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| Honda-Tech.com
| Wash.
DC SCCA | Race
Results
Big Bore (Summit Point SCCA Road Racing School)
Article by: David Hess - March 18-20, 2005
What
do you think of when you "hear" the phrase "Big
Bore". Without seeing the spelling you might think,
"yawn", or drilling for oil. I have another, perhaps slightly
inappropriate, interpretation in print on a plaque. "First Place
Big Bore". Perhaps that might mean I was the most boring person
to watch in the group 3 race.
It was the last day, the last session of the Washington DC Region (WDCR) Racing School at Summit Point West Virginia. I was suited up and ready to go, including my gloves, at the one "1" minute mark. 30 seconds later the first 11 cars started rolling out of the staging area, with me in tow. The "splitter" designated which side of the track we'd be on for the first "mock" start/race to turn four. We circled the 2 mile, 10 turn course, with the final turn's pace being kept by the pole sitter. As the inverted field came closer to the starter, David Teal, the green flag was thrown and we were underway. I could not see the flag from my position so I had to rely on the music of the other engines to wait for my pedal to drop.
Heading
into turn one, I wedged myself in between two cars, one of which didn't
see me at first, but once I noticed his slight opposite movement of the
car, I was back on the gas and passing. Some how I managed to pass a few
cars in turns 1 and 2 in the inside. This was the advantage of having a
small car, fitting into tight spaces.
A mock start was repeated
after everyone raced to turn four. We pitted in, then were sent out
again behind the pace car. However we were held up for a while, while a
car was being "cleaned up". It was a fellow student, he'd gone
off first in turn two, then again in turn 3. We found out later he was
OK and back out there racing.
During the second mock start, some of my teenage instincts of traffic
light racing kicked in. So when the green flag dropped, I eventually
gained first place racing to turn 4... to the black flag.
So
here I am following the pace car for what would be a 5 lap mock race. I
led a field of cars ranging from Big Bore GT1 cars all the way down to
ITA cars... which is what I was driving. I peek in my mirror to see who
was behind me. A second generation RX-7 #69 was sitting in 4th or 5th.
Not far behind him was a former Speed GT Porsche and a Touring (T1)
Corvette. Next to me was a GT Pinto (GTP). I picked a rev range benefit
to the CRX in second gear and crawled down the front straight.
When
the flag dropped, the Pinto and I were almost dead even to Turn one. We
circled 1 and 2 next to each other. The bite of the front drive limited
slip had the advantage in the turns and on exit, but eventually his
horsepower won out going into turn 3. By this time the faster cars were
diving underneath me and I lost sight of the Pinto. I eventually caught
him and passed. :)
Looking at the results I think a total of 6 cars passed me from green to checkered. None of which were cars in my same class. It wasn't necessarily an incredible feat, but one I'm still proud of.
Later I was talking with David Teal, the starter and a member of the South Jersey Region SCCA. He commented on the second mock start that I'd gotten a really good jump on the flag, and it was legal. I also apparently had gotten 1/2 of my outside wheel hanging off the pavement. Had I gone over a few more inches, they would have sent me to the back of the field.
Group
three was considered the "Big Bore" group, not for lack of
entertainment, but for the displacement of the majority of the engine
running in this group. ITA was one of the slower classes in this field.
I absolutely love wheel to wheel racing. Especially when there's passing involved. I became more comfortable with the racing line, the speed in some of the faster turns and the traffic.
Writing about this is something I do hesitantly. It's extremely difficult to put down in words, what this experience is like. The cliché', "the most fun you can have with your clothes on" is one that starts to explain it. "the go-fast crack pipe" is another. Another reason why writing about this was difficult is because I actually came off a "high". It's depressing to be out of the car, and away from the people. Everyone was extremely helpful, encouraging and friendly.
Saturday, my fastest times were in the 1:36 range, and after the race I saw a 1:34. I spoke with David Teal, JD King and my instructors Bill Davis and Gregg Ginsberg about the course. I realize there is lots of speed out there, and little by little I plan on witling those times down. My goal is to be in the sub 1:30s by the end of the next race.
Things I learned:
-
Type "A" people can be friendly in the right environment. :)
-
Stock brakes can get you around a track for an entire day... if you strategically use your brakes.
-
Hawk Blues are pretty decent.
-
Bill Davis, my instructor, was my first instructor way back in the year 2000 at my first FATT.
-
The new road course at Summit Point is pretty dern cool.
-
The Anvil in Harpers Ferry has excellent trout and beer, Bass on tap.
-
That I have a lot to learn!
Racing
may be a big bore to some, but for me it is a dream come true. I am in
dept to many folks who have helped me along the way. I appreciate all
who have encouraged me or have offered help in one way shape or form.
Kudos:
A big thank you to my wife Gayle, who encouraged me to "go for my license". Mark Yeck who without his friendship I wouldn't have continued to autocross.
Greg and Gary D'Abate who supported me during the first racing school at Roebling Road way down in ol' Georgia.
All the folks at the South Jersey Region SCCA like; Jim Tornetta, Meg Meyer, JD King, Sue King, Matt Wojkowiak, and folks like Alan Pozner, Rob Leone, Steve Ashcraft and Perry Aidelbaum who allowed me allowed me to ride along while on course at autocross events.
Big thumbs up to the instructors at BSR (Summit Point Racway) and the Evolution Driving School. I've learned the most about racing and driving techniques from you folks!
Also special thanks to Sebastien Richard who shared his crew, Gregg and Spanky, with me this weekend.
The first race of the MARRS series is in April. A certain #29 nerdsracing CRX will hopefully be in the field.
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Other School Reviews:
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Editor's Notes:
Look
for Sebastien in the "Featured Ride" section of the May
edition of Grassroots Motorsports Magazine.
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Photos | Honda-Tech.com | Wash. DC SCCA | Race Results
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