Oct 2011 @ CMP

Great Pumpkin Run at  CMP. October 22&23, 2011. I purchased new tires for this event, trying SASCO out. Unfortunately, they were not shaved as specified but I had little choice considering how worn my tires were. Overall, the car was just not quite right all weekend long.

On Saturday, I qualified 10th out of 17 cars and finished 10th.




Saturday afternoon was IFU5:  Unfortunately I got to grid late and was unable to get the video going. As a result, you have to rely on other videos. It was a great mix of full course, fast half, slow half, and two white flag laps definitely got me as you need to brake before start/finish to make the first corner.


On Sunday, I missed qualifying due to mechanical issues. The Harmonic balancer had worked itself loose, as a result I pulled the power steering system completely. Starting from the back of a field of 15 cars, I worked my way up to 9th.

Roebling Road

Weighed the car before starting the weekend. 3/4 gas... 2799 Pounds with the following corner weights.

LF: 810 RF: 707
LR: 649 RR: 633

I qualified 5th for Saturday's race. After a typical bad start I was in sixth and drove a clean race capitalizing on mistakes from others moving up to finish third.

Video:

Spec E30 #168, Roebling Sep 2011 from Kelly Childress on Vimeo.


I teamed up with SteveD on Sunday morning and with the help of a push from RobertP I ended up on the pole for a standing start. After leading for the first half of the race I pulled a John Deere and gave up the lead finishing a personal best 2nd place. Not the most exciting video, so highlights are below:



Other highlights from the weekend in other people's videos:


Saturday:

Savannah Sizzler 9-3-2011 from Steven Lako on Vimeo.



King Tut Roebling Road 9/2011 Saturday SpecE30 Race from Chris Tuttell on Vimeo.



Savannah Sizzler 9-3-2011 from Steven Lako on Vimeo.


Sunday:

Savannah Sizzler 9-4-2011 from Steven Lako on Vimeo.

August 2011 Hotlanta Challenge

My first NASA race back with the new engine also coincided with the event 5 years after taking the comp school. It was nice having a reasonable amount of power again. On Saturday I qualified solidly mid pack and after a shaky start I ended up getting mixed up with a Spec Miata for my first car to car contact in 5 years of racing. Unfortunately my camera was not on, but essentially the driver hit me behind the passenger side door exiting turn 7.

Sunday's race was as crazy as it gets for a four way fight for 5th through 9th place.


Spec E30 #168 from Kelly Childress on Vimeo.

Sebring w/ BMW Club Racing

My debut race for the new engine was with BMW Club Racing hosted by PCA at Sebring International Raceway. My first time at the track and it was in a swarm of Vipers, Porshes, and a much faster BMWs. I was by far the least powerful car on track and it it wasn't for some wet track both Saturday and Sunday I would have finished DFL almost every session. Mylaps only tracked the BMW Club Racing results:

On Saturday, I qualified seventh out of eight (dry). It was a WET race, finishing sixth.



On Sunday, I qualified seventh out of eight cars on a damp track. finishing last on dry track.

Sunday's Race #2:





Overall I enjoyed learning the track. My best lap was a 2:44.455, not bad considering my first trip to the track.

Mike, Lydia, and Tanya came out on Sunday to watch the race.

Engine Install

Engine build and installation. Cleaned block, freshened head, new rings, bearings, etc.

M20 Engine Build

Time to rebuild the original engine. Low key rebuild with bearings, rings, etc.