Pictures from the 1999 Susie Bonneau Memorial regional at Road America
Fellow Spec Rx7 newbie racers Erik Bacon and James Offutt
joined me for the Milwaukee Regions first drivers school/regional of
the year. James had only done a handful of Solo 2 events before a
somewhat rainy Waterford Hills drivers school, while Erik and I have
been doing Solo 1's at Blackhawk Farms with Midwestern Council as well
as a few years of Solo 2. I'd also gotten signed off at a very rainy
drivers school
at IRP. We all survived Saturdays school despite a large number of
SRF's buzzing by us every few seconds as well as a rather erratic (and
frustrating) Baby Grand that couldn't corner well but would walk away
from us on the straights. Erik & James both got their Novice
permits signed off and it was time to go racing on Sunday. The Spec Rx7
concept was working as advertised and we were all within a few tenths
of each other, although all agreed that James had the better motor. He
set the official track record at a 3:08.xxx during the race. I knew it
was a mistake telling him not to lift at 'the kink'! We only have 100
hp but we did get up to 110 mph going into T-12.
The Offutt rocket
Erik's pulling out some really obnoxious yellow wheels for the next event.
Cashmore at speed
This was a typical race sceen, James in front, Erik filling my mirrors
and the reverse was true also. We swapped the positions
multiple times a lap depending on traffic and drafting. Everyone said
we put on a good 'show'. Notice how blind you are entering the flat out
T-13.
Another typical race scene as we get around an ailing ITB Escort.
The biggest lead I had all day was early. You can see them in
the mirror as we head toward the carousel bridge. I had trouble getting
around the white beemer on the right and they both got by. We kept
swapping places, then I lagged behind trying to get through traffic,
then Erik got all 4 wheels off coming out of the Carousel and I pass
him (hey, we're amateurs and rookies at that!). So going into the last
lap James has a 10-15 car length lead and we're getting lapped by the
faster IT cars.
Roy Carrera's ITA Honda passes Erik and I going into T-3 but I
have to wait for him to clear and don't get on the gas early enough as
we exit.
Erik get's a run on me and passes me going into T-5. That's James up there at the apex.
What's this? James overcooked it going into 5 and is off on the
right. We pass him, I chase Erik up into 6 and give him a look on the
inside.
Click me for a 600k .mpg movie of the T5 spin.
He misses his brake point looking in the mirror and straddles
the outside curbing. This gives me a run on him through 7 and down into
8.
I try to out brake him but he closes the door. You can't tell
from the video if I had position or not but I remember seeing a lot of
his door. I get the left side on the inside curbing trying to avoid him
and half spin. I loose all my momentum and he's off. I'm at least 8 car
lengths back as he takes the checkered. That's racing. The good news is
we could all drive our cars home. Yes, I only came in 32nd out of 35
finishers but no one had more fun! Well, maybe Erik did going from last
to first on the last lap. :)
Results
are up at the Milw-Region home page. We were in Group 2. After a great
weekend, we're looking forward to the rematch at RA July 31st and at
BHF Aug 15th.
Spec Rx7 Racing Info on inexpensive wheel to wheel racing.
More pictures from the last race of the day.
Back to Jeff Cashmore's Racing page