My first OPTIMA's Search for the Ultimate Street Car Rd#3 is in the books!
So how did we do...
Day 1:
So I was classed in the GT group, 31 competitors...and I do mean competitors.
AutoX was first up, and have to say BRAVO Mr. Brian Mason You somehow designed a course that seemed to completely level the playing field. It seemed no matter how many different things I tried my times were exactly the same....definition of idiot right?! Well after talking to others this seemed to be a common theme.
Finally put a run together and held onto my position
AutoX - 5th Place
End of day 2 was the Road Rally...figured just another cool big group cruise to check point and back....but I was wrong. I volunteered to take a passenger...Mr Jim Mamonis Jr.....AWESOME dude! We started talking and never stopped, I swear it was like we had been best friends since child hood.
Day 2:
Alright...not going to lie I was excited for day 2....we get to play on the big track
First up was the speed stop challenge....ok this was WAY more challenging than I thought it was going to be. Pretty fun event...but boy will it frustrate the hell out of you
Speed Stop Challenge - 7th Place
Now time for the track portion. I was placed in the intermediate group as I did not have a 5 point harness in the car. So...I forgot all about the first session setting the grid spot for the next session...so my plan of coming to staging late and running from the back to get some open track...totally back fired. As soon as I went out...car spins in 10, and black flag. We go green and NO bueno not a good lap, but somehow its good enough for 5th grid spot.
Each session I was bringing the lap times down...but Brian Shelley was at the top of the GT lap times...and I wanted to catch him. I saw he had put down a 2.18, and that was my focus. 3rd session out, I was on a flier, predictive of a 2.17....and then YELLOW FLAG at turn 18 a car had spun in the sink hole. So I jerked the car into the pits..there were some 4 letter words, and yes the GoPro did pick these up (Will post that video soon)
Finally 4th session clicked off the 2.18, and happily I watched Shelley's last session as he clicked off.....2.17 Have to say great job by the Brians
Track Hot Laps - 3rd Place
D&E(Design & Engineering).....D&E I knew coming in, I had no chance at any points for this, I was really torn on this as I was really proud and happy with the performance of my stock car against some of the other setups that were out there. I tried to spin it that way in my presentation, but at the end of the day...its a stock car so D&E was not good
D&E - 19th in class....and um 71st overall...I think I might have gotten beat by a car that did not even make the event LOL!
So overall ended 10th in a very competitive GT class.
I think the best part about this event, was similar to other events that I enjoy and that was the people. Got to finally meet face to face some of the "FB only" type friends, and all of them are great people. was fun to hang out, and share the passion and fun with everyone.
Next up is Road America, and then Nola
So how did we do...
Day 1:
So I was classed in the GT group, 31 competitors...and I do mean competitors.
AutoX was first up, and have to say BRAVO Mr. Brian Mason You somehow designed a course that seemed to completely level the playing field. It seemed no matter how many different things I tried my times were exactly the same....definition of idiot right?! Well after talking to others this seemed to be a common theme.
Finally put a run together and held onto my position
AutoX - 5th Place
End of day 2 was the Road Rally...figured just another cool big group cruise to check point and back....but I was wrong. I volunteered to take a passenger...Mr Jim Mamonis Jr.....AWESOME dude! We started talking and never stopped, I swear it was like we had been best friends since child hood.
Day 2:
Alright...not going to lie I was excited for day 2....we get to play on the big track
First up was the speed stop challenge....ok this was WAY more challenging than I thought it was going to be. Pretty fun event...but boy will it frustrate the hell out of you
Speed Stop Challenge - 7th Place
Now time for the track portion. I was placed in the intermediate group as I did not have a 5 point harness in the car. So...I forgot all about the first session setting the grid spot for the next session...so my plan of coming to staging late and running from the back to get some open track...totally back fired. As soon as I went out...car spins in 10, and black flag. We go green and NO bueno not a good lap, but somehow its good enough for 5th grid spot.
Each session I was bringing the lap times down...but Brian Shelley was at the top of the GT lap times...and I wanted to catch him. I saw he had put down a 2.18, and that was my focus. 3rd session out, I was on a flier, predictive of a 2.17....and then YELLOW FLAG at turn 18 a car had spun in the sink hole. So I jerked the car into the pits..there were some 4 letter words, and yes the GoPro did pick these up (Will post that video soon)
Finally 4th session clicked off the 2.18, and happily I watched Shelley's last session as he clicked off.....2.17 Have to say great job by the Brians
Track Hot Laps - 3rd Place
D&E(Design & Engineering).....D&E I knew coming in, I had no chance at any points for this, I was really torn on this as I was really proud and happy with the performance of my stock car against some of the other setups that were out there. I tried to spin it that way in my presentation, but at the end of the day...its a stock car so D&E was not good
D&E - 19th in class....and um 71st overall...I think I might have gotten beat by a car that did not even make the event LOL!
So overall ended 10th in a very competitive GT class.
I think the best part about this event, was similar to other events that I enjoy and that was the people. Got to finally meet face to face some of the "FB only" type friends, and all of them are great people. was fun to hang out, and share the passion and fun with everyone.
Next up is Road America, and then Nola
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