Learning to race update #2 - video

[MarkP]

This was race weekend #2 in the learning to vintage race adventure, the SOVREN Spring Sprints. Weather was perfect – dry overcast in the mornings giving way to afternoon sunshine and mid 60’s.

Saturday morning the Emory’s crew installed a used megaphone exhaust for me to try and, yes it added quite a bit of power (see video for sound effects – nice).

In the morning qualifying I went through one of the famous dips at Pacific Raceway (turn 7) and the backend got loose at about 75 mph – first one way and then the other, then around for a full spin into the infield. I had traffic close on my tail and it scared the chit out of me, so I went in to cool off. Thinking it over and talking to the other drivers – suspension unloaded entering a turn, tires were cold and I lifted off the gas – rookie mistake.

The Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning races were fun and uneventful – still back of the 911 pack. My best lap times were getting better – three weeks ago the best was 1:54:4, by this morning I was down to 1:51:1 and kept the next 911 within sight the whole race.

Sunday afternoon was just great! My back of the pack novice grid position made me play catch up and I caught up to the next two 911’s. I couldn’t get by them, but I stayed with them the entire race and ended up turning a better “best” lap than either of them – 1:50:9. At this lap time I’m within ˝ second of the next six 911’s. Just need faster qualifying times and I’ll move up the grid.

With this race I should get my full race license and be able to remove the novice sticker from the car. Off to Portland this weekend for an SCCA vintage grid.

The video shows a pretty fun lap with me chasing the other two 911’s. The last 10-15 seconds we're hitting 115mph with our 2.0 engines.

Watch Video 17.9mb

[ted]

very cool Mark, I guess racing the 2 liters is a lot about maintaining momentum. I bet that is a great technique to learn early in racing.
When you have the time could you clue me on how to post a video??
good meeting you the other weekend.
Guess it should be beers/bbq and byo in car camera videos at my place next time.
ted err Mike

[Yargk]

Originally posted by MarkP


The Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning races were fun and uneventful – still back of the 911 pack. My best lap times were getting better – three weeks ago the best was 1:54:4, by this morning I was down to 1:51:1 and kept the next 911 within sight the whole race.

Great work. I can't wait until I can start looking at lap times more in my 930 when it is running again. For now I'm only looking at karting times. I just finished an hour long race today at Le Mans Karting in Fremont, California (I went for my birthday, I just turned 20, but the race was for NASA members.) The time that I was there before last, I was running 24.9. Last time was 24.1. This time was 23.1. It's really fun being on this side of the learning curve.

[MarkP]

Mike, yes my improved times are all about carrying speed through the turns. I'm gradually working up the speed, learning the limits of the car. The hard thing is when you feel the backend getting a little loose - DON'T LIFT YOUR FOOT OFF THE GAS PEDAL!

To post a video you have to have it hosted somewhere else on the web (mine are on my web site) and then use the vB Codes to create a hot link to the video. This video is actually hosted here: http://www.boxstar.net/images/SpringShort.mpg

[rdane]

Very cool Mark, thanks for the great video. Awesome lap times! Good job. Fun also to se the different lines guys are driving on your clip.

Loose ? I am still rethinking lifting off the throttle coming into turn 1 buried in 5th. Should have known that was a bit too fast. Things got real squirelly, very quickly. Not the smartest thing I have ever done. Not something I'll ever repeat on purpose. Scared the pants off me.

Could have just as easily spun into the infield

[racea911]

Great video MarkP, the car sounds awesome! There doesn't look like there is too much run-off on that track

Any cool events May 31st or June 1st? I'm coming up to visit the in-laws on a little island up in Washington and man, what a snorefest!!!!!!!!!!

[RSupdate]

Mark, way cool !!! I know what you mean, specifically the rear end lite & loosey and that urge to lift

Keep on keepin' on !!!


cheers!

[MarkP]

rdane, yes you've got to really hit the right apex (end of the barrier) tight, it's real rough to the left. Last year a 356 with a woman driver lifted there, got sideways and rolled 6 times. She was OK, they rebuilt the car over the winter and she was back on the track for the first time yesterday.

racea911, Thanks. The only thing I see that weekend is an Alfa Club track day on 6/1. There will be a handful of Porsches there. The run off at most of the critical corners is pretty good.

[RSupdate]

Hey Mark....just a quikie.....

After my last post thought I'd click on the link to yer website, and wow!!! I like it alot, really. I went thru every page and read every word..Thx for taking the time to put all that together.

Nice waves up yer way, but I'm cringing on the thought of having to wear my fullsuit 'year round - brrrr.

Keep up the input on the site, I'LL be checking back !!!!

cheers!!!

[MarkP]

Thanks John, the site has been a fun project. Since getting the race bug I haven't been surfing much up here. But I come down to N. SD County about once a month for a long weekend of sun and waves. Love it down there.

[Drago]

Originally posted by racea911
Any cool events May 31st or June 1st? I'm coming up to visit the in-laws on a little island up in Washington and man, what a snorefest!!!!!!!!!!

Well, there *is* one little event that a handful of the locals are going to participate in....we're pre-driving the '03 Round-Up route on June 1st....might be better if you had your car here though

Should be LOTS of fun!

P.S. Edit: Mark, sorry I missed your "lift"...I had my new digital camera in hand all day but we didn't arrive in time to catch your 1st run. You looked really good in the second two though. Keep it up! BTW, small world...turns out that one of the other 911 drivers went to HS with my Dad. Faster guy too, usually running 2nd or 3rd in the 911 pack. Burgandy colored car (there were two).

[MarkP]

Marc, sorry I didn't get to visit with you, it's so hectic out there. One of the burgundy cars was the car right on me when I spun.

I understand that the "faster" early 911's have around $25k in their motors alone, that drops them down about 4-5 seconds per lap.

[304065]

I like it. Is that a BP-911R clone you are shadowing?

[MarkP]

I don't know if that was what he had in mind - he just had it repainted over the winter, last year it was black.

[rdane]

"yes you've got to really hit the right apex (end of the barrier) tight"

Yeppers that one is tight. Like Don says, "for some it is really a corner."

I hug the right side with one wheel on the right of the patched pot hole. At some speed it is no question a real corner in my car with the blind transition and all. I always pray that no one else will be between there and the braking zone. Could get messy......like a roll over

Cool web site and videos, keep them coming!

Dane

That's a nice video. Great sound But you don't have much space to make up for driving errors (trees close to the edge of the track). What kind of car is making the extremely noisy WAAAAAAH...RHEEEEEE sound in the background? A little open one, but I couldn't see what type/brand it was?

[MarkP]

Mikkel, the trees are further back than they look in most spots, there just so big they look close.

This shot shows the guy in front of me entering a really dangerous spot on the track - at the apex of the turn there is a dip in the track that unloads the suspension. This can cause the car to really loose control at about 70mph in a hard turn, with a narrow run off to the right - they call it thunder valley!

I don't know what kind of car that is - maybe a Lotus.

[Nader]

Hi Mark, I met you at the PR during your initial schooling (I was running my Spec Miata that afternoon). I'm curious if you vintage guys are running as hard as you can, at 10/10ths, or do you hold a little back because the cars are hard to replace? Were you running racing slicks that day? Interesting to compare the times to Spec Miatas.

[MarkP]

I would say most guys are running 10/10ths when driving, but not when passing. No diving in on each other, always trying to avoid car to car contact. Remember my times are for a rookie, the top 2.0 911 guys are running 1:45's and the top 356's in the low 1:40's (they are lighter). We are running R compound Yokohamas A008r's.

[rdane]

Nader what kind of times do the Miatas turn at SIR?