July 21, 2007   ROAD ATLANTA
Finishing Position - 3rd     Best Time: 1:50.683

In Car Race Video: Click here to watch 'SARCC-Road-Atlanta-July-2007--IT7'

July 7 & 8, 2007  BARBER MOTORSPORTS PARK
Finishing Positions - 3rd & 5th   Best Time:  1:54.050 (dry),  2:14.553 (wet) 

In Car Race Video: Click here to watch 'Barber-Motorsports-SARRC-July-2007'  

June 2, 2007  ROAD ATLANTA
Finishing Position - 3rd   Best Time 1:53.727

May 26 & 27th, 2007  CAROLINA MOTORSPORTS PARK
Finishing Positions - 7th & 6th   Best Time: 2:01.720

In Car Race Video:Click here to watch '2007-SARRC-CMP-Race---IT7-RX7---May-26--27'

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March 1st - Total Inhalation... of my wallet

The damage actually ensued much sooner than 3/1, I just didn’t know it.  After arriving home from the driver's school in early February I decided to leave the car on the trailer.  Outside.   In the cold.    It was 12am.  And who wanted to listen to the braaat-braat-braat of an uncorked rotary at 120 decibels?  Mind you, this is a suburban Alpharetta neighborhood.  In my coffee induced haze, I passed out on the couch in a mix of jitters and weekend buzz.  After thoughtlessly allowing the car to remain in the elements for over a week, I finally hooked up the hitch and hauled the Rex to PRS for some minor tweaks.  The semi-loose hood along with other odds and ends I wanted tidied up.  In the brisk 30deg air, we brought the rotary to life.  Only to notice the familiar bees-in-a-can engine wurble was surpassed by the water pump belt squealing for dear life.  Hmmm, that’s a wee bit unusual I thought.  Then, almost mercifully, the perfectly tuned, recently rebuilt engine puked its coolant onto the shop floor.   Sonofabit...  you get the point.

Maybe I'd get lucky and it was just the freeze plugs that gave way to the ice in the engine.  Maybe if I prayed real hard the race gods would show me some mercy.  Yea.. right.  The rear freeze plugs did pop but the engine still leaked like a sieve.  Ok, on to the opposite end and maybe the freeze plugs hidden under the front cover were the culprit.

As you can see, I wasn’t so lucky.  It was something internal.  The spark plugs were soaked with water.  Right then the dollar sign idiot light blinked repeatedly in my mind.  Oh, I think I need to sit down.  After getting my thoughts together, I began a search for an engine builder that would abruptly end with Roger Mandeville (Auto Tech).   A quick conversation and a momentary spell of heartburn and I was on my way to removing the 12A.

Two weeks later, Roger diagnosed the leak to a split center housing below the eccentric shaft.  A new housing was added and the motor was tuned on his in-house (very trick) dyno.   After paying the bill and getting very, very dizzy I realized my racing budget for the entire year was just about shot.  And so it goes in racing.

Now, with only days before the CMP race, I'm putting it all back together.  Wish me luck!

March 31st - Contact with tirewall at CMP.  Minor body damage.  Easy fix thanks to local donor car found on Ebay. 

Timetable for the Beginning Racer -

What to consider when starting Improved Touring Racing

6 MONTHS - Purchase GCR and applicable rule book for class you plan to race. Study the general rules in the GCR and peruse the rules as you see fit for the class you race (it's your responsibility to be legal). Look at the schedule of events (or last year's) and plan for three schools. Unless you get lucky and can attend a double school (4 Days). But always plan for an extra school or race just in case. Racers always need spares -- even races. Look at the other divisions for schools if SEDIV dates don't fit with your plans. You must get your schooling done before you can race!

5 MONTHS - If you are building as race car (almost like I am!), you should be well under way. If you are planning to rent a car for school, you should contact suppliers for prices and terms. Make the deposit and commit to an even NOW.

4 MONTHS - Make sure your SCCA membership is current. In other words, contact Nationals and get your Novice Permit (GCR included). Anyone who you want in the crew (hot pits - ya, know - behind the fence) must also be a member.

3 MONTHS - Make an appointment with a doctor to get your physical (yea, its required). Contact Nationals and get the right doc forms. Make sure your safety equipment is in order according to the MOST RECENT GCR and your desire to live. Buy a new helmet (make sure it meets the current SCCA SNELL standards). Sit in your car. Think about being strapped in tight (in the heat) for 30 minutes. If you can't take the intense heat - think about buying a Cool Shirt. As you are in the car - can your reach the gear shift? Are the belts in the right place? While strapped in, can you reach all the switches that you need to start and shut off the car? Can you activate the fire system? Can you see behind you with your helmet on and strapped in?

2 MONTHS - Make sure you have a trailer to fit your race car and that it will make it to the race track and back (yea, you'll have enough trouble without highway breakdowns). Make the same assurances with your tow vehicle. Glance over the GCR again and brush up on the stuff that looks like you never saw it before. Consider what rubber you will use at your school. Buy the tires and have them mounted now. There is rarely any tire service company at a driver's school. Finish your car.

1.5 MONTHS - Call the registrar for the school you plan to attend (double school if you are lucky!). Make sure that you get the application forms in time - before it fills up. You should have or almost have your Novice Permit in your hands from National by now. Make sure that your bill is current at the body shop. You will probably need them again when you get back from the school. Finish your car.

1 MONTH - Call the license chairman at National and make sure that you have your Novice Permit in time for school. Finish your car.

25 DAYS - Call the chief of TECH for your region and make plans to have your car certified if it is not already. You must have a vehicle log book to participate in SCCA events. Make sure your bill is current at your machine shop. You will probably need them when you return from school! Finish your car. Tech will not certify 1/2way complete cars just because you promise to fix it later.

23 DAYS - Make sure that your wife, husband, life partner actually did mail the entry for the school. You dont want to show up and you're not on the list!

20 DAYS - Load your car on the trailer. Make sure it will really fit. Are the ramps too steep? Does the car bottom out? Make sure your trailer is DOT LEGAL. Tow everything somewhere (like to get the vehicle log book). Make sure you have spare tires for the trailer, tow vehicle and race car. Do all the lights work? Especially the lights on the race car required for Tech. Make sure that your bill at the parts store is current. You will probably need them when you get back from school.

10 DAYS - Put all your tools in one place and make plans to pack them in the tow vehicle/trailer/race car assembly. Now, unpack all the tools and call all your friends (if you have any left by now!) - you will need them to help you finish your race car in time for school.

7 DAYS - Surely you are finished with the race car by now. Pack everything up and put it where you can find it when you need it - you WILL need it. Pack some extra clothes to change into when the ones you are wearing will no longer wipe the grease from your hands. Pack an umbrella and a rain suit - sun screen - warm weather clothes - cold weather clothes - ignore the forecast, they're never right? Get a canopy or cover for the car at night. Consider an alternative career. Your boss may object to your never working on Fridays and Mondays again. Make sure your new job can do without you during October (after all, you are going to make it to the Runoffs, right?!)

3 DAYS - Make plans for extra drinks in the cooler. Water can taste awfully good after a hot session of RACING. Plan for light meals during the day. Your stomach will probably not hold anything, anyway. Besides you won't have time in between working on the car, meeting the instructor, working on the car, looking at the track, scratching your...head, working on the car, listening to your wife/husband/life partner tell you what a stupid thing you have done, working on the car, etc.

2 DAYS - Actually pack up all your equipment for the 'last' time. Load the race car (make sure it's finished, first!) See your attorney - your life partner/spouse will probably file for divorce as soon as you get back from school. Think about what it would be like if you could actually get some sleep. After all, you have a long drive tomorrow, and a tough weekend ahead. Even tougher if you are attending a double school!

LAST DAY - Go back and add three days to the list. The car is ALMOST finished and you are ALMOST ready to start loading up. Call your friends again!

FRIDAY - Take a breather. Relax. Drive Carefully. It really would be dumb to have wreck on the way to your first race wouldn't it?!

SATURDAY - WOW! Why didn't I do this sooner?

SUNDAY- Now I understand why we do this! When is my first EVENT? 

Unknown Author