Dave532
15+ Year Contributor
- 98
- 0
- Jun 5, 2006
-
Minneapolis,
Minnesota
Mid America Motorplex
June 30, July 1
Pre-Race: Considering how much fun I had at the last NASA event in HPDE 4. I was really looking forward to push my DSM even harder at a true race. Normally a driver should spend at least 4 weekends in HPDE 4 before attempting Comp school but I somehow convinced the director of the Midwest Region to allow me to enter the school after only a couple HPDE sessions. The biggest obstacle to entering the Comp School was having to enter with a truly prepped race car. I installed all the necessary pieces; within a month I was able to install all the necessary pieces; roll cage, side nets, belts, kill switch, etc.
We arrived in Council Bluffs Friday night and the car breezed through tech inspection Sat morning. The only piece I got dinged on was the lack of tow hooks which I didn't have time to order/install.
Saturday:
First Session: Comp School was composed of 6 basic sessions (3 classroom and 3 track) with a final race session at the end of the day. The first session involved going over the CCR (Competition Rules) including flags, legal passing and racecraft. During the driving session I paired up with a driver in comp school in a '67 Mustang (American Iron class). We had to drive within inches of each other around the track during the entire 20 minute session...attempting to become comfortable with other cars at speed in close quarters. This actually proved to be fairly difficult for me as I didn't know or trust the Mustang driver very well. We also encountered the gamut of various flags to see how we reacted (blue, red, yellow, etc)
Second Session: More classroom instruction with a practice race on the track. I was the fastest car in the comp school so they put me at the back of the field to see how many cars I could pass...and how well the slower cars could avoid being passed. I was able to get by over half the field when suddenly I had a severe loss of power forcing me to pull into the pits and open the hood. I quickly found a hose clamp had come loose between the intercooler and the intake...a significant boost leak. Luckily it was a quick fix and I was ready for the next session.
Third Session: This was going to be another fake race. I started at the back of the field again but somehow managed to pass everybody before the first corner. I knew I should be hanging back and allowing cars to "mix it up" with me...but I didn't. I was feeling too "competitive". After a couple laps trying to set better times I see a red car closing on me slowly. It's now about 3 seconds behind me and I notice it's a Mustang...this isn't one of the Comp School entrants! And he's catching me pretty quickly.
Halfway through the 20 minute session he has caught me and is "harassing" me...Almost passing, side-by-side in the corners, blocking etc. So I race him as hard as I can but its obvious he's toying with me with his extra 200+ horsepower.
I finish the session and ask around to see who this driver was...I learn from his mother that it was the Director of the Midwest Region! Thank God I didn't hit him!
According to the other competitors I held my own job against him quite well...which boosted my confidence. After talking to him his only real critique was that I was giving him too much room...when being passed I only have to give 3/4 car width. I promise I will work on that.
Fourth Session: Our "graduation race". Numerous other racers have joined us. I start at the back of the field and gain 6 positions before the finish. The real racers were not easy on us to be sure. Rally racing definitely has its excitement, but wheel to wheel road racing was an excitement all its own.
Our final step to graduation was passing a written test which encapsulated the most important rules of the track...what to do under which flag condition, passing tech, etc.
After successfully passing this test, all of the students were awarded their Provisional (rookie) NASA Competition Licenses! I completed my goal! And in record time.
Sunday:
Practice: Now that the hard part is over it's time to reap the rewards. During the morning session I take the time to spend on getting the car dialed in and learning better lines through the corners. My best time was a 1:51.
Qualifying: Still being very new to this, I continue to spend time on learning the track and getting used to the other cars. I gain a second over the morning session.
Race: Very nervous. I do NOT want to be the guy that wrecks the field in the first corner in my first race. I qualify 8th overall and 1st in class...which is easy being I am the only car in Production Touring C. The green flag flies and I gain 1 position in the first corner, We are 3 wide in the 2nd corner which causes me to go 4 wheels off in turn 3...a closing right-hander. I keep the long pedal planted and allow the AWD to get me safely back on track. I am now down to 12th. I spend the rest of the race passing Miatas and 944's to finish where I started in 8th place. The good news is no more offs and I did my best time of the whole weekend.
What an event! The DSM held up well and I didn't make a complete fool of myself. Hopefully any concerns about allowing me in Comp School so early were quelled.
I was really looking forward to the next race in Joliet, IL. In a month’s time.
June 30, July 1
Pre-Race: Considering how much fun I had at the last NASA event in HPDE 4. I was really looking forward to push my DSM even harder at a true race. Normally a driver should spend at least 4 weekends in HPDE 4 before attempting Comp school but I somehow convinced the director of the Midwest Region to allow me to enter the school after only a couple HPDE sessions. The biggest obstacle to entering the Comp School was having to enter with a truly prepped race car. I installed all the necessary pieces; within a month I was able to install all the necessary pieces; roll cage, side nets, belts, kill switch, etc.
We arrived in Council Bluffs Friday night and the car breezed through tech inspection Sat morning. The only piece I got dinged on was the lack of tow hooks which I didn't have time to order/install.
Saturday:
First Session: Comp School was composed of 6 basic sessions (3 classroom and 3 track) with a final race session at the end of the day. The first session involved going over the CCR (Competition Rules) including flags, legal passing and racecraft. During the driving session I paired up with a driver in comp school in a '67 Mustang (American Iron class). We had to drive within inches of each other around the track during the entire 20 minute session...attempting to become comfortable with other cars at speed in close quarters. This actually proved to be fairly difficult for me as I didn't know or trust the Mustang driver very well. We also encountered the gamut of various flags to see how we reacted (blue, red, yellow, etc)
Second Session: More classroom instruction with a practice race on the track. I was the fastest car in the comp school so they put me at the back of the field to see how many cars I could pass...and how well the slower cars could avoid being passed. I was able to get by over half the field when suddenly I had a severe loss of power forcing me to pull into the pits and open the hood. I quickly found a hose clamp had come loose between the intercooler and the intake...a significant boost leak. Luckily it was a quick fix and I was ready for the next session.
Third Session: This was going to be another fake race. I started at the back of the field again but somehow managed to pass everybody before the first corner. I knew I should be hanging back and allowing cars to "mix it up" with me...but I didn't. I was feeling too "competitive". After a couple laps trying to set better times I see a red car closing on me slowly. It's now about 3 seconds behind me and I notice it's a Mustang...this isn't one of the Comp School entrants! And he's catching me pretty quickly.
Halfway through the 20 minute session he has caught me and is "harassing" me...Almost passing, side-by-side in the corners, blocking etc. So I race him as hard as I can but its obvious he's toying with me with his extra 200+ horsepower.
I finish the session and ask around to see who this driver was...I learn from his mother that it was the Director of the Midwest Region! Thank God I didn't hit him!
According to the other competitors I held my own job against him quite well...which boosted my confidence. After talking to him his only real critique was that I was giving him too much room...when being passed I only have to give 3/4 car width. I promise I will work on that.
Fourth Session: Our "graduation race". Numerous other racers have joined us. I start at the back of the field and gain 6 positions before the finish. The real racers were not easy on us to be sure. Rally racing definitely has its excitement, but wheel to wheel road racing was an excitement all its own.
Our final step to graduation was passing a written test which encapsulated the most important rules of the track...what to do under which flag condition, passing tech, etc.
After successfully passing this test, all of the students were awarded their Provisional (rookie) NASA Competition Licenses! I completed my goal! And in record time.
Sunday:
Practice: Now that the hard part is over it's time to reap the rewards. During the morning session I take the time to spend on getting the car dialed in and learning better lines through the corners. My best time was a 1:51.
Qualifying: Still being very new to this, I continue to spend time on learning the track and getting used to the other cars. I gain a second over the morning session.
Race: Very nervous. I do NOT want to be the guy that wrecks the field in the first corner in my first race. I qualify 8th overall and 1st in class...which is easy being I am the only car in Production Touring C. The green flag flies and I gain 1 position in the first corner, We are 3 wide in the 2nd corner which causes me to go 4 wheels off in turn 3...a closing right-hander. I keep the long pedal planted and allow the AWD to get me safely back on track. I am now down to 12th. I spend the rest of the race passing Miatas and 944's to finish where I started in 8th place. The good news is no more offs and I did my best time of the whole weekend.
What an event! The DSM held up well and I didn't make a complete fool of myself. Hopefully any concerns about allowing me in Comp School so early were quelled.
I was really looking forward to the next race in Joliet, IL. In a month’s time.
