In my best Randy Chase form..
Well my first Nationals is over. Honestly it was a very frustrating and
disappointing experience all in all. I've competed for National
championships in other sports before, and I know that both the athelete
and the equipment must be at the top of their game if they hope to win.
Unfortunately it wasn't the weekend for me or my car. While I was
steadily doing better throughout the year, losing to Bob at the Wendover
Pro was crushing. Even though we were only ~.02 apart on scratch, I
gacked my last run. A run I should have put in the books for the win.
And he was a freakin' gimp at the time for god's sake. For some reason
this seemed to put me into a downward spiral as I tried to alter my
driving style to find the speed that I needed to run with him.
Then at the Wendover/Rocky Mountain divisional on my Sunday runs my car
started to understeer heavily for no apparent reason. After putting the
car up on stands, I noticed that my front right shock was covered in
oil, and my collar on the left front was loose and about an inch too
low. Great, two days before I'm supposed to leave for Nats and a car
that hadn't had anything touched on the suspension since the Lemoore Pro
is going haywire.
I quickly re-corner weighted the car and put the car back into alignment
at a local shop, Wheel Werks, that has treated me like gold all year.
After talking to Tri Point they said that the bleeding of the shock was
minor and nothing to worry about. However, I had lost confidence in the
car and myself, which is critical to say the least. Having played
various sports for 20+ years I understand the importance of "peaking"
and timing important events as well as the fact that at the top, it is
99% mental and 1% physical. However with everything else going on this
year that was not the foremost on my mind. Perhaps it should have been.
Anyway, after my first el-sucko runs at the Pro Finale, I was convinced
that the car was truly broken. I had tons of inside rear wheel spin
that I'd not experienced all year and the car was lurching all over.
However after having two people I trust told me that I was driving like
shit (perhaps not in those exact words ;), I couldn't just blame the
car. Thanks to Charlie and Jim for giving my the straight dope ;)
For Sunday I made some shock adjustments and decided to just go back to
the basics that I'd learned this year and had strengthened at the
Evolution schools. Look ahead and be smooth not only at the wheel but
on the pedals as well. It definitely helped and I took off a half
second or so per side, but I'd lost the aggression/confidence that takes
you from mid pack to the top. The car was handling better, but still
didn't feel like the car I drove all year.
I do want to hand out props to Brian Fitzpatric, who I think had the
drive of ESP during the Pro. Sure Bob was his usual masterful self, but
Brian was uncorking mid 26's nearly matching Bob's pace the whole
weekend. If it weren't for a few cones, Brian would have been right
there. Great Job! Brian and his wife Kathy are also two of the nicest
people you'll meet at an event. It was a pleasure to compete with and
against them.
I felt that I put in better runs for Solo2 Nats, but you (well at least
I) just don't screw your head back on tight one day after a miserable
Finale. The more open courses seemed to suit the car much better than
the tight Pro event, and only the big right hand sweeper after the first
slalom on the South gave me significant handling problems.
One thing that I'd like to point out is that we are racing for position,
not for time. A little bit of free advice from this "no name, no
talent" driver. When times are as spread out as there were in ESP, you
alter your driving style significantly on your 2nd and 3rd runs, as
compared to running in in a class such as SS where every tenth can move
you up several positions in the standings. So it is a bit misleading to
say so and so X class driver would have ended up in Y position were s/he
in Z class. Not to mention the usual time/temp/track condition
variations. If you are .6 ahead of 3rd and 1+ seconds behind second on
your final run, you are going to go balls out and hope for the best.
However, if things are tight, odds are you are going to put in a safer
run, depending on how much a gambler you are and how much you want to
risk. (Of course other factors may change your decision as well.)
I was only .4 behind Bob after my first run on Saturday, but a cone on
my second run meant that I had to dial it back on my 3rd just to be sure
to stay high in the trophies. That's another tip, once you learn to
drive (reasonably well) there is a whole nother world of strategy on how
hard you push on each run. That is a world I clearly still need to
figure out for next year.
So yes, while Tunnell and Madarash crushed me, I was still, what I felt
to be, safely in 3rd place going into the last runs on Sunday. I went
for broke, blew one corner and that was that. As I surmised, I still
ended up in 3rd, just further behind Mark than what would have happened
had I played it safe and took off another .5 or so.
Anyway, that's my honest inside scoop on how I feel I did at Nationals.
I'd give myself a B on the driving at the Pro and an A- at Nats. As far
as the car, who knows, it could all be in my head, but it was also
bouncing around at a local event this past Sunday, and there was no
pressure on me, so I don't think it is just my driving. I finally get
rack time tomorrow morning with my mechanic, so I'll know for sure.
I wish I could talk about how Mark drove, but he was out on course while
I was driving to the line so I didn't get to see any of his runs. I did
watch tape of Bob's runs after the event (He went out right after me so
I only saw the last 20 seconds or so of his runs live.) and all I have
to say is that he rose to a new level. Anyone who thinks he is out
there on a Sunday drive, so to speak, is dead wrong.
So the ultimate question...should the M3 stay in ESP? My, admittedly
biased, opinion is that it should if you are using performance as a
criteria. Yes I do feel that it is a strong car for the class, but
Madarash showed that the rest of the class (including my performance at
Nationals) is weak. He beat the rest of the best by margins *larger*
than what Bob has been wining by all year. That pretty much negates the
fact that Bob has been "crushing" ESP all year. Odds are Mark would
have "crushed" as well had he showed up to the West coast Nat events.
(Assuming he drove like he did at Nats.)
However, if the Pony boyz (and gals) feel that they need their own
special protected class, then I say bring on BSP and move the LTW on the
same line as the E36 M3's. I welcome the challenge because it will make
me a better driver in the long run, and that is what this sport is all
about.
I will have to say that I find it interesting that I not once heard any
of my ESP competitors (seriously) gripe about the M3's at an event this
year. It is just people on team.net that don't even seem to come out to
events and work on their skills who are the ones screaming the most.
Todd "just press the hidden M3 autopilot button and collect the trophy" Green
P.S. I'd just like to publicly thank those who helped me to learn this
sport so quickly and got my through this year:
Bob and Patty Tunnell - nothing really needs to be said, they are
true champions on and off the course. All I ask is that you run
a different class next year so I can get back in on the secrets ;) ;)
Eurosport/Bonneville MotorWerks - Who could afford this without
the help of our sponsors? Josh and Jim are the best!
Charlie, Abe, Duane, Mike, Jerry, Linda, Vesko and the rest of the
Utah crew I'm forgetting to mention.
BMW of Murray/Craig/Robert - You are nothing without your car and mechanic
Wheel Werks/Ray/Mike - Your car is nothing without wheels and tires ;)
I suppose I should mention Hoosier, but my pockets are a lot
lighter and Bob 'n' Patty ran off with all the tires ;) How's
about some contingency for 2nd and 3rd place, eh?
Tri Point/Pro Parts/Jim/Craig/T.C. - Should this be shocking news?
Evolution School - The school is worth every penny, but the fact
that Ron, Tom, and Danny, and Jean came and checked in with me at
*every* event after the school speaks volumes. I'm looking forward
to the advanced phases next year!
Team ARG! - Actually I have no idea what the hell that's all about,
but there was still sticker space on the car ;) Seriously, thanks
for helping put the coolest course descriptions out there in the
hellacious winds. Who'll ever forget "E. Coli Curve" or the "Booty
Time" finish?
P.P.S. I still think I deserve part of Raymond's trophy for having set
the divisional course that included two down shifts from 3rd to
second, much like the South course. (And for having taken all
the guff about how a Nats course would never be that open ;) ;) ;)
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