So, I almost got 8 hours of sleep coming into the second day, but I still felt "blah". I did my typical routine and we headed to the drivers' meeting. It wasn't foggy like the first morning, but it was definitely gloomy. We got out of the drivers' meeting and it is now drizzling. Silly weather, but I had most of my stuff done on the car. I just had to get myself ready.
Ryan Conley was having some issues the day before, so he swapped out distributors. The rest of us were getting ready, then Mr. Security laid the hammer down on us. We were over the yellow line, whoops, but that's where we had been since we arrived. He comes back by five minutes later and Ryan lost the Mr. Nice Guy title for a moment. It was pretty awesome to see. He got his car right and we all moved our cars, there was peace in the air.
Our first session rolls around and I'm still "not in the mood". I planned on just going out and getting my "direction" back. I think I started third in line behind the TTB NSX and Jeff in his BRZ. It wasn't sprinkling, but it was a constant mist which didn't really help me wake up. We got out on track and Jeff let me go. I wasn't really pushing, but I was keeping a gap with the NSX. Ok, so, again, it gets me going. He picks up the pace and I follow. We got going pretty well for the conditions. Even though it would be "dry" on one part of the track, it would be wet on another. It was constant per location either. The brake zone into T1 is where it seemed to be the "worst". Traction there was goofy all weekend, but it was manageable. It caught me out once in the session and the NSX pulled a tad bigger gap. It was nice to go out and "wake up". I felt that the day was only going up from there.
VIDEO FROM THE FIRST SESSION ON DAY TWO.
By session number two, it was clearing up and at least dry. I borrowed Jason's AiM Solo because I have thought about purchasing one and I wanted to see the benefits. I didn't want to use it earlier in the weekend because I didn't want to get fixated on lap times. I started the session towards the front. So, we head out and we take our warm up lap. Then, on the first "flying" lap, someone lets me go and I come acrossed the line hoping that I did everything right to get the Solo to work properly. Yes, it worked, it was a low 23 lap which I didn't know if it was good or bad. The next lap, I cranked out a 2:21.96. I felt that the lap was good, but I was still trying to clean things up. Unfortunately, the rest of the session, I got caught out with traffic. Still a great session and it was nice to look over to see how I was doing. After the session, I got out and told Adam what I had ran. I think that was the first time that I thought "oh, well maybe that was a good lap." due to his facial expression.
We had lunch, then I went to a classroom session. Meanwhile, the whole time, since I was using the Solo, I was thinking of where I could make it better. So, I got a plan together of what I wanted to work on. Now, we just had to wait to go out, which was supposed to be 3pm.
We are all hanging out and everything besides pressures are done on my car. I go back upstairs to the room for a bit before our session. I come back down and everyone is in their cars, running. I asked Adam what was going on, he replies "they combined Advanced and Intermediate." Oh crap, I'm going to be late to the party. I wanted to party with Adam, but I seen him head out. Well, I guess that I am out for that, back to plan A, work on getting quicker. As I am going through grid, I see him go by start/finish. Sweet, there is a chance! Well, apparently, he was tipping these people as he went by. They were holding me up like Simba in the beginning of Lion King. I come through South Bend and I see him up towards Oak Tree. I get on the back straight and line him up like a Kid N' Play fade. I was fully prepared to push him up the back straight, but he fully lifted, nope, not going to happen. I come to find out, he jumped a couple curbs, so he got black flagged for going "four off". hahaha. I keep working on what I had planned, but every time that I would think "this is THE lap", I would get slowed up by someone. That session, I never got a clean lap, bummer, but oh well. The session was still fun.
On day one in the drivers' meeting, I asked about flag stand location. The only person to answer me was Andy, he replied "they will all be manned." Ok, I'll find them and we will go from there. Well, I found them all, except for one. This one was kind of critical, it was the one on the outside of Oak Tree. I would always be one of the first ones out and wouldn't run the whole session before coming in, so I'd never see the checkered. Well, the third session due to going out late, I was to have seen the checkered. But, that didn't happen. Earlier in the event, coming out of Oak Tree, Joe pointed me by, then drag raced me. I joked around with him about it, so in this session, I see him ahead. He then gives a thumbs up, so I think "cool, he's just letting me go." So, I just buzz on by. I then get up into Roller Coaster and I see Dave ahead. Before T16, it seemed like he had slowed. So, I think "awesome, he knows that I want to start a "flier"." I go on by and as I am coming out of Hog Pen, the corner worker is giving me the "hang loose" signal. I also see Conley pulling into the pits, so it all "clicks" at that point. I cruise on through the pits, Andy gives me a hang loose while Jack and Nick give me a thumbs up. haha. I was laughing pretty good because I came out clean on that one with Joe and Dave ahead. I never miss flags and that wasn't the time to start.
Joe's view after the checkered.
Dave's view after the checkered.
Adam and I had a long trip ahead, especially after a long day. So, we decided to pack up and say our goodbyes. It stinks because most of these people, I won't see until next summer, but I've got Facebook. haha. Adam went over and took a shower while I just sat at the bottom of Roller Coaster to soak it all in.
Once we hit the road, it was smooth sailing. Andy passed us in his old Integra and that was the last sight of any #IntegraFriends. I asked Adam about every mile if we could turn around, he kept saying no. It seemed the mountains were steeper heading home than coming to VIR. It was almost dark outside and we are climbing the mountain. I'm looking over to the left and I see this big, dark object moving. It was way too big to be a dog. Luckily, Adam saw it too, so by the time I yelled "WHHOOAAA!!", he was already on the brakes. Holy, black bear!! This bear runs out in front of us, we miss it by less than three feet! It was a full grown bear, but it at least weighed 250 pounds.
We kept on chugging home. We stopped at this truck stop as we got into Kentucky. I went inside and when I came back to the truck, Adam was asleep. So, instead of waking him, I let him sleep. He slept for about an hour and a half. I didn't sleep because I knew that I would have been "done" after that. Once we were in Indiana and on 74, I slept for about 15 minutes. We backed into my driveway around 6am, I was inside, showered, and ready to lay down by 7am. I slept until 8am, then I got up for work. I worked all day and when I got home, Bai and I played for a bit. I think I fell asleep on the couch around 830pm as we were watching cartoons. At that point, I would have been up for almost 39 hours with about an hour of sleep. I hadn't done that in awhile and I still think that I am feeling the side effects of it. haha.
Looking back on the trip, wow. What a great time even though it was long travels, it was well worth it. Everyone told me how "nice" VIR was and how fun the track was. They were all lying, it was better than even expected. It is a far drive, but it might have to happen on a yearly basis. It was also cool to hang out with ITR guys, but more in depth or one on one. I've seen Joe and Dave a few times this year, but the others, it seems like ITR Expo was it. The karting was awesome, I wish that we could have done it again, but with the schedules given, it was tough. Adam's idea of staying on top of the garages was a great idea. It was super convenient and accessible because I was up there before and after every session. The track itself, it was amazing. It let you know when you made a mistake, it also told you when you were being a girl. In the Midwest, we don't have many tracks with that variety, let alone speed. Fun track to learn and I can't wait to go back, until then, hang loose!!
Cheers.
#BrapCity
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