Super Tourers 2 - Summer Racing at Arizona Motorsports Park
"You boys like Mexico?!"
SPOILERS AHEAD: (Chris wins his first race!)
For once, things came together nicely on the car, made some changes and repairs that were needed, added a new datalogging system from Autosport Labs, and even some sticker hoosiers were ready to go.
All set, Arizona motorsports park is a local track with lots of variety in straights and turns, and has the benefit of being run in both directions (CW and CCW). The big downer is that you have to prep the car to pass sound ~94db IIRC. So corked up and turn-aways added to the exhaust. With ambient temperatures nearing 100* on both days it was hard on both equipment and body.
Saturday I qualified on cycled out tires and swapped to stickers for the race. While I expected that plan to work out, I didn't expect for the positive battery terminal to contact the oil catch can nearby and short out the power steering. I had to come off track from P3 in class, lost 3 laps while
@ArizonaBOSS checked out the car. I re-entered without power steering and wrapped up the race, shockingly ending up P2 as the leader's car failed sound, and another class car did one lap and parked due to a brake caliper failure. I was somewhat frustrated as had I stayed out, I would have found my first win. That said, another local racer and TMO member kicked some serious ass and took home the win in that carnage fest, wrapping up his provisional NASA license in the process.
Sunday went better. I practiced on the new config (CCW) which I had never run before on old tires, and that worked out great since I was able to run the fastest in practice. I didn't quite qualify as well, 3rd overall, 2nd in class for the start, but just a tenth back and 2 seconds faster than practice (back on the good hoosiers).
The race start was pretty wild, all the cars stayed together and P1 and P2 (a GTR in ST2, and a well setup E36 in ST3) changed places a few times and I was right on their rear bumpers waiting to capitalize. Luckily, that chance came fairly early and the GTR went off the track and had to really leverage its AWD. At that point to the end of the race I was able to cruise on to the finish, earning an emotional first win!
Video:
The points race is going very well for me, now up 65 points after drops or 145 before. As long as I continue to execute and find my way near the podium I should be in good shape for the end-of-year double points enduro that will close out the regional championship.
Lots of huge thanks to go out: (tags not working for me
)
Tim at OPMustang, Kelly at BMR Suspension,
@ArizonaBOSS , Kevin Yang, Derek Eckley (both TMO members), Brent at Autosport labs, Will Patterson, most importantly my wife and many more are all owed huge thanks in getting me to this win. Without their help and support it would not have happened and with all the trials before I might not have kept going.
I feel this program is really coming together. Some large changes coming to the car to help prep for the next race which is the NASA Nationals event at COTA. I might not have the speed, but as Derek Eckley proved this weekend, "To finish first, first you must finish". More on those changes soon.
Some pictures from the event: (courtesy Will Patterson and Adina Evanson):