Saturday, May 27, 2006
Qualifying 1/Race 1 - 5/27/06 - Grattan Raceway
I started off the 2006 season this morning at Grattan Raceway in Belding, MI. Shortly after 11AM I pulled onto the track for my first laps of Grattan Raceway and my first laps in a Formula First since September of 2005. Grattan is a very tricky track with lots of elevation changes and that makes it a difficult track to learn, especially in one session. As soon as I took to the track I noticed that the engine was lagging at low revs but once the revs got higher the engine seemed OK and I was able to reel in one of my Formula First competitors after just a couple of laps on the track. I went to pass the other FST at the last sharp right hand corner on the track, outbraked him, and then outbraked myself and spun the car into the grass on the outside of the turn. I kept it running, shifted to 1st gear, and accelerated out of the grass and back onto the track.
Unfortunately, as I accelerated and upshifted the engine started lagging quite badly and it also developed a very disconcerting popping noise. After a slow lap to evaluate the situation, I pulled off and ended my session in hopes of diagnosing the problems with the engine. Jim (of SR Racing), after initially worrying that the engine had blown, removed the valve cover and noted that one of the pushrods was no longer pushing the rocker arm and the car was only running on three cylinders. This was quickly resolved and the car was ready for the race that afternoon. My best lap of the session was a 1:36.6, approximately eight seconds off the Formula First pole. I only turned three laps at speed in the session.
I started the race 5th in First and 12th overall (of 18). I had a good battle with a Formula Vee during the race and eventually passed the Vee after 6 or 7 laps. Unfortunately, two laps after that I spun in turn 4 and the car stalled in the middle of the track. After a few anxious moments the VW motor rattled to life and I accelerated away once again. After that, it was an uneventful run to 4th in class and 10th overall. My fastest lap in the race was a 1:34.2, approximately six seconds off the fastest First lap of the race.
It was a challenging day, but we're looking for better times tomorrow and less spins! Check back on Monday for another update and don't forget what Memorial Day is all about.
On a personal note, it was an awesome experience to have my brother and his wife, my dad, and all of my grandparents at the track on Saturday to witness my qualifying session and the race Saturday. For my mom's folks, it was their very first time at any race track and it meant a lot to me that there were able to be there and be part of it. Thanks again to everybody that has supported me!
(Pictures of Jaygo Racing at Grattan will be forthcoming later this week after a few technical problems with the camera)
Unfortunately, as I accelerated and upshifted the engine started lagging quite badly and it also developed a very disconcerting popping noise. After a slow lap to evaluate the situation, I pulled off and ended my session in hopes of diagnosing the problems with the engine. Jim (of SR Racing), after initially worrying that the engine had blown, removed the valve cover and noted that one of the pushrods was no longer pushing the rocker arm and the car was only running on three cylinders. This was quickly resolved and the car was ready for the race that afternoon. My best lap of the session was a 1:36.6, approximately eight seconds off the Formula First pole. I only turned three laps at speed in the session.
I started the race 5th in First and 12th overall (of 18). I had a good battle with a Formula Vee during the race and eventually passed the Vee after 6 or 7 laps. Unfortunately, two laps after that I spun in turn 4 and the car stalled in the middle of the track. After a few anxious moments the VW motor rattled to life and I accelerated away once again. After that, it was an uneventful run to 4th in class and 10th overall. My fastest lap in the race was a 1:34.2, approximately six seconds off the fastest First lap of the race.
It was a challenging day, but we're looking for better times tomorrow and less spins! Check back on Monday for another update and don't forget what Memorial Day is all about.
On a personal note, it was an awesome experience to have my brother and his wife, my dad, and all of my grandparents at the track on Saturday to witness my qualifying session and the race Saturday. For my mom's folks, it was their very first time at any race track and it meant a lot to me that there were able to be there and be part of it. Thanks again to everybody that has supported me!
(Pictures of Jaygo Racing at Grattan will be forthcoming later this week after a few technical problems with the camera)
# posted by Jaygo Racing @ 10:22 PM 
