One more race this year. Road Atlanta ARRC and an all FV feature race on Sunday. I have been looking forward to a return to Road Atlanta for some time. I last raced there in the 1978 Runoffs. I was a bit slower on my return...
Friday, two qualifying sessions:
Went out on my older 12 cycle tires to get a feel for the track and figure out how to drive around. I really didn't want to buy another set of tires and wanted to save my better set for the all FV event on Sunday. I've studied the in car video
, but I'm not prepared for some of the bumpy curbing... Those bumps on the right leading into the uphill left hand turn 6 are brutal
Figured that out quick enough. Time was slow but I got better towards the end of the session.
Second session I improved but felt rather slow still, and I was, best time was a low 1:51 (compared to Stevan's Sunday time of 1:44), but I am still trying to figure out the track and the car is really twitchy. Tires for the most part I guess other than the still learning driver.
Saturday ARRC race:
This is the typical mixed group, FV with FF and F500. Split start for each group. I have on my "good" tires (4 cycles) and have adjusted the rear a bit. Thankfully my notes allow me to make adjustments to the rear without having to find someone my weight to sit in the car. I have dropped the rear a bit, going from 3 deg neg to about 4 and changing the droop limit from 1.5 to 2. The car was a lot better, much easier to drive, mostly tires I'm sure. The split start was my first, and I really blew that. No green flag was shown and I did not realize the race had started nor did the cars behind me apparently. 12 FV's starting, I think, and I started 10th. About half way around the track I realize the race is on
really blows. Fortunately for me, we have a double yellow after about 5 laps of the scheduled 20 allowing me to catch up and get another crack at this. Restart went much better. A 3 car group up front and then a 5 car group including me. I spent most of the race in 4th or 5th in that group finding it difficult to advance any further. I settled for a strategy (yes, I am beginning to actually think through these things) of trying to be in 4th on the last lap and see if I can get one or two more before the checker. Which works, almost. Except for the spin in 10A. Down the back straight I draft by the 3rd place car (in our group) and feel I can out brake the 2nd place car going in to 10A. Down the inside I go when the sudden inspiration occurs to me that a really good turn here will put me on the bumper of car #1 and, maybe, I can get him going down the hill. I've done it before (well, 35 years ago and a different track configuration). Turn hard left across the rumble strips and bam, the back comes around. Too much brake still on when I hit the inner curbing I think. Anyway, I tried. Lost one place as a result. Finished in 9th. But I was happy
It was great fun. I felt competitive in my group and my time came down to a flat 1:49. Still a ways off from the front 3 who were at the 1:46, but it is my first time here and they either have experience or did the Thursday test day. So, I'm hoping Sunday will go even better... Congratulations to James Hannum on the win, his brother Bill for P2, and Sherman Engler for P3.
Sunday All FV Qualifying:
A very chilly Georgia morning. I think the temperature was right around 32F. I was not sure what to expect with the cold track. Went out with Stevan just behind me hoping I could latch on when he went by me. Not going to happen. Stevan just motored off as soon as we hit turn 1 and continued to leave me behind. I qualified with a time that was a bit slower than my fastest race lap from Sat. A high 1:49. Which puts me 8th on the grid again. 13 or 14 cars I think.
Sunday All FV Race:
I'm going to put my foot down green flag or not... But, since it is an all FV race it's not an issue. I'm on the outside and get a really good start, only to discover that my mirror adjustment really sucks for this. I have my mirrors adjusted to see FF's FA's and the like blasting up on me and don't realize that they are useless for what I need to know now. I could move to the inside and maybe gain a couple positions, but I cannot tell if someone is coming up on my inside and out of my view. Common sense prevails and I stay in line. On around the track I get caught up with a car that seems to be struggling over through turns 5/6/7 and we lose the group. His car is eventually sidelined and I spend the race basically running by myself after about the 3rd lap. It was not my best effort to date. The car seemed very loose compared to the Sat. race and it showed in my lap times which were almost 2 seconds slower. Somewhat disappointing, but I was in an all FV race for the first time this year, on the track with Stevan again which is always good, and I finished the race without tearing up the car. 8th place. Congratulations to Stevan Davis on the win! And to the Hannum brothers for P2 & 3.
That's it for this year. I have a lot of work to do. I have learned a lot this year. To put it in perspective, my expectations exceed my ability by a fair amount. So, the driver requires work which only more seat time will help. Next year is going to require utilizing test days and require a much larger tire budget...
I am very happy with the year however. It's been a long time, since 1979, and a long time since I first decided to give this a try again. Hard to believe it was 3 seasons ago that I went to a national at Road Atlanta where I met Stevan Davis and watched the my first FV race in a long time. The good news, I improved throughout the year, I figured out (with a lot of help) car handling issues, and most important, no DNF's. I made every session without any major issues. I didn't hit anything hard although I was off the track quite a bit. In fact, I was off the track or spun more times this year than I believe I did in all the years I drove before (1973-1979).
I have met a lot of very fine people this year and many either helped or offered help. At this event I met the Hannum brothers (James and Bill, and their Dad) from PA, Mark and Brian Farnharm from Ohio (father and son) and several others. They all become friends quickly and easily.
I hope reading through this that you guys with a car in the garage will dust them off and come join us on the track. It's still the best Formula class ever. Best thing I've ever done next to getting married and having children
Thanks to my bride that allows this, my son Lee that braved the rain/sleet/snow of Summit Point to help the old man through drivers school, and especially Stevan for his constant help and advice when needed and to Dietmar for his advice and quick parts shipments when needed. Lots of other people have offered their insights as well and help at the track. I thank you all. It is very much appreciated. I hope to be able to return the favors someday.
Looking forward to next year,
See You in Daytona
Barry