Chapter 13: TDE/MSC Clockwise @ TWS

April 21/22 was original scheduled to be an MSC event at Texas World Speedway. Driver's Edge was originally scheduled to run at Eagle's Canyon, but it wasn't ready in time. Thus, TDE struck a deal with TWS and MSC to make 4/21-22 a joint event. Originally, all corner workers were going to be paid, instead of allowing the option of a work/drive. This put the event out of my reach, as I didn't have $275 to blow on entry. But, a lack of workers prompted the organizers to allow work/drive instead of payment (even though TDE doesn't normally have 1 day drivers). I promptly signed up. And the best part: this event would go clockwise!

Clockwise is BALLER!! Turn 7 is a blast going down hill, on camber, at over 100 mph. The fun of driving, however, would have to wait, as I was working Corner 4 on Saturday. Going CW, Corner 4 is the primary black flag station, meaning I get to black flag all the drivers who screw up :). There were plenty of black flags to throw, which made the day go by just a little faster. In the morning, a friend of mine's 97 3000GT caught fire. Something under the hood went very wrong, and melted lots of stuff, including the fuse box, electric fans, and shifter cables. Looks to be an expensive fire. Also, a WRX in green group went two off in turn 7, jerked the wheel, went across the track and went off on the other side. Then hitting the rocks on the inside of 7 sent it rolling two times, coming to rest on the driver's side. Both the instructor and the driver were OK, but the car is most likely totaled.

Finally, Sunday rolls around, and I get to drive. I decided to take the Vette drag racing Friday Night to Lonestar Motorsports Park with the Texas A&M Sports Car Club, and since the passenger seat just adds weight, I took it out and left it out all weekend. My track times were decent: 13.1 @ 105, with a best 60' of 2.00. My $35 used drag radials worked OK, so long as I gave them a nice burnout. Anyway, back to TWS. Since I was solo approved with TDE, I left the passenger seat out, since TDE won't allow passengers. I was going to run on my 335 Hoosiers again, and I wanted to change them at the track. Hmmm, could I actually fit all my crap in the car?

In the pits at the end of the day, taken by Russell Hall

Yes, yes I did fit all my crap in the car: 4 335 Hoosiers, jack, impact, torque wrench, tool box, 2 jack stands, oil, windex, helmet bag, and video camera. The hatch wouldn't quite close, but nothing that a tie down wouldn't fix. Sure, I didn't have to go far, but it was nice to be able to haul my crap myself. Once again, TDE stuck me in yellow group. Since this is TDE, there was plenty of big money in attendence. 3 997 GT3, 2 of them were GT3 RS, and one of the RS's still had paper tags. Two F355's: one vert, and one F355 Challenge factory race car, complete with cage and pimp carbon fiber wing. New Viper, tons of C5 and C6's, along with a Lingenfelter C6 Z06 (probably with some sort of forced induction). I go out for my first session, and it seems to be going OK: I'm passing cars and not getting passed. The tires take a little while to heat up, but they are sticking pretty well. The car seems to have a slight miss, and I'm only getting up to ~120-125 on the front straight. I should be at least 10 mph higher than that. But, overal, the car is running OK, and I press on. Towards the end of the session, I'm going down the back straight, rapidly gaining on an Audi TT who is already giving me a passing signal, and the car dies. The engine shuts off. I get off line, and attempt to re-fire the car. After several tries resulting in only sputtering, I coast within sight of turn 4 and pull off the track. The session ends, and I'm towed back to the pits, while all the people in grid give me a nice ovation.

F355 Challenge, my C4, and Sam Crumpacker's 03 Cobra in the grid for the last yellow session, Taken by Russell Hall.

More grid shots, taken by Russell Hall.

I get back to the pits, and wonder WTF HAPPENED!?!?! Attempting to start the car leads to sputtering, and a clear arching noise under the hood. A quick test shows there is spark coming out of the coil, but not reaching the spark plugs. Oh noes...the opti-shit. Since buying the car back in October, I haven't messed with the ignition system. LTx motors are notorious for opti-shit problems at all the wrong times. I would submit this as one of those bad times. Seeing as how the car won't run at all (and thus getting it home will be a PITA), I decide to try and replace the opti at the track. With the help of Tilton, Duffy, Darcie, Mary, and the guys at Napa, I got it replaced in 4 hours. Replacing an opti involves removing the water pump and crank pulley/balancer, neither of which is fun. I get the car running in time for my last yellow session, and convince Rick of TDE to let me run the last session with blue, since I missed two of my run groups while fixing my car.

Pics of the opti-carnage. The rotor used to be in 1 piece, now it's in more than 20...

The last two sessions of the day are good. The car seems to be running well, and not running hot. I was concerned about air pockets in my cooling system, but it wasn't a problem. Several exciting things happen, including Patrick Duffy blowing a tire. His free, 3 year old Hoosiers finally let go, and he got stranded on the entry to turn 15 (forcing everyone into the hot pit while he is rescued). This was also the first event for me to test out my camera mount. I borrowed Martin and Misty's camera, which works great for in car filming.

Here are some in-car videos shot from my camera mount. Right click, save-as please (.wmv format):