My First Race - Mosport 2011
08-03-2011, 10:06 PM
#1
Burning Brakes
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My First Race - Mosport 2011
Well, I smoked some crack and now there's no turning back... despite all the warnings out there I just had to do it.
I've been DE'ing for about 3 years, gradually working my way up the PCA ladder without any specific goals. This year I decided I'd like to at least get a racing license to give me the option to race. I completed the requirements and applied to PCA with the support of our CI (Thanks Bob!)
I gave Susan a call to complete the application and she asked if I wanted to race at Mosport that weekend. I had no plans to race and no car to race...
but to make a long story short within 24 hours I rented a GTB2 car from SpeedMerchants, packed my bags and headed to Mosport.
Big thumbs up to Susan Shire for helping organize everything.
Showed up Thursday for the Test and Tune day, having never driven the car nor been at Mosport. It was quite an experience... managed to get down to the low 1:31's after the first session, which I was pretty happy about.
Friday was full of practice stuff, including practice starts and a fun race. A nice way to get initiated to racing. Needless to say I had a blast.
Saturday Sprint Race#1. Beautiful weather. Had a good qualifying, top 10.
Ran a clean race, and finished top 10, first in class (4 GTB2 cars and a couple competitive GTB1 cars behind me).
Spring Race #2 was a bit of a bust. Was running hard with serious pressure behind me when I blew a tire in turn 8. I ended up with a DNF, but I'm pretty happy I kept the car off the wall.
Sunday Enduro was a thrill. Started in the pouring rain... the start was essentially blind. I ran a great race in the rain, despite one "off" on 8, but ended up with a late pit stop while the track was dry and fell behind. Ended up first in class and in the top half of the field.
Huge thanks to SpeedMerchants for proving an awesome car and a super friendly and knowledgable crew, as well as JF Dumoulin and Jim Hoddinott for great coaching. I even walked away with the Rookie award!
Overall an incredible experience. The hard part now is what's next....
I've been DE'ing for about 3 years, gradually working my way up the PCA ladder without any specific goals. This year I decided I'd like to at least get a racing license to give me the option to race. I completed the requirements and applied to PCA with the support of our CI (Thanks Bob!)
I gave Susan a call to complete the application and she asked if I wanted to race at Mosport that weekend. I had no plans to race and no car to race...
but to make a long story short within 24 hours I rented a GTB2 car from SpeedMerchants, packed my bags and headed to Mosport.
Big thumbs up to Susan Shire for helping organize everything.
Showed up Thursday for the Test and Tune day, having never driven the car nor been at Mosport. It was quite an experience... managed to get down to the low 1:31's after the first session, which I was pretty happy about.
Friday was full of practice stuff, including practice starts and a fun race. A nice way to get initiated to racing. Needless to say I had a blast.
Saturday Sprint Race#1. Beautiful weather. Had a good qualifying, top 10.
Ran a clean race, and finished top 10, first in class (4 GTB2 cars and a couple competitive GTB1 cars behind me).
Spring Race #2 was a bit of a bust. Was running hard with serious pressure behind me when I blew a tire in turn 8. I ended up with a DNF, but I'm pretty happy I kept the car off the wall.
Sunday Enduro was a thrill. Started in the pouring rain... the start was essentially blind. I ran a great race in the rain, despite one "off" on 8, but ended up with a late pit stop while the track was dry and fell behind. Ended up first in class and in the top half of the field.
Huge thanks to SpeedMerchants for proving an awesome car and a super friendly and knowledgable crew, as well as JF Dumoulin and Jim Hoddinott for great coaching. I even walked away with the Rookie award!
Overall an incredible experience. The hard part now is what's next....
08-03-2011, 11:56 PM
#5
Nordschleife Master
Wow, talk about baptism by fire 
Spent the whole weekend parked close to you guys, would have been cool to hook up and chat. It's such a foreign world to me.
Watched the start of the enduro from the top of 2, and it was clean, and VERY exciting.
Did you do the enduro on wets?
Good luck going forward.
Spent the whole weekend parked close to you guys, would have been cool to hook up and chat. It's such a foreign world to me.
Watched the start of the enduro from the top of 2, and it was clean, and VERY exciting.
Did you do the enduro on wets?
Good luck going forward.
08-03-2011, 11:58 PM
#6
Burning Brakes
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Wow, talk about baptism by fire
Spent the whole weekend parked close to you guys, would have been cool to hook up and chat. It's such a foreign world to me.
Watched the start of the enduro from the top of 2, and it was clean, and VERY exciting.
Did you do the enduro on wets?
Good luck going forward.
Spent the whole weekend parked close to you guys, would have been cool to hook up and chat. It's such a foreign world to me.
Watched the start of the enduro from the top of 2, and it was clean, and VERY exciting.
Did you do the enduro on wets?
Good luck going forward.
The race was very tight and very exciting. Great close driving on everyone's part.
I started the enduro on wets.. then switched to slicks during the pit stop.
08-04-2011, 08:32 AM
#7
Drifting
Congrats... Soon your GT3 will be sitting out on the track weekends as mine has been since I bought a race car this year...
That's a helleva car to take on your first outing... May want to consider a BMW Race car as the consumables are a fraction of a modern 911 platform...
That's a helleva car to take on your first outing... May want to consider a BMW Race car as the consumables are a fraction of a modern 911 platform...
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08-04-2011, 08:51 AM
#9
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oh man, you're done now!!!
You did much better than I did at my first race! Congrats
But now, you're aware that you're at the top of a slippery slope...
right?
c.
You did much better than I did at my first race! Congrats
But now, you're aware that you're at the top of a slippery slope...
right?c.
08-04-2011, 08:59 AM
#10
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For that Mosport race I even choose the slowest car (#5) we have (we have 3, #5, #55,#56) even if the quickest one was available, to make sure I was going to work on my driving. It worked. I felt that I was not good enough for #55 yet. I'm getting there.
I see that you'll be at Tremblant for the August DE. Come see me!
c.
08-04-2011, 12:32 PM
#12
looks like mah old car wuz just a band-aid
Ready to ship it back to me? 
Your race results look pretty impressive for the 1st time out... especially in the enduro.
I'd have been done after 4 of those 40+ laps.
Your race results look pretty impressive for the 1st time out... especially in the enduro.
I'd have been done after 4 of those 40+ laps.
08-16-2011, 10:24 AM
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Well, I smoked some crack and now there's no turning back... despite all the warnings out there I just had to do it.
I've been DE'ing for about 3 years, gradually working my way up the PCA ladder without any specific goals. This year I decided I'd like to at least get a racing license to give me the option to race. I completed the requirements and applied to PCA with the support of our CI (Thanks Bob!)
I gave Susan a call to complete the application and she asked if I wanted to race at Mosport that weekend. I had no plans to race and no car to race...
but to make a long story short within 24 hours I rented a GTB2 car from SpeedMerchants, packed my bags and headed to Mosport.
Big thumbs up to Susan Shire for helping organize everything.
Showed up Thursday for the Test and Tune day, having never driven the car nor been at Mosport. It was quite an experience... managed to get down to the low 1:31's after the first session, which I was pretty happy about.
Friday was full of practice stuff, including practice starts and a fun race. A nice way to get initiated to racing. Needless to say I had a blast.
Saturday Sprint Race#1. Beautiful weather. Had a good qualifying, top 10.
Ran a clean race, and finished top 10, first in class (4 GTB2 cars and a couple competitive GTB1 cars behind me).
Spring Race #2 was a bit of a bust. Was running hard with serious pressure behind me when I blew a tire in turn 8. I ended up with a DNF, but I'm pretty happy I kept the car off the wall.
Sunday Enduro was a thrill. Started in the pouring rain... the start was essentially blind. I ran a great race in the rain, despite one "off" on 8, but ended up with a late pit stop while the track was dry and fell behind. Ended up first in class and in the top half of the field.
Huge thanks to SpeedMerchants for proving an awesome car and a super friendly and knowledgable crew, as well as JF Dumoulin and Jim Hoddinott for great coaching. I even walked away with the Rookie award!
Overall an incredible experience. The hard part now is what's next....
I've been DE'ing for about 3 years, gradually working my way up the PCA ladder without any specific goals. This year I decided I'd like to at least get a racing license to give me the option to race. I completed the requirements and applied to PCA with the support of our CI (Thanks Bob!)
I gave Susan a call to complete the application and she asked if I wanted to race at Mosport that weekend. I had no plans to race and no car to race...
but to make a long story short within 24 hours I rented a GTB2 car from SpeedMerchants, packed my bags and headed to Mosport.
Big thumbs up to Susan Shire for helping organize everything.
Showed up Thursday for the Test and Tune day, having never driven the car nor been at Mosport. It was quite an experience... managed to get down to the low 1:31's after the first session, which I was pretty happy about.
Friday was full of practice stuff, including practice starts and a fun race. A nice way to get initiated to racing. Needless to say I had a blast.
Saturday Sprint Race#1. Beautiful weather. Had a good qualifying, top 10.
Ran a clean race, and finished top 10, first in class (4 GTB2 cars and a couple competitive GTB1 cars behind me).
Spring Race #2 was a bit of a bust. Was running hard with serious pressure behind me when I blew a tire in turn 8. I ended up with a DNF, but I'm pretty happy I kept the car off the wall.
Sunday Enduro was a thrill. Started in the pouring rain... the start was essentially blind. I ran a great race in the rain, despite one "off" on 8, but ended up with a late pit stop while the track was dry and fell behind. Ended up first in class and in the top half of the field.
Huge thanks to SpeedMerchants for proving an awesome car and a super friendly and knowledgable crew, as well as JF Dumoulin and Jim Hoddinott for great coaching. I even walked away with the Rookie award!
Overall an incredible experience. The hard part now is what's next....
OK, so what is next? (I bet Jim can help you decide...
)