vnmsss
03-19-2011, 07:19 PM
The Art of Racing in the Rain.....with No Roof!!!
The second round of the West Coast Championship found the Factory Five Racing Challenge Series drivers returning to the hills and sweeping esses of Infineon Raceway, in Sonoma, CA. Three brave and hearty spec racers arrived on Friday afternoon amidst a driving rain, and temperatures that would not move the mercury above 45 all weekend. With a 90-100% chance of rain in the forecast, series veterans TC McNett, Jeff Awender, and Tom Coon donned the rain tires long before they arrived at the track. With unrelenting rain falling steadily into the night, everyone was thankful for the decision to house the racecars in the garages for the weekend, As the racers turned in for the evening, the Bay Area would experience wild weather, including hail and high winds that would turn out to be an F-1 tornado passing just 18 miles to the west. Wicked weather for sure!
Ominus clouds hung over the track all day
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r27/snkbtn/2011%20FFR/DSCF1257.jpg
Morning practice was held in a steady downpour, and under double yellow conditions. All of the spec racers did a masterful job of keeping their cars on the track and slowly increasing the pace, however, in spite of the reduced speeds, several racers in other classes weren’t as fortunate, spinning off track into the muddy grass. One unfortunate racer hydroplaned into the front straight wall, which brought the session to an early end.
The rain continued through qualifying, gaining strength just as the spec racers took to the track for their 10:45 AM session. The Challenge Series racers would be paired up with racers in the Camaro-Mustang Challenge, American Iron, Super Touring, Super Unlimited, German Touring Series, and Honda Challenge…..Quite a mix of cars and speed disparity, however, the rain would prove to be the great equalizer. TC McNett would secure the pole with a very quick 2:41.xx, with Jeff Awender turning a 2:50.xx, and Tom Coon posting a 3:03.xx. The spec racers again drove with great skill and avoided any off track excursions. Their fellow competitors were not as fortunate, with several again spinning off track and donny-brooking through the lush, green grass.
Tom Coon and Jeff Awender pre-grid for qualifying
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r27/snkbtn/2011%20FFR/DSCF1244.jpg
TC McNett and Steadfast Crew
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r27/snkbtn/2011%20FFR/DSCF1239.jpg
The rains continued into the afternoon, and Race Group B took to the track in a steady downpour. The CMC/FFR racers would take the first green flag for the group, and at race start, the spec racers would be at the back of a massive mist and spray field, with a CMC car spinning just before the crest of the hill.
TC, Jeff and Tom navigated the exceptionally difficult conditions with great skill, with TC snaking into the lead and working his way through the CMC pack, all the while Jeff and Tom were working their way through the pack close behind. All three racers avoided the many on-track incidents (and off track excursions) by their competitors in other race classes, but all three raced clean....TC would hold the lead throughout the race, and Jeff worked hard to keep him in the crsoshairs. All three racers posted their best laptimes of the weekend (in a driving rain), and at the checkered, it was TC McNett for the victory, with Jeff Awender taking second, and Tom Coon securing third place. Racers passed impound with flying colors, and everyone was glad to pull the garage doors down on the wicked weather with all three cars safe and ready to race in the morning.
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r27/snkbtn/2011%20FFR/DSCF1253.jpg
The second round of the West Coast Championship found the Factory Five Racing Challenge Series drivers returning to the hills and sweeping esses of Infineon Raceway, in Sonoma, CA. Three brave and hearty spec racers arrived on Friday afternoon amidst a driving rain, and temperatures that would not move the mercury above 45 all weekend. With a 90-100% chance of rain in the forecast, series veterans TC McNett, Jeff Awender, and Tom Coon donned the rain tires long before they arrived at the track. With unrelenting rain falling steadily into the night, everyone was thankful for the decision to house the racecars in the garages for the weekend, As the racers turned in for the evening, the Bay Area would experience wild weather, including hail and high winds that would turn out to be an F-1 tornado passing just 18 miles to the west. Wicked weather for sure!
Ominus clouds hung over the track all day
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r27/snkbtn/2011%20FFR/DSCF1257.jpg
Morning practice was held in a steady downpour, and under double yellow conditions. All of the spec racers did a masterful job of keeping their cars on the track and slowly increasing the pace, however, in spite of the reduced speeds, several racers in other classes weren’t as fortunate, spinning off track into the muddy grass. One unfortunate racer hydroplaned into the front straight wall, which brought the session to an early end.
The rain continued through qualifying, gaining strength just as the spec racers took to the track for their 10:45 AM session. The Challenge Series racers would be paired up with racers in the Camaro-Mustang Challenge, American Iron, Super Touring, Super Unlimited, German Touring Series, and Honda Challenge…..Quite a mix of cars and speed disparity, however, the rain would prove to be the great equalizer. TC McNett would secure the pole with a very quick 2:41.xx, with Jeff Awender turning a 2:50.xx, and Tom Coon posting a 3:03.xx. The spec racers again drove with great skill and avoided any off track excursions. Their fellow competitors were not as fortunate, with several again spinning off track and donny-brooking through the lush, green grass.
Tom Coon and Jeff Awender pre-grid for qualifying
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r27/snkbtn/2011%20FFR/DSCF1244.jpg
TC McNett and Steadfast Crew
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r27/snkbtn/2011%20FFR/DSCF1239.jpg
The rains continued into the afternoon, and Race Group B took to the track in a steady downpour. The CMC/FFR racers would take the first green flag for the group, and at race start, the spec racers would be at the back of a massive mist and spray field, with a CMC car spinning just before the crest of the hill.
TC, Jeff and Tom navigated the exceptionally difficult conditions with great skill, with TC snaking into the lead and working his way through the CMC pack, all the while Jeff and Tom were working their way through the pack close behind. All three racers avoided the many on-track incidents (and off track excursions) by their competitors in other race classes, but all three raced clean....TC would hold the lead throughout the race, and Jeff worked hard to keep him in the crsoshairs. All three racers posted their best laptimes of the weekend (in a driving rain), and at the checkered, it was TC McNett for the victory, with Jeff Awender taking second, and Tom Coon securing third place. Racers passed impound with flying colors, and everyone was glad to pull the garage doors down on the wicked weather with all three cars safe and ready to race in the morning.
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r27/snkbtn/2011%20FFR/DSCF1253.jpg