http://www.sfrscca.org/Results/20020721/
I towed up Friday and on the way someone pointed out that I had a broken
wheel stud. So instead of just dropping the car off and returning home
I had to take the rear hub off and have the stud fixed. During the removal
of the hub I found that the three bolts holding the hub on were loose.
I made a mental note of checking the right side on Saturday. With that
finished I went home.
Saturday's practice went really well. I turned a 2:00.361 and a 2:00.910
and a couple of 2:01s. I would have had more times to report but there
was someone dumping fuel in front of me and I waited 'til they were blacked
flagged before I got back in to it. I guess the suspension changes didn't
hurt.
Saturday's qualifying went pretty well. No 2:00s but plenty of 2:01s.
In fact except for my first full lap all 7 laps were 2:01. The fastest
time was 2:01.012 so almost but not quite in the 2:00s. I qualified 8th
overall and 4th in class.
Sunday's race was in the morning and I tightened a few of the rear
suspension points, trailing arms and the like. Everything else was ready
to go. I was gridded behind an ITS and next to an ITB. The ITB had set
a new qualifying record and qualified 2/100s faster than me. I felt that
being behind the ITS and having a power advantage that he wouldn't be to
much of a problem.
The green flag flew and I followed the ITS car in to turn one pulling
ahead of the ITB car. I spent most of the race with Chuck Canepa in my
view but not able to close on him. Eventually he pulled ahead as traffic
cut in to my lap times. My times were 2:00.677/2:00.808 (2 laps), 2:01.064-2:01.2:01.954
(11 laps), 2:02.107/2:02.557(2 laps), 2:04.588 (first lap), out of 16 laps.
I averaged 2:01.684 per lap. As you can imagine I was very pleased with
my times.
I was hoping for similar results in the contingency dash that was scheduled
for the afternoon. As we went on course the grid shuffled since there was
a missing car. I was now behind ITS car but the ITB was now next him with
an ITC car next to me. So it was going to be harder to get by the ITB car
in the first few turns. When the green flag flew it was as I predicted.
I was not able to get by the ITB car at the start. I did tuck in behind
him and started to push for a passing opportunity. It came during the second
lap. I braked hard going in to turn 11 and was able to close the door on
the exit. I was not able to shake the ITB car since my times were now mostly
in the 2:02s. Andy Banta made an attempt to get in front of the ITB car
and succeeded for a few laps. The ITB got by Andy and started pressing
me or at least keep me honest. I was able to see the ITS car and was hoping
to close the gap enough to make a challenge. Well a little past half way
I was exiting turn 6 (The Carousel) and as I got on the gas something let
go in the front right. I switched from full on the gas to full on the brakes
hoping to slow the car enough to stay out of the tires. I was almost successful
but as soon as I hit the dirt the car was slowing down very much. I hit
the tires, luckily they weren't in front of a wall, the gave quite a bit
and I had slowed the car significantly. I was able to get the car out of
harms way and waited for a tow.
What it looks like happened was the front hub/bearing/axle had an axle
failure of some type. I won't know until I pull it off but that is my suspicion.
I'll report what I find as soon as I know. I should be ready for Laguna
Seca in two weeks since I have spares for the entire front suspension.