Road Racing - Finally - What a blast!

[Jimbocobra]

Just got back from Gingerman Raceway in New Haven, MI. Perfect weather, great track to learn on. You have not lived until you pass a strong running 1969 427 Camaro on the back straight at well in excess of 145 MPH! The event had mostly highly modified, pre-1970 American Muscle. There were Chevelle's that could out-corner new Z06's and mustangs that could out accelerate 911's - really cool stuff; it was a qualifying event for Optima.

I finished in the top 15, out of 87 (the top 16 were supposed to have a runoff until some guy put a rod through his oil pan on the long strait and spoiled the party, cleanup took a couple hours). All-in-all, not bad for my first time out, but with BDR (or any replica), it was almost like cheating. I had to ride my brakes on my best lap because a less than courteous driver that didn't get the memo on the wave-a-round rule, so I know there so much more left in the car. Plus, I suck as a driver, ran much harder tire compound than most and didn't really know the track. I can only imagine what these cars did back-in-the-day to unmodified muscle cars.

I could rally feel the IRS suck up the bumps, I think the car handles better at 100 MPH than 40 MPH. On the practice runs, I did miss a few stops off the staight-a-ways and ended up picking weeds out of my front end, but that's why they have practice runs I guess. I see more of this in my future!