Since I gotta work this weekend (punishment for being off and able to run the 2 Mini Events in the middle of the week), who know when (or if) I will get a chance to write a proper race report.
Qualifying 9th, which was okay since my strategy was to conserve tires which meant I "shouldn't" push early. However, not everyone on the track behind me (or in front of me) thought that was a prudent thing to do. So I ended up pushing harder than I wanted to and not to cause an incident, as this track offers few clean passing opportunities. While I was forced to press harder than I wanted, I still played it "soft" in most of the demanding turns. Managed, to pull out a 6th in the first race, due to others having chewed up or shredding their tires.
2nd race, been there too often and nothing good usually came of it, 2nd row on the grid. Now it's going to be real tough conserving tires for 17 laps. Went ahead and let a couple go by on the 1st lap until I found a small cushion to fall back on my race strategy. Luckily folks behind me were getting into trouble, which gave me some breathing space. Luckily again, folks in front of me tangled, and my luck held out, in that I was able to avoid getting involved. Eventually settled into 2nd (what gives, I only recall being their for a split second or two at the beginning of a race 2 after the inverted grid -- didn't really know what to do). I tried to forget about 2nd (yeh sure!) and just work on consistent laps that would conserve my tires. Kept checking my times to see how I was doing, and damn it I running too fast of laps to keep tires under me until the end. Rhys has found himself a comfortable lead in 1st (4-5 seconds most of the time -- but dropped once in awhile due to some bobbles -- but nothing major). Mostly have a 2-3 second cushion on the cars behind me, but I never really found out who it might be, which bothered me, since I didn't know how hard to press or how much to relax.
Laps are beginning to wind down and I just know this is too good to be true, still running 2nd with some of the finest and fastest drivers of Race Department. "Hit your marks, don't press too hard". Yeah, shut up! If I don't screw up, I may just manage a 3rd, which won't be that shabby, considering the field behind me.
Rhys is keeping a fairly consistent lead, so I know at least there is no need to press, as I will never get there. Gap behind me is beginning to shrink. I still don't know who the hell is back there, and know that who ever it is, the gap won't last. I finally get a glance in the rear view and see one of the Kiwi-Green cars from Down-Under and it ain't getting any smaller.
The front tires are really beginning to show the abuse I threw at them trying to hold onto 2nd. Gotta slow down to go fast. Yeah, you're full of it, going slower is making me go slower. But at least it is keeping me on track. The gap to Rhys, in 1st is shrinking just a little ... he's abusing those tires again. But the gap to Paul Woods (yep the Kiwi-Green car) is shrinking fast.
Maybe, just maybe, I can keep it together long enough to eek out a legitimate podium finish. Looking back up in the rear view mirror tells me it ain't gonna happen, I can now see Paul's eyes through his helmet shield. This is not gonna last. The only thing I can do is run even slower and drive defensively and hope that I won't give him an opening.
Rhys saved my bacon as he over does the left-hander after the jump. I ease up, but can't ease up much as Paul is there ready to pounce. As Rhys tries to keep all four under him, it slows Paul just enough to let me slow down some more. Unfortunately, I slowed down too much (but at least I am staying on the track), but being in 1st means there is less air in the cockpit -- something about a vacuum. Just a few more turns, but then they are some of the most trickiest of the circuit and my front tires are cooked and ready to be served.
I can't go as slow I as I want to be safe, as it won't take much to ruin this for both Paul and myself. Paul is not going to lay back there when 1st could be waiting just around the next turn. Paul is so close that I can see the bugs in the fins of his radiator, that's when I dare look in the rear view.
Thank god, Eric was only cruel enough to make it a 17 lap race and not an 18 lap race. There was no way I could keep Paul from passing if there had been an 18th lap.
I am not still sure I can believe it, my very first 1st place finish!
I have to thank my sponsors, Owsley's Mufflers, CarQuest, Honda, and all of the guys in the shop. They worked hard in prepping a car and working on a setup that could take the punishment evil Eric Nelson dished out for us. I also have to thank my wife, who supports my passion to race with some of the finest sim-racers on the planet. And I can't sign-off without offering the biggest thanks to all of the great racers I have had the honor of sharing the track with here at Race Department, your are the ones that make it all worth it!
Thanks guys!
