86 replies to this topic

[Mitch Reading]

Sounded like an epic battle, Buras over Steyn at the line? What happened to Drago? Jim went from 12th to 5th on opening lap, or something like that.... hope to see that video.

Good luck tomorrow guys. thanks SCCAlive.

[tylerbrown]

Saturday Race Unofficial Results

Buras
Steyn
Charbonneau
Vanvurst
Berry
Bolanos
Tucker
Sandlin
Leverone
Labounty
Rollan
Brown
Hance III
Burdette
Mason

[Mike Asselta]

Saturday Race:

Buras
Steyn
Charbs
Chip
Berry
Bolanos
Tucker
Sandlin (FAST LAP OF THE RACE = 2.36.787)
Leverone
Labounty

[Jim Daniels - FIG]

Fastest cars who could not capitalize....

Pat
Drago

by far....

[Jim Creighton]

Pat said his brakes started locking up so he back off rather than pile up

After his time, no one one was fastest by far.

Drago- 2:37:020
Chip- 2:37:049
Von C- 2:37.077
Danny- 2:37.117
Berry-2:37.235
Todd- 2:37.299
Bolanos- 2:37.300
Jamie- 2:37.367
Nick L-2:37.394

Nine cars within less than 4/10 of second on a track with 157 second lap times. Note the car who was 7th fastest won! Margin of victory was .040 of a second.

I can't tell you how impressive it was to watch from the start line as four rows of cars four cars wide charged into turn one and all came out. The spectators sitting in the stands at the tower clapped approval. Only a car later in the race into turn one wall brought out a full course yellow. I think every other group had at least one full couse yellow and some had three.

And Chip was leading with a lap to go. Ended up 4th. No dance partner.

[DES4]

Sounded like an epic battle, Buras over Steyn at the line? What happened to Drago? Jim went from 12th to 5th on opening lap, or something like that.... hope to see that video.

Good luck tomorrow guys. thanks SCCAlive.

It's not what happened to Drago, but what happened to everyone else going into 3 on the opening lap (we were standing at 4); Collum got hit from behind and turned sideways on the exit to three, which forced close to half the field to take evasive action by running off track on both sides (two or three were unable to continue). Cory lost his front bumper cover and several spots, but was able to continue. It happened close enough up front that it really shuffled the order.

[Danny Steyn]

Sebring Race 1 Recap – for any of those that are interested

Possibly the deepest field I have ever raced in my short motor racing career. At least 15 drivers had the ability to win this.

Based on qualifying I knew we were strong enough to contend for the podium, but my concern was that if Sandlin and Buras worked together then they would disappear into the distance. they were definitely the fastest guys on the track in qualifying, not just in times.

Fifty one drivers took the start. Todd was on Pole, Pat in P2, myself in P3, Berry in P4, bruce Anderson Jr in P5. I got a great push by Bruce and that helped me push Todd and I managed to get by Sandlin going into T3. Behind us Cory got turned in T3 stacking up some of the guys, and to make it easier on Todd and I, Sandlin (on unfamiliar brake pads) locked it up going into T7 giving Todd and I a good break. For the next 3 or 4 laps I did everything I could to hang in Todd’s draft.

Todd has a monster 1.6 and his skills, car prep, and thousands of laps at Sebring makes him a formidable adversary. Also the 1.6 is kinder to the tires so I was trying not to overdrive the turns and preserve my tires and so I did not make any real moves.

Behind us Pat was in full charge mode and was chasing us down, visibly closing the gap every lap. Just as he got to us and was ready to pass me, we went full course yellow with a driver hard into the tires in T1.

We circulated behind the pace car for 2 laps and of course now everyone was on our bumper. I pushed Todd on the restart, rather than trying to pass him, as I felt that I had a better chance of surviving if he and Sandlin were separated. But with Sandlin closing in I made the move past Buras into the lead going down the back straight into T17, and that was a dumb move!

On the main straight, Sandlin pushed Buras past me and I was hung out to dry around the outside of T1 allowing Chip to dive into T3 o the bumper of Buras and Sandlin and I was in 4^th place with Andrew on my bumper. Something happened to Sandlin exiting T7 and Chip, Andrew and I got passed him. The next few laps were incredibly intense with Buras with a slight gap over Chip, me on Chips bumper, Andrew wearing a hole in mine, Bolanos climbing all over his and Leverone and Berry all over Bolanos.

Then with 3 laps to go Chip got a great exit out of T17 and pulled alongside Buras who had to defend the inside going into T1. This allowed Chip to carry more exit speed through T1 and take the lead going into T3, I was able to get alongside Buras and we went through T3, 4 and 5 side by side with mirrors touching, but I couldn’t complete the pass and dropped back behind Buras into 3^rd with Andrew all over my ass. I made the move again on the inside of the hairpin T7 and Todd and I had a drag race to T10, but I had the inside line and Todd gave it up. Now we were in pursuit of Chip who had a decent gap because we had been dicing.

By T1 I had caught up to Chip and we exited T5 bumper to bumper. Todd came up behind me and gave me a push and I went for the inside pass into the hairpin and it stuck. Chip slid wide and allowed Todd through as well, but was able to hold off Andrew.

We held those positions leading into T17 for the start of the final lap. Chip had a great run out of T17 and got passed Buras. I defended up the inside and Chip committed to the outside of T1 but it didn’t work for him as Todd and Andrew were able to get inside him on the run into T3.

The order into T7 was myself, Todd, Andrew and Chip. I managed to pull a small gap through T10 and extend it a little through T13 as I knew I needed a buffer for the back straight. I held the gap through T15 but as we exited T16 I knew it was not enough. Todd had a great run and was coming. I hugged the right side of the track. If Todd was going to pass me it would have to be on the outside of T17. It can be done there but it is a 50:50 shot at best.

At the braking point for T17 we were alongside and we bounced and slid through T17 with our mirrors overlapped and almost touching. I gave Todd room on the left and on the run up to the finish line he eked out a slender margin to win by about a foot. (4/100ths). Andrew was all over us, as was Chip, Craig and Alex. The top 5 finished within 0.44 seconds of the leader.

Now that’s what you call a race.

Hats off to all the drivers for some spectacular driving and the cleanest most respectful driving I have seen in this class. Everyone gave room when it was earned.

Special tip of my hat to Chip for an incredible performance after being out of a car for well over a year.

Tom and crew at OPM (including Tire-Boy George Munson!) thanks for the great car prep – car was awesome. Mike Rossini, again I thank you. It was very close to having two Rossini engines on the podium! Traqmate - cannot live without it!!!

Best moment of the day…… Todd , Danny and Andrew, on the podium, getting photos, Todd asks Andrew and I if its OK to bring his two daughters onto the podium, we nod and he calls out to his daughters. Not missing a beat, then Andrew hollers into the crowd, Jamie!!! Jamie!!!

PRICELESS, still laugh when I think of this! Andrew you are one funny dude!

[Caveman-kwebb99]

Great story daniel... I picked you to win and you let me down WTF?

Damn I wish I was there and not Cold Ohio!

[SMRollan]

And qualifying is canceled for today.

[pat slattery]

Nice report Danny, sounds like that race was like a mini Runoffs race. Wish we were there also. Congrats to everyone.

[Ron Alan]

And qualifying is canceled for today.

Why?

Thanks Danny for the write up! Glad to hear AC is alive and well along with his side kick! Though some will disagree, I really miss his pain in the assness here Dont be a stranger Andrew! Congrats to the 3 guys on the podium...hard fought it sounds like! Post up video!

[Caveman-kwebb99]

cancelled for FOG...

[Caveman-kwebb99]

looks like race could start as early as 3pm eastern time

[Ron Alan]

looks like race could start as early as 3pm eastern time

Post up if this happens please!

[Caveman-kwebb99]

must have been crosseyed when I looked at racemonitor seems like its still on schedule for 4pm ish... I will be unable to monitor the race hopefully somoene will post up the top 20.

[Armando Ramirez]

This race has gone checkered, with Danny Steyn the winner today in Spec Miata. Buras, Drago the podium.

[Joe (dad) Jordan]

Only 3 or 4 laps of green flag racing. Ended under caution.

1.steyn
2.buras
3.drago
4.charbonneuu
5.c vanvurst
6.bolanos
7.tucker
8.berry
9.leverone
10.Tisseront
11Sandlin
12. Andrews
13. Collum
14. MacHeaven
15. Czarny
16.M Vanvurst
17. Frierson
18.Petschauer
19.Blaisdell
20. Goring

[Bench Racer]

Thanks for the ride Danny.

[Tom Sager]

Big congrats Danny. The win in the "2nd moto" makes you the Sebring Champ.

[Brocodile]

Congrats to Danny. I followed on Live T&S. It was shaping up to be another great battle between Danny and Todd, but, today, Jim was in the mix, along with Chip VanV and the rest of the Florida gang. Must have been a big mess in T17. They flagged the race with several laps remaining.