Summit Point Club Race

September 29-30 2001


Intro

Let's see, my last track event was the Watkins Glen Club Race back in June. In that race I was a mechanical DNS (Did Not Start). I didn't have the car repaired until the middle of September. So, the next event was a club race at Summit Point. Preparations went well. No need to rush, the car was ready about two weeks before the event. I wanted to shake the car down at at driver ed event at the end of September, but I didn't make it. So, I had to hope the car stayed together.

I was fortunate enough to have two friends, Alan and Scott, volunteer to help at the event. Neither had ever been to a club race, or even a driver ed event before, so they were in for a surprise. We arrived at the track around 9:30 PM Friday night. Luckily, we were able to get into the track, and we had the car unloaded and the paddock space set up by 10:30.

Saturday:

For the first session I was sure to take it easy. I had not been on the track since June, or at Summit since the 2000 club race, so the prudent thing was to drive easy, and not worry about lap times. That plan worked perfectly for the first session. I started nice and slow. Then, as the car and I felt better, the lap times came down. My times dropped from 1:35 to 1:33 to 1:30, and eventually all the way down to 1:28.212.

I came into the pits with a very large smile on my face. The car was running great. My times were much better than I expected, considering how easy I was driving. My practice tires are an old set of BFG G Force R1's. They've been sitting around for about a year, but I surprised at how well they stuck. The rears would lose grip about 1/2 way through the session, so I had to be very careful getting on the power.


Second session. Approaching Wagon Bend, #3 on the map. Photo credit Kurt Mickelwait

The second session was short, only 5 laps, due to some cars going off track, breaking down, etc. I came early that run because the car was not handling well, way too much over steer. The lap times showed it too, my best time was over a second slower than before, with a 1:29.66 as the best. I did get tire temps from my ace pit crew, and they showed that I was not getting enough heat into the tires. The fronts were around 130, and the rears were only around 115. I decided to lower the rear pressure 2 psi to try to get more heat into them.

Tire Temps from session two
LF   129  131  136    RF  142  127  113
LR  124  124  127    RR  118  109  108
 


Here is the ace e-motion racing crew. Scott is on the left and Alan is on the right.

The third session was a little more interesting. Again, it was short, only 5 laps, but that was my own fault. After a few laps I was in clear traffic, so I tried to push a little and turn a fast lap. I tried to delay braking for T1, but I waited too long and that caused me to drive over the rumble strips at the track out point. The surface was so rough that the master warning lamp lit, and the computer turned the ABS off. "No problem" I thought, I'll just be gentle on the brakes. Well, that lasted about two turns! I came down the chute, braked for the left into the carousel, then turned in. The next thing I knew, I was doing a 360 off the track though the grass! The car just snapped around on me. I guess without the ABS working, I used too much trail braking and the car just spun. I drove through the grass and re-entered the track. No sense in doing anything stupid, might as well come in. That session my best lap time was a 1:29.05. I wanted to be in the low 1:28's but that didn't happen. The car was not handling well, still too much over steer. I was being tentative getting the power on, and that does not help when you want to turn fast laps!


The crew is working hard, notice the tire pressure gauge in Alan's hand.

Next up were the practice starts and the fun race. I checked the car over, added some gas, cleaned the windshield then got ready to race. The starts are always crazy. This time I had an advantage in that my crew were on the radio looking for the green flag. As soon as Alan saw it, he told me "green green green" over the radio, and I got on the power. I was able to get good jumps, but the front straight at Summit isn't that wide, so I wasn't able to go anywhere. The fun race was great and I passed a few cars.

After the fun race we got to work preparing for the next day. That consisted of removing the practice wheels and installing my new CCW wheels with new (just heat cycled) Hoosiers. I checked the brake pads and they were fine so once the wheels were on and torqued properly, we were done. I cleaned the car, took some pictures, and that was that.

Race Day!!


This is the paddock early Sunday morning.


A closer view from the same time. Note the CCW race wheels w/Hoosier R3S03 tires are on.

Warm Up

Sunday was cold, down in the 40's, so I didn't expect much grip from the tires. However, the Hoosiers had a lot more grip than the G Force tires. Even with the cold track, and without pushing too hard, I did a 1:27.887, my fastest time of the weekend. The session has some interesting moments when I got behind Louis Bentstadt in his 911. I was a little faster, but passing is not easy. FInally, I drafted him down the straight and passed going into T1. That was a lot of fun and I was happy to see that I turned a faster lap time than him.

Here are lap times recorded by my crew:  1:29.50, 1:34.02, 1:29.09, 1:29.29, 1:27.74, 1:28.26, 1:27.07.

Tire Temps from warm up
LF  164  170  166    RF  174  139  140
LR  175  179  174    RR  158  130  121

The temps look good. The right side numbers are not really accurate because the last two corners are both rights. It looks like I need to get more weight onto the RR.

Qualifying

For qualifying we were gridded using times from the third session of Friday. So I was further back than I wanted. However, the qualifying session was long, about 30 minutes, so I knew I would have plenty of time to turn one good lap. We went out on a hot track (green flag right away) and I took my time getting my tires warm. After about three laps I had a clear track and set about turning a good lap. I spoke to my crew before qualifying started, and my plan was to drive hard right away. If I got down into the 1:26 range I wanted to come in to the pits, take tire temps and pressures, make any adjustments, then go out and try to improve. It didn't turn out that way. I got down into the 1:27's, then I caught up to Louis in car #50. I didn't want to waste time trying to pass him, so I dropped back a little to give him some room, then drove as hard as I could for two laps. I didn't get into the 26's, but I was confident I did at least one good lap. I then got caught up in some traffic, so I never got a chance to improve. I ended up turning a 1:27.594, which is the fastest I have ever done at Summit. The Hoosiers worked great and the car was nicely balanced. It was still a little loose, so I had to be careful getting on the power, but the overall grip from the Hoosiers was much better than the BFG's.

Race

In the driver's meeting we were told the race would be 20 laps. Wow, that's a long race. The longest session of the weekend was only about 25 minutes, now the race would be about 30 minutes. Better check the weight of the car and add some extra fuel. I don't want to do the entire race, then risk a DQ for being under weight because I didn't add enough gas!

After going over the car one last time, making sure it was ready to go, I rolled to the hot pit. I backed into my position (never an easy thing to do) and relaxed. I was right behind Axel Shield and right in front of Louis Bentstadt and Cris Brady. I knew it would be a real challenge to keep Lou behind me. We talked a little on the grid, then I wished them luck and started strapping in. I hate rushing, so I closed the door and took my time getting ready. First I fasten the window net, then turn on radio. Next I put on the 5 point harness. After that the balaclava goes on, then I connect my helmet radio harness to the radio and put my helmet on. Once that is done my neck brace goes on. Last are the gloves. After a quick radio check I was as ready as I would ever be.


Here's Alan waiting for the race to start.


Sitting in the car before the start of the race.


Same position. That is Axel Shield (#20) in front and Louis Bentstadt (#50) behind

The day was nice and cool. Inside the car, even though I was wearing nomex underwear, a two layer driving suit, and all the other gear, a gentle breeze made it quite comfortable. After a short time, we were rolling down pit road, past the splitter and onto the track. I was on the outside, next to Axel, and in front of Cris. The first lap, behind the pace car is always very slow, so I was tried to stay relaxed while I heated the tires and brakes, and felt the car out. After what seemed like an eternity we were on the last straight approaching the last turn. The pace car was gone and we were heading towards the starter. I was in second gear, straining to see the starter, listening for Alan on the radio and looking to see what the cars in front of me were doing. The pack starts to go, then I see brake lights, then I hear Alan yell "green green green." That's it, the race is on. I got a good jump, but I had no where to go. Cars were everywhere, and I had no room to move. I moved right and we went through T1 in order, side by side.


This what the start of a race looks like. The red arrow points to me. Not much room there!
Photo credit Kurt Mickelwait

This is a second or two later. I am  the white 944 in the middle of the shot, not the first white
944. Photo credit Kurt M.


Last shot from the start. I'm at the extreme left part of the frame. Cris Brady is the silver
911, car #88. Photo credit Kurt W.

On the run up to Wagon Bend we got a little more room, but I was careful because I was right next to Axel. I passed him and headed to the chute. Traffic was very heavy and cars were everywhere. I was too tentative going into the last corner (I think we all were) when Cris Brady came out of nowhere, and passed me, Axel, and Lou. "Damn, why didn't I pass those guys and pull away!" I thought to myself. I knew that I was faster than Cris, and that with some patience I would be able to get around him.

I was fourth in a pack of 4 cars, Cris in his 73 911, Axel in his F class 911, and Lou in his 911. The cars in front had pulled away, and we had room behind us. I had an excellent view as the three guys right in front of (by about 5 feet) fought like crazy. This went on for a lap or two, and I was pretty sure they were all going to wreck. That would have made it very easy for me to pass, so I cooled off a little to see how it turned out. Well, those guys were way too skilled, so I guess I would have to earn any positions I gained. I could see that Cris' tires were going away, he was sliding a lot more and his lap times were getting worse. Since the race was so long, and we had only done 2 or 3 laps, I was patient. I studied the other cars to see where I had an advantage and were they were stronger. I was better in the braking zone for T1. The 911's were braking earlier than I was, and were going slower into T1. We were evenly matched through Wagon Bend. I could carry a lot more speed through the chute. Those guys were braking for the Chute and I don't have to. The roles were reversed in the Carousel. They were all faster than I was in the slower corners. I was a little faster in the exit of the carousel, but they did better on the last corner, and that was a large advantage on the main straight. OK, time to think of a plan. It all sounds easy now as I write this, but when you are trying to do all this while simultaneously driving your car as fast as you can, while worrying about tire grip, braking points, fuel loads, number of lap completed, and everything else, it can be difficult! At times like that I realize that driving a race car is really like a high speed game of chess.


This is the exit from T1. I'm following Axel and slighty ahead of Louis.
photo credit Kurt W.

So, I'm waiting for my opportunity when Axel gets by Cris.  "Oh no, better get by soon or Axel will get away" I thought to myself. So, on lap ten, as we came onto the front straight I saw Cris bobble a bit on track out. Lou ducked to the right and since I got a good run out of the corner I decided to follow Lou.

Here's where it gets hairy. Lou was in the inside and accelerated past Cris. I drafted Lou and I also went past Cris. Lou, with me pushing him, stayed to the right and was able to get ahead of Axel. I figured I would do  the same, so I stayed behind, and on the power. I was passing Axel at the end of the straight when I reached the braking zone. Being on the inside I knew I would have to brake earlier than normal for the corner. I also wanted to delay braking as long as possible, so that Axel could not pass me in the corner. Then I saw that Lou was also braking early for the turn. In fact, he seemed to be braking WAY early. I was on the brakes, then I got on the brakes as hard as I could. I saw Lou's car getting closer and closer, and I started getting a bad feeling about this situation. I started looking for an out: Can I go right? No, no room driver's right - I'm already at the edge of the track, and if I go off track, I will lose grip on the grass and spin or worse. Can I go left? No, both Axel and Cris are there. I hope I can slow enough to avoid Lou. I watch his bumper get closer and closer, then 'bump' I give him a tap in the rear. It's not a hard tap, in fact he didn't even slow down. Still, I know that I have hit him, and I am afraid I will get black flagged for car to car contact. I still have a race to run, and I am now ahead of Axel and Cris, so I better concentrate on driving. Axel stays outside of me around the corner, then he has the advantage going through wagon bend - so he gets past me. Cris tries to keep up but I press hard though the Chute and gain enough ground so that he can't catch me in the carousel. I concentrate on making T10 smooth and fast and it works. Cris gains a little on me on the straight, but not enough to try a pass in T1. No black flags from the corner workers, maybe no one saw me touch Lou. OK, back to racing. Cris falls a little further behind, so I don't have to protect my rear. I can now concentrate on attacking Axel in front.

Axel is right on Lou's bumper and that makes it easy for me to keep up. Again, I watch those guys and I'm positive that  one or both will slide off the track. They are pushing right to the edge and I have a ball watching the sudden steering corrections they make as they fight to stay in control. Neither one gave an inch, but both were very fair about leaving racing room. I felt very good as this point, so I backed off a little to let my tires cool. I figured either they would wreck of they would burn up their tires, making it easy for me. Alas, it didn't turn out that way. With about two laps to go I could see that Axel was really struggling inside the car. He was sliding all over the place and I was sure I would get by. I tailed him through the chute and pulled along side him going into the carousel. I knew I couldn't pass there, but I wanted him to know that I was there. I made a good turn out of the carousel and had a full head of steam up the hill under the bridge and into the braking zone for the last corner. I made a good turn in that corner and I watched Axel slide wide at the exit. This it - time to hang it out and pass at the end of the straight. I pulled right and stated to pass. Then I saw a lapped car in front. Oh no, where would he go? Unfortunately for me, he stayed on the inside, and I had to back out to get around. Next lap the flagger showed 1 finger - last lap. I tried as hard as I could, and I pulled inside on the straight to pass Axel, but I didn't have the power - he beat me by about .1 seconds. It was a really great race.

On the cool down lap I waved to the flaggers and spectators. I hoped they enjoyed watching the battle as much as I did. From the clapping and flag display it looked like they did. Now, what to do about the contact between Lou and me? I wanted to find him in the pits to look at his car. I didn't have to worry about that. As we pulled into the pits, the scrutineer motioned for Lou and I to pull over. He looked at Lou's rear bumper, then my front bumper. Then I got a nice form to complete, and instructions on who to give it to.

To make a long story short, I now have a 13/13 violation, and am probation for the next 13 months. To use a cliché, I think it was "just one of them racin' deals", but it was my fault and I have to pay the price. I found Lou in the pit and we both congratulated each other on a great race.

My crew and I packed up the car and gear and hit the road shortly after. The trip home was slow, but I was still high from the great race.

To see the final results, go to pca.org and look for results, Summit Point.