Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup Selection Event

[quadzjr]

I keep hearing about this sandbox? what is it?

[Greg Amy]

I keep hearing about this sandbox? what is it?

http://www.roadraceautox.com/

Traverse at your own risk...posted: you've been warned...just sayin'.

[Xian]

I keep hearing about this sandbox? what is it?

It's a great forum... personally, I spend waaaay more time over there than here or Hooptie-Tech.

http://www.roadraceautox.com/

Traverse at your own risk...posted: you've been warned...just sayin'.

True... gotta give fair warning.

[Xian]

Oh, back on topic... I'm sure AJ will need all the funding help possible to make this work. Here's a link to his existing Sponsorship Proposal

Christian, who kicked in a donation back in December...

[no FI]

Here is a post that AJ made on another web site.

Congratulations AJ, great job!



Dudes!!!!!

Another day is in the books! And of course the day started with the usual, off the chains, breakfast! Had a couple cups of sweet coffee and a bagel and I was good to go!

After breakfast, the top 35 were briefed on what today had in store for us. The day would start off with a track walk. We all jammed ourselves into a few minivans and made stops periodically on key parts of the track and learned a lot as Jan Heylen described the proper line around Infineon Raceway. Couldn't wait to get out on track!

We were split up into 4 groups of 8-9 people each. I was in the third group which included all returning drivers except myself and one other person. I'd be running with good company...or so I would hope.

The first time out on track was a lead-follow session behind Jan Heylen. We would complete a lap, then, when instructed, the leader would drop to the back of the field and this would continue until everyone had at least one lap to follow Jan. This track was fun! It was a shortened version of the NASCAR track that we ran. Had a lot of technical sections that reminded me of VIR...especially the esses.

The second session out on track started with a lead-follow behind Jan for about 3-4 laps. Then Jan dove into the pits and we were let loose on track with open passing. I was able to run with a returning driver for most of the session. It was Caleb Kenny who happens to live only an hour and a half from the track. Needless to say, he knew his way around. I was glad to be able to follow him as I picked up a lot of speed and stayed with him the entire session. Afterwards, he came up and congratulated me on my driving. There are MyChron data acquisition systems installed on these cars and I totally forgot to look view my lap times during the session. Caleb ran a 1:26.8 and said I was most likely in the same ballpark. I felt really good as Mark Pombo and a couple other fast guys were able to get into the 1:26.5's. It was safe to say that I was about the fastest new driver during the day and was excited to learn from the veteran crowd.

Then...LUNCH!! Amazing lemon chicken and cooked vegetables and lemon glazed sweet potatoes. The food did not fail yet again!

Then we waited...waited at least an hour until the decisions were finally made as to who would be the 30 starting Jetta TDI Cup drivers. Clark Campbell again came on the mic and started announcing the names...I anxiously waited..."AJ Nealey"...YES!!! This was it!! Damn was I freaking proud! Went up and shook the hands of all the officials and instructors who all mentioned that they were looking forward to working with me this season. As soon as the hands were shook, we all headed to the briefing room adjacent to the garages to inform us what would occur next.

The next track session would start out with a practice standing start. We did one out lap and lined up on the front straight. Put the gear shift lever in D and slap it over to the right. Put your left foot on the brake and jam your right foot to the floor. Let off the brake and the launch control would engage. Worked pretty well! These things get up and go! Tons of torque. After the standing start, we would complete the session as an open practice session. I followed another fast driver in Andy Lee. He was definitely pretty quick, but unfortunately I went a little slower that session. Best I could manage was a 1:27.4. Track and tires seemed to be getting very greasy but overall was picking up some speed in some other parts of the track and thoroughly enjoyed myself out there.

The final session was going to be a mock race that would last five laps after a staggered standing start. This is where some drama came into play. The starting line-up was determined by the previous session's best lap times. I started fourth out of nine behind Mark Pombo, Andy Lee, and Derek Jones. We lined up just as if it were a real race with SCCA Pro officials out on track. There was an official at the rear of the field who would wave a green flag as soon as the last car was lined up. Then, another official would hold the "5 seconds" board then dash off the front straight. Then the starting lights would illuminate. Then 2-6 seconds later, they would go out and we were off! A couple jumped the start out front and Derek and I were about side by side going up through turn 1 and turn 2 with Derek prevailing, but I didn't care, no one was going to win anything. I notice in my mirrors that there is a white car weaving back and forth quite aggressively through the field. This car was along side of me going up through turn 3 and as we come through 3a as were still side by side, the car turns down on me at the apex. I couldn't believe it! The said car went sailing off to the outside of 3a into the tire wall. As soon as contact was made, I knew a tire went down. I continued on and was I exited the end of the esses, the tire shredded off. I made it through into the pits and the crew changed the tire for me in no time and I was back out on track. No suspension damage at all and the car drove fine but was only able to complete one more lap as they through the checkered. I came in and parked the car. Got out to asses the damage and there was nothing! Not a single scratch! Amazing. I went investigating to find out who drove the other car. It was Timmy Megenbier. I confronted him about the incident in front of everyone else. Documentary camera crew was in attendance and caught the whole thing on camera. Who was adamant that they thought he was already past me. I told him differently and made one final comment and walked out of the conversation. Marc Miller called me down and he said Ryan Arciero saw the whole incident at turn 3 and said I had nothing to worry about. Timmy was way out of line to do what he did. After the fact and when the emotions settled down I confronted Timmy and we were both cool about it. I was just lucky that there was no damage with my car. That was the last thing I would have wanted.

After that, we were given a huge packet from VW and the SCCA filled with forms that needed to be filled out to compete in the series. We then were also issued our VW branded guitars! These things were sweet! We received so much paraphernalia the past few days, I don't know how I'm getting it all home!

Tomorrow will be filled with some butt kicking. 6 hours of boot camp training is in store for us along with nutritional education and our hero card photos. Definitely looking forward to it.

So it's official, I'm one of the 30 starting drivers for the 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup!! I never imagined that I would get to a point like this in my career. The support I've received has been incredible. I now have some serious homework to do to secure some financial backing for this season. I, again, would like to thank each and every one of you who have helped me throughout my career. This is what it's all about!

Here is the finalized schedule for 2009:

April 24-26
Round 1 & 2
VIRginia International Raceway (Alton, VA)
Grand-Am

June 19-21
Round 3
Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course (Lexington, OH)
Grand-Am

July 24-26
Round 4
Autobahn Country Club (Chicago, IL)
Atlantics

Aug 14-16
Round 5
Road America (Elkhart Lake, WI)
ALMS

Aug 28-30
Round 6
Mosport International Raceway (Mosport, Ontario, Canada)
ALMS

Sep 11-13
Round 7 & 8
New Jersey Motorsports Park (Millville, NJ)
ARCA

Sep 25-27
Round 9
Road Atlanta (Braselton, GA)
ALMS

And I know we'll be racing at Miller Motorsports Park this year but don't remember with which series.
__________________
#07 ITA 1988 Honda CRX Si
#49 PTB Acura Integra GSR

AJ Nealey Racing - Donations Being Accepted! Thanks for all your support!
Hondamans Located in Pasadena, MD. 410-544-0566

Circuit Motorsports

Sponsorship Proposal - 2009 Jetta TDI Cup

Thank You!
patred, spnkzss, Melissa, Xian, Gregg, Imprezivblue, 94accordsedan, B-F, bowlcut, RexRacer19, gotta_race, Dave OH32, tom91ita, o-man, MK3ITB, TomFree

[Greg Amy]

Ok, boys, he's one of us, and he's in.

But, he's still gotta come up with the dough. Review that proposal, pass it on to your favorite Big Corporation buddies, and let's all start collecting some extra change to send his way.

Congrats, AJ!

GA

[924Guy]

Awesome, very cool, congrats AJ!!! Looking forward to seeing you on the TV this year!!

[tac911t]

Put the gear shift lever in D and slap it over to the right. Put your left foot on the brake and jam your right foot to the floor. Let off the brake and the launch control would engage. Worked pretty well! These things get up and go! Tons of torque.

I did not realize that the TDI race cars were Autos, where last years cars the same?

[lateapex911]

DSGs? or some "slapstick". The starts would have been more interesting last year if they were normal manuals...

[racer_tim]

Nice Post AJ. Shame that the Pro SCCA VW TDI cup can't manage a race west of the Mississippi, except for Miller.

Seattle, Portland, Laguna Seca, Sears Point, Fontana, ButtonWillow, Phoenix, Reno, Las Vegas, what a scam. BTW, did you notice that there were no SCCA "workers" there for your 4 days of school @ Sears Point?

[tom91ita]

http://www.roadraceautox.com/

Traverse at your own risk...posted: you've been warned...just sayin'.

it sort of reminds of 'quicksand' since it seems less dangerous than it really is.

plus you will sort of get sucked into it....

[StephenB]

http://www.roadraceautox.com/

Traverse at your own risk...posted: you've been warned...just sayin'.

Do most of the users here post on this forum and the one mentioned above (roadraceautox) as well? If so why the move? Do most IT related topics get discussed here as well as on that site? I re-gained internet in Dec. of this year after not having in for at least 2 years so I am trying to get back in the swing of things and a bit more involved to stay "in Tune" with what is happening.

Stephen

[lateapex911]

IT.com is a more "buttoned down" site. The topics are specific, and non related material usually goes over like a lead ballon. Most of the posters here are IT guys.

RR-AX is a more open clubracing/ autox/ HPDE /grassroots competition site, born from a bunch of guys who got pissed off at the Honda Tech site, and went on their own. So, a good percentage of Honda guys.

off topic material flies just fine, and the discussions are broader regarding racing stuff. IT is talked about all the time, but often in relation to Honda challenge, koni Cup, NASA, etc.

the players there all know one another...to a large degree..and can "poke some fun" at one another.....but they don't tolerate newbies dumb questions well. Thick skin needed if you post something stupid. And there are some girls who post, but off color jokes towards them are pretty harshly viewed, unless you go way back.

I've met lots in my travels, and had a blast with them in person.., a community of sorts.