CART Track Day #1 Rookie FTD by Liam Dwyer

Like last year, weather played games with CARTs first track day of the year at Pocono. However unlike last year, the rain never fell until the end of the day. Dana Robbins, our newly appointed CART weatherman was kind enough to keep us updated with the weather and chance of rain the night before the event. Forty six drivers preregistered for the event and those that showed up were rewarded with a sunny, sometimes overcast day and lots of track time.

The start-finish is just before the infield makes a right hander onto the Nascar front straight into turn 3, but backwards. You run the back straight about half way down before you take a right bend into the infield. Back on the gas for a second before hard on the binders for a tight right hander. Exit the right for a short straight before back on the binders for an almost 180deg left hander. A short chute ensues before a tighter right hander slows you down. Keep the car wide on exit for a sweeping left, where a quick breath keeps the car in. Stay tight on the left hander to get your self set up for the all important right hander that dumps you back onto the Nascar trioval.

With the weather report all week not looking too promising, not all preregistered drivers showed up. Dana lead the tech brigade as Joerg and the wives handled registration. Kevin and Bob designed new t-shirts that everyone got a good kick out of. Paul again handled the drivers meeting and by 9:20 the first cars were making laps.

We didn't have the group of vehicles as previous track events, but quick cars were there nonetheless. The spread of cars was impressive as we had a VW Bug, and Chevy Cobalt in the mix along with an over powered Audi Wagon and a Lingefelter Corvette. Our local fast guys were also in attendance: Quick Nick, Paul, Gabe, Dana “trash talker” Robbins and Tom Mak. And once again the PA Posse did the flagging and course work for us. Paul broke up the novices and lead them for a few laps to familiarize themselves with the course. After the novices, the track opened back up before shutting down for chow. The organizers set up timing and the track was reopened for last practice before timed runs.

Thirty two drivers battled the clock. A mod was lead by Dana's obnoxiously loud racing Fiero. Its amazing I'm still able to hear the key's click as I'm writing this. Mike Gosch's Lingefelter was just one second behind. E prepared saw the co driven Honda Civic of the Paskiewicz's fall to Konrad's Focus.

B prepared...as in be prepared for a battle, was a battle between two jap cars. Nick's 350z placed a narrow two tenths win over Gabe's Evo. Nick hung the tail out entering the trioval starting his last timed lap and had just about everyone clenching their butts. X prepared was a battle of Fiero's as a Jay Bode again beat Bob Doiron. Bob was kind enough to demonstrate how not to enter on the Nascar course as he took his car for a spin then decided to test its WRC ability as he went through the grass to get back on course. Sorry Bob, the WRC isn't looking for a 20yr old relic to run.

DSP saw the most cars take to the timed runs with one Polak driving a BMW beating another driving a BMW. Mark Wiercinski placed a 1 second difference between him and John Zemkowski. CSP was a battle of Porsche's as Paul O lead the way. Kevin had the department of child services on speed dial but never had to dial it as Bob decided to abuse the car instead of son, Adam. Bob broke the Porshe's legs....err I mean motor and had to depart early but not before both of them could make their best Bob Doiron impression and spin in the same location. BSP was one AWD turbo car beating another AWD turbo car. Charith Perera, aka Kumar, drove his Evo to a 5.6 second win over Todd “I wish I took my Fiero” Doiron's Subaru WRX. Finishing off the SP classes; in ASP, Tom Mak drove showed Bill Evans how the newer Corvettes are faster than older ones. Tom's 60.462 was good enough for 2.4 second win and 2nd in the FTD battle.

In G stock, Thomas Trempers Cobalt took the win over Allen's A4 and Doug's Mini. If there were an award for consistency, Doug wins hands down. His two timed laps were only .017 seconds apart, nice driving Doug. C stock was a case of Mazda's with displacement winning over light weight. Bill Shearn's Speed 6 ran 1 second quicker than Jim Duphiney's Miata. A-stock and FTD went to an impressive drive by first timer Liam Dwyer's Nismo 350z. His 59.9 was good enough for a 5 second class win. Sorry Dana, uber Z with newbie driver just plain waxed the floor with you.

Team Porsche lost 40% of its drivers for the all important and fun team relay. The team relay consisted of 5 teams of 5 drivers, trying to run 5 laps. Sounds simple right? Have that fool proof plain right? Well proof is in the pudding, make something idiot proof and a bigger idiot will show up. Team Fiero, last years relay champs, were very happy to have Liam join them, thinking they had it all set. Well yours truly was the biggest idiot of the day. Apparently I have 6 fingers as I ran 6 laps instead of 5. Kevin was kind enough to hand the victory over to Team Fiero by only being able to count to 4 but, as stated above, I can't count either. So instead of Mixed Nuts or Fiero coming away with the win, unknown Team Y take the hats for the day.

Wanna do your best Ricky Bobby impression and go fast? Our next track event is May 29th at the brand new New Jersey Motorsports Park, Lightning Circuit, May 29th. Come join us and see what all the fun is about!