Back to Basic Fun with PASA  (4/2/2006)

An open weekend and a nine month layoff was too much temptation to resist a chance to run the challenging Firebird West Track with ASA affiliate Pro Autosports.  The Saturday phone voice mail could have been an April fool joke, but it wasn't and Scottracing cracked open the trailer, prepped the VanDiemen and prepared to knock some rust off the team.

Sunday was clear and perfect temperature as we rolled in to the recently expanded Firebird west paddock.  Parking along side the BWM team trailers, we unloaded and got ready for the morning practice.  Everything seemed in order and the only concern was the 6 heat cycle Avon tires that had been aging in the trailer for 9 months.  Would they have any grip?

Rolling out practice quickly answered the basic questions.  Carl can still drive, he remembered the track, the car was almost perfectly set up and the tires were shot.  Showing an appreciation for the crew information needs, Carl radioed in his information for the changes he was looking for.  Exiting the track, it was easy to gather driver feedback, down load the data acquisition, and get the tire data.  Tire information was fairly easy since the tires had acquired four major flat spots on the front while Carl searched for the correct brake balance.

Tuning changes included redoing the brake pedal pads to better suit a left footed braker, changing the cross weight and of course changing to our "good" three heat cycle 9 month old Avons.  The qualifying session was brief in order to preserve tires and allow time for a dash over to PIR for some good "used" tires.  With only one clean lap, Carl was third and only 3-tenths off the FC pole.

The afternoon qualifying race was run with a set of 5 heat cycle Goodyear 160/175 combination.  After a interesting start, Carl settled in to chasing down and passing the #21 FC and then station keeping behind a FM to finish an uneventful second overall and first in FC.  The car was handling nicely and the ample lap traffic in the 20 car field provided plenty of challenge in passing quickly and safely. 

The final race of the day saw a tire change back to the Avons to try to get better grip for the 30 lap race.  Starting second and off pole, Carl found himself hung out in a drag race to the first corner.  He chose to try to out brake the pole car from his outside position, a move that he has used in the past to suck opponents in over heir head.  Unfortunately, this pole sitter was willing to drive just as deep and Carl locked up all four wheels to just make the corner and slot in fourth position.  The race was on for about 10 laps as he harried the 21 FC everywhere but could not get enough jump off the corners to make a pass stick.  Finally, there was a shift bobble that provided the window of opportunity and Carl slipped by into second.  Not for long, however, as a FM on fresh tires pulled along side on the long straight and cruised on by.  The rest of the race was spent closing the gap on the #13 FM in traffic and then being pulled when the track cleared.  Final result was third overall and first in FC.

Great fun with lots of cars and the PASA leadership friendly as ever.  We look forward to the next time things line up for another PASA run.  Maybe St John's again this year??