2019 One Lap of America - Brainerd Donnybrook Circuit Time Trial Onboard Video

For the 2019 One Lap of America, we trekked up to Minnesota to run time trials at Brainerd International Raceway. This is the morning time trial which run on the long, fast, crazy, fun Donnybrook layout. It was ridiculously awesome to drive. We finished 3rd overall in this time trial.

Video and Data: AIM Smarty Cam HD, AIM Solo DL from FASTTech Ltd. 

Video link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j4DV-Xyr6rE

High Plains Raceway - 1:57.6 SRF3 Qualifying Lap

This was my fastest qualifying lap in my SRF3 from the August 2018 SCCA Majors race at High Plains Raceway in Colorado. It is my quickest lap around HPR to date (despite the missed shift) and put me on pole for both races over the weekend. The data between the July and August races was interesting - I mainly gained speed from a better exit from Turn 2 onto the back straight and also seemed to have a bit more straight-line speed - could be from the engine breaking in more or from alignment changes I made before the August race.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iSKgFCx75wo

2018 Fontana ProSolo Onboard Video

It was a close battle in C-Street as usual. I was fortunate to take the lead on my final run to win by 0.028s - which I'm pretty sure is the closest win or loss I've ever had in autocross. 

Thanks Deana and Travis! Also, thanks to Mazda Motorsports, StranoParts.com, and Evolution Performance Driving Schools for the support this year!

First Autocross of the 2018 Season in the C-Street Mazda MX-5

We kicked off the 2018 season with a test day at Mineral Wells followed up by a local autocross with the Texas Region SCCA at the Texas Motor Speedway Bus Lot on March 4th, 2018. The site is a slick sealed asphalt lot with a fairly low speed course, but it's still good practice for ProSolo and generally getting back into the swing before the National SCCA Solo season starts. This is my fastest run (46.462s) which put me in 1st in X Class and 2nd in overall PAX. Also, the sealed asphalt makes for some heavy tire squeal....

Results here: http://texasscca.org/2018_solo_results/tr18_1_final.htm#X

PAX Results here: http://texasscca.org/2018_solo_results/tr18_1_pax.htm

2017 SCCA Runoffs Onboard Video - #08 Spec Racer Ford

Ride along for my qualifying lap and the opening few laps of the Spec Racer Ford Runoffs race!

Solo Nationals Onboard Video

This is my fastest run from Day 2 of the 2017 Solo Nationals on the West Course - 61.554s. It was good enough for 2nd quick on the day and moved me up from 14th to 6th in class after a slower than normal Day 1 result.

2017 Mineral Wells ProSolo in a C-Street 2016 ND MX-5

These are my fastest runs from the 2017 Mineral Wells ProSolo - 40.068 on the left, 40.649 on the right. I won C-Street by 0.5s - it was a tough battle with several former National Champions. I am driving a 2016 Mazda MX-5 in C-Street class. Thanks to Deana for the co-drive!

Spec Racer Ford onboard video from the Lone Star Majors race at Texas World Speedway

This was my fastest lap (1:55.632) of the Sunday qualifying session at the SCCA Lone Star Majors race at Texas World Speedway during Memorial Day weekend 2017. I was on pole position for both races over the weekend. This was my first trip to TWS. It is a fast and fun layout. I hope it stays around!

SCCA Majors Race at MSR Houston - Qualifying Onboard

This is my fastest qualifying lap (1:44.742) from the 2017 SCCA Majors race at MSR Houston which was good enough for pole position in class. We ran the 2.38 CCW Track and I am driving my Spec Racer Ford (Gen 2).

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. 

Spec Racer Ford Onboard Video from MSR Cresson

Here is onboard video of my fastest lap from testing the Spec Racer Ford yesterday. It was my first time driving an SRF. The car could definitely use some fine tuning but it is in the ballpark. I'm really happy with the baseline pace and reliable running yesterday. On to COTA in a few days!

It dawned on me today that this is my first day at MSR Cresson without a major drivetrain failure. Hopefully that is a sign of things to come. (Knocking on wood)

Got to drive an MX5 Cup car on Sunday

Track: MSR Cresson 1.3 CCW
Car: 2006 Mazda MX-5 Cup
Lap Timer: 1:08.5
Tires: Scrubbed BFG R1-S

This is onboard video from a quick test session I did in a 2006 Mazda MX-5 Cup car this past Sunday at MSR Cresson. This may be a car I transfer to SCCA T4 road racing for the 2017 Season. Thanks to MER for the chance to drive!

I know...that camera is too low.  Got to get it up higher next time!

Final SCCA Majors Race of the Mid-States Season at High Plains Raceway

Since the Pueblo Major over Memorial Day, I took about 60lbs out of the car (including some "up-high" weight like the moonroof), went to 16x7 wheels (max allowed) up from 16x6.5, added a stiffer rear ARB, a front strut bar, a baffled oil pan, and a ProParts custom damper setup with ride height adjustment. Big thanks to Jeff Wong and ProParts for getting me the dampers in time for the race weekend! With the ride height adjustment, I was able to get the car down over 2 inches from stock which looked more like a minivan than a racecar!. I focused on weight, wheel and suspension changes for High Plains. I wanted as much time as possible to dial in the suspension before the Runoffs. I am confident in my ability to drive down a straight and click through the gears, so I know I'll find some pace with more horsepower.

At High Plains, we had three drivers in class, both of whom I raced against at Pueblo. The main goal for the weekend was to see if I picked up enough pace relative to the other guys where it would even be worth it to make the trek to the Runoffs. Overall, I clawed back enough pace from Jeff Jensen, who won both Sunday races at Pueblo and High Plains, to make the Runoffs a possibility this year. At Pueblo, I was 4s back from Jeff J on a 1:50s lap (comparing fast race laps from Sunday). For the High Plains Sunday feature race, I was 1.2s back on a 2m10 lap.

I finished 2nd behind Jeff on Saturday in the rain. He was on rains while I was on slicks, but he had more pace anyway. I came in 3rd behind Jeff and Stan Czacki on Sunday, but it was much, much closer than Pueblo. I crossed the line 2s behind Stan. It was a big learning experience to have a full green 35min race to really push and see how the pace/balance changed over the run. My last lap was within 1s of my fastest lap even with some oil on the turn 6 line. 

Turn 1 in Sunday's race

Mixing it up with an EP RX8

Saturday's Podium

The second goal for the weekend was to qualify for the runoffs. With the 2nd and 3rd place finishes at High Plains, I am now officially qualified - more details on this process later. I'm very much looking forward to my first Runoffs start in September!

There is still much development to go on driver and car before the Runoffs, but I am looking forward to making this econobox as fast as I can. The engine is bone stock, and I still have the open factory diff. By dropping more weight (about 60lbs to meet the min weight) and further suspension development, there should be much pace left to gain overall. 

Thanks to my parents and Ali for helping me thrash on the car over the race weekend and to the Eisele clan and James D for making the trek out to High Plains to watch. Also, thanks to Lane Borg and Stefan Waller for helping me get the car together the week before the race. Also congrats to Jeff Jensen for the double win at High Plains and for Stan Czacki picking up the Mid-States Conference T4 Championship!

Apparently I talk with my hands a lot....

Onboard video from Saturday's race: 

Onboard video from Sunday qualifying:

I had an issue with the GoPro Camera during Sunday's race so I have no onboard video. Next up I have a test session this Saturday at Harris Hill Road for suspension testing. My next race is at the end of July for the Wilmington ProSolo event. I'll be co-driving with my Dad in his C-Street FRS.

Edited Onboard Video from my NOLA Majors Win in the RX8

I went back and edited the onboard video from NOLA Motorsports Park back in February. This is highlights from the win in Saturday's 25min race. In Group 5, we had E Production, F Production, STL T3 and T4 with 41 total cars.

Onboard Video from Saturday's Wet Race at High Plains

Wet grid at High Plains Raceway

This is the start and finish of the 25 minute Saturday race at the 2016 SCCA Majors tour at High Plains Raceway. I started 2nd and finished 2nd in Touring 4 class. It rained for about 2 hours Saturday morning stopping 30 minutes before the race start. I didn't have rain tires with me so I ran on the BFG R1-S dry race tires. It was a bit dicey for the first 15min but the track came in with about 5 min to go. I had the fastest race lap in T4 on the final lap but was already well behind the 1st place Acura RSX that started on rain tires.

Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MBrBHpZ3PCY&feature=youtu.be

High Plains SCCA Majors Qualifying - Onboard Video

The T4 Corolla in Turn 1

We finished up the Mid-States Conference US Majors Tour this weekend at High Plains. I competed in my 2005 Toyota Corolla XRS that I am developing for T4. Here is some onboard video from Sunday's qualifying session which was our first dry session of the weekend. Unfortunately, I had a camera problem and don't have any video of the Sunday feature race. More details and photos from the race later in the week!

Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s3DPMD18E6s

Onboard Video from the Mineral Wells ProSolo

Here is onboard video from my quickest runs on each side of the 2016 Mineral Wells ProSolo event a few weeks ago. Cliffnotes - fun weekend with the family, finished 2nd in a 15 car C-Street field, NDs may be tough to beat at Pros or maybe I need to run Bridgestones or maybe just find some more speed.

Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j8jqL_qCV6w&feature=youtu.be

Results:

Onboard Video - T4 RX-8 NOLA Pole Lap 1:58.4

A full recap of the my first Majors race weekend is on the way (spoiler alert....broken engine), but here is onboard video from Sunday's qualifying session.

Speedway Motors 2015 Solo Nationals Music Video

Speedway Motors released their always anticipated music video highlights of the Solo Nationals. Thee 2015 version did not disappoint. I made the video for the first time with a quick cameo at 1:32 getting a fist bump from D Whitener. Some cool footage and definitely shows the variety of cars we see on the Lincoln concrete each year. Thanks Speedway!