Well, we finally got it done. After many years of the "dream" (see one of my first blogs for details on the origins of the "dream") we went to Mid-Ohio for our first SCCA Pro Racing event with the SPEED World Challenge GT series. Our goal was to stay safe, be conservative, consistent, courteous to other drivers and above all else, dignified in our first outing. Now dignified can mean many things, but for us, it meant do not be intimidated by the aggressive driving of those veterans, do not be too far off of race pace and do not cause any incidents that would make the highlight reel. Phew, we did it.
Without going into great detail, the biggest difference at the pro level is that everything is condensed and at the same time, spread wayyyy out. The two official twenty-minute practice sessions were plagued with red flags and in one session, we only managed to log one full lap on the MoTec for analysis. Clearly, this type of short session is designed to test a set-up and by no means affords a driver to learn the track. The learning is meant to be another time and not during the official schedule. Our best practice actually took place during qualifying when all the veterans took a few flyer laps and vacated the track leaving me almost alone to run and finally get into a groove. We did not qualify terribly well due to coping with several big changes to the car like the Toyo DOT tires that we run with World Challenge. The tire change was the most significant factor in "re-learning" the car along with the "bullish tendencies" of my fellow drivers. After my first day of practice my arm was sore from so many point-by's (yes, John Archer, I am kidding ... sort of).
Adding to the experience was the fact that Mid-Ohio was also host to the IRL, the ALMS and IMSA this particular weekend that attracted probably fifty-thousand fans each day. With my coveted "Pro Racer Hard Card ID" we spent quite a bit of time driving our rented golf cart around areas that we had admired from afar in past years. Now we were one of "them". Wow. I should also mention that there were two moments of gravity for us. The first was the prayer session and helicopter medi-vac instructions during the driver meeting and on a lighter note, when we looked over to the next pit stall during a stop and Bobby Rahal was timing his car. I remember attending my first race ever at the inaugural Toronto Indy back in the late eighties where Rahal was the first winner. This is just a neat milestone and a million miles from good old Stonegate. This is an inside reference in case you don't get it.
Results wise, we were pleased to move up ten positions from our qualifying position of 24th to finish 14th. As the title of this blog alludes, my finish is really testament to two factors - one, I drove a solid and consistent race with no mistakes (translation - with no big risks either) and two, a lot of faster and more experienced racers made some mistakes that either took them out of the race or far enough back that they never recovered. The bottom line in my view is that you can't win races by being as conservative as I was, however, refer back to my prime mandate and we should all agree that we finished in a very dignified way.
Special thanks to NayKid Racing, Lux Performance along with Cindi Lux and her crew for doing everything they could to help me manage the rookie jitters and for taking such good care of the #89 car. Both Cindi and Matt also did an amazing job of enlightening me during our debriefs and I really look forward to developing further so that we might be able to seriously compete with the "big boys" in the future. Last but not least, a big thanks to the Dodge guys for coming down from Detroit and making me feel a part of the family.
Mosport next ... let's hope we didn't leave all our dignity in Ohio.
