Ross, I thought that was you! At the driver's meeting I remarked to a teammate, "That looks like Ross Bentley standing alone under the tree." I was hoping to cross paths later to awkwardly say, "Hey you look like Ross." Dang it. I would have loved to have met. I have read one of your books, been on your blog, attended a master class or two and have the Garmin G1. We raced in A-Class in a Miata. We lost roughly 12 min to a lost oil cap that was not secured after a driver change and adding some oil. We came in 4th in class one lap behind 2nd and 3rd. Those 12 min would have accounted for several laps. Would have been great to be on the same team and running a Boxster...beautiful cars. The Miata's can be fantastic though but I miss a little more HP.
I have probably done 10 or more ChampCar races. I agree with your assessment and yes I had a great time. I had pretty good marks for most of the track at night but when alone from the Bishop's to turn 16 finding some useful marks in full dark was tough. It was so dark and I found it hard to be perfect on my marks. Concur ChampCar can be good and fun racing. We have occasional pros, former IMSA teams, and plenty of Joes. Some cutting their teeth owning and racing, some with a fleet of cars, some backing down from higher level/more expensive racing and some just having a great time like the Betty White Golf. Those guys have fun, are respectful and turn a lot of laps. I fully understand about passing/racing other cars not in your class. Cost you both time. At Daytona this year I was in A-Class but had a C-Class car blocking me wherever possible for nearly an hour going back and forth as I would take the brake zone and the corners and he the straights until I decided the only way to make it stick was to make pass in 1 diving off the front straight. I faked the inside then darted to the outside before he could put on the block around the stack of white tires. I then beat him to the International Horseshoe and continued to use my turn and braking advantage and putting a few cars between us. Once I entered back on to the high bank he never caught me again. Post laps reviews showed I lost several seconds a lap until I got by for good. In clean air I was several seconds a lap faster than he was. The problem with night racing at Sebring, which can be very dark and the headlights dazzling is it is often hard to know what class car is behind you in many cases but if clearly faster, then give way. If it turns out he is in class, then go and pass him back and make it stick! In ChampCar there are too many out of class battles that need not be. Some get it but others do not. Hope to see you around the track and this time I'll come say hello.
Haven't done any 12 hrs yet but I've been involved in 8 hrs Champcar, Lucky Dog and lately Enduro Elite in Canada. Lot's of fun and good lessons on the importance of reliability and control of aggression. Also, remembering your lessons about "optimal" driving line or lack of it.
Thanks Ross! 100% agree that ‘budget’ endurance racing has made it far more accessible and excellent fun as a team. Where I coach a couple of us come from law enforcement among a group of some very talented racers. So getting to race the first 2009 Chumpcar 24 hr @ Portland was my intro to endurance racing. I was blessed to have a pro car chief (Fred) & team coach (Cindi) from Lux Performance Group, a Trans Am team build the group. Checklists, donations, group effort, made our $500 + or - ‘84 turbo Dodge Colt very drivable, safe, and winner of the ‘engineering award’ (for a remarkable mechanical waste gate dump for traction control!).
The lack of data was made up for by the 2 hour stints, as you mentioned comparing laps and what did & didn’t seem to work. 7 hours of driving in dry, rain, & fog conditions was easily the most fun I had ever had! Mental fatigue showed up in less-than-stellar laps. First time I can recall of being “in the zone” was toward the end of a two hour drive.
Our drivers were at all levels, brand new to one seasoned racer/car builder. Building the car, one practice day, and the race created an atmosphere where a mid pack finish among 80 cars felt like a win!
I love how much you're enjoying the driving Ross and when the race was over you wanted to "keep going"!! Oh, and welcome to Florida where for reasons we can't understand it's 90 degrees hot all night, when will it ever cool off, November, maybe! Nice to hear Sebring's T13 is still interesting for you. When I started driving my NP01 nearly 9 years ago I thought the low 60s was a pretty decent VMin there combined with a great exit to carry me all the way to 15. Applying more "Ross" guidance I eventually graduated to the mid 60s. Oh my gosh, but now at the cusp of 70 (in the heat of the day!!) I'm wondering good grief what is the limit here???! I know whenever I get "THE" checked flag I'll be asking can I have just 10 more laps please??
Ross, I thought that was you! At the driver's meeting I remarked to a teammate, "That looks like Ross Bentley standing alone under the tree." I was hoping to cross paths later to awkwardly say, "Hey you look like Ross." Dang it. I would have loved to have met. I have read one of your books, been on your blog, attended a master class or two and have the Garmin G1. We raced in A-Class in a Miata. We lost roughly 12 min to a lost oil cap that was not secured after a driver change and adding some oil. We came in 4th in class one lap behind 2nd and 3rd. Those 12 min would have accounted for several laps. Would have been great to be on the same team and running a Boxster...beautiful cars. The Miata's can be fantastic though but I miss a little more HP.
Sorry I missed meeting you. Too bad about the issue, but it sounds like you had fun!
I have probably done 10 or more ChampCar races. I agree with your assessment and yes I had a great time. I had pretty good marks for most of the track at night but when alone from the Bishop's to turn 16 finding some useful marks in full dark was tough. It was so dark and I found it hard to be perfect on my marks. Concur ChampCar can be good and fun racing. We have occasional pros, former IMSA teams, and plenty of Joes. Some cutting their teeth owning and racing, some with a fleet of cars, some backing down from higher level/more expensive racing and some just having a great time like the Betty White Golf. Those guys have fun, are respectful and turn a lot of laps. I fully understand about passing/racing other cars not in your class. Cost you both time. At Daytona this year I was in A-Class but had a C-Class car blocking me wherever possible for nearly an hour going back and forth as I would take the brake zone and the corners and he the straights until I decided the only way to make it stick was to make pass in 1 diving off the front straight. I faked the inside then darted to the outside before he could put on the block around the stack of white tires. I then beat him to the International Horseshoe and continued to use my turn and braking advantage and putting a few cars between us. Once I entered back on to the high bank he never caught me again. Post laps reviews showed I lost several seconds a lap until I got by for good. In clean air I was several seconds a lap faster than he was. The problem with night racing at Sebring, which can be very dark and the headlights dazzling is it is often hard to know what class car is behind you in many cases but if clearly faster, then give way. If it turns out he is in class, then go and pass him back and make it stick! In ChampCar there are too many out of class battles that need not be. Some get it but others do not. Hope to see you around the track and this time I'll come say hello.
Haven't done any 12 hrs yet but I've been involved in 8 hrs Champcar, Lucky Dog and lately Enduro Elite in Canada. Lot's of fun and good lessons on the importance of reliability and control of aggression. Also, remembering your lessons about "optimal" driving line or lack of it.
Thanks Ross! 100% agree that ‘budget’ endurance racing has made it far more accessible and excellent fun as a team. Where I coach a couple of us come from law enforcement among a group of some very talented racers. So getting to race the first 2009 Chumpcar 24 hr @ Portland was my intro to endurance racing. I was blessed to have a pro car chief (Fred) & team coach (Cindi) from Lux Performance Group, a Trans Am team build the group. Checklists, donations, group effort, made our $500 + or - ‘84 turbo Dodge Colt very drivable, safe, and winner of the ‘engineering award’ (for a remarkable mechanical waste gate dump for traction control!).
The lack of data was made up for by the 2 hour stints, as you mentioned comparing laps and what did & didn’t seem to work. 7 hours of driving in dry, rain, & fog conditions was easily the most fun I had ever had! Mental fatigue showed up in less-than-stellar laps. First time I can recall of being “in the zone” was toward the end of a two hour drive.
Our drivers were at all levels, brand new to one seasoned racer/car builder. Building the car, one practice day, and the race created an atmosphere where a mid pack finish among 80 cars felt like a win!
Congrats on a great weekend and strong finish!!
I love how much you're enjoying the driving Ross and when the race was over you wanted to "keep going"!! Oh, and welcome to Florida where for reasons we can't understand it's 90 degrees hot all night, when will it ever cool off, November, maybe! Nice to hear Sebring's T13 is still interesting for you. When I started driving my NP01 nearly 9 years ago I thought the low 60s was a pretty decent VMin there combined with a great exit to carry me all the way to 15. Applying more "Ross" guidance I eventually graduated to the mid 60s. Oh my gosh, but now at the cusp of 70 (in the heat of the day!!) I'm wondering good grief what is the limit here???! I know whenever I get "THE" checked flag I'll be asking can I have just 10 more laps please??