As part of the Eightlien meeting at TC1000, I took part in 3 x 15 minute session, 2 x 5 minute qualifying session and finally a 5 lap mini race. It was a hot, hot day. Very humid and did I say hot! I guess 34/35 degrees. The 15 minute sessions were very hard on Roxy. Oil was 130 at one stage and water was 110 or just over. My tires were very slippy towards the end of each session and I felt grip in general was pretty low. That made it good fun though to fight with the grip and catch a few slides along the way. TC1000 is a nice place to not worry too much about sliding out as visibility is very good around the course.
I qualified 6th on the grid out of 10 cars I believe. The first corner was going to be daunting. 10 cars piling in at the same time all looking for space and perhaps to make a place or two. I thought about leaving DSC on to have one less thing to worry about but that kinda goes against my philosophy so I left it off. I won't learn anything with DSC on.
When the light went out nobody seemed to move for a second and then I let rip. Handbrake down and the back of the car wriggling down into the first corner somehow in 4th place. Gotta love that Mazdaspeed clutch! The top 3 cars were really fast. I am really slow on the inner hairpin it seems and not too bad else otherwise. Seems thats where I'm losing my time getting the car turned quickly.
A blue 8 that had been 3rd on the grid was right on my ass but I knew there was pretty much nowhere to pass as long as I just drove my line. So although he was big in my mirror it just excited me rather than worrying me too much.
On the final lap, I was too eager to catch the cars in front on braking into the first corner and carried the brakes in too far. My correction wasn't enough and I lost the back end. I'd been so good at catching it all day I guess I got carried away in the heat of the moment. Still I managed to get the car turned around and back in the race before a few cars at least.
I got my best time of the day during the race 0'44.2. My previous best on the day was 0'44.46 in the morning session so its nice to have performed well. What a great day. Superb organization by Eightlien. The schedule was very tight but they made it work! Big thanks Eightlien!!!
Naomisan's (the blue 8 behind me) wife took this video of the race from the outside. Its cool to see the big picture.
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2 comments:
Roxy-san,
You already found my video!
It was a great experience to join the mini-race for the first time. I got so excited in chasing you after I made poor starting.
I'll be seeing you soon as you have many plans to drive on the tracks.
naomisan - yes video was super. Your wife made a good commentary. You could hear her excitement at different stages. Please say sorry that I frightened her when I spun!
I watched some of your other videos also like TC1000 in the rain. That was a mad video. Don't know how you saved some of those slides :-)
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