Sebring

Sebring…

I’ve always loved the 12 hour endurance races at Sebring. Its such a tuff race track with lots of speed and plenty of punishment both for the car and for the driver. I think its harder then the 24 hour at Daytona. From the start of One Lap I’ve wanted to drive it not because I expect to do well but because I expect to be challenged. Over three miles long with 17 turns with flat out sweepers and more blind apex’s then you can stand Sebring is tuff to drive. Its even more difficult when you get one recon lap then they line you up at start finish look you square in the eye and tell you. “you have the whole track to yourself..go as fast as you can” It’s the closest thing I’ve ever done to real racing. Somebody just gave me the key to Sebring and said go drive it…

To prepare for what really is impossible to prepare for I studied the track map and watched as many videos as I could. The more I watched the more I was worried. From the video there are lots of blind apex’s and fast sweepers that dump you into 90 degree turns Sebring is intimidating.

We arrived at the track close to 9am which is really cutting it close to the start of the event. Our pack/unpack routine needs work but we are getting there. Sebring is too long of a track to walk it to learn so I just had to go out cold. I hunted and pecked my way around struggling to find visual markers for the long sweepers. Without knowing what’s at the end of the fast sections you really can’t go flat out. The car is having its issues as well. The rear alignment is way off and the car is really pushing through corner entry and there is no way to “throttle lift” to get the car to over steer. But our new motto is “it is what it is” and I am going to have to just do the best I can. Some of the sputtering from the MAF is still there and we are going to have to do something with it when we get back but otherwise the car is making good power and I can really open her up on the long straits. The recon lap helped but even in my first lap is was still hunting for my marks. The second lap was better and by my third lap I think I got maybe 75% of the track.

On the cool down lap I coasted down the front strait and took my time getting on the brakes only to find I had no pedal. I panicked pumped the brakes and they came back but for the entire cool down lap they were soft. In the pits we looked for leaks and didn’t find any so we bleed the brakes and although the fluid is a little dark any air. When we get to the drivers front I can see one of the flex lines we had planned on swapping was weeping. Our first attempt at breaking loose those break line fittings resulted in some sailor talk and a rounded off nut. I broke out the MAP gas and cooked them a couple of times and finally with two vise-grips and lots of sailor talk they came free just about 5 mintues before I was due back out on track for the afternoon session.

The second section felt better and I was able to attack it and carry more speed through the big sweepers. I got into trouble in a couple of sections and went off again in the “paper clip” turn. This time I wasn’t going to stop and I just dropped it into second and lit up all four on my way back on track. You know you’ve done good when the corner worker gives you a standing ovation. The first session I think I was in 25th place and the second session I moved up a few places and knocked 12 seconds off my time even though I went off. I’d like another shot at the track but that’s One Lap. Its supposed to be hard and that’s what makes it fun. We are off to Gainesville for the drag racing and the expectations are high for the One Lap VR4.