Old dogs do learn new tricks.

    I have be driving on track for 10 years now.  I have been in race group and driving door to door for the last 7 of those years.  Time flies when you are having fun.  In that time I've driven Three different cars that I have owned.  All Corvettes and each one dramatically different than the others.  Personally I see no reason to go to the track and spend money for gas, tires, car repairs, entry fees, hauling fees etc unless I am actually in Race Group.  For me, I never thought I would ever get the opportunity to drive a race car and frankly I am sure that every time I get to, its one more time than I deserve. 

Driving on track seemed to come fairly easy for me.  I can drive fast, not always consistently any more, but I could when I first started.  I havent had the seat time recently that I did when I first started racing, and I thought that was the biggest contributor to my inconsistency. 

This weekend I had a revelation.  In the last year I have spend countless hours watching road racing.  On the T.V.  the internet.  Mainly sports cars each one in their own spec series.  IMSA, Continental Tire, DTM, British Touring Car, WEC Endurance Series, Porsche Cup, Lamborghini Trofeo Cup, if there was a road racing series run some where I have been watching.  While I certainly did not run two days full of perfect laps this weekend.  For the first time EVER, I used my brain to make moves that were important to the outcome of the race.  I still missed the apex on a few corners, braked too early some times, and stood on the gas too soon and too hard some times, But I also recognized when and where I was going to be able to pass some of my competition. 

I made three great passes this weekend.  Each one required thought, planning and patience and quick decision making.  There are three major things that I figured out.  First.  When an opportunity to pass arises, take it.  Be in position so that you can cleanly and safely make the pass.  Even though you may be able to run faster laps, you may not get the chance again. Second.  Plan when you are going to pass the car in front of you.  All three of my great passes started with recognizing on the previous lap that if I was in the right position the door would open and I could make the right moves.  Third. Stop worrying about the car behind me and drive my line.  As long as I am not driving like an idiot, its their job to make the pass the right way.  I know of two occasions where the car didnt have the room to make a good pass and when I shut the door driving my line, they lost enough momentum so that they could not recover and catch me.  I myself have done that several times. 

We raced this weekend with ProAutoSports at Inde Motorsports Ranch.  We were going to go to NASA Nationals and frankly the cost to go was just to much after fixing the car when I backed it into the wall.  It was Brians first time to go to Inde.  Its a very special place for me.  It a difficult track to learn and drive correctly, and I've made some great friends there.  I have wanted to take him there since we started dating.  The ProAutoSports family as usual made it a great experience and he cant wait until we go back next year. 

Those of you who know the track will understand why I think my three passes were great.  All three of them were while running counter clockwise.  Personally I dont like that direction, but it does require you to think.  The first pass was during the Qualifying race.  I was chasing Bill Pfeiffer in his M3 and James Cantrel in his 64 Corvette,  both have more power.  Bills car has a bigger top speed and Jims 327 leave a corner likes a rocket ship.  I was able to close on them in the curves around the house and we would all enter the straight where they would outrun me.  About three laps from the end I realized that if I would lay back a little and get a better run coming on to the straight I could keep up with them.  Two laps from the end I had a huge run just as we entered the straight and I caught them and went to the outside of Bill to the right and ran right up to Jims bumper.  I never lifted and his 327 launched like a rocket and I motored right past Bill.  Planning and opportunity.  I was so excited that I thought this out and made it happen. 

In the feature race Bill skated past me at the start and there ended up with 4 cars in a pack racing for position.  An RX7 GTU car and Jim Cantrells Corvette again were ahead of me after the start.  It took me about 5 laps to realize the guy driving the RX7 would lay back driving the section past the pits.  Its a REALLY fast and fun downhill with a left and right at the end.  I got a big run coming off the carousel turn and passed him going between his car and the pit wall.  I almost wet my pants it worked so well.  Two passes where I used my brain.  Then all that was left was to pass Jim in his Corvette.  I cannot express how much I respect this man.  Racing with him is practically a dream come true.  He can drive anything.  He has competed everywhere at some of the country's best tracks.  I hope some day I am as competent in a car as he is.  I spent several laps trying to keep up with him down the straight, hugging him close during the curves and he would just outrun me down the straight and I could not get close enough to pass him.  There was no way I could out run him so I decided as a last ditch effort to try and stay close enough and out brake him at the end.   Again I had to lay back and get a really good run on him coming on to the straight.  I had a full head of steam, flat in 4th coming on to the straight and got to his inside flank.  He pulled away as before and I tucked in behind him.  I stayed flat until we approached the end of the straight and when he went to the brakes I popped out to his left and then braked after he did.  Pass made and I basically parked in the corner and stayed ahead of him.  Without exception it was the biggest moment I've had racing.  All this with out antilock brakes.  I have to say I'm starting to love not having them.  Its making me a much better driver.

 I realize unless your a racer this is boring as hell to read.  But if you've made it this far I hope it has encouraged you to do something you've always wanted to do.  If I can learn to be a better driver you can learn to do what you desire as well.  Life is too short not to try and do the things we aspire to. 

Thanks to ProAutoSports, Jim, Diane, Bob, Jan, Hurley, Naomi, Jeff, Adrian, Dan, Brian, Richard, Kevin, Leroy and Shirette, Craig, Tracy, Junior, Matt, and Jim Cantrell for a perfect racing weekend.  It takes the sting out of not going to COTA,