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- 2012 Touring MT
Well after postponing last's years participation I made sure this year my car was going to be ready as well as myself. This years Nationals like always was an awesome experience, got to drive with the fastest drivers in the country, learn from them and enjoying the reunion with my Minnesota Autox family. I picked as a co-driver one of the fastest drivers in South Fla also instructor at GCAC in Ft. Myers Michel Lawson, he also has a few records at the Tail of the Dragon with his Nissan 350 Z. He had knowledge and data logging equipment.
Some people have never been to nationals so I thought that I could describe with pictures, videos and comments what is this all about:
One of the highlights of this trip was to meet Mr. Andy Hollis in person, amazing driver and knowledgeable, his input made possible the performance of my car this year."
I tried from experience years before to have the car as competitive as possible, sometimes uphill battles get old. Once the car was as ready as my budget allowed this year we packed up:
You want to get to the event early enough to take some practice runs on the t&t course and start learning the courses for competition days. At the practice course yo get a feeling of the car set up and its behavior on a course with similar traction of the competition courses:
That first evening there is a Reception with dinner included followed by a visit to the Museum of American Speed, an awesome place:
First race day full of nice cars and adhrelanine pumping:
East course was very challenging for low power cars with multiple pin turns where keeping the speed was very difficult, at least for me.
I was very careful trying not to overcook the pin turns which I did but ended up sacrificing speed by braking too early and not using the whole tract to maintain speed.
My co-driver had a good first day. finished 3rd.
My co-driver managed to hurt his knee while working the course the first day, when I was looking for ice I found a massage therapist working at the Icecream place who was nice enough to help us. I take care of my beaches..
In the evenings some people go out the restaurants or bars downtown. We decided to stay in the hotels studying the course maps and resting.
Second day course was completely different, with ha better flow something i was used to more:
I drove like a FT Myers Event, trying to keep the speed , minimum breaking and lifting to rotate the car; I had a blast and my times were very decent. My co driver did not do as good as he wanted but managed to keep his 3rd position. After the first runs the grip went down hill an it was hard to get a better time from the first runs. My fastest run was my first one but I hit an inside cone.
At the end of second day a little bit of disappointment for not doing as well as expected but we learned a lot and we had a blast. We met awesome people and enjoyed watching very fast cars.
Here with the STF Champion Eric Sienkiewicz:
Award ceremony is really cool , in my case I got to spend time with my Minnesota friends
Joe Austin the nicest guy and amazing driving as well:
At the end good feelings and learned what need to be done to improve for next year. Thanks to my wife, Mike Costing from Costing Racing, and of course Andy Hollis...
Great memories:
Andres
Some people have never been to nationals so I thought that I could describe with pictures, videos and comments what is this all about:
One of the highlights of this trip was to meet Mr. Andy Hollis in person, amazing driver and knowledgeable, his input made possible the performance of my car this year."
I tried from experience years before to have the car as competitive as possible, sometimes uphill battles get old. Once the car was as ready as my budget allowed this year we packed up:
You want to get to the event early enough to take some practice runs on the t&t course and start learning the courses for competition days. At the practice course yo get a feeling of the car set up and its behavior on a course with similar traction of the competition courses:
That first evening there is a Reception with dinner included followed by a visit to the Museum of American Speed, an awesome place:
First race day full of nice cars and adhrelanine pumping:
East course was very challenging for low power cars with multiple pin turns where keeping the speed was very difficult, at least for me.
I was very careful trying not to overcook the pin turns which I did but ended up sacrificing speed by braking too early and not using the whole tract to maintain speed.
My co-driver had a good first day. finished 3rd.
My co-driver managed to hurt his knee while working the course the first day, when I was looking for ice I found a massage therapist working at the Icecream place who was nice enough to help us. I take care of my beaches..
In the evenings some people go out the restaurants or bars downtown. We decided to stay in the hotels studying the course maps and resting.
Second day course was completely different, with ha better flow something i was used to more:
I drove like a FT Myers Event, trying to keep the speed , minimum breaking and lifting to rotate the car; I had a blast and my times were very decent. My co driver did not do as good as he wanted but managed to keep his 3rd position. After the first runs the grip went down hill an it was hard to get a better time from the first runs. My fastest run was my first one but I hit an inside cone.
At the end of second day a little bit of disappointment for not doing as well as expected but we learned a lot and we had a blast. We met awesome people and enjoyed watching very fast cars.
Here with the STF Champion Eric Sienkiewicz:
Award ceremony is really cool , in my case I got to spend time with my Minnesota friends
Joe Austin the nicest guy and amazing driving as well:
At the end good feelings and learned what need to be done to improve for next year. Thanks to my wife, Mike Costing from Costing Racing, and of course Andy Hollis...
Great memories:
Andres
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