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Dave's 2011 Track Time
Posted by
davecarama
,
12-23-2010
·
2,445 views
Why I am writing:
Well crap. I do enough events, and see enough cool chit on the track that I figure I'll put all of my stories in one common place. I This year, I have big plans... I want to win TTE for NASA Mid Atlantic, Get my comp license, and race in at least one 12+ hour race (in a car, karting is "Been There Done That" at this point).
About me:
This will be my 12th year doing track events, at least 8 of which I have been instructing (maybe more... all of the years are becoming a blur to me). I have been doing a minimum of 4 events and a max of 20 events per year since '99. In '02 or '03 I built a Spec Miata with full intention of racing, but decided to instruct instead, mainly for the free track time, but also because it is extremely rewarding to bring a student from scared and hyperventalating to driving at 10/10 (for their group) and doing it without me saying a word.
I started in '99 with a '97 Miata, fully stock, I built it to basically be a great Spec Miata with some items that would put it in the IT class. It was my street/daily driver until 2007. In '02/'03 I bought a '92 Miata and built it into a full on Spec Miata. I sold the car two years later and used the money to buy a ring and get married. The weekend after my wedding (Sept '08) I bought a Lotus Elise, and sold my beloved '97 Miata. In February '09 I sold the Elise, which sucks because the deal was "Ring, House, Wedding, Lotus". Well, I am still married, she still has her ring, and we still have that same house... but but my Lotus is gone! I digress... I bought a '95 Miata with full intention to build it into a Spec Miata and race wheel to wheel. Although I drove it all of last year in HPDE events and Time Trials, this is the year it will be complete, I will get licensed, and I will race for real!
I bought an '07 MX5 last year, so I have a plush commuter car, and I store the car at the King Rat Ranch, so I have no excuses to hold back when on the track. Spec Miata, TTE, ITA... here I come!
2 years ago I got into Karting when Summit Point opened its doors to a new karting facility. I have organized almost 10 endurance races that ranged from a one hour enduro where each driver went out solo, to two hour enduros where teams of three raced for the most laps (making driver changes along the way), to the first SPK 12 hour race (which was about 60% in the wet, and a LONG night!). My events were so successful that even the facility adopted my rules set and crazy starting ideas, and use them to this day. Our events went from 10 close friends to over 120 people... and each sold out the day the event was announced!
Based on my ability to get people together and interested in bettering the sport, I signed a contract with King Rat motorsports to do marketing, some sales, and some web work with them. They have a presence in Spec Miata both locally and nationally. They have one of the most winningest teams in the MARRS league (metropolitan Road Racing). They also have a presence in the World Challenge Series. For WCS they race the #63 Lexus IS300 that was purchased from the Toyota factory team. They also provide crew for other teams in WCS.
So, with that out of the way, I'll be updating this thread, perhaps weekly once the season starts in January, with my little experiences on track.
Here is what I wrote the last 2 years if you are interested in checking out the fun:
Dave's 2009 Track Time
Dave's 2010 Track Time
See you at the track!
Dave
- RacerX likes this
Not sure if you are going wheel to wheel racing this year or sticking to DE's and Time Trials, but if wheel to wheel, are Hoosiers allowed for SM in your region? Have never run my Miata
on Hoosiers but would be interested in the differences between them and shaved RA-1's. Like you I had done several years of track days and even SCCA Time Trials, but nothing...and I mean nothing...came close to actually taking a green flag...especially in a 40-50 car grid. Have a safe 2011
Bill