gaudette

#86 NEDiv T1

[sleeper02Z06]

Originally Posted by DennyM

Congratulations on the season and thanks for the post.
Good to see Rookie Joe Gaudette hanging in there as well; hopefully "Sleeper" will post up as well.

Denny,

Thanks for tracking my season! The support means everything to me. Sorry I really haven't been in touch, I'll try to be more active from now on!

Joe Gaudette

[David Pintaric]

Chris & Joe,

Congratulations on two fine years. Chris, winning a tough SeDiv title over one of the best in the business, Phil Croyle. Joe, for "stepping up" and becoming a "doer" rather than a wannabe.

This stuff is fun, but hard. Another rookie, as well as an Ingle disciple Mike Scornavacchi said it best after his first career win, "Man, its hard to win one of these races." Yes, Mike, it is. And Chris, you got how many this year?

You guys symbolize what is right about SCCA road racing. Two regular guys living the dream, running on a shoe string budget with help from buddies and wifes or girlfriends (never both ). It's fun knowing you and racing with you both.

Topeka should be fun this year. Lots of changes to the Run Offs...man, it is a long wait until October 9th! See ya'll then.

[wtknght1]

Originally Posted by David Pintaric

Chris & Joe,
This stuff is fun, but hard. Another rookie, as well as an Ingle disciple Mike Scornavacchi said it best after his first career win, "Man, its hard to win one of these races." Yes, Mike, it is. And Chris, you got how many this year?

5 for me this year. That seems like the magic number. I won the last 5 races in 2003 for the championship...5 in 2005 and 5 in 2006. I ran out of money in 2004 after a couple of wins so I couldn't fight Phil for the championship (we were tied in points after the first five races of the year). Kumho wasn't on board then, so the bank account just dried up!

You know as well as I that wins, National ones especially, are hard to come by so cherish them when you get them...however they arrive!! Joe and Mike will certainly get their share over the next few years!!!!!

C U in Topeka!!!!!

[injuner]

Chris,

Congrats on everything! Definitely keep us informed about how things go in KS. I am very interested to hear if that track is going to make for exciting championship racing.

[99cobra]

Congrats on what sounds like a great season. Best of luck to you at the runoffs, and thanks for your partipation / sharing of your results on this board.

[wtknght1]

I tested on both Thursday and Friday (Aug 31 and Sep 1) and could run consistent 52s in the heat with those old tires on a full fuel load. The track seemed to get quicker as the weekend went on and more rubber laid down. I also have lots of adjustments to make on right side camber too!!!!!!!

I have about 2.5 hours of video that I have copied to DVD and they're $20 each if anyone is interested. Email me and let me know: wtknght1@aol.com. I already shipped 15 advance orders, but I'll certainly make more - www.tracktapes.com.

Overall, I wasn't really crazy about the track -- 'mickey mouse' course for the national championship race in my humble opinion. I think my top speed was only 130 and it is absolutely BRUTAL ON BRAKES...maybe more than Sebring. There are so many slow corners. I found myself dropping to 2d gear in two separate spots and probably could in two other places too. The track would certainly be more fun if they took out that crappy little chicane (turns 8 and 9) on the back straight and just made it a decently long straight. There's a tiny bit of elevation change which makes turns 7 (and turn "A") pretty cool, but other than that, it's pretty flat and no big surprises.

I physically ran the track on Wednesday night and noticed that the track is crumbling in several spots, but especially in turn 4. They will have to make some improvements before October or there won't be much of a track to run on. They put down some sealant in 9 and 12 which makes them intersting corners. Otherwise though, it seemed pretty much glass smooth on the rest of the track. The curbs are low which 'encourages' folk to drop wheels off on the inside and throw tons of crap back onto the track. They put up some orange poles during testing to keep people from doing that, but they'll have to put a lot more come October.

They also need to work on the overall safety of the track too. There wasn't a whole lot of tire walls set up and there is quite a bit of concrete to smack if you get in trouble.

The amenities were nice and there is quite a bit of tarmac to paddock on, but I'm not sure if it'll be enough for everybody. There were only two fuel pumps and one of them limited your gas to $75 and the other limited your card to just $50?!?!!? Plan on swiping your card multiple times. It was $6.50 a gallon and they did have 100 octane.

Overall - C+ track that takes lots of seat time to get fast. The track will get faster as more rubber gets laid down. Hope this helps!