Saturday April 30 Afternoon Autocross

We arrived at the Grissom Air Force Base area about 11:40 am.  The Autocross event did not start until 1:00 so we had a leisurely lunch at the Dutch Buffet.  Good food and cheap.  We left for the event about 12:30.  Good thing!.  Bit of a navigational mistake as the GPS took us in the wrong gate and the written directions referenced a water tower, yet we found 2 water towers.   But once we stopped and asked for directions, yes real men stop to ask for directions to a track, but that all. 

Anyway, once at the event, Dave dropped of Greg at the entrance so he could walk (really run) the course.  Walking the course is common practice to learn where all the cone and markers are and how to utilize and speed, braking and momentum during the competition.

The event was very well run by a professional staff.  The course was all concrete, smooth and consistent grip.  The course was challenging and well safely laid out.  The course map was published ahead of time in the One Lap of America Route Book the provided us at registration back in South Bend.  Of course all looking and the course layout and walking the course does little to prepare for running the course at speed where time staying on course and avoiding cones are the objectives.  In the end the time for your clean runs is what translates to One Lap points.

Greg’s first run was a 57.356, which wasn’t too shabby.  However, he missed a cone so he awarded a DNF (did not finish) which means the first of only 3 runs was disqualified.  We needed at least one clean run, so, Greg laid down a conservative 58.326 on the second run.  So with one good run in the books, Greg let is all out and turned a 57.075.  That minimum time is the time that will be used on awarding points.  We’ll have to wait and see how we faired in class and overall.

Dave had emptied the car while Greg studied the course.  He had everything ordered for re-packing the car which was about 5 minutes.  We found Robin and Woody, who were ready to leave and got on the road at 3:10 for Winchester, VA a 477 mile transit.  We expect to stop for dinner and arrive at the hotel about 1 am.  This is our first real long one lap leg of the 8 day of events.

Saturday April 30, Morning Skidpad

We awoke at 5:30 this morning.  Probably earlier than needed, but we wanted to benchmark ourselves on the time it takes to get up and ready, checkout of the hotel, eat drive to the track, unload and ready ourselves for the competition.  This morning we arrived at the Tire Rack South Bend Indiana at 8 am after we had breakfast at Pancake House of America restaurant with a whole bunch of other One-Lappers.

Once at Tire Rack we both changed into our race suits for the team photo and observed the first 10 or so cars run in the Wet Skid Pad time trail.  We thought the first most experience cars really were slow and not smooth.  We are seeded number 39 out of 78 entries.  The seeding is based on the experience of the Team, the car and years of running the one lap.  Since this is our first year, seeded 39 is pretty good.  Our challenge will be to hold or better that position throughout this 8 day endurance race.

The Wet Skid Pad time trial commences 1/3 the way around the first lap.  That’s not much time at all to figure out how much grip.  They time 2 laps one way, you turn around and then time 2 more laps.  They average the times and calculate the G-force.  Dave ran the Skid Pad and earned us a .771 G’s.  After our run that placed us in 21 st place overall, considerably above our seeding.  All of our National Capital Chapter Skid Pad experience paid off.  But there are the other cars behind us in the seeding yet to run and we did not stick around to find out our final position.  We’ll have to wait until the results are posted on the One Lap of America website.

So after Dave’s run, we packed up and headed to Grissom Air Force Base to compete in the Autocross event.  Greg has a number of year’s Autocross experience and will run in this afternoon’s event.  Anyway we left South Bend at 10:30 and it’s only an hour’s ride down the road to Grissom, an unusually easy transit.  Tonight’s transit to Winchester will be grueling.

After Registration - All Stickered Up

April 28 11:15PM - South Bend Arrival

Left at 8:40 this morning and made it to South Bend by about 7:45.  Pretty much drove the 622 miles straight through.  We stopped for gas/snacks and swapped drivers every 2 hours.  We had a late lunch at about 3:00 in Strongsville Ohio.  We made the trek with 2 other teams: Woody Hair and Robbin Sparrow (2011 BMW M3) and Brian Hair (E36 M3)  Brian was making the drive alone as he was meeting his partner in South Bend.

Drive was fun (yes you can drive for 10+ hours and have fun).  Had walki-talkies across the cars so there was a good running commentary about everything.  Saw lots of speed traps but kept things under the radar.  Weather was ugly in Washington and South Bend otherwise passing showers.  Got a bunch of pictures but these will have to wait till tomorrow as we are pretty tired at this point.

Tomorrow is an easy day.  Registration and Tech inspection, drivers' meeting and a evening party.  Saturday starts the events.

April 28th Getting ready

Technically it is now the day we are leaving for South Bend Indiana.  Planning to leave at 8:00 to meet up with Woody and Robin on the way.  Still finishing up packing and setting things up.  We have some of the decals on the car will add more Friday when we register.  We will be car #39 (see Our entry for the One Lap of America).  What started out as minimalist packing list has turned into a bunch of extras.  We now are bringing a table and tent (Greg dubious about the tent but willing to give it a go).  Still feel like I have a million things to get done before we leave but now clearly have no more time.  Should be a easy drive and plan to arrive at the hotel at about 6:00 PM.  Expect plenty of rain along the way.

Dave