TJR MotorSports

In 2007 the X Games 13 was dubbed “Go Big or Go Home”. Two weekends ago ONE MotorSports arrived at Road America with five drivers prepared to compete in the SCCA National Race. It wouldn’t be racing without drama; so some of us went “Big”, some of us went “Home”, and some of us went home in a big way! More on that later.

 Practice and Qualifying: this was a short race weekend condensed into three days at Road America (RA). On Friday we had only had two 30 minute practice sessions. The limited track time was a disadvantage, especially when you factor in that our team would be competing against a group of experience racers at their home track. The two advantages I had going for me: I had just been in the Stohr WF-1 three weeks prior and I was getting much closer to getting 100% comfortable/confident with the car. Secondly, unlike Watkins Glen, RA doesn’t have blind corners. LOL. Translation: I could see where I was going, and that allowed me to attack the corners right from the start, and attack I did! The Team set an initial benchmark lap time of 2:08, this was best lap times of the Prototype 1 cars in the SCCA June Sprints last month.

Practice Session 1: This session was typical of any first time on a track: information over-load! The brain is taking all the knowledge it acquired from the hours of studying actual video of driving the track, and now trying to process that information with the experience of driving the track in real time at speed. After a few warm up laps I get brave and start carry more speed through the corners and braking later at the end of the three long straights. I finish the session with a respectable 2:18, it’s starting to come together but the session is over.

 Practice Session 2: Prior to the session I sit down with Jeff Shafer and we do a data-overlay debrief, he explains that I need to be flat out in turn 7, midway through the carousel and on- through the turn 11 ”the Kink”. Note: this section is called “Kettle Bottoms” from turn 11 to turn 12 is a slight downhill section that’s 2736ft (well over half ½ mile).Fast is an understatement, I come out of turn 10 at 105mph+ and never lift until the braking zone for turn 12.Being timid at any of these sections of the circuit effects your lap times dramatically. I like the feel of the “Watkins Glens” setup on the car, and I elect to not make any changes. This session is entirely different, I know where I am going, and I know where tons of speed can be gained. I am running on moderately worn tires, so I am sliding around a bit more than I prefer. However, I manage to bust out a couple of 2:06s and a 2:05. The only question is; how will these lap times work out in qualifying against the local talent?

https://vimeo.com/135813925

July 25rd- Start of the SCCA Event

Qualify Session 1: I am focused on the task at hand, and the team has got me on new tires and I am ready to roll. Evidently the slower drivers didn’t get the memo; and getting a clean lap with the slower traffic is a big challenge. Three laps in I run a 2:10, and I can feel there is more. However, the track doesn’t seem “as fast” as the previous day. I struggle for several laps to put it all together and a get a clean lap. Eventually I knock out a 2:08, this is a bit disappointing with the new tires, but it’s the best I can manage. It turns out this is good enough for 3^rd on the grid (P3), for this afternoon’s race.

Race 1 (12 Laps): I’m starting 3^rd on the grid, in front of me is the local talent, both are in Prototype 1 cars (my class). On pole is Brian French in his re-bodied Ralt RT 41 Formula Atlantic. Qualified second is Jason Miller in his one-off WynnFurst, the car is very fast but has a reputation for marginal reliability. Additionally, I have two IMSA Lite (Elan DP02) cars and two Formula Atlantic cars right behind me, so it appears I’ll have my hands full. Unfortunately, things go from good to bad in a New York minute. On the hot grid three minutes prior to the race my car won’t start, the crew frantically tries a number of things, including trying to push start me. We need an external battery to jump start the car, unexplainably, ours is all the way back at the hauler. I sit there helplessly, as race control releases the entire grid. I momentarily think OMG I’ve travel all the way to Road America and I am not going to even start the race!! The crew proceeds to locate/borrow an external battery and we bring the Stohr WF-1 to life. Keep in mind that this is a split grid race (two grids); my race group of 24 cars is in the first grid, followed by 11 SCCA Formula Enterprise (FE) cars that start in a separate grid 20-35 seconds behind the first grid. Race Control releases me in last place (shades of CVR), not in my group, but in the second group. I’ll be starting over 30 seconds behind the leaders, so I really have my work cut out for me. Watch the HD Video and see how it all turns out.

Note Regarding the Video: this was my first event editing HD and using multiple cameras. We had some snafus, but we’re determined to keep improving.

https://vimeo.com/135533350

Race 2 (12 Laps): Hopefully by now you’ve watched the video of Race 1 and decipher through my editing to ascertain we miraculously finished 2^nd. Thus I am starting Race 2 in the 2^nd position…..so it would seem we have our race weekend back on track. Additionally, the attrition rate at RA has been high and a number of Saturday’s competitors aren’t racing today. My main concerns are the French family owned re-bodied Formula Atlantic cars running in Prototype 1. Brian French won Saturday’s race and his son James, an aspiring professional driver, is racing his Swift 014 FA/P1 today. He never qualified so James will be starting at the back of the pack. Please watch/enjoy the HD Video and see how it all turns out.

https://vimeo.com/135805178

Final Thoughts: Coming to an unfamiliar track and getting two podiums racing against all the locals was a great result. I feel the Team still has unfinished business at Road America, I believe a sub 2:05 lap is within our reach in the current configuration on our next visit. More importantly, all the hard work and preparation this season has lifted us into the number two spot in the SCCA National Points Standings. Additionally, with any luck the Team will secure the Southern Pacific (SoPac) Championship when we return to SoCal in October. In all likelihood, the Pacific Road Racing Championship at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana will be the final race of the 2015 season.

Lastly, who went “BIG”, Jeff Shafer of course. Jeff  broke the track record for Prototype 2 at RA. What makes this all the more amazing is; its the 4th consecutive track (CVR, Buttonwillow, Watkins Glen) he’s accomplished this in a car (Radical SR3) that was thought to be noncompetitive…….really? The man has mad skills!!

Stay Tuned…….Fontana/Cal Speedway will be here before we know it!