Half-Fast Motorsports Blog

In June, the day after the 12 hour SCCA race, I instructed for SCCA’s PDX program for the first time. I brought the race car out to test the new motor.

My first student turned out to have been there the day before working pit for the race. After introductions, I asked about his track experience. He said he was a PDX instructor from the upper mid west, with years of experience. I thought “great”, if I tell him something wrong, he will know. Not a fun first time out.

I mentioned this to the chief instructor, and he told me he had not idea, and I would be just fine. He did well, and got signed off solo after the second session.

My car did well except for when the throttle cable came off (LOL). I was able to limp in so I didn’t have to be towed (again).

There were a couple of other racers there, and I had fun playing with them in the instructor group. I was keeping up with cars I thought would be faster than me, but since there is no timing allowed, I never knew how fast I was. I know I picked up time from school, so I felt pretty good.

Can’t wait for my first NASA race.

With my school under my belt, and the track time I have, I asked the NASA Mid-Atlantic director if I was good enough to try for my NASA license. He approved, so I prep the car for 2 days with NASA.

It wasn’t a hard process really, but I had to do some (what I thought initially) were some silly exercises. First I had to drive the entire track for a whole session but only on the right side. Then repeat, but only on the left. This got me into the marbles and off line so I could get some experience not being on line. The last session was spent side by side with another student. In the end, it was kind of cool. Much better than my SCCA school.

On Sunday, we had one session playing hop scotch with another car, passing each other at every turn.

Since it all went well, I was allowed to start in the back of the pack in the Sunday race. I had a decent start, and ran with another worker in a Neon for a bit. I was faster (cool), but when the faster cars from the groups behind me caught me, I messed up and went off track. I spent the rest of the session grumbling about that.

With about 2 laps to go, my excitement peaked and I screwed up a shift blowing my engine. I pulled off completing another engine change.

Even thought I didn’t finish, I showed enough to the director that I have now received my provisional license to race with NASA.

Been a while, but I have some time while I wait for jury duty.

First, it’s spring maintenance. Since I didn’t know what was done prior to my purchase, I decided to replace all the hubs and bearings. Now I know when they were done. New brakes, porterfield ft, Nissan stock units in the rear.

A friend had some 550 lb. springs, so they went in the rear. I am hoping that the additional spring rate will help cure the push. I installed a back brace, new belts and changed the oil. I install some fresh Toyo RA1 tires, in full tread configuration. This way, no matter the weather wet or dry, I will not need to change tires.

Since the car didn’t have the required door bars (2), I had to have another installed. A friend and SM driver who owns Convienance Car Care had one of his tech do that for me. It was done at no charge because I have been a safety worker for 8 years. Good to know someone huh?

I show up at drivers school with a great crew. Alicia and Brantly Blue as well as my girl Christine. We set up shop an I go to class. My good friend Tom Broring is my instructor. Of course as my luck goes, it rained almost the entire weekend. I line up first for my first on track session and pretty much fly compared to the others. There is one guy Mike, who is on his second school, who is staying with me, but doesn’t seem to have enough moxie or speed to pass. We had a great time the whole school running together.

In the first session, I realize I was going to have a few issues with some of the cars in my group. There are 2 GT Pinto’s (yes Pinto’s) that aren’t very well driven. They are unpredicitable in the corners, but have more engine than me on the straights. In order to pass them, I have to out brake them in the turns, which is where I don’t trust them. They will be a constant challenge the entire weekend.

The track is wet the first 2 sessions, but starts to dry as the day goes on. The Toyos are pretty good in the rain, so I am doing pretty well. In each sessions debrief, the instructors comments are normally favorable. I need to push it more, but the wet, and other “drivers” are making me nervous.

At the end of the weekend, we get 3 practice starts, and a 5 lap race. On the pace lap, I see the SM group has left a great deal of mud on track at turn 4. There is a dry line, but off line is quite wet. I am thinking, this won’t be fun.

I am 5th on the grid behind 2 of the Pinto’s. On the first start, I pass one in the first turn. He almost wrecks a car in the braking zone, then goes off track trying to avoid me sneaking around on the inside. Even after 2 days, is situational awareness sucked.

On the second start I gain nothing, but did well. In the 5 lap race, me and an RX7 tangle a bit, I couldn’t seem to get by him, but I had a fantastic time.