Qualifying: Managed, with a 1:20.something, to not qualify dead last. I'd hoped from practice that I'd only be a couple of seconds off the pole pace...but I wasn't. Some of those times you all posted made my jaw drop.
Race 1: Didn't leap off the line, as I spun at the start during last week's Mosport race and didn't want to repeat the experience. Turned out to be a good thing as I worked my way through the chaos and ended up in 11th, then 9th, then 7th thanks to offs. I knew I wouldn't be able to hold everyone I passed like that off, but I resolved to maintain the best position I could as long as I could while still driving a bit conservatively...I don't need any more DNF's this month.
Spent a couple of laps chasing Eric D. and Phillip, with Sam coming up behind me. Sam passes me, and we bump, though at the time I wasn't sure if we'd touched or if he'd got a wheel off the track and spun. I kept going for a second until deciding to err on the side of caution, when I slowed down and started to pull off the track. I don't think I was completely stopped when Sam whizzed past me again. By that time I was in position 10 and gunned it, trying not to lose any more.
I end up back in position 8 when Eric D. and Glenn go off track. Lonely race for a bit here until I nearly come up on Sam again after he catches some sand. This gives me someone to chase; I don't come anywhere near catching him and eventually he leaves me completely behind, but it was fun for awhile.
It's about at the midpoint when I have a very minor off due to an out of game circumstance. My SO returns home from doing something with her best friend, and has brought her best friend along with her. As they enter the house, the dog also comes in, and since she loves her daddy dearly, races over, nearly hops into my lap, spills my tea, and generally creates chaos where there had been order. Unable to fend off my canine friend due to my reluctance to let go of the wheel, I rely on my SO and the best friend to do so.
Unfortunately, both are aware of my easily diverted attention span and, after shooing the dog, proceed to do their best to distract me. Normally I don't mind being hugged by two women simultaneously and encourage some of the other distractions they, giggling at me, proceed to employ.
Somehow, despite all this, I keep control of my virtual car, probably because I had another long stretch to myself. But Glen is coming up behind me and catches up about 2/3rd of the way through the race. We trade paint a little bit in a couple of corners, and I seem to lose him, probably because he was tussling with Helder who comes up on me very quickly after he gets by Glen.
I hold Helder off for one or two laps (getting a cut-track warning in the process as he manages to make me nervous), but he gets by when I brake much too conservatively just prior to the chicane before the pit straight...and he's pretty much gone. I stayed within sight of him, barely, until the end of the race, which I finish in 9th place.
Race 2 report to follow tomorrow, as again, I must be up early. Very proud of my race here because I had no major offs, and managed to do it despite being mauled by a overly affectionate hound and flirted with severely.
