Renntag Racing gets season off to a great start with 2 poles and 2 wins !
The NASA Mid-Atlantic season got off to a great start in February. Decent weather was in the forecast with chances of showers (perfect). The typical VIR schedule with testing and comp school on Friday and a modified Sat-Sun schedule making for a long race on Sunday. The new format was well received making the early competition sessions combined qualify/practice. This made time for a 40 minute race many racers asked for. Colin worked in the competition school on Friday and made final preparations for the weekend's races.
Race 1.
With Matt and the other team members working on other commitments, Colin was the lone representative of the team. Practice and qualifying for Race 1 were uneventful. A boost of confidence came over the team's lead driver as it was announced that he garnered the pole for CMC. The race start for CMC and CMC2 was exceptionally clean as all drivers were in top form. Colin, Kent and James Joyce were able to get away from the field early with the lead. At half race distance, the battle for first in CMC2 found Kent and James together at Oak Tree giving Colin a front row seat to view the battle. Getting a better drive onto the south straight, Colin bumped drafted with Kent to gain them both an advantage into the braking zone for T14. The trio headed into T1 where something on the surface caused Kent to spin out leaving Colin and James at the front. With a short distance to the final laps, James drops off pace with fuel delivery issues, later discovered as a loose pick up baffle. This left Colin with the overall win for both classes. With wife, daughter and friends watching on the side lines, this was a sweet victory.
Thunder Race 1_VIR_CMC 81_Colin Jevens. from Renntag on Vimeo.
A view from the rear camera.
Thunder race 1 VIR feb 2009 Rear camera CMC 81 from Renntag on Vimeo.
Race 2.
Sunday was wet and overcast, perfect. With full treads on, Colin went out with fellow "rainmaker", Kent Lydic to lay down top times for CMC/CMC2. With another pole in the bag, the 40 minute race was ahead and no clear idea what mother nature had in mind. A gamble was made based on a look at the radar, and a wet set up was in place. At race time the track was still wet but would most likely be drying. Again a clean start by the CMC/CMC2 field and the front runners got a break away. At the front this time was Lydic, J.Joyce, Mike Morris, Colin, and Bill Joyce. With the longer race time, Colin opted to hang with the front pack and see how things unfolded. Mike lead CMC early on, but his car was too loose for a 40 minute race. The other drivers were in CMC2, so patience was the plan. Before the half way mark Colin was able to get past Morris and keep the front spot in CMC eventually getting past Joyce for another first place in CMC and second overall in the group.
Race 3 and 4 are only a month away in March bringing NASA Mid-Atlantic back to VIR for more competition.
Renntag Racing is off to a great start for 2009. See you at the track.
