I’ve been looking forward to this for a long time. In fact, I’ve been waiting for this since last year, even before I lost my old car. Friday was driver’s school, and Sunday was the Solo-I race.

The school was relaxed and the instructor I had gave few tips other than hand position. He kept saying, “Nice turns…… Real smooth…… Good downshifts…… **** guy, nice job”. Most of the latter part of the day was open lapping (instruction optional to some of us) with corner workers calling in what they saw. It was interesting seeing the track set up in race configuration. Normally, for club days, orange cones define the corners. During race events, large stacks of tires define the corners and huge tractor tires are in what could be used as run-off. Keep in mind that this is an old airport runway style racetrack.

Nash, Zach, Brad and myself all did the school and they also crewed for me on Sunday. These guys absolutely kick *** and all deserve a beer (in fact, I owe them dinner in a few weeks when we’re at the Portland school). As soon as I came off track, they swarmed over the car taking temperature readings, tire pressures, bleeding brakes, rotating tires, the works. We didn’t have any major issues come up, but I’m sure they would’ve been able to handle anything that did.

Sunday’s race day was great. We had about 16 or so cars in the Solo-I grid and we were on track four times. We had two practice sessions in the morning, and two race groups in the afternoon. The morning sessions went well except for the Miata driver who spun into a stack of tires at turn-4 and bashed in the side of his car. My car felt really loose during the first session and I dropped two right side wheels off sliding around turn-4. In the second practice session I was timed in the upper 1.08xx range, which is well off of my previous times at Bremerton (without tire walls)

The weather was in the upper 80’s and I was freakin’ melting waiting on grid for the afternoon race groups. I ran smooth, but still light-footed it through 3, 4 & 5. I know I can be faster through there, but seeing these huge tire barriers instead of cones makes things look a little more intimidating. I was able to get it down to a mid 1.07xx in the last session of the day.

I’ve got a lot more work to do and I still need to trust the car more, but I just don’t have a ton of seat time in the new car. It’ll come. Thanks for listening.

Here’s a few pictures Nash took from yesterday. I hope to have some in-car footage soon.

 

John,

I know I'm not the only one who's happy for you -

Scott, who never thought a Civic looked so big before....

 

Compared to the mini, I think I like your shade of green more...

Oh speaking of color, there's some of my mad skillz yellow paint on some RX-7 who got into me this weekend...

Greg

 

Glad you had fun, John! I never got to drive Bremeton and only went out there a couple of times but I used to LOVE racing at the Olympia airport when we ran there in the '80s.

BTW, I didn't know that your car was in ITC - I thought it was a DX?

Kirk

 

Oops....

I think I now know what Scott means by being really busy under braking. Yesterday, under hard braking, the car was pulling severely to the left. I was having to steer into it and the car was all over the place. I just had it aligned with 1/16" total front toe, but since nothing else is adjustable, the camber was uneven and the caster was way off. I think the old OE bushings have a lot to do with this and the rear drums need a major overhaul.

 

NWR Solo-I classing is based on engine size and level of prep. So, my friends with Integra motor swaps also fall into ITC since they're under 2.0 liters. Beautiful

 

hmm, so if I would an N/A Triple rotor 1962cc motor in my FD, I could run in ITC?

anyways, sounds like a fun weekend.

I had an absolute blast up here at the Blaine Street Solo. Tons of fun..

Even though I cracked my front end when I centerpunched a cone near the end of a long straight. My street tires got OWNED.

 

Thanks for the kind words John. I had a blast out there. The only way to have more fun would be to drive instead of crew Can't wait to hit portland in a couple of weeks. I'll be out there w/ you in the not so distant future getting owned in ITE At least it will be by Porsches. I can't complain if race prepped porsche's are beating me

Zach

 

John, Nash, Zach, and Brad thanks for your hospitality. I was really nice to chill with you guys. The sandwiches were also a big plus, the food at that concession stand can sometimes be really bad.

Sunday was an interesting day for me on the track. There is a big difference in Solo I versus a lapping day. It seemed that spins were tolerated and they happened a lot. I'm glad there was no contact between cars but that last practice lap still has me a little shaken. Not shaken enough to quite putting my car on the track, and I can't wait for next year's season. It would be nice if Confrence offered Solo I.

 

Well, well, well. Lookie who's here. The guy on Falkens who was faster. Just kidding Roldan. Nice show yesterday . We'll have to get up to Mission in September. The event this weekend is no good for me, although a two day event would make the trip worthwhile. looks like the two-day race in September will be the next one I can make.

edit - sp



[Modified by johng, 4:42 PM 8/12/2002]

 

I'd be shaken too Roldan. I must admit, I've never seen an Integra leave the ground before until I saw you leave the track to avoid the Miata :D Good job w/ the control in the offroad excursion btw better off the track a bit than tangling w/ that miata and the tires he got to know so well.

Zach

 

We here at Honda-Tech appreciate the usage of correct grammar.

I think "good luck" and nice job are at hand..

<-who has yet to fulfill his racing dreams.

 

I looked at the schedule for the events at mission. What I found interesting was that you only get one practice and one timed session per day. I think I'd still want to go though.

As for my off-road experiance, my mind has recovered recovered. I wish someone had video or pictures of the situation.

One other thing that I found was that the fastest ITA or SM time (not solo I) I could find at Bremerton was a 1:06.

 

Yes. I'd say it's too low for a street car though. You can see the dents on the driver's side where I've hit it pulling in and out of my driveway. I have to "crab-walk" the car in and out when I move it. Especially at Nash's house.