Cobra 61
04-28-2014, 07:00 PM
It is in the books. It didn't star out as planned, but it isn't how well you plan for the race, but how well you plan for what can go wrong! A new driver this week from Peru, Rafael Navarro. 8:00 AM practice , he managed to pass a slow car on a yellow and was DQ'd for the day. Without a driver and looking for some good data and season points, we checked our options. Park it, find a driver, or contest the infraction. First, I contested the fact of closing speed/commitment to clean passing and the ability to not see the late flagging from the corners. It did not work.. Yvonne suggested parking it and keep the car for Sunday's double header. But honey, we came to race and win another championship. I got on the cart and began to cruise the paddock for another driver. I asked around and to no avail. Time is running out and getting near the time for qualifying. While Davidson Racing brought both the Norma and the Eagle out, it was going to be an exciting race, not about speed as we know both of these cars out $ and are faster, but to see who could last to the end. We were up for it. The last chance effort brought me to the Davidson camp. Ron, I have a problem. "Yeh, I know. I was at the driver's meeting." Do you have somebody here that can drive our car? Is this like making a deal with the devil or something. I'm asking the enemy if they have extra guns so we can fight them! Yes, I got someone for you. Chris Lock, he has tested several times in the EAGLE. How bad can that be? I don't know much about him and running out of time. OK, I'll take him. While Chris was getting oriented and settled into the GTM, he only got 2 full laps of track time in the seat. He logged a 1:53.XX for a P3 on the grid behind the two Davidson cars. He hung with him for a while but we just aren't a sprint oriented machine (endurance is game). The EAGLE finished first, Norma second, and the GTM third. Podium and points was in order. GREAT JOB, Chris. As Chris stopped the GTM in paddock, I asked him about the car. "This car is incredible to drive! It handles and drives 20 times better than the EAGLE! His job was done and good results. Chris left and then returned shortly. He spent about an hour with us telling of his experience in the car how he wanted more if possible. He was a great source of information. Later, I found out that he has driven in the Grand AM series for 4 years. A short time later, Albert Butterfield, a NASA official and instructor, came up. I had promised him a ride in the car for years, but it just had never happened until now. Get in. We dot him settled and he went out for two laps. Well the two laps turned into ten! Albert is a world class road race biker who did most of his career in
Europe. He final y came in and the same thing: Did you have fun? " WOW, let me catch myself." This car is so neutral and I have driven every type of car that has been at thunderhill and I have never driven a car as neutral as this!" I remember this car when it was just tubes in your garage! We ended the day with feedback from three drivers and Jim went to work on the chassis.
Sunday morning, left a window of opportunity to test some take offs from Ted and Chris Durbin's SLC. Rafael was back in the seat and put them to work. We found the GTM loved more tire patch, but not the height. Corner entry was noticeably faster, but the exit was not good. We got a stating point out of it. Chris Lock came back over and talked to Jim about the car for about an hour. This won't stay away! (LOL) The race started and Rafael was in the P3 position behind the pole sitting Norma. The EAGLE jumped to a car length lead and the GTM showed some promise as Rafael put a fender under the Norma and decided not to take it. While he kept a good pace with them, we just didn't have enough Wheaties to get the job done. The Norma took the lead and the EAGLE stepped off the pace. The GTM was still in striking distance and then the #18 retired of electrical issues. We finished in P2 in class and overall.
RACE 2: Our second place finish put the GTM in the front row with the Norma as the EAGLE couldn't answer the bell. The car handled very well and collected a lot of data and input from the three drivers. The Norma, in the race world, is classified as an LMP3 car and we are just no match for its weight to power ratio. Rafael put on a great effort finishing 2nd overall and in class. Our first time out for the Unlimited Series, we finished the weekend second in points, just 90 behind the Norma.
Everyone had a great time! even the drivers!
See you at the races,
Richard and Team PDG
Europe. He final y came in and the same thing: Did you have fun? " WOW, let me catch myself." This car is so neutral and I have driven every type of car that has been at thunderhill and I have never driven a car as neutral as this!" I remember this car when it was just tubes in your garage! We ended the day with feedback from three drivers and Jim went to work on the chassis.
Sunday morning, left a window of opportunity to test some take offs from Ted and Chris Durbin's SLC. Rafael was back in the seat and put them to work. We found the GTM loved more tire patch, but not the height. Corner entry was noticeably faster, but the exit was not good. We got a stating point out of it. Chris Lock came back over and talked to Jim about the car for about an hour. This won't stay away! (LOL) The race started and Rafael was in the P3 position behind the pole sitting Norma. The EAGLE jumped to a car length lead and the GTM showed some promise as Rafael put a fender under the Norma and decided not to take it. While he kept a good pace with them, we just didn't have enough Wheaties to get the job done. The Norma took the lead and the EAGLE stepped off the pace. The GTM was still in striking distance and then the #18 retired of electrical issues. We finished in P2 in class and overall.
RACE 2: Our second place finish put the GTM in the front row with the Norma as the EAGLE couldn't answer the bell. The car handled very well and collected a lot of data and input from the three drivers. The Norma, in the race world, is classified as an LMP3 car and we are just no match for its weight to power ratio. Rafael put on a great effort finishing 2nd overall and in class. Our first time out for the Unlimited Series, we finished the weekend second in points, just 90 behind the Norma.
Everyone had a great time! even the drivers!
See you at the races,
Richard and Team PDG