>>>>UPDATE<<<<
SUNDAY, RACE DAY!
Sunday morning started at 6:30AM with some basic prep-work on the car. We decided to have Don Carlos drive first to give him a chance to have some seat time before the race. Don Carlos was having problems with the brakes as we were before (too stiff) and the rears were locking up as well. However things were about to get much worse... While on the track something happened to the gearbox. Carlos brought the car in and I jumped in to evaluate the problems. Pulling out of the pits it was clear we had lost second gear. Third gear was slow to engage and we had some light clutch slippage. The brakes were locking a bit in the rear too. I adjusted the brakes a bit ad stopped the rear lock-up. The only good news was that the push was much less than on Saturday but for whatever that gave us, we were going to be fighting the gearbox for the race. I pulled off the track and into the garage. We had an hour to do what we could before the race.
We quickly got the car up in the air, changed the transmission fluid and found lots of metal in the gearbox oil. With no time to do anything else we prepped the car for the race and changed the team strategy.
The strategy for the race would be Edgar starting the race with team orders to drive clean and protect the gearbox as best he could. We wanted 1:21 laps average so we could let whatever crashes, failures and other racing issues to happen to the other teams with us staying safe at the back of the pack. Besides we were starting at the back due to us missing the qualifying on Saturday with the broken damper anyway. If Edgar did his job he would deliver the car to Don Carlos who would follow with the same strategy, good clean laps and to save the car for the end. For the last third I would get in. If the car was drivable I would then push for as many spots as possible to finish as best we could.
The race started well and our strategy was working. Edgar was driving clean and safe, keeping the gearbox together and doing 1:20-1:21 laps consistently. Great job Edgar! As Edgar kept the car together, several teams dropped out due to crashes and mechanical failures. We were gaining positions due to attrition and Edgar was able to pass for positions as well. Edgar did great and being out of a race car for five years shows it is like driving a bike a guess!
Don Carlos got in after a slow but safe pit stop with the only problem being that we did not get enough fuel in the car. Don Carlos kept the strategy, following Edgar with good lap times and keeping the car together but the car was getting worse. The clutch was slipping more and more as the race progressed and there was some fuel starvation occurring toward the end of Carlos's session. Carlos brought the car in for the pit stop in 11th place. Obviously Carlos's years of experience and talent were put to good use as he brought in the ailing car with a great run on the track! Thanks Carlos!
We had a long pitstop for me getting into the car because we had to take on extra fuel to compensate for the low fuel condition from the first stop. Carlos told me getting into the car that the clutch was very bad. When I pulled away I had to go from 1st to 3rd since 2nd was completely gone. Well 3rd was basically 90% dead as well. The car was handling well and the brakes were working well but still stiff. The clutch was slipping very very badly and took several seconds between shifts to stop slipping. The engine was pulling hard and I went looking for opportunities. The first came quickly and was an easy pass but the next turned out to be a good battle.
I came up on Pedro driving the Tuscon. He was obviously having some braking issues and the car was slow in the high speed corners, but the car was making good power and the handling was still good in the tight sections. We were very deep on the brakes compared to Pedro but the power was still very close so it was not going to be an easy pass.
We were in a battle with Pedro to pass him for position. Pedro's Tuscon seemed to be slowing, he was doing his best to keep us from getting around. In order to hold us off Pedro was driving a defensive line (perfectly fine and 100% expected in their situation at the time). A defensive line is slower than the normal racing line but makes it much harder for the car behind to get around.
Due to the defensive line we were both going slower than we were with open track and the Padrino CRX was catching up to the two of us from behind slowly. A blue flag was shown in front of Pedro and Me with the CRX significantly behind us, 200 mtrs or more. This flag must have been for Pedro to know I was behind him. This was a little confusing as it just as easily could have been assumed it was for either Pedro or the CRX. Despite the confusion from a blue flag so far in advance, I kept an eye on the CRX. The next lap the blue flag was shown again this time I assumed it was for me because the CRX was catching up and was 50 or so meters back now. As the CRX approached I maintained my racing line as I am supposed to, but saw him start to enter the inside before the right hander heading toward the lake, I could have simpyl closed the door by continuing to turn in but I stayed wide to let him go by.
So now the CRX is between me and the Tuscon but was not able to go around him. This went on for some time and it became apparent that the CRX was unable to pass the Tuscon despite several opportunities given by Pedro who was now driving a standard racing line to open the door for the CRX. I was now being slowed by the CRX and not able to get to the Tuscon to make that pass. At the end of the front strait I was able to easily outbrake the CRX and simply passed him again to resume my battle.
Again I was looking for my opportunity to go around the Tuscon with the CRX back behind me again. Pedro again started to drive a defensive line so we all slowed and the CRX stayed close but was unable to pass me and I was unable to pass Pedro. On the faster sections the Tuscon and my BMW pulled away from the CRX where there was no slowing due to the defensive line. A key element here is that my line was a fast racing line which by direct instruction from the officials, is the correct line to drive when being given the blue flag. You are NOT supposed to alter the racing line to either let the car by or to block. It is the responsibility of the overtaking car to make the pass both safely and cleanly. I was following the rules and in this case the 'overtaking car' was not able to overtake and in racing that means they are not in contention for the pass.
What happened next I will say little about, exiting the braking zone at the end of the 'S's I was given a hard impact from behind by the CRX. The location that this happened on the track was both curious and puzzling. At the time I was right on the back of the Tuscon to keep close for any opportunity to pass without hitting the Tuscon. Thankfully the damage to the BMW is limited to a bumper and some light metal work, the CRX did not end up as well having hit me. This should not have happened and I am sure it will be reviewed....
There have been comments that I hit the Tuscon here or there on the track and those are false, we had some very very close racing
me and Pedro but we never once traded paint. I think that is testament that you can race hard and still drive clean and professionally.
With the CRX out of the race Pedro and I continued to battle. With 5 mins or so remaining in the race Pedro and I came up behind a slower car. Pedro made his pass at the end of the strait under braking and left just a bit of space for me on the inside. I took the opportunity and dove inside. The car slowed well and made the pass and was able to go around turn one but when I went to add power through the turn I could not get the car to engage 3rd gear. I finally switched to 4th and added power but with the slipping clutch and delay in the gear change the car was well off the racing line and in the marbles and was rotating very fast (off throttle oversteer). The the car left the track and entered the gravel. I kept the power on but was unable to exit again and my race was done.
Though I am not happy with ending up in the gravel I am proud of the team and our efforts despite our difficulties. We actually turned our fastest lap of the weekend at the end of the race with the failing gearbox and clutch! We will be back for race two with a car that can compete with the best in the class and look forward to our next meeting with the Tuscon
. We will also keep that tough rear bumper on the car for any CRXs that want to
test
it out.
