dp35

First race in my new '99 Spec Miata, at the Laguna Seca SCCA regional. Couldn't run the 1st SM race due to a water pump failure. Finally got to race in the ITS class, mixed group. Got hit & turned at the start, spun into the wall in front of the pack. Got going again, ended up winning the class (video below). Went on to win the 2nd ITS race, and the 2nd SM race too.

http://www.vimeo.com/24515561

ubercooper

Let me be the first to say..

EPIC SAVE, you werent kidding about the 100 yards either

many props for the comeback/win too

Veloce Raptor

+1 !!! Wow...nicely done!

Van

Nice driving indeed. Good "hand work".

Sterling Doc

Nice job in timing and speed unwinding the wheel when it straightened back out.
The next video down in your list is a study in driving a momentum car at 11/10th's. Required viewing for someone who wants to know about driving a Spec car at a National level - Wow!

jrgordonsenior

Loved how you never stopped attacking the track even when your Toyo's were gone. Damn nice job....

Can you explain what happened with the SM rules this year with respect to 99' cars? Also, why are the SM's all running with SCCA again this year and not NASA?....

SG_M3

99's got hit with a smaller restrictor plate in nasa, 2mm smaller than scca.

Sterling Doc

Post up your video in the thread about growing *****. Just drive like... this!

dp35

Thanks!

If your rules question is about NASA, as SG_M3 said, the '99's got a smaller plate but less weight. The consensus is that '99's won't be competitive in NASA because of this, although it's not proven.

The latest rules of both SCCA and NASA have helped the '94 1.8L SM's, and some have said that this is now the car to beat.

I'm not sure about others, but I prefer SCCA for a few reasons - no HPDE; my class (SM) gets its own race; in my region the SCCA races have always attracted far more SM racers; and for this reason an SCCA SM win is far more prestigious around here. That's not to say I don't like NASA & won't run with them.

chris walrod

Way to go -- nice drive!!

Mahler9th

Nice driving, although I am not surprised since I have seen your videos before. I found your use of extra radius in places like turns 3 and 4 captivating. Very captivating

I don't know how one can tell that your tires are gone... to me, "gone" means completely incapable of achieving min laptimes. I will have to watch that other video... but I am not a believer in the concepts 11/10ths nor momentum car.

Kudos as I know the pointy ends of those fields are competitive and they don't just give away the driver of the year awards...

Keep on truckin'

onefastviking

Since you were racing ITS instead of SM did you pull your restrictor ? Or is that just one of Bob's RE bullet motors ?
Great driving either way, it just seemed like you would really walk away from the NA's down the straights.

dp35

Thanks.

I was running in full SM trim, because the SM class is my priority, and I only run ITS for practice/testing. Every other car in ITS was on Hankooks or Hoosiers & most without restrictor plates.

Yes I do have a new Race Engineering engine, and yes it is a rocket. You are correct that I had power on the mid-back of the pack cars, which is to be expected for reasons beyond just engines.

MRW

Nice video and driving- thanks! OT question- is that ChaseCam video? I saw the TraqMate on the dash. My camera is mounted similarly, but I get a lot of washout on the view through the windshield, and haven't been able to make it any better.

dp35

^^ GoPro HD cam, set for spot metering (or whatever they call it), which is designed for this situation & seems to work well.