The last truly local race of my season and, with air temperatures well into the 90s and the largest grid of the season so far, it was going to be a scorcher any way you look at it.
Category: Sprint race
After getting what turned out to be a leaking head gasket replaced (long story but, based on past experience with this head design on another BMW racecar, I was worried I’d warped the head) along with some missing internal bolts (!!), there was nothing stopping me from heading to Portland for the traditional Father’s Day … Read More “Chicane Challenge XXXII” »
With a dramatically different weather forecast for this race compared to the last, it represented my first chance to really push myself and the car, and generally to see “what’s what.” As well, Pacific is a more technical track than PIR and thus harder to get right, so this week-end was also going to highlight … Read More “Spring into Summer 2024” »
First race week-end with a new racecar means all kinds of things to figure out and/or get used to, from learning what driving style suits the car best, to getting to know your competitors in the class, and even simple things like the best way to load the trailer. Thinking caps on, kids!
Although both Group 1 (SPO) and the one-hour enduro were options, I elected to only run ST for what was turning out to be my last sprint week-end of the season (other commitments) Looking at the entries for Group 4, with loads of GT1 and GT2 cars, plus some fast ITE cars, the cars in … Read More “The Dash XXXVIII” »
(How is a race in mid-July my first of the season?!)
“I’m just keeping my license current” is a terrible reason to go racing…
Not quite the first time out with the new car, having done a Test ‘n’ Tune the prior September, but the first where I’d really be pushing myself. Of course, it’d also be my first chance at competition in almost two years and, just to add another dimension, my first time racing at Portland without … Read More “Rose City Opener XXII” »
A trouble-free week-end in Seattle a couple weeks earlier had me confident of finally having a good outing at Portland with the M3… but I’d felt that way before. A strangely-rare opportunity to race against Lou Greenberg’s 1995 M3 (essentially the same engine/intake/exhaust modifications as me, but still with the original body panels) had me … Read More “Jim Swanson Memorial XI” »
Although the car’s issues were dealt with shortly after the May race in Portland, work obligations kept me from June’s race in Portland as well as the double week-end (plus special BMW-only race) in Spokane. Having decided that enough was enough, I quit my job to have more time for racing. (I’m kidding. Mostly.) My … Read More “Car Tender Challenge” »