0.5 sec short of NASA Spec Miata national championship
09-21-2010, 10:17 PM
#1
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0.5 sec short of NASA Spec Miata national championship
Here's my video of the championship race. More details below.
About 2 years ago, threads on this forum helped push me over the edge to move up from DE's to racing, which really started this year. Things have gone extremely well locally, so last week we went to the NASA nationals at Miller Motorsports Park in Utah.
Since this was my first time at Miller, my times were well off the leaders at first, and gradually improved. Things finally began to click for me on Friday morning when I followed Sammy Valafar around for the entire practice session.
An incident occurred at the start of the 2nd qualifying race, where I was ultimately deemed at fault for “not taking evasive action to avoid contact”. This ruling was based on strict interpretation of the NASA rule book, which allows the car being passed to dictate the line taken, even if they’re in the passing car’s blind spot. I disagree with this rule, because IMO it makes it ok to pull a “pit maneuver” on an overtaking car in some situations, like this one. But the rules are what they are and I had to live with it. HUGE thanks to Dean Thomas for chatting with the officials and convincing them to reduce the penalty from a DQ to “only” a 9 position demotion. Dean did this just after I had passed him in the last corner for 2nd place in the race. I doubt there’s another racer among us with that much class (myself included).
You can make your own judgments about this incident, and also learn something about NASA’s passing rules, by watching this video (shows the start and last half lap of the heat race).
After my penalty, I was gridded 6th for the main event. Things got worse on the start, when the inside lane left my lane in the dust, and put me back to 8th. I worked my way into second before the halfway point, and immediately had Dan McKeever all over me. We had a good, clean battle for 2nd, that went right down to the wire. Dan is the lead driving instructor at Miller, with more laps on the track than anyone, and has been a driver on the UK Top Gear show.
My race with Dan for 2nd turned out to be the race for the championship when winner Valafar was DQ’d for illegal shocks. As good as it feels to overachieve by finishing on the podium at my first national race, it’s a little bit disappointing to come that close to a championship and not win it. But oh well, it was still a blast.
Tech inspection was thorough. My car had already been dyno’d after the qual race, and after the main the following were inspected: cams, compression, displacement, RF control arms & shock, rear diff internals, fuel, weight, and anything else the officials could put their eyes on (which is a lot). It was nice to have such a complete check, but a hell of a lot of work.
Overall, had a blast. Look forward to the TV coverage on Versus in November.
About 2 years ago, threads on this forum helped push me over the edge to move up from DE's to racing, which really started this year. Things have gone extremely well locally, so last week we went to the NASA nationals at Miller Motorsports Park in Utah.
Since this was my first time at Miller, my times were well off the leaders at first, and gradually improved. Things finally began to click for me on Friday morning when I followed Sammy Valafar around for the entire practice session.
An incident occurred at the start of the 2nd qualifying race, where I was ultimately deemed at fault for “not taking evasive action to avoid contact”. This ruling was based on strict interpretation of the NASA rule book, which allows the car being passed to dictate the line taken, even if they’re in the passing car’s blind spot. I disagree with this rule, because IMO it makes it ok to pull a “pit maneuver” on an overtaking car in some situations, like this one. But the rules are what they are and I had to live with it. HUGE thanks to Dean Thomas for chatting with the officials and convincing them to reduce the penalty from a DQ to “only” a 9 position demotion. Dean did this just after I had passed him in the last corner for 2nd place in the race. I doubt there’s another racer among us with that much class (myself included).
You can make your own judgments about this incident, and also learn something about NASA’s passing rules, by watching this video (shows the start and last half lap of the heat race).
After my penalty, I was gridded 6th for the main event. Things got worse on the start, when the inside lane left my lane in the dust, and put me back to 8th. I worked my way into second before the halfway point, and immediately had Dan McKeever all over me. We had a good, clean battle for 2nd, that went right down to the wire. Dan is the lead driving instructor at Miller, with more laps on the track than anyone, and has been a driver on the UK Top Gear show.
My race with Dan for 2nd turned out to be the race for the championship when winner Valafar was DQ’d for illegal shocks. As good as it feels to overachieve by finishing on the podium at my first national race, it’s a little bit disappointing to come that close to a championship and not win it. But oh well, it was still a blast.
Tech inspection was thorough. My car had already been dyno’d after the qual race, and after the main the following were inspected: cams, compression, displacement, RF control arms & shock, rear diff internals, fuel, weight, and anything else the officials could put their eyes on (which is a lot). It was nice to have such a complete check, but a hell of a lot of work.
Overall, had a blast. Look forward to the TV coverage on Versus in November.
09-22-2010, 12:24 AM
#4
Race Director
Congrats.......very impressive result for your 1st real season in SM....2nd at nationals & a serious shot at the overall points win in SCCA SM....
Watching you and Dean out there REALLY makes me want to buy an SM and mix it up with you guys....but it would be EXTREMELY difficult to keep up!!!!
Watching you and Dean out there REALLY makes me want to buy an SM and mix it up with you guys....but it would be EXTREMELY difficult to keep up!!!!
09-22-2010, 02:38 AM
#5
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CONGRATULATIONS!
Now I understand!Trending Topics
09-22-2010, 10:57 AM
#8
Three Wheelin'
Who on here that races PCA stock classes would want to go through tech like that after a race? It would quiet a lot of bitching... but not fun when your car comes home in boxes.
DP35... can you share your name, or atleast first name? Either way, congrats!
Mitch
DP35... can you share your name, or atleast first name? Either way, congrats!
Mitch
09-22-2010, 11:44 AM
#12
Rennlist Member
Congrats on the great race.
I feel your pain on losing a championship that close. Miller is known for doing that to people!
I feel your pain on losing a championship that close. Miller is known for doing that to people!
09-22-2010, 03:35 PM
#15
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Damn good run man. I am slowly doing the things to my car to bring it up to spec like the 99 tophats and eventually will go to a pro motor. It's nice to see a race where all of the cars look so even.
and yes, that sign was to draft. Looks like he was trying to get the guy to draft so they could catch the front pack instead of him trying to pass and slowing them all down.
and yes, that sign was to draft. Looks like he was trying to get the guy to draft so they could catch the front pack instead of him trying to pass and slowing them all down.