Reflections and ? about 1st Club Race in GTC3 at VIR
08-10-2008, 05:59 PM
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Reflections and ? about 1st Club Race in GTC3 at VIR
Well I just completed my rookie school and first races this past weekend at VIR.
IT WAS A BLAST I just wanted to post a few thoughts and memories about the weekend and ask for some feedback if any fellow drivers have any. For reference I was #81, a 1999 cup that I believe was the oldest in the field with no updates and I believe the ONLY rookie in GTC3.
1. Even though I was told that because I had a current log book with a 2008 annual inspection since it was my first race I took the car through tech anyway.
2. I was SO NERVOUS on the first practice session but it was a good type of nervousness if you know what I mean.
3. I began to feel a little more comfortable with each successive practice session and noted that just like the stewards mentioned in the rookie meeting, with all that was going on, I just seemed to not concentrate on driving the lines and things flowed so much better. By the 3rd practice session I had bettered my personal best times and was having a great time.
4. Then came the practice starts My degree of nervousness then increased 100 fold. Like all said, I could not hear much of anything, I was not good at anticipating the starts very well, cars accelerate much quicker when they are all bunched together it seems
and things happen QUICKLY.
Some rookie mistakes:
1. During the practice sessions I passed a truck on the track and got way too far out into the marbles and when around the equipment and green again the car just would not turn for several corners and it was not fun for me or the others behind me I am sure.
2. During the fun race after the 3rd practice start I got a good jump out of Oak Tree and had a drag race down to Roller Coaster on the back straight with a 997 cup. He went to the outside and I kept my line on the inside. I thought he might give but I assumed wrong. He kept a great line on the outside and I pinched the car to stay to the left on that bend carrying too much speed and started to loose the rear to the right. Tried to correct and drive it off to the left to stay out of the way but the car got away from me on the grass, around to the left and across the track backwards in front of a bunch of people. When it was straight,heading off track to the right and I did not see anyone heading for me out my left side, I let off the brakes to try and roll off track right as soon as possible. To everyone I apologize for being too greedy in that turn. The 997 was obviously faster and I should have let him go. To all, thank you for your great driving to avoid me and allow my weekend to continue.
3. During the 1st sprint on the start I went from the outside to the middle and was three wide going into T1. Unfortunately Musante's car lost power and was slowing to a stop and people were making evasive maneuvers. When I suddenly was faced with his car DIRECTLY in front I had a millisecond it seemed to decide left or right. It seemed cars were everywhere and there was no good out. Remembering what they said in the rookie meeting to "stay predictable" I just held course like a stupid rookie would and SHOULD at this point and let the whole field go and then took up the chase.
One Funny thing:
As I mentioned I have a 99 cup with no updates. Also as I indicated earlier, I had taken the car through tech. After the second practice on Friday they pointed me into the black flag station. I was thinking to myself "what did I do wrong?" The scrutineer said they were checking my wing. I thought he meant a problem with it. It turns out that he said he did not know if I had a legal wing. Being it is a 99, the car has the "baby wing" that was standard on that year model. He said my car "stuck out like a sore thumb" and that he wondered if it was legal. I just pleaded that "it may not be big but it is mine and I promise it is legal." don't go there!!!!!!!!! I promised to come talk to them about it later but he said "don't worry, you probably know more than I do about it."
Overall I had a GREAT time and I was very happy with how I did in relation to running with you guys. However, I would welcome any criticism from my fellow racers if you noted anything I did that would be considered stupid, dangerous or just down right wrong.
Thanks.
IT WAS A BLAST I just wanted to post a few thoughts and memories about the weekend and ask for some feedback if any fellow drivers have any. For reference I was #81, a 1999 cup that I believe was the oldest in the field with no updates and I believe the ONLY rookie in GTC3.1. Even though I was told that because I had a current log book with a 2008 annual inspection since it was my first race I took the car through tech anyway.
2. I was SO NERVOUS on the first practice session but it was a good type of nervousness if you know what I mean.
3. I began to feel a little more comfortable with each successive practice session and noted that just like the stewards mentioned in the rookie meeting, with all that was going on, I just seemed to not concentrate on driving the lines and things flowed so much better. By the 3rd practice session I had bettered my personal best times and was having a great time.
4. Then came the practice starts My degree of nervousness then increased 100 fold. Like all said, I could not hear much of anything, I was not good at anticipating the starts very well, cars accelerate much quicker when they are all bunched together it seems
and things happen QUICKLY.Some rookie mistakes:
1. During the practice sessions I passed a truck on the track and got way too far out into the marbles and when around the equipment and green again the car just would not turn for several corners and it was not fun for me or the others behind me I am sure.
2. During the fun race after the 3rd practice start I got a good jump out of Oak Tree and had a drag race down to Roller Coaster on the back straight with a 997 cup. He went to the outside and I kept my line on the inside. I thought he might give but I assumed wrong. He kept a great line on the outside and I pinched the car to stay to the left on that bend carrying too much speed and started to loose the rear to the right. Tried to correct and drive it off to the left to stay out of the way but the car got away from me on the grass, around to the left and across the track backwards in front of a bunch of people. When it was straight,heading off track to the right and I did not see anyone heading for me out my left side, I let off the brakes to try and roll off track right as soon as possible. To everyone I apologize for being too greedy in that turn. The 997 was obviously faster and I should have let him go. To all, thank you for your great driving to avoid me and allow my weekend to continue.
3. During the 1st sprint on the start I went from the outside to the middle and was three wide going into T1. Unfortunately Musante's car lost power and was slowing to a stop and people were making evasive maneuvers. When I suddenly was faced with his car DIRECTLY in front I had a millisecond it seemed to decide left or right. It seemed cars were everywhere and there was no good out. Remembering what they said in the rookie meeting to "stay predictable" I just held course like a stupid rookie would and SHOULD at this point and let the whole field go and then took up the chase.
One Funny thing:
As I mentioned I have a 99 cup with no updates. Also as I indicated earlier, I had taken the car through tech. After the second practice on Friday they pointed me into the black flag station. I was thinking to myself "what did I do wrong?" The scrutineer said they were checking my wing. I thought he meant a problem with it. It turns out that he said he did not know if I had a legal wing. Being it is a 99, the car has the "baby wing" that was standard on that year model. He said my car "stuck out like a sore thumb" and that he wondered if it was legal. I just pleaded that "it may not be big but it is mine and I promise it is legal." don't go there!!!!!!!!! I promised to come talk to them about it later but he said "don't worry, you probably know more than I do about it."
Overall I had a GREAT time and I was very happy with how I did in relation to running with you guys. However, I would welcome any criticism from my fellow racers if you noted anything I did that would be considered stupid, dangerous or just down right wrong.
Thanks.
08-10-2008, 08:59 PM
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Congrats, Chris!
08-10-2008, 09:06 PM
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Believe me - I KNOW! My bud BKS was there and one of the guys helping me with the car had his fiance there - Super Hot!
Thanks VR
Thanks VR
Last edited by Chris L.; 08-10-2008 at 09:24 PM.
08-10-2008, 09:39 PM
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Chris, great to see you again as always. I have already burned your in-car video and will drop in the mail tomorrow.
My only criticism is that you need to let everybody know how that rookie did!!!!! For being your first race and in a large GTC3 field, to place 5th in a class of 18 cars is PHENOMENAL, especially when everybody else has experience AND newer cars. Nothing you could do about that first sprint. But watching you carve up the field in the second sprint was a thing of beauty.
My only criticism is that you need to let everybody know how that rookie did!!!!! For being your first race and in a large GTC3 field, to place 5th in a class of 18 cars is PHENOMENAL, especially when everybody else has experience AND newer cars. Nothing you could do about that first sprint. But watching you carve up the field in the second sprint was a thing of beauty.
08-10-2008, 09:44 PM
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Very cool Chris! Congrats! I remember my first race like it was yesterday. Did the same rookie mistakes, it takes some time to get off the DE world and get comfortable with all these cars inches around you, but boy is it fun! Funny scrut story too! LOL
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08-10-2008, 10:02 PM
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Chris, great to see you again as always. I have already burned your in-car video and will drop in the mail tomorrow.
My only criticism is that you need to let everybody know how that rookie did!!!!! For being you first race and in a large GTC3 field, to place 5th in a class of 18 cars is PHENOMENAL, especially when everybody else has experience AND newer cars. Nothing you could do about that first sprint. But watching you carve up the field in the second sprint was a thing of beauty.
My only criticism is that you need to let everybody know how that rookie did!!!!! For being you first race and in a large GTC3 field, to place 5th in a class of 18 cars is PHENOMENAL, especially when everybody else has experience AND newer cars. Nothing you could do about that first sprint. But watching you carve up the field in the second sprint was a thing of beauty.
1. Like you said I am a ROOKIE and even though I was happy with my performance, at this point I am more interested in what the seasoned racers thought about how I interacted with them on the track.
2. Some fields much larger than this one. In reality, only 12 cars in my class in the 2nd sprint race and three of them had DNFs.
So as you can see, though I profoundly appreciate your support you have certainly aggrandized my accomplishments.
But, thanks.
08-10-2008, 10:08 PM
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ONLY 9 cars in your class AFTER DNF's? I had 16 in D in the biggest race in the NE, EIGHT at Limerock!! Be happy you have enough to make a podium mean anything!
Oh, and keep that X on there, it really does freak people out.. LOL
Oh, and keep that X on there, it really does freak people out.. LOL
08-10-2008, 10:13 PM
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08-10-2008, 10:23 PM
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I appreciate the comments friend, really I do, but:
1. Like you said I am a ROOKIE and even though I was happy with my performance, at this point I am more interested in what the seasoned racers thought about how I interacted with them on the track.
2. Some fields much larger than this one. In reality, only 12 cars in my class in the 2nd sprint race and three of them had DNFs.
So as you can see, though I profoundly appreciate your support you have certainly aggrandized my accomplishments.
But, thanks.
1. Like you said I am a ROOKIE and even though I was happy with my performance, at this point I am more interested in what the seasoned racers thought about how I interacted with them on the track.
2. Some fields much larger than this one. In reality, only 12 cars in my class in the 2nd sprint race and three of them had DNFs.
So as you can see, though I profoundly appreciate your support you have certainly aggrandized my accomplishments.
But, thanks.
08-10-2008, 10:25 PM
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08-10-2008, 10:59 PM
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I have his his in-car video (he was using my video setup) so I need to export it for hosting and get the link to him. Chris, I am working as fast as I can over here..........