Al Fairer Double SARRC at VIR

[Ron Earp]

Heard things were mostly dry for the ITR/ITS group and Jeff Young with the TR8 has ITS pole starting alongside Rickey T on the ITR pole, with Steve P. in second. Now, if you guys just hold the speeds down like Sat's start and let torque take over you'll both be fine. I know if I had the pole in that TR8 I'd start at about 25 mph and let the chips fall where they may...

Good luck!

As a side note I hear they have a split start today so the SRFs won't be in the IT cars. A good thing. After yesterday's race without a split start I have to say if the NCRSCCA section is going to continue to go against the SAARC run groupings, which should be ITR/ITS/ITA/IT7, and run ITR/ITS/SRF instead then I don't think I'll be racing with the region. MANY of the other ITR/ITS racers felt the same, as do the SRF guys. These cars do not mix well and make speed in different areas, as well as can't see one another.

[seckerich]

Congratulations to Steve P on his first SARRC win. It has been a long time coming. And now we have "Mean Green" on the pole!! Damn I miss my S car.

[Ron Earp]

I didn't know that was his first, double congratulations! I could have sworn you'd won those before but I'm getting confused with the Cup I suppose. Hope it stays dry for you guys today!

[mlytle]

results posted anywhere yet? didn't see them on mylaps.

[Ron Earp]

I don't know if they are up yet but I spoke with Jeff Y and got a brief, although it'll be from his view since he's the one briefing me!

Dry start, but Jeff had transmission problems on the outlap and had to pull off and let the field go by, so he doesn't know how the start was. Car would not shift into third in hog's pen, then, wouldn't go in fourth either, so he got it in fifth and ran the race.

As I understand it Steve P won 1st place for two SAARC firsts in a weekend, congratulations! After that Chris was second, Jeff Y managed to run around and get by Jeff M., and get a third place while Jeff M was 4th. Not sure if Jay Miller ran or not.

Rain came down in the last third of the race and saw numerous offs, including Jeff Y in 5 and Jeff M in 10 with a nice 360 and subsequent catch. I think ITR had Rickey in first place but not sure.

Sounds like all the IT cars are in one piece. I'm sure folks will post an update.

R

[JeffYoung]

If only they gave points for qualifying....I qualled 2nd Saturday, blew that with a 1st lap off, 1st today and had a weird tranny hang up issue that slowly cured itself over the course of the race. Bad rain the last few laps, Jeff M. had a wicked 360 and save in turn 10, I nosed into the tire wall on the last lap, but made it back around for 3rd. Steve P. picked up two wins, Chris P. two seconds. Good job guys.

The IT7 race Saturday was awesome...Blair and TOm had a great battle, and then Neil, Chuck and Robert M. for 3rd.

Kirk K had a GREAT race for the ITB win on Saturday and then just dominated today, was running 4th overall at some point I think. Awesome drive!

[Parrish57]

Congratulations to Steve P on his first SARRC win. It has been a long time coming. And now we have "Mean Green" on the pole!! Damn I miss my S car.

Thanks! Now make that first and second SARRC wins!

Sundays raceday started with an eye to the sky. We were very lucky in qualifying. Our group was about the only dry session of the morning. The track was still slower than Saturday due to oil. There was speedy dry all over. Congrats to Jeff Y on the pole!

After all the discussion we still didn't get a split start. I had 3 SRFs between myself and Jeff. But Jeff turned left out of Hog Pen!?!? That made it 2 days in a row that he had to chase the field down from dead last.

The middle of the race was uneventful but with about 2 laps to go it started to rain. With all of the oil out there it started to create havoc. I understand both of the Jeffs had spins with Mr. Young coming out ahead ( albiet with a little bit of front end damage ). The last lap of the race was probably slower than the pace lap!

[Ron Earp]

After all the discussion we still didn't get a split start. I had 3 SRFs between myself and Jeff.

You are kidding?

I think we need to get a petition going with the SE SAARC runners and instigate some changes. If that doesn't work I suppose voting with our attendance might get some attention too. ITR/ITS does not need to play with SRF.

Congrats again on those wins!!

[JeffYoung]

Nope and this was after an SRF driver told me before the race that THEY had asked for one too.

This was really, really disappointing.

[Ron Earp]

This was really, really disappointing.

Very disappointing.

I also was a bit surprised at the steward's reaction to the question when asked about a split start immediately after the driver's meeting.

a) He said it was the first time he'd heard about the request although we know as a group the concept was brought up a month ago to the folks that coordinate the event.

b) Instead of listening to driver comments from Steve and the group he went on to explain how we could avoid trouble just as he did from when he raced Production for 13 years and had to deal with the cars. I'm pleased that he's a much more competent driver than I am and the SRFs don't bother him. But that doesn't change the fact that ITR/ITS drivers don't want to race with SRFs, AND, the SRF's don't want to race with us either.

Be one less ITS car racing the SAARC races with that grouping. I dislike it.

[pballance]

Congrats Steve and Jeff!

Sounds like you guys had a blast. Jeff, too bad about the gearbox but glad you were able to overcome.

Wish I could have been there. Congrats again to SteveP on his first 2 SARRC wins, Now Steve, you need to come to Nashville next month!!