Qualifying is over – ended by a crash in the bypass. Will Schrader was in the car and was constantly balked by slower traffic – he never got anything resembling a clear lap. It started raining during the full course caution caused by the crash.
Our time of 2:13.256 puts us 7th in E3. Most others had just as much trouble as we did.
The car is now on the dyno to cross check against information from the data system, which officials put in the car earlier, to enforce rules that govern the hp / weight ratio allowed in our class – we’re going to be just fine.
Practice is about to end and after working all day to find some speed in the car, finally some is coming. We’re not there yet, however. The “silver car” (back-up)was 3 seconds per lap faster than the “white car” this morning. The race car is now within a second per lap.
Qualifying will start at 4:45, this afternoon. Live Timing
Post MealPreparing for Data Analysistighter paddock spaces than usual
Our Man Will
must have light...brakes are an important part of the Team MC strategy - we have themcalm before the stormour friend / nemesis Dr. Dan swapping a motor in his Cinco de Mayo costumeClaire - doesn't know what she's got herself into...
We awoke this morning to clearing skies and a damp track with temperatures in the mid 40’s. The rain had come early evening yesterday, so this was all expected.
Crew Chief, Brian Clemons and Ed Pavone arrived at the track in time for dinner last night, and Bruce Wilson and Jeff Jenks (the only new-to-the-25 crew-member) arrived just after mid-night.
The driver’s are currently registering for the day’s test session and Jonny Davies is now in the car first for the initial shake-down. Ken’s race car is here as a spare and is available to ensure there is time to get all 4 driver’s quickly re-acquainted with Thunderhill. All of them have a lot of experience here – Will and Ken are the current and previous Spec Miata lap record holders.
The primary task of the day is to find balance in the non-Spec Miata shock and spring package we are running. The car is more stable with this set-up, but it’s still relatively new to us.
If we do get rain during the day (there is a chance of showers in the vicinity) we will do fuel mileage consumption tests for wet conditions.
The big unknown when traveling south this time of year is weather in the Siskiyous. In the past, the forecasts have allowed for a reasonable expectation of a single day trip. This year, as with last, the caravan would include two motor coaches pulling trailers and a 3rd truck with another – we decided to have a head start, this time.
We left Sherwood yesterday at 6pm with aspirations of reaching Medford. After a stop for food and impromptu tour of Roseburg, we eventually stopped for the night at Grants Pass.
Some of the crew stayed in a hotel while the rest of us stayed in the Walmart parking lot – a first for me. Not to mis-understand, I’ve slept in (and near) many parking lots, but never when the owner was encouraging it.
Over the Mountain and Through the Woods
Interestingly (to me anyway), is that our first nature break of day two was at the unusually nice mountain rest area where Kirk Knestis and I had stealthily camped on our trip to the first two Renault Cup races of 1985. We had slept in sleeping bags next to the Klamath River – we would have slept in the race car / tow vehicle / race trailer, except that all of our tools, spares and camping gear were in there. We awakened to ice formed in our hair and no prospects for a decent meal – racing is so much fun…
History had repeated itself very compassionately, today. This morning, after a night of flawless temperature control via the coach’s heating system, Carrie made us bagels with cream cheese and we stopped on the way out of town for some espresso – this is much more civilized, and Will assures me is further proof of the existence of God. I am inclined to agree.
Continuing south, making the traditional stop at the Redding In-and-Out Burger, we eventually reached Willows early this afternoon to embark on another small town touring mission to fill the propane tank in Miatacage One. Meanwhile, Miatacage Two, with the spare car, and the truck with the race car, started set-up at the track.
Testing has just ended for the day and we’re settling into our home for the next 3 days.
Let the fun begin!
Ken, Will and Kevin Moving the Command Center into PositionBunkmates last night - we'll never know for sure what happened in there...Preparing to Prepare for Battle
