Who's going to Atlanta...

[JohnW8]

other than Steve Patterson, Chuck Baader and myself?

Anyone working the event?

[Chuck Baader]

And if anyone is interested, I need crew. Leaving at 0700 in the morning. Chuck

[JohnW8]

I should be able to help you out on Saturday. My race will be done before 1:00pm and I'll have nothing to do until Sunday morning.

[Chuck Baader]

Great, as I run last thing both days. CB

[Chuck Baader]

John...where are you??? Tried to call..did you get home ok? Chuck

[JohnW8]

My cell died Friday night so I spent time after my race dealing with Verizon.

I made it home Sunday around 5pm.

[bimmertech]

Headed to Road Atlanta tomorrow through the weekend.

[Chuck Baader]

Sunday at 5 I was just pulling out of RA...damn last race, etc. etc. etc.!!

Congratulations on your two trophies this weekend. Chuck

[e30Racer]

More details are needed by people that attended...c'mon people!!!

[Chuck Baader]

They call it Hotlanta for a reason. Hot. Damn Hot.

ProIT/enduro had good group of guys with 1.5hrs of good racing on Saturday. ProIT on Sunday was pitiful...9 entries total....yawn. CB

[JohnW8]

Congratulations on your two trophies this weekend. Chuck

???
I got 7th on Saturday and 3rd on Sunday. I never saw a 7th place trophy before and I didn't receive one for my 3rd place spot.

[Chuck Baader]

Thought I heard you name in 3rd...sorry. cB

[JohnW8]

Great weekend and not as hot as I thought it was going to be.
Thanks to all the TVR people (Craig, Mark, Paul, Rich, Steve, Tom, Brett) who came out and worked the event.

My first trip to Road Atlanta to race and I had a blast. I was scared to death of,...well, death, but the track is incredible. I never got faster than 1:50 but that was 5 seconds faster than the first qualifying session on Saturday. Saturdays race was a track day for me, just trying to stay out of the way and learn some lines. My plan was to not hold anyone up or be "that guy". So i rode around and raced a few folks near me and I ended up in 7th on Saturday. No body damage, no one threatening me with a beating...success!!

Sunday was a different day. I felt more comfortable in the car and on track and my lap times improved. I qualified third in ITA and got dropped at the start of the race by 2 faster ITA cars driven by Neal Harrison and Mr Pardee, which put me in 5th before the first lap. No worries, just drive. A few laps later I spotted the Pardee's Ford Focus that got by me and I noticed I was reeling him in. Each lap I got closer. I noticed he was watching his mirrors alot and messing up in the corners because of it. Each corner I got closer. Out of 7 I was on his bumper literally in 5th gear flat footed, 6500rpm. I stepped out to pass just like I'd seen on a million NASCAR races and hundreds of video games... nope. I was out of the draft and dropped back 4 car lengths. Back in line. I closed back up and ran another lap, I tried to get around at 3, then at 5, then at 7 then back on the long backstretch I drafted again to within a few inches of his bumper. My inaccurate factory speedo was reading 130 before the drop off to 10a. I lifted to give him some braking space and as soon as his lights came on I pulled left and carried a bit more speed into 10a, 2 quick down shifts, turned in and back on the gas. He tried to take the inside line but I was already there. I got him!

Those 2-3 laps made my weekend. I got around Tom Lyttle's IT7 but he got the spot back when we were getting lapped by the ITS group leaders on the final lap.

I headed to Impound because I wasn't sure where I finished. I thought 3rd or 4th but when I got to grid Brett told me there weren't any other ITA cars there yet. What?! Then I thought I was first but Willy Phee and Mike Coburn(?) showed up to grid which let me know I made it to 3rd place. Neal Harrison had pulled off course at some point during the race giving me the 3rd place spot.

Wow! What a weekend! A big thanks to PARTS GROUP for letting me paddock with them.

I knew once I bought rain tires I'd never have to use them.

[FVee90]

Yup, it was cooler than expected and it did not rain and some good times. Looking forward to racin Barber.

[e30Racer]

Awesome W8!!! Congrats!