[David Dean]

The weekend finished up great. The beginning of the weekend was a challenge. The video below during the fun race shows me coming through turn 9 when the left rear lower shock bolt broke.

https://vimeo.com/50577384

Managed to get stopped without any contact - got to ride the flat bed to Performance Auto Works. They had the car fixed and back to me that evening. Thank you Billy and Rich!

During qualifying the next morning, managed to get about five laps on the sticker Hoosiers before I felt a tire going down between three and four. By the time I got in the pits, had a destroyed right rear tire. Got it replaced and had a relatively uneventful weekend after that.

Sprint 2 did have its moment. The video below shows my restart following the double yellow for the incident in turn 9 - radios are great! One lap later, I almost had my own incident in turn 9.

https://vimeo.com/50578425

The racing was great. I felt like I spent the weekend trying to keep up with the fast guys (Lane, Omar, Antonio, Doug Crossman were all a second faster). I would post the video of my pass of Antonio in the enduro - but he would just post his video of his pass of me - which unfortunatly was after my pass.

[BMAN]

My rookie weekend started ugly when my car blew the intake manifold off Thursday night while being inspected by the PCA scutineer. Many thanks to Talon and Rhodeeee for helping me trailer up in the RAIN. Off to TPC in Baltimore for a late night motor drop 2 1/2 hours of sleep is not what I planned to start my rookie weekend.

Then.....car stalled and wouldn't turn over for practice #1.

Steward took pity.

No issues in Practice 2 and 3. They were a lot of fun and I was looking forward to the real thing.

Fun Race was next. Here's a glimpse
https://vimeo.com/50580808

Pretty happy with a P2 qualifying position. But here's a glimpse of that
https://vimeo.com/50580615

Race #1 was a blast. Couldn't get by Rudtner who was giving me a lesson on how to be wide.

Race #2 not so good.
Link removed sorry bad editing last night. The clip was supposed to show me getting Tboned. Will revise tonight.


Race #3 Lack of race craft showed itself. Struggled to get past a car running 1-2 seconds lap slower. Passed him in race #1 and have a feeling he didn't like it because he defended firmly.

Race #4 Lawson kicked my ass My radio was telling me I was maintaining a comfortable lead which wasn't the case. My spotter had no experience and lost track of who was P2. I had another radio on pit lane who couldn't hear the announcer and couldn't see over pit wall. Not sure why but I never asked "where's the 01 car?". Totally my fault but that can't take away from Lawson's AWESOME drive to regain his lead and win the race. Thanks for the lesson Lawson

Everyone said that you learn a lot on rookie weekend. True Dat!

[BMAN]

Originally Posted by David Dean

I would post the video

Can't view the videos.....privacy setting?

Btw, thanks again to Claire for her hospitality and culinary skills.

[VaSteve]

Originally Posted by BMAN

Race #2 not so good.
https://vimeo.com/50582844

The part of that video I want to see seems to be missing.

[VaSteve]

Originally Posted by BMAN

Fun Race was next. Here's a glimpse
https://vimeo.com/50580808

Who let Vicegrip adjust that man's brake bias?

[David Dean]

Originally Posted by BMAN

Can't view the videos.....privacy setting?

Btw, thanks again to Claire for her hospitality and culinary skills.

Fixed (I hope).

I'll pass your thanks on to Clare. You guys are welcome any time.

[Mike87911]

I took some pictures. Almost all are from Sunday morning at T1 during the practice sessions. Hopefully, everyone can find their car. I tried to break them into the same groups that were run.

http://potomacpcaclubrace2012.shutterfly.com/

[Mrs. B-Man]

Originally Posted by BMAN

Not sure why but I never asked "where's the 01 car?". Totally my fault but that can't take away from Lawson's AWESOME drive to regain his lead and win the race.

Originally Posted by Earlyapex

he had backed off and did not know I where I was until I showed up in his mirrors!

OBJECTS IN MIRROR ARE CLOSER THAN THEY APPEAR ... Love this pic of Lawson and BMAN from the pace car mirror. Really, BMAN, probably what you saw (or didn't see) the last lap when Lawson was closing (and then passing you).

So proud of my Rookie, BMAN. Fastest lap gained him 1st Pole Position (keep it PG, Dirk). Workers' Choice award, Rookie award, 1st place in his class for several races, 2nd overall in Enduro. Not a bad first race event for my hubby.

Officially posted on dorkie: I support BMAN 100% and hope he participates in many more races (...as long as he remembers to bring all FOUR of my tires when I'm driving too. Riding on 3 is not so easy......)

[CanAm]

I visited the club race with the family both afternoons on the weekend, and it was the first time I've seen a club race. Some observations of a first-timer:

- The level of gear and activity in the paddock is certainly a step up from a DE.

- The cars are LOUD!

- A little scary to watch some of the near misses. But it was impressive that they were generally misses, not hits.

- BMAN is everything he's cracked up to be.

I came to the event thinking that I might want to do some club racing one day, and I left the event with the same feeling. Even if I placed near the bottom, looks like it would still be fun.

[Der ABT]

Originally Posted by Mrs. B-Man

OBJECTS IN MIRROR ARE CLOSER THAN THEY APPEAR ... Really, BMAN, probably what you saw (or didn't see) the last lap when Lawson was closing (and then passing you).

i just spit out my coffee.....too funny might be the second best quote of the weekend.
other best was
"OOOOOhhh i always thought that was a miata (when looking at hunts boxster)"


Definately some great driving out there and the track was sticky before the oiling.....there are some new bumps i wasnt expecting (especially in turn3)

BIIIIG thanks to all the volunteers and cornerworkers for all the help making it such a good event. Good dinner, good people, great racing.

I had a mixed bag of a weekend. Day one was spent swapping tires i thought had more life in them, pads, etc...little stuff.
Race 1 i had a great battle with Dwayne and almost had him a few times but could not come close to his best lap....at one point we went side by side from turn 1-9 i think.....was jsut alot of fun with very gentlemanly racing..couldnt ask for a better person to go door to door with...no chopping blocking or any of that.

Steve Wilson showed up angry from last year i guess and needed to destroy us 911's...and did so with a .23 flat i think...unreal....i could only manage 24.06 flats with dwayne at 23.5 for a new e class record.

Noticed in race one my gas pedal was getting notchy/gritty so i cleaned it out with hunts vaccum.....race turn 1st lap i went into 5, floored it, tried to brake for 6 and the car accelerated....gas pedal stuck to the floor....found my way over to the tire barrior...luckily only cosemetic (though Europro's had just made that side look better than it ever had).
If you gas pedal ever sticks reach for the key...had not thought of that till afterwards cause always hear gas pedals disconnecting with no gas not full gas.
throttle cable is sticking because the previous owner of the car did not run a fuel line thru the brackets.... 6 years no problems, suddenly this weekend in the qualifier for the points race it comes about...

3rd race was fun. started 19th....ended up 3rd overall....with a LARGE spin in turn 1....had a great move on two 944s and then forgot to brake...lost a few spots and gained them back.....if i had not spun or just been patient i probalby would have caught 2nd place (was .5 seconds faster and was within a second of him prior to the spin. if i had pulled the move off it woulda been awesome.... oh well

So enduro was grided 11th (2nd in e) first 8 laps was keeping with Dwayne...then got on the front straight and the pedal stuck down again....luckily it was the beginning of the straight and got it undone with my toe......rest of the race i could only go 3/4 throttle or it would stick....went from running 24s all day long to 26-27s....in the end my competition was getting VERY close but still managed to hold onto second.
OIL spill was fun...may have to start giving out the Exxon Valdez award next year...and hey it wasnt even Frank...

Congrats to Frank bringing back the brand new red car....Lawson for the schooling, Antonio and Omar both were FLYING. BMAN showed he can drive a cup car once someone else sets it up for him Muhahaha Pat got his fastest lap and beat the previous owner....Hunt was looking good, Scott was looking really fast, Ryan was plagued with issues but had a good weekend time wise. Craig and Jeremy drover really well, Tony, and the 4 thuosand other im forgetting all did the club proud congrats on podiums and personal bests. Sorry for those who had mechanical and other issues like myself.

Big thanks to Intersport...had me up and running for every race and the fender didnt even look damaged after like 15 minutes of charlie pounding away. their race support as always is unmatched.....Also big thanks to Billy and the Perf crew for helping as well.
Mark Francis and OG are also owed a big thanks (someone needs to buy mark a car)