I first want to say thanks to Randall, John & Rob from the Ohio VCA and Kathy & Jim Stout. These are awesome folks (and Viper owners...heh heh) that turn your average event into something really great. Hooked up with DaytonProwler and SapphireBob from the VCA after the track meeting at 8PM, and we tried to find some grub at 11PM. Not easy in Cranberry, PA. LOL BTW- when did roundabouts become trendy? 2nd most dangerous intersections in the world, and people are putting them everywhere. I weep for the future. I digress.... Up at 0-dark:30 and after a quick breakfast at the hotel, we jaunt up to the track. I had a chance to pass Jim Stout in his Tahoe while we were on I-79. I should have done it. I would have been the only guy who passed him all day. The drivers meeting was next with the tech inspection and then a ride-around with all the cars. All went smoothly. I got a pic of an ACR following me. I figured it was pretty much the only time I'd have one BEHIND me, so I better get a shot. I ran in the first group, as no one was really sure where the truck would fit in. I was content there, but probably could have moved to Group 2. Group 3 guys were pretty hardcore: That Mini Cooper had the Driver's Mod, so he hung in pretty well with everyone. Group 4 was the Comp Coupes and the other full-race Vipers: I passed a couple of Vipers (who shall remain nameless...heh heh), but only had one pass me. All day. Not too shabby for a 2.5 ton full-size pickup, eh? On the back straight I was hitting about 100-105mph; on the front straight, I was reaching about 110-115mph. Jim Stout took a few laps with me and helped me work a better line according to the truck's handling...shall we say..."unique characteristics". LOL The 'feel' smoothed out a bit and I may have gotten a bit quicker, esp through turns 3 - 6, and 10 - 11. He was great to ride with. THANKS JIM!!! Speaking of which, Jim and Kathy's crew was exceptional. I'd been looking for a part number for a piece that only comes with the CC rides. Kathy said that their tech guy Evan or Jim's son would know the part number off the top of their heads. LOL I asked Evan during lunch and *poof*....2 minutes later he had a Mopar part number written down for me. Really nice guys and they busted buns all day keeping the purple pavement eaters running smoothly! I met the Bender family the night before at the hotel. They were rolling an SRT8 Magnum (in the fastest color, of course) and their 19-yr. old son brought dad's C6 with new meats for his first run on an actual track. The kid did VERY well. He moved from Group 1 to Group 2 after the first session and hung in there with the big boys. I think he went to Group 3 for one session, but that was fairly humbling. We only had a couple of "lawn jockeys", and that was by the infamous turns 7 and 8. After a few sessions, my brake pads decided to take the rest of the day off, so I did as well. Kind of a bummer, but it was expected that they would be the parts that give out first. Results? Jim Stout was lapping at about 1:01-1:03. I was lapping pretty consistently at 1:10. If I'm within 10 seconds of Jim, I'm having a damn good day. Thanks again everyone!!!! I had an absolute blast at a very well-run event. Let's do it again next weekend!
Cool! Love hanging out at the road courses... Used to go to Gingerman in South Haven, MI with a buddy of mine (Viper owner) every year for the Viper Ferrari War.
