|
10/11-12/2008 NASA Mid-Atlantic
Racing at Summit Point
Well the end of the Sprint season came
and we had just enough to run some road racing in a
Mazda. Jessie has been working to get a National Racing
License. She has had a few calls each winter asking if
she has a National License. Well that’s not likely
running a Sprint in Central PA, the heart of what Outlaw
Racing is all about. Some rules but not much in the way
of sanctioning. She had the chance this past off season
to run an open wheel car on the road course at Homestead
and a Mazda hardtop at Sebring.
We got hooked up with Meathead Racing renting a Mazda
Miada for the weekend. We knew Jim and his dad Lin
Toland through Karting friends. Jim had brought one of
the Meathead Mazda’s to kart race and it was a natural.
Jim crews on Meathead’s rentals. Thanks Jim for the
lead and your hard work this past weekend.
Jessie went up Friday night to make sure the seat and
peddles all fit. The next morning was her first time on
the track in a car. She had raced Summit before in
Karts at speeds not too far off from Mazda times.
The schedule for the weekend was one
practice, qualifying and then the race each day. That
would be six trips on the track. The hope was by the
end of the weekend to be running mid pack.
First time out times were in the 1:40’s
with about four others in her group. We were looking
for 1:30’s. Then came qualifying, the car failed safety
tech on pit road as cars were pulling out for timing.
That made picking up time tough. We would be starting
in the back of the race with very little track time.
This was a year end race for most and they were getting
around pretty good. Jessie picked up about three
seconds from the morning practice in the race finishing
35 of 41 in her group and 25th of 28 in
class. Missing the qualifying session showed, cars are
sent out at different times in road racing and the first
group is on you shortly after the start and now you are
running a line not the racing line as you are being
passed by other classes.
Sunday morning practice went better as
Jessie picked up about four more seconds getting into
the high 1:30’s. Qualifying times were similar to the
early morning practice. With her provisional license
she would start in the back regardless of times. She
was consistent in her lines and times. Race time came
and starting in the back it went much better. She got
into the 1:35’s with our goal to be about 1:32. It was
good enough to finish 30th in her group of 41
and 22nd of 28 Mazdas. The highlight was on
the last lap when she lapped her first car. Two more
races and she can apply for a regular license.
The weather was great and Jessie met a lot of new racing
friends with NASA.
Back to News
|
