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..
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.
