Dj's 1999 M3 Project

[D_Eclipse9916]

Part 3 of 3 Nationals 2011. (yeah yeeah I know. But I want a record of all of this, and I hope to still catch up)

One day to go, a breakage on the previous day, and rain in the morning. This is still TT, so one one lap over the weekend counts. I had high hopes coming into Saturday with a new record broken, only to have a failure of 3 studs, and news of the competition blowing by my lap time.

2 Sessions to go... The track was slippery because of the rain, combination of traffic, and offs led to the end of the first session. No joy, not even close to my previous times.

Here I was after 4 days of hard driving, in 2nd place at my first ever Nationals. I was ecstatic! 2nd place against the locals on a track I hadn't ever driven before, and with most sessions rained out or mechanical failures I was not bothered in the least.

But those who know me, know I rarely give up. If there is a chance, even a miniscule one; I will try for it all.

Before the last session, I was called yet again to Tech where they went over my car....again. This time I was handed a dyno slip. I found this hilarious, as at the weight I was at (3175lbs), I would have to make 261rwhp to get knocked out of TTC. Here I was knowing my car was only 229/230rwhp in TTC trim. Headed to the dyno and tried focusing on what I could do to improve my times in the last session. The skies had cleared and the track was drying. If only the rain could hold off....





With the Championships dynos, you cannot see your own results. It is handed directly to the director. It is up to them to tell you your results. Well, I had limited time, so it went straight from the dyno to grid. On grid, the atmosphere was actually pretty relaxed. I was happy for 2nd, and of course was going to try; but no need to stress about it. We were all just joking around, and D'Amico thought the weather was finally right to get some shots of the car and I.






Now it was time for the last session. My AIM was freaking out, so I wouldnt have the opportunity to know how I did until the end of the session. I was ready and willing. As usual, I would attempt my last session as "all out or nothing". I was pushing hard.



I lined up for a good lap and hammered it. The first corner off the front straight is a very high-speed sweeping left. A lot of time can be lost/gained here, so I took a small risk, tapped the brakes and turned in a couple mph more than usual. Turn in was smooth, but unfortunately about 12-24" inches too far deep. Too late now to fix or I would have to give up that lap. With very short sessions, this was NOT an option to give up. So what do I do? My solution for everything...more throttle. Keep the arc and....closer and closer to that exit...closer and closer...and I wasnt going to make it. Instead of trying to dial in more that I knew wasnt there, I just tried to keep the arc going. It would be a fun 2-wheel off ride through the dirt and back onto the track. Kept the foot to the floor and kept going. Disappointing as I know I left time, but that's the way it goes. The session ended without another clear lap. I thought I was done for, and pulled into the pits.






Getting out of the car, I was unsure how it went. All of us sitting in impound awaiting the results.




The director calls out those who are DQed first... *random number* *random number *186*...Wait what?!?!? Why did I get DQed. I speak up. I was DQed for 4 off according to a corner worker. I look confused, and he asks if I wanted to formally protest. I thought for a second, and since I thought I hadnt done well, I just ask for shits and giggles what my time was. He states 1:36.9...... It was one of those moments where everyone in the circle knew, and a few gasps and *holy shits* come out. A possible record and National win, resting on a protest at the end of the week of nationals. I politely requested a protest...hahaah. I claimed I was only 2 wheels off. Unfortunately my camera wasnt running. I was about to lose this protest, but a fellow competitor piped up that he was behind me, and may have caught the video. The camera gets taken, and we all go over to Tech impound to get inspected and weighed.
After 45 minnutes of inspection, the directors had still not made up their mind. They had apparently gone over the video, and it had the incident.. But they still were unclear. It was put to a vote of the directors. It was like in one of those movies waiting for the guilty verdict in a room of the jury. 3 directors. 1st spoke up: 3 wheels off, claiming I still had one front left wheel on the gators. 2nd spoke up: 4 wheels off, it is unclear and going by judgement of corners workers.

The pressure, I was sweating, and they knew it. The final director definitely gave pause, I was going to pass out from the anticipation. He finally spurts out: 3 wheels off. I hollered and celebrated with fellow competitors. The final director, jumped in after only 20 seconds. He said: "Wait, you still have to pass your dyno sheet". I looked at him like, meh who cares? I could make 261rwhp. He replies: "You made 269rwhp".

The entire tech shed went quiet aside from one voice. My own "WHATTTT?!!?!". Then one of the other directors replied. "He is kidding, 230rwhp, congratulations!". I had won my first Nationals experience!!! I couldn't beleive my luck!

Prerequisite pictures of podium/champagne/trophy girls!



I couldn't have done it without my crew, friend, and continual support of Mike D'Amico. Sharing of the trophy!