Originally posted by Geo:
The Blethen twins both dropped out. They dominated qualifying with Raymond on the pole.
Raymond had a horrible start and fell 3/4 of the way back. He worked his way up only to fall victim to electrical gremlins. Stephen broke a hub.
They led the enduro for a while until they appeared to have some engine trouble (a guess) but they finished, although moving much slower than usual.
During the race I was in the Blue car and had the wire to the fuel pump short out against a hose clamp that held the fuel pump tight. Kind of went along with the rest of my weekend.... first practice the full throttle switch wire fell off making it go full lean, second session the same thing, third session the plug for the fuel regulator came out making the car not run at all, then in the 4th session a wire broke off the coil, then in the race the wire at eh fuel pump grounds out! The wiring gremlin certainly took over my car for the weekend! During all my qualifying and practices I only got 2 "flying" laps then in the race I think I only lasted about 5 laps! In the race I jumped out to a big lead but I wasn't going to go crazy and push as hard as I could. I knew I had what I needed on the back straight to make a good pass in the closing laps. I also wanted to get behind Chris and Derek for at least a few laps to learn what they did to get around Atlanta so fast. Well after about 5 laps that stupid wire broke and I was pissed! Raymond in the red car has an interesting time on the start and I'm sure he will post the video when it comes back to us from National. Either way it was unfortunate that some did not get to continue. He did have a big charge back to second then broke a hub a few laps from the end.
For the enduro we decided to take Raymond’s car because my car drove fine. (OK that doesn't make sense right) It does in a way though... We had to take the suspension out at some point of my car to get Raymond’s on the trailer, so We decided to drive mine up on, then take my suspension out and stick it into Raymond’s for the enduro and then be able to drive his on the trailer.
In the enduro I think I led one lap and that is it! At this point in the weekend we did qualify on pole but with that many spec piñatas around us we decided our strategy would be to let Derek or Chris get ahead and then stay at there pace and follow them. No need to build up a lead or go crazy in a 3 hr race when we haven't even managed to stay on track for more than 45 min! After about 3 laps I knew I wasn't going to be able to stay with them for 2 reasons. First I have figured out a fast way around that track ON LINE but off line I am slow and inconsistent. I haven't "raced" nearly as many laps as them and I haven't had an opportunity to drive off line nearly as much as them. Second reason is that they both where on the move... they wanted to get by as many miata's as possible and charged to the front like it was a sprint race. They took way more chances and made some passes I would never have attempted at this point in my experience at that track. With a few close calls they pulled out to a steady 15-second lead until they pitted. When they pitted I may have jumped into the lead but I'm not sure. At 3:30 I jumped out of my car and headed to the airport to leave Raymond and his girlfriend all alone on pit lane. I saw that the brakes where thinner than expected and would probably not make the race. I told him on the radio... Sorry dude but we are going to get another DNF. Those brakes will last another half an hr to 45 tops and you have at least 1hr 20 min left! I told him to be careful downshift and safe brakes now and call me when he stops so I know he is OK. I got a message from my dad after we landed that he was ok and got third with zero brakes left and a bent control arm. No more details and I'm sure he will fill me in later... what a nervous plane ride home for me!
That's my story!
Stephen
ITB Audi Coupe Blue/Silver NER!
As far as the ITA race Anthony did an awesome job beating stretch for the win. I was very exciting to watch from the hill and it looked like a very clean race. In the test day I got to follow stretch for about a lap an 1/2 before he disappeared in the distance.... I learned a little bit about where and how he goes fast, I also watched him in the enduro but that was less than impressive as he turned into someone being a little to aggressive. I think that may have hit the person because he that he was cleared for the car he was lapping but I'm not sure either way stretch is fast and aggressive racer that has proven himself over and over again and Anthony did a great job showing everyone how competitive the NER is! I'm not sure on the positions of everyone else but I will tell you they all did awesome and it was funny watching Ray/hunter and Jake all bumping into each other!
Nick went as fast as an RX7 will go but those BMW's are just a bit faster! He held his own and got a 4th place just of the podium. We watched this race from spectator hill in turn 5. Mike Flynn did an awesome 720 and missed everything and kept going! I meant to find him and let him know that the drifting pad Atlanta made was over in turn 11 area but we still gave him first place in the drifting competition this weekend
