Re: How did things go at the SoCal Pro Solo Event? (tre-longoso)

["Mike VanAmburgh" <vmichael12@qwest.net>]

Shawn C Meze wrote:

> I was to hook up with Mike Vanamburg on friday but I bailed out on him
> after trying to get a hold of him on his cell phone and failed countless
> times. I drove my ass home the 106 miles.

Sorry about that Shawn!  What time did you end up going back Friday
night anyway?  I didn't get there until 6 or so.  It would have been
cool to hook up for dinner or something.  I was looking for you after
things died down Sunday, but you must have already taken off.  

Anyhoo, my weekend went ok.  I co-drove a friend's 95 325is.  I have
co-driven a couple times now and this was my second event on the new
Kumhos with the car.  Previously, we were just running with the street
tires.  I was really looking to this event because the 1st (David Fauth)
and 2nd (Neal Sapp driving Peter Mottaz' BMW) place cars from the 2000
Topeka Nationals were showing on the pre-entry list.  When lining up at
grid, the 3rd place Nats guy (Kevin McCormick) appeared as well!  So,
naturally we got our asses spanked!  Integra Type R's came in first,
second and third with Peter Mottaz in 4th with the other BMW.  The owner
of the car I was driving was in 5th and I was in 6th behind him by .069
seconds.  They had me in fifth, but a cone that I smacked was missed by
the scoring people.  After I told them about it, I was knocked down to
6th after my 34.8xx run became 36.8xxx.  

I was happy in general with my driving.  After a few tips from Shawn, I
was able to shave some time off.  I felt really confident on the left
course and had a time just 2/10ths off Mottaz's (other BMW) time.  I
sucked on the right course all weekend and only managed a low 35 for a
best, which was 1.2 seconds off Mottaz.  After my Sunday morning runs, I
kept telling myself that my afternoon runs would be better only to find
out that the Sunday morning runs were the last runs!  Crap.  I'll call
this a learning experience.  :-)  I only placed 6th out of 10 cars, but
I'm happy with that.  If I do the same thing 5 years from now, I'll be
pissed tho.  :-)  

The car felt good, but definitely needs a set of Koni shocks.  It was
launching great against the Type Rs.  I was able to beat every one of
them to the first curve except once when I had a crappy reaction time.  

I did have one embarassing moment Saturday morning.  I staged for the
left course for my second run, the yellow lights were counting down,
last yellow shines and GO!  WTF?  Car doesn't move!  My dumbass forgot
to put the car in gear after I staged.  Hehe.  So I quick threw it in
first and started to launch, but had it in reverse by mistake!  I don't
think Shawn saw me do that and I probably shouldn't be saying this. 
I'll probably never hear of the end of it now.  :-)  

Anyway, need to get to bed.  Glad to be home...

Mike

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