[Toby]

I was at VIR for my Rookie Club Race last weekend. Attached a write-up for the event. Sorry for being so long-winded I am sure it’s not abnormal for rookies to be so excited after the first race…

Special thanks to my brother Kenny who built the car with me; Geoff at ASG for helping me prep my car, which ran flawlessly the whole weekend; Bob Mulligan for being my rookie mentor; SkankyFrank for bringing my spare set of fresh BFGs; and the very friendly and supportive fellow racers and stewards. Here it goes…

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Thursday

Picked up car at ASG. (my girlfriend named her “Molly” but I like “Dirty Molly” better) Borrow spare tire from Geoff in case we are underweight.

We were delayed getting down to VIR I barely made the Rookie Orientation Meeting (a couple minutes late). There were two other rookies in the meeting. We went through event logistics, passing rules, start procedure. I didn’t read the race rules (or NASA examples) ahead of time so lots of information to absorb in 1.5 hours.

Friday

Got up at 5am so I don’t have to unload the car in 90+ heat. Disaster! My winch had a broken power cord, left my window net in the Lemons car the weekend before, and new numbers were too big for the windshield and the wrong color for the hood. I regret I didn’t have time / energy to mount my new camera to the car…

Unloaded the car, put on number with ghetto racers tape, and headed over to tech. Roll cage and kill switch checked out OK, but I was sent back to pin my harness clips and to buy a new window net. (Oops.) Got back to tech Dirty Molly was issued a new log book and tech sticker. We are ready to go racing!

As a rookie candidate I had to do all 4 free practices. FP1 and FP2 went smoothly, but I was late to the grid for (critical as I found out later) FP3. I had to start from pit lane and struggled with traffic I only got a 2:16.5. Yikes.

I know I was very close to minimum weight (3004). Got my car on the scale and it was 3040 with 3/4 tank and spare tire. Good call to borrow the spare tire.

FP4 was for practice starts. We did 2 practice starts racing just past South Bend, and the 3rd start was for a 10 lap fun race. I found out I SUCKED, especially starting from the outside. Once I was passed on the OUTSIDE of the Climbing Esses. Note to self don’t let that happen again. I got more comfortable the last start, passed a few cars, and finished the practice race 7th overall.

It was very hot the whole weekend, but bearable with a light suit and drinking plenty of water (no coolsuit). I was also pleasantly surprised by Dirty Molly’s straight line speed, especially when in the draft.

Saturday:

I was shocked to find out that Sprint Qualifying would grid by FP3 time (rather than by morning warmup). I was stuck behind two slower cars. I did my best to leave room in the out lap, but still caught the car in front before start/finish on my first and only flying lap (on cold tires) for only a 2:14.0. Traffic was really bad with 50+ cars on track, and I never got a remotely clean lap the rest of the session. The lead car in my class (F) qualified 2:12.3, faster than even my PB, but I would have given him a better run. Luckily many others also didn't qualify well so I am starting P8. I dreaded starting from the outside lane.

Race 1: Horrible start from the outside line. I lost 4 positions and ended up behind 2 cars that were a little slower than me. We were in a good 3 car battle through the race. The car in front of me finally out-braked himself up at the end of the back straight (I noticed his brake light didn't come on until after the arrow I knew he was not going to make it.)

It became a 2 car battle with me behind a G car. He was pulling me on both straights despite my better exit speed. We caught lapped traffic after 7/8 laps and I finally managed to get in his draft and out-braked both he and the lapped car into the Rollercoaster. Back onto the front straight we had full course yellow. I drove defensively at the restart for the final lap and saw my first checked! Finished 9th overall (2nd in my class of 4), best lap 2:13.9.

Race 2: Not as horrible a start from the inside line, but still lost 2 position. I started in front of Delbert Auray (D) and Karl Poetl (SP3) both excellent drivers. I managed to hold them back but 2 others passed me. (I really should have video to figure out what I did wrong...) I did well early on, clawing my position back, but my car started handling funny under heavy braking and putting power down. Auray and Poetl caught up to me quickly. I started running a defensive line for 4-5 laps until I overshot T4 and Auray passed me. I managed to hold off Poetl the remainder of the race, running wide every lap exiting the Climbing Esses just to make sure I don't get embarrassed again, and also slow up to set up a good launch out of Oak Tree. I have better straight line speed even when he was drafting behind me. I held him off for 8th place (again 2nd in class) with a best lap of 2:14.1.

It turned out I had a leak in my left rear. It was down 7psi when I checked it after the race.

Bob told me the track announcer was doing a play-by-play on how I held off two fast guys. Very cool. Dirty Molly also won "Best Prepared Car" for the event. I guess the stewards overlooked the rattle can painted roll cage, and ghetto racers tape numbers when I rushed through tech

I sprained my ankle some time on Saturday. (Didn't know when and how) It was swollen so badly I couldn't drive on Sunday. But what a weekend! I have already driven harder than ever before so happy to pack up early.

Look forward to the Summit race in October!