MID OHIO WAS FRICKIN' FANTASTIC!!!

Wow, I don't know whatelse to say. Mid Ohio was amazing, the weather had it's moments, but other than the rain it was almost perfect. The hotel was a great place for us to stay with the waterpark and food very close.

Running with the Porsche club was fun. We ran Pro Course with eliminates the chicane coming up into the Keyhole. I took the weekend "slow" since I knew that I had an extended stay. The first session out was a mess, tons of the race cars came out to test, nowhere near even a clean section, let alone a lap. The second session was less jam packed, so I got the flow of the track. The rest of the weekend was pretty straight forward. I got a bit loose going into Thunder Valley in the first session on Sunday, but kept on pluggin' away. I had a fun time, the paddock was huge, so I didn't get to set up anything on track with the Miata crew. Oh well, I got to learn the track and get seat time AT MID OHIO!! haha.

Said first session on Sunday.
https://vimeo.com/48088029

Picture from the paddock.

Monday and Tuesday was ITR Expo. So pumped, all the track buddies that you only see a few times a year, etc. Plus, it was a couple more days at Mid Ohio. With Expo we were running Club course with the chicane. At first, I thought, great, I have to learn this place, again! It took a few laps and I was ready to go. Club course is sooooo much fun opposed to Pro. Maybe, it is just me, but that chicane is a blast. Both days went pretty smooth, too. Besides on Tuesday when I went to get gas and messed up my exhaust. On the positive side, I did propose to Brandy at the Expo banquet. haha. That was something that I will always remember for obvious reasons, so fun, yet so nerve racking. It went well and everyone made sure to congratulate us. Thanks again, everyone.

A couple videos from Expo, as well as pictures.
https://vimeo.com/48148105

https://vimeo.com/48011145

And, can't forget this..

Almost time for Mid Ohio!!!

The place that started it all.

I first went to Mid Ohio, probably six years ago, for an IndyCar weekend. We went for the whole weekend, Friday through Sunday, and we were there from gate open until the last race. We also had media passes, which helped, so we had a pretty good range of places to go.

It turned out to be more than I had expected. So many different series there from IndyCar to ALMS to Speed World Challenge. With a few more feeder series thrown in, it made for an action packed weekend. I seemed to take a liking to World Challenge more than anything. I think Realtime Racing had a lot to do with it, but also I could relate to all of the cars on the grid. We parked across from the Realtime trailer everyday, so we had a lot of time around the cars and crew. The crew chief's name, I believe, was Paul, super nice guy, and he let me look around pretty in depth with most of the cars. I think that was the main draw for me.

After that weekend, I knew that I had to get on track, some how, some way. I didn't really know how to get started or who to contact, but I had to find out. Finally, I found the West Michigan Honda Meet in 2009. I signed up, not knowing anyone else going besides my friends, who were coming up with me. I originally planned on taking the hatch, but I didn't get it done in time. So, I bought some HP+ pads, RBF600, and RT615s and threw them on the daily driven sedan. We actually did the pads right before we left for Michigan. 

So, the journey had finally begun and it has not stopped, one bit. Finally, it is time for Mid Ohio, next weekend and I actually get 4 days of it!! I am so excited, it is all I can basically think about. ITR Expo is Monday, the 20th, and Tuesday, the 21st. I have been registered for this event for awhile, now. But, that is when the curve ball kicked in. I ran with the Mid Ohio Porsche Club at Putnam, last month, and they said I should come run with them at Mid Ohio in August. Knowing that I had Expo in August, I asked "What are the dates?" They told me that it was a three day event, the 17-19th. "Hmmm, that is the weekend before Expo. I don't think that will work." is what I thought. Brandy and I discussed the possibility, so I decided to go for it. Then, another curve ball, due to her work schedule, we couldn't go on Friday. So, I emailed the registar before I registered to see if it could work. Luckily, someone else wanted to do a Friday only, boom, I am in. So, not only do I get to go back to the place that got it started. I also get to run with two great groups while spending time with the family. This is a win/win in my book. We are staying at a hotel with an indoor waterpark, so Bai gets to have a blast and so do I. I can't wait, one week and counting....

Realtime at Mid Ohio.

Hotel's waterpark.

Mid Ohio.

Super long week, so, how about a WMHM follow up.

The long week is going to make for a short post.

WMHM gets better and better, every year. This year was no exception, except it kicked my butt. I am still lacking sleep. haha. Getting up for the Grand Am races, tomorrow, doesn't help that, either. Friday was a super long day, I worked 5 hours, and the drive took almost the same amount of time due to a traffic jam. I wanted to run the Test and Tune, so I hustled to run two sessions. I was out of it and the track was lacking grip. Needless to say, I had two four wheel offs, one of which ended up stuck in the sand trap. Not the best way to "start the weekend".

Saturday started off rough, as well, since I woke up at 430am with a stuffed up nose. Of course, I couldn't fall back asleep, compounding the "great start to the weekend". The day starts off busy with instructing a couple different groups, plus driving. I was kind of blah, all day, so I took a few people out for rides. After the track went cold, they always have a dinner. Always good food and there are some amazing cookies, too. haha. Then, there was the raffle and I finally won something!! We also went to Sherman's Dairy Bar, bad idea, too much dairy for me.

Saturday session
https://vimeo.com/46237693

Sunday didn't start of much better, but it didn't start of as busy. I didn't feel that well, when I got there, so Mike went out with my student for the first session. That little break helped, I was almost up to par after noon. Sunday, I also pushed it a bit more, but still kept it notched down a bit. I ran 3 of the 4 sessions on Sunday to give me time to cool down and get out at a decent time. South Haven was emptying out, apparently. 196 was packed, so it always makes it funny to see people's reactions to the car. I made it home at a decent time, but I was still too pumped up from the weekend to go to bed. haha.

Sunday session.
https://vimeo.com/46319099

The weekend turned out to be great, even with all the silly stuff that happened during it. My driving was eh, but my student did a great job of learning and applying it. I can't wait for next year, actually, I wish WMHM was every other weekend. lol.

WMHM was Rad like Cru Jones!

I am super tired, so I am going to make this quick with a video link and a picture.

Helmet cam with an off.
https://vimeo.com/46234375

More to come..

West Michigan Honda Meet is THIS WEEKEND!

Check out WMHM.org for all your info.

I am pretty pumped. This was the first event for me, back in 2009. It is hard to believe that it has been only three years. It seems as if it has been a lot longer. This event is my "can't miss" event and I will always do my best to make it.

Anyways, if you are in the area, come and check it out. It is only getting bigger and bigger by the year. It once again sold out in record time. Wait List is longer than Lindsay Lohan's stay in rehab. WMHM is a great place to meet new friends aka track buddies. Hard to believe that I still talk to my first instructor almost every day. And, to only think, at first, I thought that he was a jerk. haha.

MOR/CIR PCA event out at Putnam Park.

Boy, oh boy, was it HOT!!

I had a good weekend, out at the track. It has been hot and stayed that way over the weekend. Mid Ohio and Central Indiana Regions joined forces to put on this event at Putnam. I ran with MORPCA, last year, and they are a "can't miss" type of group.

The way they do the Advanced run group is pretty neat. They only put about 10 or so cars in the group, so that the Instructors can run with us if their group is "packed". It works out great, normally there isn't much traffic, but if there is, it is all "clean". 

They also get started early, so I got up at 4:50 on Saturday to get there for Registration and Tech. Time for the driver's meeting, straight forward, like most always. It is fun to sit back and watch some of the "beginners", they want to take pictures of who is doing the meeting, etc. Then, time for our A group meeting. Basically, the meeting is to assure that everyone is fine with the "open" passing. 

Finally, time to hit the track. First sessions are either hit or miss for me. If it is "on", it is the start of a good day. If it is not, well, Saturday is a work in progress and it normally takes until Sunday to get the "ball rolling". Luckily, even with the heat, Saturday got off to a good start. It kept getting hotter and hotter. I had planned to only run my first 3 sessions and get home to conserve for Sunday. Well, it all went to plan until the guy next to me in the paddock, Lee, got to talking.

Lee is an older gentleman and he tracks a Z06. I always enjoy the "older" crowd at the track because they are the ones with the great stories. But, to cut a long story short, he raced SCCA thirty years ago. He ran almost every class as he and his cars evolved. When he ran Formula Atlantic, which he won regionals and divisional championship, but at a National level, he got to run with Paul Newman. How cool of a story is that??!!

Sunday came around and I thought I was getting off to a late start. I almost thought that I was going to miss the driver's meeting. I can't let that happen, so I "boogeyed" out there. Of course, I made it with plenty of time to spare. I got a chance to "shoot the breeze" with a few before the driver's meeting and even fill the air tank up.

The schedule for the day worked out, so that more of the Instructors were running with us. That made for more traffic and MIATAs!!! It is always fun to run with some other "slow" cars. I had GoPro issues, most of the weekend, so what is new. I stuck the suction on the windshield since the roof wasn't "working". Luckily, I picked the right session. There was a good amount of traffic and a fair share of passing. I will post the session link, below. After that session, I only went out to "check" a few things out in the next session. Then, I talked with a few others before I headed out.

As if I didn't espect the weekend to be great, it was better than I had expected. It is amazing how much you learn, every time out. Whether it is managing your tires or finding something out about a certain part of the track. That is what makes it so fun, the evolution of your skill set, even with the over bearing heat. lol. Anyways, onto a couple pictures and the "fun" session!

Brandy took this pic. Easily one of my favorites, EVER! It always helps to have a crew chief!

Here is a still shot that she took during "the chase".

Here is the in car from the "fun" session. The picture above is earlier in this video.

https://vimeo.com/45508403

Heat Wave and I am not talking Lebron James.

Well, a track weekend is approaching and it is hot, to say the least. I think it has been 100+ for over 6 days, now. Tomorrow will be no different with highs forecasted from 102-104. The track will be HOT, the grip will stink, and I will sweat my butt off. Pretty pumped since I am running with the Mid Ohio and Central Indiana PCA groups. I ran with Mid Ohio, last year, and they are a great group to run with. Until next time, stay cool, my friends.

XGames, Summer 2012.

Never fails, every year the tricks and runs get better, but the coverage of the whole event is terrible. BMX street was on Watch Espn, my tv provider doesn't carry it. Great, guess I'll just wait until the highlights come out. Anyway, MotoX Big Whip is gnarly, text vote to decide the winner, which is garbage. Twitch wins, in my opinion, Todd Potter should have.

Skateboard Big Air, wow. Huge, that is all.

Of course, the much talked about, RallyX practice crash.

BMX park just ended, I can't wait to see the highlight. Grand Am is at Watkins Glen, too. Brap!

Brap and Dil at Wangfest, Spring '12.

Dil and I had our first DE, together, at WMHM '09. We became friends after that weekend, always had similar cars, so we tend to push each other. Here is a session from earlier this year up at Gingerman for ProFunction's Wangfest. In a couple more weeks, it will be time for WMHM '12 and more sessions between Dil and I. Enjoy.

Last weekend's racing schedule.

I just finished up the Nascar race from Sonoma, last night. Wow, that rounded out my "catching up" on the weekend. There was great racing across the board. F1, amazing, IndyCar, awesome, Grand Am, intense, World Challenge, great, and Nascar, suspense full.

Some might say, "ha. Nascar.", well, Sonoma brought great action. I actually wanted to see what Kurt Busch had, on track and to say, post race. ha. Formula One has been "bringing" it, this year. Always on the edge of your seat, waiting to see who will slip. Grand Am brought out the "big ones", a couple big wreck. Super glad that those guys are OK, Pombo still going through the recovery phase. IndyCar, late race, but it brought the action. A lot of dicing going on, which made Marco complain. haha. Viso also made a "cool" gesture at Power. Dario, as well as everyone else, found the gesture two fold. Dario was in the booth and said "He has hit everything, but the pace car."

The weekend's big excitement for me is the Grand Am races at Watkin's Glen. I am sure it will be out some great racing.

Nick Caster at FF Battle 4.

Pretty straight forwards, as the title read. Nick doing work at Streets of Willow.



Hello, where should I start??!

Well, let me start here, I am new here. I have no clue what I am doing, but let's go for it.

I will post mostly about motorsports, but maybe some humor stuff tossed in there, as well. We will see, I'll try to keep it interesting. But, for now, Hang Loose.