OTC 2004 Recap - Olsen & Schmidt

[Tyson Schmidt]

Originally posted by Zeke
That was a mean trick on the Buttonwillow deal. Racers are known for great pranks. I'm not too sure about that one.

I actually had nothing to do with that one! Jack had given the 996TT team his cell phone number, and as a joke, he called and left Jack a message saying that I was O.K., and that I'd asked him to make the call for me. I guess Jack filled in the other details in his mind. It was a cruel joke, and I actually tried to get him to not make the call!

[pwd72s]

I believe ya, Tyson...and I'm proud as hell of you both!...Despite not having a thing to do with the excellent effort.

[Tyson Schmidt]

Sears Point - A driver's Perspective:


Sears Point is a World-renowned track with a reputation for being at once; exhilerating, terrifying, and utterly unforgiving of even the smallest mistakes. This is only compounded by the fact that it has a climate not unlike my hometown Seattle, Washington.

Even in the dry, this track can end your day, season, or career if things get ugly. And here, with so many concrete walls, off-camber decreasing radius turns, and scary blind hills and elevation changes, things can certainly get ugly in a hurry.

A certain race team nick-named this track "Seriously-Pointless" when trying to use it as a test-and-tune track due to it's unforgiving nature.

With all this in my mind, I was very disheartened to see that the rain wouldn't be letting up for at least the first half of the day.

In my favor, was the fact that I'd basically learned all my high performance driving techniques while autocrossing my own '72 911 on the wet, algae-lined abandoned airport in the Pacific Northwest known as "Bremerton Raceway". Also on the plus side were the many hours I spent learning Sears Point on my driving simulator with as many different cars and weather conditions as possible.

On the negative side were the massive tires, 80% LSD, light front-end, very stiff suspension, and many many degrees of negative camber. I was nervous. Did I mention that it's not my car, and that it's our only transportation to get us the 400 miles back to L.A.? No, I was terrified!!

But the very nice gentleman running the 996TT volunteered to ride with me for the first session to give me some pointers, since it is his home track, and he instructs there. That should help.

And it did help. At least it would later on. You see, sometimes the proper line in the dry is not quite the proper line in the wet. I was following his pointers while basically tip-toeing around the track. Still, coming out of the Carrousel, I eased on the throttle so lightly, it wouldn't have crushed a mosquito. Nevertheless, the tail came around slowly and I was in a full-opposite-lock drift with wet grass leading to big walls on either side of me for at least 10 car lengths. I gathered it up, and kept tiptoeing.

Then came the puddles. These seemed to be strategically placed at either the apex of the fastes, scariest corners, or at the fastest part of the straights. It was clear that there would be no decent times in this session, so I took it easy and came in.

Second session, the rain actually started picking up! With this in mind, Jack and I decided to drill a new notch in the wing adjustment, and go for max-downforce. I also took the liberty of removing a swaybar drop-link from one side in the front and rear. We also flipped the "No Bad Days" chip switch back into the stock position. Torque was the enemy today.

So out I went, foggy windows and all, and tried my best to lay down some fast insurance laps just in case things got uglier. You never know when track conditions might get worse, a car damaged, or sessions cancelled altogether. I've never been more afraid in a racecar than I was during that session. With the foggy windows and pouring rain, I couldn't see the ever-growing puddles in those afore-mentioned inopportune locations. The only way I knew they were there was when the car switched trajectories on me and the steering wheel momentarily became nothing more than a decorative interior piece.



After getting my lap-times down to what the 996TT had run in the previous session, I figured that was about all I dared push the car, and my luck. I came in hoping Rossi in the Viper hadn't done better. Luckily, he hadn't, and surprisingly, neither had the Evo's. I was second behind the 996TT. I can live with that!

Then came the reprieve. A while later the sun broke through the clouds while we were having lunch, and we watched the pavement on the parking lot slowly dry out. Things were looking good! We went up into the tower to look at the track, which was drying out nicely, with the exception of those twice aforementioned seemingly strategically ill-placed puddles. Time to play dodge-the-lake!

For the 3rd session, we decided to leave the wing where it was, and the swaybars disconnected. I didn't want any surpises on the mostly-dry/partially-wet track. It seemed to work! Despite the compromised car settings, and altered racing line, my first lap was down from a 2:23 in the wet sessions to a 2:02! Next lap, 1:58. Awesome! The car felt great! Then a 1:56, to a 1:55, followed by a 1:54, and ultimately a 1:53. I was stoked! (Even though I really had no idea what a good dry laptime was on this track. )

I came in to the pits, and Rossi informed me hthe best he could do was a single 1:54, and a couple of 1:56's. Cool! Got him so far. Jack later informed me that he had run into Bill Arnold in the timing tower who figured our car could maybe run 1:58's. Jack was happy, and I was really looking forward to really duking it out with Mr. Rossi in the fourth session, hoping for a repeat of the Vegas track. Terry Rossi is an amazing driver and and tough competitor. He's also a true gentleman, and a great sport. This would be great fun!

So on go the swaybar drop-links, on go the brake deflectors. Off come the windshield wipers, and out I go to do battle with the "Flying Frenchman".

Lap 1, overcook the braking zone for turn 11, since the puddle is now dried up in turn 10, and my closing speeds into 11 are now really scary. I loop it and stall the car. I resart the car and the following lap crank another 1:53. Great! Next lap, 1:52.6, Sweet! but that was far from a clean lap, and I know I can get a 1:51, and if I'm clean, maybe even a 1:50. I carry as much speed as I can into the uphill left, barely collecting it enough to brake and grab 2nd (close-ratio box) for the uphill right hander. nailed this lap so far! This is going to be a ringer lap! But as I crest the hill, I see two vettes strewn out over the country side in what looks like some car-to-car contact. One car has the hood open. So much for this lap. The waving black flag means it's into the pits.

Well, so much for the fourth session. Only 2 timed laps, and out. The Vette had dumped oil on the track, got out of his car and opened the hood, (better have seen flames, or he has some explaing to do!!!!) and is nearly hit by the second vette who hits the oil and spins out back wards toward the first driver.

Session over.

Good news for us. I guess. No-one wants to win this way. Terri Rossi came out late, came in to adjust pressures, and never got a timed lap in the fourth session. I'm pretty confident that I would've had him anyway, and my 3rd session times versus his show that. But it still sucks to not have a really even playing field, and know for sure. And Sears Point is such an awesome track that any track time lost is a tragedy.

Rossi was understandably very upset, and so was I. I wanted to beat him without any doubts. (And I know he wanted the same!) I also would've liked to run a 1:50 just for the logbook.

A bittersweet end to an awesome track day. It had a little of everything, and it is now my personal favorite racetrack. Even better than Laguna Seca, IMO.

We made it through the day with no off-track incidents, no damage to the car, and an overall win in the Touring division by 3 full seconds. I'm still recovering from the adrenaline hangover. What an event!


P.S. Got some really great in-car video of the 3rd session, and the spin in the 4th. Hopefully Jack will post it here in the future.

[HarryD]

Jack/Tyson,

Living vicariously through your exploits is great.

As in many things in life, it's not great stuff but great attitude that will win the day.

Thanks for sharing. Keep it up!

[layzee]

Great story guys, keep flying the flag. This kind of thing is what makes Pelican far better than any magazine!

[azasadny]

Jack/Tyson,
Congratulations! Thank you for a very interesting, well-documented experience. I learn something every time I read one of your posts!

[MOMO3.2]

You guys (Jack, Tyson, BBII) just drove your selves into Porsche's amature racing history! It is very reminiscent of the club and professional racing victories Porsche scored in the 1950's and 60's. They were always "David VS Goliath" too.

That is one hell of an accomplishment and something that could/should be capitalized on by "the fatherland".

Well done and great reading.

Thank you both.

Sincerely,

Mike

[techweenie]

Great stuff.

Thanks for sharing the story!

...and thanks, Jack & Tyson, for helping bring the "Porsche -- Giant Killer" legend into another decade.

[Kurt B]

Un-freaking-believable. Going to the website
http://www.opentrackchallenge.com/results/2004/Division%20Standings.html
is breathtaking. The 911 is 17 years older than the next oldest car, which itself is an 89 944, but it is 27 years older than 2nd place, a bruising '99 viper.

AMAZING! This is the kind of thing that reinvigorates my pride in my little 911 out there, and it was totally unexpected result. I truly think this result further heightens the mystique and legend of 'old' 911s everywhere.

What a great way to start my Sunday morning.

[masraum]

Out-freakin-standing!! Congrats!

Not only do you guys deserve the overall Touring win, but I think you earned it as well. The only problem... What to shoot for next year?!?

You guys rock!

Living vicariously through you fella's is awesome. And the writeups by both of you are an excellent read that really pull you into the action and make you feel like you are there. I guess that's why Jack makes his money and ended up in GQ.

I've had my car going on 4 years. When I bought it the plan was to do AutoX and DE's. Now nearly 4 years later I've not done one, and since I'm getting ready to sell this car I probably won't. I am already planning for the next Porsche in a year or so and that one will see track time.

Congrats again to both of you, Tyson, your driving skill is amazing, especially teamed with your wrenching and design skills. A one man racing machine. Jack, while you do defer to Tyson and the others as making this possible with the building of BBII and Tyson driving BBII, you, of course, are also a huge part of the successes. You are also out there on the track with Professional drivers and amazing cars. As much as this wouldn't have been possible without the many people that you have thanked it also wouldn't have been possible without you.

Thanks for the experience.

[Tyson Schmidt]

Jack deserves mad props for running a 1:30 lap around Willow on street tires with with only 243 rear wheel horsepower.

That's very near Paul Mumford territory, and he was driving a Viper ACR!!!!

Just amazing! I think with some minor fine tuning, and better conditions with less wind, that he can run a 1:29 on street tires. That is pretty freakin' unbelievable!!!!!

Awesome job Jack!!!!

[Zeke]

Originally posted by layzee
.................. This kind of thing is what makes Pelican far better than any magazine!

Ain't that the truth.

[masraum]

This needs to be back on the front page!

[Chuck Moreland]

Once again, congrats. And thanks for the details.

[Texas Turbo]

HOLY COW!!! I know what I am reading in the bathroom at work tomorrow morning!

Congrats. The way you guys represent the marque, the board, and yourselves is to be admired. Y'all are bad ass and I can only tip my hat to you!

TT

[power]

What's next...Overall at Daytona???

[Shuie]

Nice job guys! Congrats!

[Deeks]

I may be over 3000 miles away from where you're racing, but I lived through every moment whilst reading that....

Congratulations with the results and the amazingly well written piece !!!

[Thomas Owen]

As usual Jack, very well written. I only wish we had a video crew to follow you guys next year...
Regards,

[Embs]

Totally awesome Sheriff Jack, If you could create and sell a yearly documentary of this on video/DVD it would be the icing on the cake. I don't think you would have a hard time with sponsorship for the project. On the video you could discuss the history and building of your car, the components and their manufacturers,
your cart racing evolving into your current racing, and then the events.


The uniqueness of this is one of the things that makes it so cool.
You have a car that started life in 72, an engine that started life in the 90's, etc. Because the components are all Porsche, they work together as well or better than much newer technology from other manufacturers. I realize that it also has alot to do with how TRE put it all together.


I would think that Porsche would or certainly SHOULD be interested in this.


Very, very COOL!

Todd