Rounds 1 and 2 of the Western Conference Majors 1/17~19

This was my first time to Cal Speedway.  I have never been that interested in running on a roval but after watching Danny's Daytona video and his enthusiasm for it, I was cautiously optimistic.  Turned out to be a glorious weekend of 80F sunny skies and great racing!  Pushing and being pushed through the banking at 120 was a ton of fun and I will definitely go back.  It's a totally different kind of racing... maybe not so much about who is the best driver but we had a great scrap running between 3rd to 8th in the two races.

Thanks to Charlie Hayes from TFB who shared some video with me beforehand, I was able to pick up the track quickly and I started 6th and finished 5th both days.  My qualifying laps Saturday morning were ruined by not running enough fuel and getting a stumble coming onto the front straight.  Given the position swapping in the race, I don't think that really mattered and 6th was OK (5th on Sunday since Skeer fell ill).   I don't know if it was motor or technique or a combination of both but I wasn't getting off the last corners as well and I lost the draft several times each race.  I'd claw it back in the infield, especially with all of the dicing going on in front, and then wash, rinse, repeat.  Overall I was happy with my performance, had a ton of fun, enjoyed some beers with friends old and new and the best part is I flew home so I didn't have to sit on (the) I5 for 7 hours.  Thanks to TFB for the transport and support!

Shout outs to Drennan who was wheeling and to Charlie who drove from something like 24th in Sunday's race up into the top 5.  We worked together for a couple of laps until he ran low on fuel (a common theme in our paddock apparently).  He was dialed in and despite being in an old borrowed car, I bet he would have taken the third podium spot if he went the distance.  Congrats to Sutherland for bringing out his new 99 and podiuming in his first weekend, also his first time at the track.

I ran front and back cameras and will grab my other memory card from the car when it's back this week.  There was some entertaining moments out there that should make for good viewing.

Race 2 recap. Started with a wave off after I assume things didn't look so good to the starter(couldn't see from my position...maybe someone else has more insight what happened). Some contact happened during this that left Mark Drennan with what appeared after the race as a broken finger...it was twice its normal size. With this he and Clement finally broke free of the pack about halfway thru the race. Mark was fast in the infield but Clement had no problem getting back to his bumper every lap on the oval and pushing. Last lap Clement popped out and got around Mark going into turn 3. Mark tried but didn't get an opportunity to get by...and choose not to do anything sketchy!
Until these 2 got the gap...the front group was 7 or 8 cars...I think every car led the race at some point! I may be wrong but I think Dean Busk got pushed by either Charlie Hayes or Kyle Kaiser from about 7th to p1 in 2 turns...was crazy(now that I see Marks video...it was him!). Not sure what happened to Dean but I remember when he drove off the track and retired. I was surprised how many guys ran out of gas this weekend...well, didn't run out but low enough for the cars to stumble. Not sure if this had anything to do with the banking or a lot of brain farts!

Couple other things of note...it was made clear in the drivers meeting that the Majors(western)this year will be consistent with regards to contact...NONE! But then basically said that controlled pushing would be overlooked! But if you pushed on someone hard enough to get them out of shape(bump crashing) or in turns...this would insure a talking too if reported.

There was a lot of contact this weekend that was avoidable...some poor decisions and poor driving. As Joe alluded to earlier...some went a little NASCAR! That particular drivers car(front corners)looked like hell after 2 separate incidents in the last race. Matt Shultz had to retire from the race after his run in with him. Tyler Vance got turned early on in a turn 3 scrum of 8 cars...not intentional but unfortunate for him. Coming back thru the pack he again found a different color paint on his car...rough day. Then there are always those racing incidents! Both cars I was crewing with got hit hard enough to break diffs...one after a missed shift caused a 4 car gang bang( we were the monkey in the middle!). The other was during the 2nd race start wave off...errr!

But in fairness there was far more great driving! No yellow flags(hot tows)and not aware of weekend ending damage.

Tech? What tech? I saw weight and plates on Sat...maybe weight on Sun. Somewhat disappointing if you ask me. I really thought they would do more.

Sorry about zero editing and multiple links but here's my Sunday race.

Part 1

http://www.youtube.c...h?v=9NHDnlyr1i8

- 3:25 First race start, waived off

- 6: 30 Second race start, starter waived his hand (?) which I thought meant he was waiving it off again...green flag might've been more appropriate lol

- 7:20 Dislocated finger

- 15:25 So, so, so very sorry for spinning Tyler Vance...uhhg.  Certainly not intended, felt horrible, and apologized profusely.  I'm normally better than that...but not at that moment.  To Tyler's credit and to my surprise, he was super cool about accepting my apology and didn't let it phase him...very mature for his age...way better than I was back in the day. Again, very sorry Tyler.  I owe you a point by next time for sure...assuming I'm in front of you ;-)

Part 2

http://www.youtube.c...h?v=1299OMCh2xo

Part 3

http://www.youtube.c...h?v=rrknIitBf2g

- I'm a looooooser!

Enjoy!

-MD

I found your problem! Someone left a brake rotor in the passenger floor board  Nice Drive! Was funny watching you continually look at your finger wondering if it was still there

Is that seat mounted tight?

Just has a lot of flex being older...

Sorry about zero editing and multiple links but here's my Sunday race.
 
Part 1
http://www.youtube.c...h?v=9NHDnlyr1i8
- 3:25 First race start, waived off
- 6: 30 Second race start, starter waived his hand (?) which I thought meant he was waiving it off again...green flag might've been more appropriate lol
- 7:20 Dislocated finger
- 15:25 So, so, so very sorry for spinning Tyler Vance...uhhg.  Certainly not intended, felt horrible, and apologized profusely.  I'm normally better than that...but not at that moment.  To Tyler's credit and to my surprise, he was super cool about accepting my apology and didn't let it phase him...very mature for his age...way better than I was back in the day. Again, very sorry Tyler.  I owe you a point by next time for sure...assuming I'm in front of you ;-)
 
Part 2
http://www.youtube.c...h?v=1299OMCh2xo
 
Part 3
http://www.youtube.c...h?v=rrknIitBf2g
- I'm a looooooser!
 
Enjoy!
-MD

Thanks for the video Mark. Sorry bout the finger. Gonna see you at NOLA??

Hey Craig - NOLA isn't on my dance card but I plan on being at the March Road Atlanta event and am guessing I'll see you there!

Mark, I sure hope my bump on Brian is not what hurt the finger! Great driving all weekend!
 

Hey Rusty - yep, I'm pointing my dislocated finger at you my friend ;-)  Don't sweat it, no biggie and the finger is fine.  Heck, I raced in STL later that afternoon.  It was just a freak timing thing where I was just about to grab the wheel after downshifting when I got ping-pong'd between Ghidinelli (who you bumped into me) and Lee who was only about an inch in front of me.  Again, all good.  It was great racing with your and thanks for helping me out with the shock on Saturday.  See you in April at ThunderHill!

I found your problem! Someone left a brake rotor in the passenger floor board  Nice Drive! Was funny watching you continually look at your finger wondering if it was still there

Hey Jim - lol, the brake rotors (there's another one out of view), are pretty ghetto (west coast) aka redneck (south & southeast).  If only someone would create a better system for adding weight to our cars...lol!

Is that seat mounted tight?

Hey Michael - it's definitely mounted tightly to the floor with absolutely zero play but as you can see has a lot of flex in the body.  Probably time to get a new seat.

Congrats to Clement Lee for sweeping the top spot all weekend.  It was great to see Ken and Matt come down from the Northwest...class acts. 

Thanks to Brian Ghidinelli and TFB's Charlie Hayes for being great teammates...lot's of fun on and off the track!

A little different perspective....I have much to learn and what I thought happened didn't. Just over drove the car and tires....

http://youtu.be/PpxjspXKwlA

A little different perspective....I have much to learn and what I thought happened didn't. Just over drove the car and tires....

 

http://youtu.be/PpxjspXKwlA

Hey Dean - you've video is marked as "Private"...can't view it.  Great meeting your at Fontana!

When I get home I will repost...

Regarding the untouchable track record, it is obvious to me that I must share it Charlie Hayes and Iron Canyon Motorsports.

Thanks Charlie...

http://youtu.be/PpxjspXKwlA

Regarding the untouchable track record, it is obvious to me that I must share it Charlie Hayes and Iron Canyon Motorsports.

Thanks Charlie...

 

 

http://youtu.be/PpxjspXKwlA

Great run Dean. Wish you had better luck with that RF tire. I was wondering how long it would last.... 

Man, that 3rd - 7th race was tough!  I thought I was out of it a few times but kept getting another crack at it.  I sure appreciated the close clean racing in both races.  Next time I come down I'll bring a Northwest friend that has a '99. Maybe I can talk Matt into it by then.  :^) 

Dean, what happened to your RF?  Too many lock-ups?  I would have bet I wasn't locking up much, but after watching your video.....

If AutoClub was the only place we raced the 1.6 cars would need a turbo and 100 lbs less weight.  Not sure there doesn't need to be an adjustment anyway.  Struggling to think of a track where the 1.6 dominates.  There's plenty the other way around...

Ken

 

If AutoClub was the only place we raced the 1.6 cars would need a turbo and 100 lbs less weight.  Not sure there doesn't need to be an adjustment anyway.  Struggling to think of a track where the 1.6 dominates.  There's plenty the other way around...

 

Ken

Ken has gone to the dark side. boo!!!

Nice drive Dean..tough break! You had a fast car there!

Funny watching yours and Marks video...speaking in General, one minute you're everyone's buddy, the next minute you're on the bottom singing "choo choo" as the trains go by

 

Enjoyed the video Dean. As Ron said, your the leader or on a side track singing. Was waiting for someone to loose their sense and do a NASCAR block. Great driving by the video group.