Highlights from Sunday's Spec Racer Ford Race at COTA

COTA Super Tour Qualifying - Onboard Video

This is my fastest lap from Spec Racer Ford qualifying at the 2017 SCCA Hoosier Super Tour event at the Circuit of the Americas. This was my first race weekend in a Spec Racer Ford and it was pretty darn fun to drive at COTA despite the low engine power. I qualified 5th in class with a 2:37.274 which put me about 0.8s off the Pole. 

Formula 1 at COTA - View from Turn 7

View from Turn 7 General Admission Seating

I decided to try and do F1 on the cheap this year - not easy given how expensive EVERYTHING related to F1 is. My buddy Josh and I bought race day only tickets for General Admission and stayed with friends the night before to help the cash outflow (Thanks Sarah and Andrew!). COTA has made some big improvements in the food vending department as well as improvements to the "hang out" areas for between sessions. Only drawback this year was they added some new VIP Suites in several areas around the track (mainly Turn 2) that limit the view from several general admission areas. Overall, despite the fairly processional race with a predictable outcome, it was a fun Sunday at the track and maybe even more fun Saturday night in Austin....

Here is a quick clip from out seats. F1 cars are running about 120mph mid-corner at Turn 7 which is mind-bendingly quick....

2012 - Pictorial Year in Review

Before we move full-bore into 2013, I wanted to take a step back and look at 2012. It was a busy year with quite a few good memories!

In chronological order:

Jan 2012 - I was shipped a pile of tires to destroy 

Feb 2012 - Almost didn't make it back from my Bachelor Party at Mardi Gras

Feb 2012 - Picked up a new tow vehicle and trailer for the ESP Camaro

Mar 2012 - Finished P2 in ESP at my first National Tour event in the Camaro

Mar 2012 - I blew up the ring and pinion gear in the Camaro

Apr 2012 - I did some donuts

Apr 2012 - I got married to a special lady

Apr 2012 - Pura Vida in Costa Rica for my honeymoon

May 2012 - Our pit bike was featured in GRM

May 2012 - Feature Race winner with the West Texas Karting Association

May 2012 - Engine trouble led to a disappointing P5 finish out of 18 in ESP at the Spring Nats

June 2012 - P2 finish at the Summer Nationals in Blytheville including the fastest ESP time for Day 2

June 2012 - Podium finish in 125 Shifter class at the 6/23 WTKA Club Race

July 2012 - Ali and I bought land and started building our first house

July 2012 - The ESP Camaro gets a Spoiler

July 2012 - Out with the Miata, in the FRS

Aug 2012 - The ESP Camaro gets a new look

Sep 2012 - P3 finish out of 30+ drivers at the 2012 SCCA Solo Nationals

Sep 2012 - Lots o' laps and drifting Vettes at the Bondurant School

Oct 2012 - My first track day in the FRS at Harris Hill Road

Nov 2012 - Formula 1 at the newly built COTA

Dec 2012 - I got to be one of the first people to drive COTA with the Cadillac V-Series Performance Lab

Dec 2012 - We moved into our new house and race shop

Cadillac V-Series Performance Lab at COTA

Epic view down pit lane and up to Turn 1

Through one of the Texas autocross clubs, I found out about an incredible opportunity to drive the Circuit of the Americas for FREE just a few weeks after the inaugural F1 race at the track. The event was a ride and drive event called the V-Series Performance Lab put on by Cadillac and gives prospective buyers the chance to sample Cadillac CTS-Vs around full-size racing tracks. I went with a group of co-workers back on December 9th of last year to Austin for the event and we had an absolute blast. After a too-late-night on 6th street, we ventured to the track bright and early to start our free COTA experience.

They got my name right!

We were  greeted by free breakfast and the typical ploy used to snare in car guys (hot girls in Caddy shirts...) followed by intro presentations by a Cadillac test driver and Andy Pilgrim. The 150-or-so attendees were broken into the three "modules" - filmed laps in CTS-V coupes, autocross-type elements in a Cadillac ATS, and more hot laps in a CTS-V Wagon or Sedan. The CTS-V coupe laps were filmed with a RaceLogic Video VBOX system and my video is embedded below. For the filmed laps, I drove a CTS-V Coupe with an automatic transmission. We had to run with stability and traction control on but it was still plenty fun...and safer for the brave instructors. For my final module, I had more laps in what was supposed to be a CTS-V Wagon or Sedan, but ended up being a CTS-V Coupe manual which my instructor found for me. The manual gearbox made it even more fun as it allowed for much more control of the torque coming out of each corner (the auto gear selection was more of a guessing game). During my driving session, I found out my instructor was Matt Varsha, former Grand-Am race driver and son of SPEED broadcaster Bob Varsha. He had some great stories and I really enjoyed getting to meet him.

Here are some more pictures from the event:

Cadillac ATSs waiting for us at the "Autocross Module"

Classroom tent for the "Autocross Module"

Kimi's Garage on pit lane!

Our seats from the F1 race being taken down

The whole crew bugging Andy Pilgrim

The San Angelo crew

Here is the in-car video of my hot laps in the Coupe:

*We had to lift at the top of the hill on the back straight 

USGP @ COTA: F1 cars, Veyrons, Texas Blondes, Podium Cowboy Hats, and Long Hot Dog Lines....oh and Lots of Fun

The United States Grand Prix at the Circuit of the Americas is something for American racing fans to be proud of. After the embarrassment that was USF1, the USA is back on the F1 map in a big way and I am very happy I was able attend the inaugural USGP at COTA. The weather was great and we couldn't have asked for a more perfect weekend with family and friends.

First off, the track is immaculate - great elevation change, exciting layout, and the signature Turn 1. The permanent stands and pit-lane buildings are spectacular; it was great to see a track like this on American soil.  We sat in the Turn 5 bleachers which were at the end of the esses section. We had a great view of the cars exiting the downhill Turn 2 and then charging up to the esses at 180+ mph. The cars only disappeared from view as they entered Turn 6. I really only have two complaints from the weekend - not enough food vendors (long hot dog lines) and the temporary bleachers setup in Turn 5 and other areas around the track are very uncomfortable for a 2 hour race. That is literally all I would change, after all of the traffic worries, skepticism about the track layout and predicted lack of passing, the race organizers and track officials did a great job. All of the COTA personnel were very friendly and gave everybody a nice "Texas Welcome." Each trip to and from the track was very easy with virtually no traffic. The only delay was right after the race when I had to wait in line for about 45 minutes to an hour for our shuttle. After the ten minute ride to the lot, we hit no traffic and drove straight home. Not bad for 120,000 people leaving the track at the same time after the first race. With 1 year of practice under their belts, next year's USGP is going to be fantastic.

Here is the few from our seats from FP2:

Race Start:

Here are some more photos from the F1 weekend (the good ones were taken by my Dad):

On the Pit Straight

My first Veyron sighting

Red Bull Block Party at the Austin Fan Fest

Tyrell P34

More Historic F1 Cars

Kimi at the Driver Intro

The line for hot dogs......

Felipe mid-corner in Turn 5

The on-track action did not disappoint

There are a lot of great drivers named Sebastian....

Forza Ferrari

Here are links to my Dad's photos:

F1 Race
Grand Prix Historics
F1 Practice

Off to Circuit of the Americas this Morning for Screaming 18,000 RPM V8s

It is bright and early and we are headed to the track for FP3 and Quali today for Formula 1 in Austin, TX. I had to work yesterday so this morning will be my first time seeing/hearing F1 cars live. I can't wait! Pictures and stories to follow.