Rumours, innuendo and results from NHIS.

[16v]

[Andy Bettencourt]

I was for sure a loooong weekend. Lots of time put in by Greg A, Jeff L, Dick P, etc from IT for the students at the school. Thursday test day for most of us made for a 4-day event.

The rain threatened all weekend and we got a lot during the school. Race day was COLD but dry.

ITA would have been an absolute BARN BURNER if Tim was able to come and Jeff didn't have an issue with a broken windshield. Would have been 6 cars fighting for 1-2 spots all race.

Patullo had a nice 'moment' in T3 that I hear is pretty awesome...

See you at Pocono - with a new engine...

[JLawton]

Hi, my name is Jeff and I'm an idiot....


<everyone> Hi Jeff!!


Would have loved to have been in the dog fight, would have been fun.

Joe did have a hell of a race holding of Gorriaran (who unfortunately had a "slight" off during the pace lap...........). Great show.

To freakin' tired to write more......

[gran racing]

Hood pins are cool. :cool:

Looking forward to more stories. Why was Steve DQ-ed?

[JLawton]

Why was Steve DQ-ed?

He wasn't DQ'ed, just knocked back four (I think) places. I believe the rule is that if you leave the racing surface during the pace lap, you have to re-join at the back of the pack. He got a little over zelous scurbbing his tires at the top of the hill, got off into the dirt sideways, then re-joined in his original spot. From watching at turn 3, we all thought he was going to shoot back into the pack and collect a bunch of cars. Very scary from our vantage point.

[itracer]

He wasn't DQ'ed, just knocked back four (I think) places. I believe the rule is that if you leave the racing surface during the pace lap, you have to re-join at the back of the pack.

I think the section I bolded below covers it, but opinions are always welcome. I know we have plenty of those here.

6.2.2. SCCA Standard Start (Rolling Start)

J. A car may not improve its position in the field once it comes under the Starter’s orders, regardless of circumstances.
1. A car that fails to start with the pack or falls out of position during a pace lap relinquishes its grid position. It may rejoin the field only at the rear of the pack.
2. A car that improves its position is guilty of a false start and may be penalized. A false start shall occur when a driver under the Starter’s orders moves forward from his or her prescribed position before the start. In the case of a rolling start, this movement shall refer to improving the driver’s position in rela­tion to the moving field by moving out of line or passing prior to the waving of the green flag.

[Greg Amy]

Joe kicked ass. That's all I got to say about that...

He got a little over zelous scurbbing his tires...

I think that's being a bit nice. I'd describe it more as being an arrogant bonehead.

As he was coming through T3 he tried to kick out the rear tires, I assume to heat them up. He got WAAY out of shape and just about lost the car around that blind spot/Jersey barriers right then and there. Fortunately, he caught it and continued.

Then he did the EXACT SAME STUPID THING at the top of the hill. This time his "ginormous" talent pool didn't save him; he tank-slapped it into the dirt and up the hill on the left, then shot across the track to the right, across Andy's bow. Andy, who was originally gridded behind him, swung around him and continued, with Gorrarian in quick pursuit, and he got back into his original spot (which was just to the left of Andy, same row.)

Hey, it might have worked for him, except for the somewhat-minor inconvenience of other drivers having been in the same race group as him...

Jake, he's done that before, run ITA; in fact, he was on pole with that Spec Miata at Watkins Glen last year when I was there. Like I told Andy, those Spec Miatas make damn fine ITA cars...give them real shocks, less weight, open exhausts, internal engine mods - call it 25-30 more horsepower - open diff and such and that thing might actually be able to eventually even place top-3...

I have no clue how Patullo managed to do a complete 360 in the middle of the pack - in the entry to T3, first lap, and not get hit.

I'm tired. Glad we only do this event once a year...

[lateapex911]

So, no new news from Jeff.....

(sorry Jeff, couldn't resist!)

What's up with the tunnel?? How deep was that?

Gorrian? In ITA?...

[dickita15]

Patullo had a nice 'moment' in T3 that I hear is pretty awesome...

The top three IT7 cars qualified within 2 tenths, I was third with the first to separated by 2 hundredths.
On the first lap in turn three I ran out of talent and did a 360 spin at the entrance in the middle of the pack. I know in that moment I was going to be spending a lot of time in the garage fixing this.
Miraculously the seas split and no one touched me. Upon reflection I determined that many of those that drove so well in not hitting me were my students from the day before so I think I will take credit for that.
Congratulation to Grant McStay, the first Ne Div IT7 race winner, lap record holder, NERRC and NARRC points leader.