Watkins Glen with NASA NE Sept 29-30, 2012

Watkins Glen with NASA NE Sept 29-30, 2012

I came in 2nd place both days but I was way off the pace.

Saturday –
First session – Last years R6’s. Only got like 2 laps before black flag. Guy in e36 M3 lost a tire (supposedly same as what happened to me). Also radical stalled out. End of session.
2nd session was only like 5 laps in total before black red flag/black flag. Some guy spun and need to be pulled off; forgot who/ what. Ran a 2:13 on last years R6’s.
3rd session – Put on better A6’s (from Monticello with 5-6 heat cycles). I got 1/2 lap before black flag (guy in a beautiful 1969 camaro, with aero and huge tires, broke his motor, oiled track, spun onto grass and caught fire). Because I abruptly pitted without cool down, rear rotor cracked.
4th session – Still on the A6’s. I must have not pushed my oil dipstick all the way in/closed and it pushed out and oiled my engine compartment so I saw the smoke in first lap and pitted in and didn't get back out in time. I went out with the expert group just to make sure all was right with the car (it was) but it was super crowded.

Sunday:
First session - my A6 Hoosier disintegrated. probably busted a bead on the warm up lap, lost a lot of air, and then it broke and I safely pulled in to run off area.
2nd session - I put on my older tires (last years R6’s) and took it easy to make sure the tire situation wasn't caused by a bad alignment or something. Ran a 2:13.
3rd session - heavy rain and i didn't go out. too many crashes in the weekend. why risk it?

Cars I saw on flatbed:

e92 v8 M3

new mustang (bright orange Mustang Laguna Seca)

s2000

GTO

c6 z06 – not too bad; tank slapper on uphill esses. Hit rear quarter panel lightly and bent tie rod end.

my friend tapped wall with his evo X but not major

too many other incidents to recall them all

Check out these 2 short videos from my friend (Thai) in white EVO who caught 2 incidents on tape; 1 on saturday and the other on sunday:

Car blew and engine and caught on first on our first hot lap at the beginning of the session, red flag the entire session on Saturday: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3myFmZ2X6M4

Car hit a wall at turn 2 on our first hot lap as it starts to rain. Track was already damp from steady misting all day. Ii was still on hoosier. Black flag almost the entire session. I went wide exiting turn 1 when i saw him spin thinking there might be oil on track that caused him to spin: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HuPoEw7hL1g

Another video of c6 z06 hitting the wall on Sunday; go to 27 seconds in:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qh4UBRDZnR8