Spec Boxster Build

[thstone]

Originally Posted by JayG

OK, Tom, how do you know LOL

I'll try and post the video tomorrow...

[thstone]

Well, that didn't work out as planned.

Drove the Spec Boxster from LA to Las Vegas to race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway Outside Road course. Everything went fine in the first practice yesterday and I saw my lap times consistently dropping as I learned the course.

Then, in the second practice, I looped the car 180 degrees at the exit of Turn 10 and spun into the tire barrier protecting the wall. I hit the tire barrier going about 25 mph. Not a big hit but it was a nice smack.

The damage wasn't too bad - front fender pushed into the tire and cut into the tread, passenger side door pushed in, and some ripple on the rear fender.

I am also still losing coolant somewhere. I had the coolant system pressure tested after losing coolant at Buttonwillow and the shop found the reservoir leaking and it was replaced, but I still lost a lot of coolant in two sessions so that will have to be looked at again.

With body damage, a cut tire, losing coolant, and bruised ego from the self-inflicted damage, I decided to call it a weekend and came home (and stopped to refill coolant once).

Race. Repair. Repeat.

Next race in four weeks at PCA Festival of Speed at Fontana.

And yes, I have the video and will post tomorrow.

[Geof3]

Oh, glad you are ok! Don’t like seeing dents, even in race cars. Par for the course though for sure! Hope next time is a win!

[thstone]

Here is the video.

I came into the corner behind on everything: behind on braking so I'm carrying too much speed; behind on downshifting so I'm kind of trying to do that and brake at the same time; and behind on steering so I'm chasing the slide instead of catching it. Once I got that far out of phase or sequence, its impossible to catch up, and the best I can do is to try to recover - and in this instance I wasn't able to do that.

I had 4 hours on the drive back to LA to beat myself up about making this mistake but all I can do is learn from it and continue to work on becoming a better driver/racer. And yes, racing does imitate life.

[seningen]

Originally Posted by thstone

Here is the video.

I came into the corner behind on everything: behind on braking so I'm carrying too much speed; behind on downshifting so I'm kind of trying to do that and brake at the same time; and behind on steering so I'm chasing the slide instead of catching it. Once I got that far out of phase or sequence, its impossible to catch up, and the best I can do is to try to recover - and in this instance I wasn't able to do that.

I had 4 hours on the drive back to LA to beat myself up about making this mistake but all I can do is learn from it and continue to work on becoming a better driver/racer. And yes, racing does imitate life.

Nothing worse than have nothing but time to critique & brow beat yourself.

Brush it off, get back on the horse and continue to be
Inspiration for all the 986forum folks.

M

P.S try not to tuck your thumbs in the steering wheel.

[itsnotanova]

I think you should be happy you didn't damage the rear quarter panel that bad. Finding a black door and fender in California shouldn't be too hard.

[BRAN]

Glad it was just a minor impact (hopefully).
There are some fresh SKIDMARKS (@0.09min) at exact the same spot, when you realized the curve layout.
You tried to correct the situation, the other Driver let it run straight. Was really difficult to realize the turns...layout too flat, no real environmental indicators, all the same color, at least for my taste as a spectator.
Heads up, always interesting to see you racing vids, Tom

[Smallblock454]

Think i would try to press the door sheet metal from the inside out. Classical dent repair. Same with the fender.

If the repair is not perfect visually, but solid – who cares. It's a race car. Has to be rough, dirty, loud and fast.

[thstone]

Originally Posted by BRAN

Was really difficult to realize the turns...layout too flat, no real environmental indicators, all the same color, at least for my taste as a spectator.

Your perception is absolutely correct - there is a distinct lack of visual cues due to the featureless landscape. That is part of the challenge (which I failed!).

[CrisZenithBlue]

The reality is that most of us just dream of what you’re doing Tom.. **************** happens, few have the cojones to just keep on going after hitting a wall or two.. Don’t beat yourself up too bad!

Keep it coming! Nothing but respect for you sir!

[RedTele58]

Originally Posted by CrisZenithBlue

Nothing but respect for you sir!

This ^^^^^^

[thstone]

Originally Posted by seningen

Nothing worse than have nothing but time to critique & brow beat yourself.
Brush it off, get back on the horse and continue to be
Inspiration for all the 986forum folks.
P.S try not to tuck your thumbs in the steering wheel.

Originally Posted by CrisZenithBlue

The reality is that most of us just dream of what you’re doing Tom.. **************** happens, few have the cojones to just keep on going after hitting a wall or two.. Don’t beat yourself up too bad!Keep it coming! Nothing but respect for you sir!

Originally Posted by RedTele58

This ^^^^^^

Thanks and I appreciate comments - whether positive or negative.! I had someone else say that my car handling was crap - I didn't argue, there is always room for improvement.

To that end, I've talked to a couple of people about working with me as a driving/racing coach. We'll see what works out...

[Geof3]

Wow. I’m impressed! No sentence enhancers were used in this video! Once again, glad you are ok!

[CrisZenithBlue]

Originally Posted by thstone

Thanks and I appreciate comments - whether positive or negative.! I had someone else say that my car handling was crap - I didn't argue, there is always room for improvement.

To that end, I've talked to a couple of people about working with me as a driving/racing coach. We'll see what works out...

As long as you are getting this kind of criticism from someone who is doing it better nothing wrong with that. As you said, always room to improve.
Otherwise it’s like people sitting on their asses on the couch yelling at ESPN channel as if they would have made that shot! Mhm..

[thstone]

Here is the start of the 3rd race at Buttonwillow Raceway in Central California from two weeks ago. I start in 12th and pass 8 cars to move up to 4th by the end of Turn 1. Sometimes, you're just in the right place at the right time.

At the Green flag, I get a good start and follow Jeff Shulem in the #445 through the pack as we drag race down the front straight. Then I'm able to slide by on the inside of Jeff in Turn 1 as the cars stack up at the apex which forces Branimir Kovac in the #318 to check up and then Jeff has to go wide.

Full screen with sound is worth it for this video!

[CrisZenithBlue]

That was VERY cool! What an exciting track that is even just watching. The sound track is like the end of the world but in a good way. That calm before the storm and sound explosion when you get the green gets me every time!

Good video Tom!

[bkovac]

your car really took off tom once the turbo spooled up

[thstone]

Originally Posted by CrisZenithBlue

That was VERY cool! What an exciting track that is even just watching. The sound track is like the end of the world but in a good way. That calm before the storm and sound explosion when you get the green gets me every time!

Good video Tom!

Thanks! More to come...

[thstone]

Originally Posted by bkovac

your car really took off tom once the turbo spooled up

I was caught in Shulem's draft!

[rastta]

So fun to watch. I've never run BW in that direction - we've always ran it CCW. Looks like it's a bit more interesting in this direction.