AI#97
06-24-2008, 10:20 AM
If so, post your story from the weekend...
Here I am returning to Hallett for my third time, dreading my "curse" at this track from hell. The first two times I have been on this track ended in a blown motor after just 5 laps the first time, and a fuel starvation problem after just 6 laps the second time. Well, I got bit by the curse again early saturday morning during an off course excursion outside of T6 with reported "air time" resulting in ripping a piece off my K-member and hosing the mounts for the splitter/nose. I was able to get the car back together but found myself gridded DFL on MUCH larger than usual AI grid. As the flag dropped on the standing start, I was able to beat two AI camaros to T1 and through spins and attrition, I found myself in the lead! However, the curse was returning and I was experiencing MASSIVE brake fade after 5 laps and was forced to learn to use that left foot to pump the brake pedal. Ended up having to wave 2nd place on by and settle for a second place finish.
Race 2 I ended up having my first contact ever with #82 in T2, but managed to fight back up to 4th place.
Sunday qualifying had more drama when on my 3rd qual lap, just as I was beginning to pick up some speed, I lost a caliper bolt on the right front and limped the car back into tech. Thank you David Donovan for having a backup bolt!
Race 3, I was gridded 3rd and had a great launch and found myself in 2nd by turn 1 and in first by T3 as Donovan washed wide. Wow! In the lead again! On lap 2, Donovan assisted me off course in T4 where I tried killing some misquitos with tire smoke and watched the entire field pass by. Got the car re-fired and was hell bent on chasing down the AI pack. Driving like a mad man, I made it up to 3rd after passing Raybob and Frank, only to have the car die on me exiting the carousel. got it re-fired and chased them down again knowing full well that soft brake pedal was just waiting to rear it's ugly head. Settled into 3rd place and made sure I stayed there.
Race 4, due to contact and some 'other' issues ;), I was gridded on pole for the invert and knew I had to get a gap before the brakes went away. With about 3 laps left, the brakes decided they had enough and had a BIG slide going up over the hill into the bitch and the race was effectively over for me. Had to do the last 3 laps at snails pace with no brakes at all and a gas gauge that was BELOW the red E and settled for second place.
Overall, this was the hardest weekend I have ever had in 3 years. Actually led 3 of the 4 races which in all was pretty amazing considering my troubles/curse and ended up with two seconds, a third and fourth. Not a bad way to salvage a difficult weekend.
congratulations to Team Downunder for a clean sweep of the weekend with 4 wins and a pole. With Donovan's misfortunes and my struggles, the AI points battle was turned on it's head this weekend. The rest of the year is going to be a dog fight with the Winged Warriors for sure!
Here I am returning to Hallett for my third time, dreading my "curse" at this track from hell. The first two times I have been on this track ended in a blown motor after just 5 laps the first time, and a fuel starvation problem after just 6 laps the second time. Well, I got bit by the curse again early saturday morning during an off course excursion outside of T6 with reported "air time" resulting in ripping a piece off my K-member and hosing the mounts for the splitter/nose. I was able to get the car back together but found myself gridded DFL on MUCH larger than usual AI grid. As the flag dropped on the standing start, I was able to beat two AI camaros to T1 and through spins and attrition, I found myself in the lead! However, the curse was returning and I was experiencing MASSIVE brake fade after 5 laps and was forced to learn to use that left foot to pump the brake pedal. Ended up having to wave 2nd place on by and settle for a second place finish.
Race 2 I ended up having my first contact ever with #82 in T2, but managed to fight back up to 4th place.
Sunday qualifying had more drama when on my 3rd qual lap, just as I was beginning to pick up some speed, I lost a caliper bolt on the right front and limped the car back into tech. Thank you David Donovan for having a backup bolt!
Race 3, I was gridded 3rd and had a great launch and found myself in 2nd by turn 1 and in first by T3 as Donovan washed wide. Wow! In the lead again! On lap 2, Donovan assisted me off course in T4 where I tried killing some misquitos with tire smoke and watched the entire field pass by. Got the car re-fired and was hell bent on chasing down the AI pack. Driving like a mad man, I made it up to 3rd after passing Raybob and Frank, only to have the car die on me exiting the carousel. got it re-fired and chased them down again knowing full well that soft brake pedal was just waiting to rear it's ugly head. Settled into 3rd place and made sure I stayed there.
Race 4, due to contact and some 'other' issues ;), I was gridded on pole for the invert and knew I had to get a gap before the brakes went away. With about 3 laps left, the brakes decided they had enough and had a BIG slide going up over the hill into the bitch and the race was effectively over for me. Had to do the last 3 laps at snails pace with no brakes at all and a gas gauge that was BELOW the red E and settled for second place.
Overall, this was the hardest weekend I have ever had in 3 years. Actually led 3 of the 4 races which in all was pretty amazing considering my troubles/curse and ended up with two seconds, a third and fourth. Not a bad way to salvage a difficult weekend.
congratulations to Team Downunder for a clean sweep of the weekend with 4 wins and a pole. With Donovan's misfortunes and my struggles, the AI points battle was turned on it's head this weekend. The rest of the year is going to be a dog fight with the Winged Warriors for sure!