10-25-2004, 01:06 AM
I went down to VIR this weekend to crew with team VictorybyDesign. I left town about 6:30pm on Friday and drove myself and another crew-member down to VIR (near Danville). We stopped only for gas, but we arrived just before midnight. I didn't think it would take that long but we ended up having to go into NC and then back into VA to get to the track. That night we stayed at the ghetto of all Days Inns.
We woke up at 6 in the morning and got to the paddock by 7:30. A huge day of race lay before us. The race started at 9:15 and ended 13 hours later but before we could start the race car (1986 GTi) had to be prepped with fresh tires, clean windows, installation of wipers, fuel, and other little things. The car was ready and Apollo sp?? drove up the hill to the track entrance. The race started and it would be another 2 hours and 15 minutes before the first pit stop and driver change. After the first 2 hours we were in 12th overall out of 64 (give or take 2) and first in ITB. The car was running great and during the daylight hours we only had 1 minor problem (a lose bolt in the RR suspension).
My duties included some lap timing, making sure the right tires got over the wall during pits, and most important driving into South Boston to get lunch for the rest of the crew and pick up a part ordered from the Advanced Auto in S. Boston.
I went into South Boston after the first pit to pick up a wheel hub. After searching for the store, I found it and when I asked for the part they said there had been a mistake and the part wasnÔÇÖt going to be in until later in the afternoon. So I headed back to the track. The dude at Advance said the part would be in at 1:30 and I drove the half hour drive back into town to pick up the part on time. I arrive and the dude tells me that the part is late and itÔÇÖs going to be another half hour. So, I go to the grocery store next door to buy fried chicken for lunch. I finally get the part and get back to the track.
We have more regular pit stops and things are looking great for the GTi. There was a 20 minute planned yellow flag about dinnertime, but we stayed on track so that we could finish with the least amount of stops possible. Then we received the 8th hour results and we were leading by 2 laps for the ITB class. Moments later we get news the car has broken down on the far side of the course. We have it towed to the paddock and it turned out that the spare part that we ordered from Advanced was the part that went bad. This would have worked out had the morons given us the right part. We ordered at wheel hub assembly but they gave us just the barring. So we were shit out of luck. We tried different parts and ideas and nothing was working. DNF?? Then when we were planning how to get the car back into the trailer since it only had 3 wheels, Apollo came running up yelling ÔÇ£the A2 Golf has the part.ÔÇØ Another team running a similar car that had been out from early in the race gave us the wheel hub off their racecar. 15 minutes later we were back on track and running until the checkered flag.
I headed back Saturday night, happy to have gotten a chance to crew with VictorybyDesign.
Pictures below:
![[Image: 1.jpg]](http://rebirthwd.com/mm/vir/1.jpg)
Very sweet Acura TL. (Acura engineered and paid for)
![[Image: 2.jpg]](http://rebirthwd.com/mm/vir/2.jpg)
RX7?
![[Image: 3.jpg]](http://rebirthwd.com/mm/vir/3.jpg)
Our car going up the hill into the S turns.
![[Image: 4.jpg]](http://rebirthwd.com/mm/vir/4.jpg)
Start of the race.
![[Image: 5.jpg]](http://rebirthwd.com/mm/vir/5.jpg)
Very fast firebird, but he had some problems keeping it on the track early and ended up flatting his LR tire twice in the first half hour.
![[Image: 6.jpg]](http://rebirthwd.com/mm/vir/6.jpg)
Bimmers old and less old.
![[Image: 7.jpg]](http://rebirthwd.com/mm/vir/7.jpg)
Team Honda's Civic SI. Fastest car out there.
![[Image: 8.jpg]](http://rebirthwd.com/mm/vir/8.jpg)
Chris, idea's for a new paint job?
![[Image: 9.jpg]](http://rebirthwd.com/mm/vir/9.jpg)
Our Yagermeister once again.
![[Image: 10.jpg]](http://rebirthwd.com/mm/vir/10.jpg)
and again.
![[Image: 11.jpg]](http://rebirthwd.com/mm/vir/11.jpg)
The uphill S turns. ("I've got the gas flat all the way through" - Greg (driver))
![[Image: 12.jpg]](http://rebirthwd.com/mm/vir/12.jpg)
Our poor car while it was behind the wall.
We woke up at 6 in the morning and got to the paddock by 7:30. A huge day of race lay before us. The race started at 9:15 and ended 13 hours later but before we could start the race car (1986 GTi) had to be prepped with fresh tires, clean windows, installation of wipers, fuel, and other little things. The car was ready and Apollo sp?? drove up the hill to the track entrance. The race started and it would be another 2 hours and 15 minutes before the first pit stop and driver change. After the first 2 hours we were in 12th overall out of 64 (give or take 2) and first in ITB. The car was running great and during the daylight hours we only had 1 minor problem (a lose bolt in the RR suspension).
My duties included some lap timing, making sure the right tires got over the wall during pits, and most important driving into South Boston to get lunch for the rest of the crew and pick up a part ordered from the Advanced Auto in S. Boston.
I went into South Boston after the first pit to pick up a wheel hub. After searching for the store, I found it and when I asked for the part they said there had been a mistake and the part wasnÔÇÖt going to be in until later in the afternoon. So I headed back to the track. The dude at Advance said the part would be in at 1:30 and I drove the half hour drive back into town to pick up the part on time. I arrive and the dude tells me that the part is late and itÔÇÖs going to be another half hour. So, I go to the grocery store next door to buy fried chicken for lunch. I finally get the part and get back to the track.
We have more regular pit stops and things are looking great for the GTi. There was a 20 minute planned yellow flag about dinnertime, but we stayed on track so that we could finish with the least amount of stops possible. Then we received the 8th hour results and we were leading by 2 laps for the ITB class. Moments later we get news the car has broken down on the far side of the course. We have it towed to the paddock and it turned out that the spare part that we ordered from Advanced was the part that went bad. This would have worked out had the morons given us the right part. We ordered at wheel hub assembly but they gave us just the barring. So we were shit out of luck. We tried different parts and ideas and nothing was working. DNF?? Then when we were planning how to get the car back into the trailer since it only had 3 wheels, Apollo came running up yelling ÔÇ£the A2 Golf has the part.ÔÇØ Another team running a similar car that had been out from early in the race gave us the wheel hub off their racecar. 15 minutes later we were back on track and running until the checkered flag.
I headed back Saturday night, happy to have gotten a chance to crew with VictorybyDesign.
Pictures below:
Very sweet Acura TL. (Acura engineered and paid for)
RX7?
Our car going up the hill into the S turns.
Start of the race.
Very fast firebird, but he had some problems keeping it on the track early and ended up flatting his LR tire twice in the first half hour.
Bimmers old and less old.
Team Honda's Civic SI. Fastest car out there.
Chris, idea's for a new paint job?
Our Yagermeister once again.
and again.
The uphill S turns. ("I've got the gas flat all the way through" - Greg (driver))
Our poor car while it was behind the wall.
--
Aaron
"Early to bed and early to rise probably indicates unskilled labor." - John Ciardi
Aaron
"Early to bed and early to rise probably indicates unskilled labor." - John Ciardi
