Brno 385k

I hadnt dont much practice over the week, mainly because I wasnt even sure if I was going to race or not come race-day (disco's and all). I knew the track and had a good setup so I just got a few laps in before qualifying.

Qual - I loaded my qual setup and went out for a few laps. Something was wrong but I couldnt place it, but after my first hot-lap I realized the tires were not up to temp. I quickly hit pit lane and found that Finn bribed my crew into installing med/hards on the car... bastard! So I went back out with 2:30 remaining in qual with the proper soft/med combo and was able to get one timed lap in. Wasnt a perfect lap by any means, but it got the job done by 2 tenths... which was confirmed right away by Steve's moaning on Ventrilo

Race - Hey, I was happier then a puppy with two pissers just to take the green flag this time around. Coming to the green I almost threw it all away though, running off course and back on just in time to retain the lead. I lost any advantage I had by jumping the rest of the pack, but at least I was still going the right way. So, just cruising along with Steve, Barry, Finn, and others in tow... I wasnt trying to set any speed records, just letting the clock run down a bit for the first stint. Steve spun off and next thing I know Barry is on my tail making it clear that he wants to lead. I let Barry BORROW the lead as I wasnt yet ready to challenge anyone just yet, let alone my team-mate in GTO.

As Barry lead and I was 2nd I saw that we had a fairly good lead over 3rd at that point (about 10 seconds) and just tried to match Barry's pace, which was slightly faster then mine at that time. In trying to match the pace I had a quick spin and lost some time, but worse was the extra wear on the tires. I could no longer run the lap times needed but held on till lap 22 to enter the pits. before the spin, I was actually considering 1-stopping the race as my fuel load still allowed me that option... couldnt do it after the spin though, so back to a 2 stopper it was.

My plan was to hit pit lane the moment that the GT1 cars started lapping me. It costs so much time to move over for a GT1 car, I didnt want to waste my race-laps moving over. I entered pits on lap 22, took in 4 fresh tires and the fuel needed to get me another 22-26 laps. 34 second stop and got back out in 4th in GT2 and tried to set some fast laps before Barry pit. He did a few laps later and came out of the pits directly in fornt of me. I played it too conservative and didnt charge at him right away as I should have. Once his tires were up to temp, he again had a faster pace then me. Trying to hang with Barry and I spin again! Now Im in real trouble as the tires, again, were toast and I was only 10 laps into my run with Barry on fresh rubber. I started doing some math in my head and lost concetration, missing my brake marker for turn-1. Went off into the gravel and tapped the tires taking areo damage. I was now lapping about 3 seconds off my normal pace without the option of pitting and repairing for another 10 laps.

Lap 44, pit-in for repairs and tires... much needed. 42 second stop with some additional fuel to make sure I would make it to the end. A few laps later I see Barry exiting pit lane again (he had a spin in pit lane giving me back the time I lost in the 2nd sstint... whew!). This time I knew I had to attack big time, because once Barry's tires came to temp, he would be gone into the sunset. I went for it with everything I had. Barry fought me tooth and nail, going two-wide thru a couple corners. I took the lead (Once Finn pitted) only to be challenged by the faster Barry for laps after, until finally he spun to give me a little cushion. I knew it wasnt over yet though, he was lapping much faster then me and would mak that time back up before the end of the race... and he would have too if it werent for the incident with the GT1 car.

The last few laps I was just rolling around the track, short shifting, and early breaking to ensure I would see the checkered. Barry key'd up on ventrilo on the last lap to announce his lack of fuel, so I picked his car up to push him to the line since I had a lap-lead on Finn (not really, but he must have finished behind Jeff while I was in front of Jeff) and no chance at losing 1st. Barry dropped to 4th though, but still, we had an awesome race the entire time.

If Barry and I were not nose to tail, we were soon to be back nose-to-tail after each pit. I was never really able to back down because of that so after this race I took a 2-hour nap. I was exhausted, more then I have ever been after an enduro.

First congrats to all the podium finishes and all the finishers, congrats tim on your GT2 win and last second pole, this was a long race. Bjarrne, what a qual lap, un-believable. My race started in second place, I qualified at 1.55.3 Very Happy , my best, the race started well, I tailed bjarnne for the first 4 laps until turn 2 when trying to avoid him, I never reached 6th gear and did my unconscious 4 downshifts and that brought me to 1st gear and around she goes into the Armour, but with no major damage Smile . So I settled down and chipped away at getting to the front, there was some great racing happening, my break came when Dean and Connor tussled for a position therefore opening a spot to slip thru allowing myself to get back to 2nd place. I chipped away at laps building my lead over the guy behind me giving myself a comfort zone, 1st pit stop no changes and away I go, exit pits in 1st place and bjarnne catches me with cold tires, I let him by and chase his tail for numerous laps until lap 38 and a massive lag tag ensues, his car was stopped dead between turn 3 & 4 I slam on the brakes creamed his car & did about 48- 360’s and ended up pointing the right way,Yes!, it was me who took out the 100m marker at turn 4 with the lag tag. This was a tough race and kudos to every competitor for a courteous race. Sorry barry, I didn’t realize I needed to pick up the last 2 laps by 6 seconds each to preserve your fuel strategy He He, sorry don’t blame me, blame Lee Raymond. I know I dive bombed a couple of GT2 un-intentionally, but sorry if I ruffled a feather or two, this joint had no passing zones, again congrats to all the finishers, and most importantly everybody who made up the 20 or 21 drivers in the field…this reminded me of S2, & I hope to see everybody back out at the next one. It was a blast. Hey finn…you finished a race!

That was just plain fun! Was a great race Tim! Tim and me battled the entire race from start to finish. Start of the race for the first 5-6 laps was Tim,Steve, Dave Pike, Finn and myself nose to tail as we were all waiting for tires to heat up. I finally took a chance and snuck under Finn in turn 3 or 4 and I think I might have touched him a bit (sorry bout that!) I was having a rare day and hitting most of my marks and was catching the leaders. Dave had spun trying to avoid another car which handed me 3rd place and was looking at Steve (glad you joined us) and Tim nose to tail in front of me when I see Steve do the proverbial BRNO bite in turn 13 (that turn is a bitch) which now handed me 2nd place behind Tim and could still feel Finn prowling very close behind (you rail in that Morgan bud). Coming into lapped traffic Tim had to slow way down so now I'm right on his tail when I got a good run off of I dont know what turn but Tim just backed off and let me by. Now in the lead for the rest of stint 1. Stint 2 I pull out of the pits and Tim is right behind me and Finn had taken the lead (damn) I thought for sure Finn was on a 1 pitter when I notice he pulled in the pits and handed it back to me. With Tim on my tail I started to just edge away when I see smoke behind me and I couldn't tell if Tim was involved but the lead turned into 15 sec or so when I came into the pits for my 2nd pit and spun and landed inside of the garage stall-DOH!When I pulled out of the pits there was Tim again right on my tail only this time he took advantage of my cold tires and passed me for the lead. I stayed right on his tail for I dont know 4 or 5 laps and I spun again,now he had 12-13 seconds on me and I put my head down and had knocked it down to 3 sec when there were 2 gt1 cars between us and 1 of them had spun and I found him (nuts)
after that it was coserve fuel as I was running short and sure enough I ran out of gas between 7 and 8 then I see Finn and Steve go by and Tim pushed me across the line to finish. GREAT RACING GUYS! And THANKS TIM
_________________
Theres Porsche.. And then everyone that wants to beat them!