USA FB: Jiading

Definately a fun race. Qualified 5th, better than expected. Thanks for the setup Peter, I felt like I owed you for it so I let you go by :p

Race started great, I got by Chris Melton fairly quickly and was following Kevin, Peter, and David when David and Peter got into a little battle. I caught up, and Kevin got screwed from 1st to 3rd. I was right with them by then, and we had a huge mix-up in the chicane and I came out 2nd, Peter 3rd, and Kevin 4th. David got through cleanest and drove on to victory. I was leading Peter confidently, not by much but comfortably enough for me to keep track of him, when my computer studdered for 2 seconds and I went wide out of turn 3. I didn't spin or anything, but Peter drove on by. We were driving the same car, evidently, because I couldn't catch him and he couldn't get away, so we drove like that until the end.

'Grats David and Peter, and another good result for CanAm Racing! Leading by a comfortable gap.

This was fun, for the first 6 laps. I start off at the very back of the field, coming into turn one there's the usual mid-field mess, and I snake my way through successfully. I manage to collect 13th position, cool, now to just hold on to it. Right behind me is Jesse Davis, man he is hounding me to no end on every corner. He'd be right on me, then I'd squirt out ahead of him, then he'd be on me in the next corner, I'd squirt out ahead, on and on, for the first 6 laps. It was great fun. So I was 13th, Jesse 14th, and my team mate Brian Stearns 15th. We had been running wing-to-wing, then in the chicane, lap 6, I'm turning into the first corner and SLAM! I'm flying through the air with the greatest of ease! I thought for sure it was Jesse because he was the one on my tail. Sorry Jesse for the accusation in the chat box after the race, my apologies. I watched the replay and it turns out to have been a dive-bombing team mate. I missed the pit entrance getting straightened out, so ran lap 7 really messed up. Pitted for over a minute and came out and finished 2 laps down. We've already made amends at the team shelter for the slow-ones, and we'll be back at the back of the pack another day. Congrats to David for the win.

I had some fun tonight. Got pole position and a track record :D.

In the race got a good start and led the first few laps, but David was doing a great job to worry me. Ended up paying off cuz I was messing up the chicane every lap till he got a great run and got me in T1. Tried to cut down and get a good drive in T1 but Peter got in there and ended up taking 2nd and I got shuffled down to 4th. Got to the chicane once again and this time I just flat out screwed up and over shot the brake zone. Want to say I'm very sorry for that. Just glad I didn't collect anyone with that move. Got back on the wings of 2nd and 3rd and had a great fight. I saw them get binded up in T2 so I drove in got a great drive and got to the sidepod of Peter. Shift into 3rd and I guess the VTEK kicked in. Rear end got around and lost a bunch of time again. Same lap final turn I lose it again hehehe. This time I take a look at my tires and they took a beating. So I slowed a tad and they got the grip back. Was able to make it back up to 4th and just cruse and save the tires. Wish I wouldn't of had all those spins cuz I really wanted to have a great race for the podium, all 4 of us were pretty even. Great job to the podium finishers.

I must admit, i was not and still am not a fan of any configuration of Jiading. In this version, that nasty little final chicane was what helped me to victory.

Somehow i got a great lap in qualifying, 1:18.8xx or something like that to get second. I got a good start and pretty much hounded Kevin for the first few laps. He would pull away a little, but then would blow the chicane allowing me to get on his bumper again. Finally i got the run i needed into turn 1, but i knew i had to brake early otherwise i would spin. But Kevin went high, so i took the tight line and then he disappeared from my sight. I knew he was somewhere around me, i just didn't know where, so i held my line as best i could and hoped nothing would happen. When i finally had a chance to look back after the complex, I saw i had pulled a bit of a gap on Peter who was side by side with Kevin with Tom on his butt. I guess i hung poor Kevin out to lunch. From here on, i just tried to hold my gap and not crash. I guess i did good, cuase i did neither and took the win.

It was definitely one of the better FBMW races! At least I had a car, and ability, to fight it out with the front runners! And no disasterous incidents like the Euro race!

I only really saw out group of 4 as far as racing and interactions went, and the racing quality was outstanding! Very close quarter battles, and everyone always giving that bit of safety margin yet maintaining near 99% pace at the same time! That is really tough to do, lap after lap after lap...and not have something go terribly wrong at some stage!

Or at least, with Kevin's few slip ups they were not at times that were going to cause mayhem! lol

I saw him ZOOMING in on me into the chicane that time, and I was thinking "There is NO WAY he is going to be able to slow and run a fair and safe line!". So I held off my turn-in until he shot past me! Phew!!
It cost me a fair bit of time and allowed Tom to catch right up, but there was no option versus the disaster that was looming! hehe

But really, the whole race was great fun... and pressures... and great racing by all... and David doing too well and not making any errors of any notable use for us chasing him!! A well deserved win!

Enjoyable race, even though I got punted once and struck again about 2 laps later. Good sportsmanship Nicolas, I didn't see you behind me. And looking at the replay you nearly had fair position before we bumped. Anyway, I ran with damaged suspension for nearly the entire race. This slowed me down on the faster sweeping turns, but managed to hold on for 10th.

I am my own worst enemy, this time all of my problems were my own doing.

For forever I have shifted backwards from the way real life racers do it, so a few weeks ago I reversed upshift and downshift on my G25 shifter. Trying to put the power down on the exit to the left hander after the 270 degree right, I went from the top of second gear into first gear. There was no way to save it and I headed straight for the wall. I had to wait for almost everyone on track to go by before I could get my car turned around.

Then fighting with Rob (I think) I made the pass running up into the chicane and was so excited about that I put my left two wheels into the grass right as I started braking. The car shot out from under me, and flew into the wall. My suspension was so damaged, the steering wheel was pointed left while going straight! I was anxiously waiting for the race to end, and luckily I lost no more places.

I need to calm down.

Well thought I was going to have a top 5 after some practice and a decent qualifying session, until I get the PUNT.
Good start to race, I make up 2 positions as the field cruises through lap 1. Start of lap 2, Bobby B, Nick C and I exchange positions at the end of T1, as we enter T2, I am as close as possible to the back of Bobby B without pushing him out of my way in the SLOW 2nd gear turn when Nick gives me a hard hit in the rear to end my day.
I just don't get it, racers can go out and get a good qualifying time but can't seem to drive in traffic. When patience is required some people just don't think about the next xx laps to go, why?

I guess I finally felt what it is like to get removed from the competitive state of immersion and feel the frustration state.

Looking forward to the next round!
Congrats to the podium.

Yeah, more people should drive with the attitude of "I must guarantee I do not hit that car I am trying to beat", rather than "I must do everything possible to beat them".

Not meaning that anyone INTENDS to HIT them, but by racing to the Nth degree to get advantage they leave ZERO room for potential problems/surprises/errors.
Then it happens....

Of course (and more so in these) if you drive to have that "safety" you are going to struggle to beat the car ahead in an even battle. He will need to make some error probably.
But that is how it goes...if he is as good as you, he will keep that earned position! And if you are good enough to MAKE him error, via pressure, then you get the position deservedly!
Otherwise, you only get to remain behind.
But at least never ruin anyone else's races!!

No problem Chip, I can certainly understand why you thought it was me. That was a lot of fun racing with you, I was right there with you but just couldn't quite get the jump I needed to get completely past you. It made for some very fun and enjoyable racing.

Looking forward to the next one!