Settling In: CART autox # 6 Bristol CT by Kevin FitzMaurice
July 7, the Connecticut Autocross and Rally Team held the sixth autocross of the 2007 season. The event was held at the Rowley Spring Company in Bristol, Connecticut, our host for most of this autocross season. The weather gods smiled upon us, as the forecasted 90 degree temperatures were moderated by a steady, pleasant breeze. Ninety seven drivers, including twenty one novices, registered for the event.
Course designer Bill Evans laid out a low maintenance course, based on the hot weather forecast. No sense beating the workers to death. It was low maintenance, but had it's moments.
The course started out with a wall of cones lane change maneuver to the left. Jog right to be back on track, and you were now in the acceleration lanes. Power out, a confidence lift for the less than ninety degree left and back on the ponies. Brake hard in a straight line, and make a hard, over ninety degree left. Stay to the right, jog left for another wall of cones lane change, and charge back up the lot. The one eighty left that came up next was very tight. The over ambitious front drivers understeered almost to an off course, the power happy rear drivers broke loose in over steer and the AWD brigade bounced back and forth as one end over powered the other. Power out of the left into the interior section of the course. This section was faster than it first looked. The center gate was narrow to keep you away from a drainage depression, otherwise it was all open, including the one eighty right that steered you towards the finish. Before you could finish, you had to pass a tough right, left, left right combo that left several cars, including mine, reeling. Survive this, and go for the final ninety right that brought many a good run to grief. The second and third interior cones were the Maxwell Smart section as driver after driver "Missed it by that much" for two seconds added to their times.
The surface of the lot is mostly covered with a sealant. Since it's relatively unused, it stays clean, but the sealant reacts to the weather. As the sun got higher and hotter, the sealer got slicker and slicker, but not uniformly slicker. The exterior fast section stayed sticky all day long. The interior slalom got very greasy. A good run was a balance of where to stick and where to slide.
The FTD competition was as entertaining as usual. Nick Fandacone had pretty much settled the competition by the forth run. Stan Marcewicz and Chris Zelle both made strong attempts on the fifth run, but came up short. Nick is making a very strong attempt to repeat as CART driver of the year.
In the results, the first four positions in AS were separated by less than eight tenths of a second. Joe Solury and his Corvette continues to frustrate the AWD contingent, as Jerry Jones (STI) came in second, and Pete Day (Evo) came in third. BS featured a win for a CS bump, with Quinn Kizis (CS Miata) beating Steven Sams (BS 350Z) by six tenths of a second. ES was a Miata parade with Kieian Coleman winning easily over Rob Carter and his new ride. GS was another strong run for Todd Kean (Impreza RS) taking a two second win over Paul Andrade (Mini). HS was a little larger than usual, this is normally bumped up to GS. Patrick Huxley (Civic) took it with a strong fifth run, to win over Tom Cavuoto (Jetta).
ASP was a battle all day. Stan Marcewicz (Elise) won against a strong effort from the returning Brian Moran (Z06). Good to see you back, Brian. BSP looked like a used Subaru lot, as STI's made up two thirds of the field. Mark Kirves, who recently moved out of novice won, beating Randy Laroche. CSP was another whipping by Paul Omichinski and his 924S. Paul keeps threatening to install the "good" engine. Thanks for the warning, Paul. Second thru forth was separated by less than three tenths of a second, so at least the race for second, won by Chris DiFiore (MR2) was fun. ESP was pony car versus muscle car, as Phil Mackaronis (Camaro) beat Chris Stmary (GTO) for the win. FSP was a real squeaker. Nicholas Ustin (Civic) won by less than one tenth, beating Matt Cummings (Jetta).
STS was even closer. Timothy Kong (Impreza RS) won the class over Mike Lodsin (Civic) by just over two hundredths of a second. They must have been watching the NASCAR boys the night before. SM was a mixed bag of cars, with James Velgot winning in a STI over Robert Pielli Jr. in a very quick Mini. AM was a case of domestic violence, as Tom Duran beat wife Martine in their Superformance Seven. You better be careful Tom, or the couch could be a permanent residence. DM was the bright and shiny class. It was won by Chris Zelle in his MR2 with the new Krylon paint job. Daniel Koch was second in a bump from CP in his blinding yellow Mustang. The mixed bag that was SM2 was won by Nick Fandacone (350Z0 over Joon Kim (BMW M coupe) by less than three tenths. Moving out of novice class with their wins were Michael Sams (YN 350ZX), Michael Kazlauskas (Neon) and Ammonis Lampkin (ZN STI). The next event is the Pocono Track day on July 23, the next autocross is July 29 in Bristol.
