Last year (2010) I set the production car track record at my local track - Race City Speedway in Calgary. My time was 1:19.5.
I had set a goal for myself of a lap at less than 80 seconds - 1:20. I achieved that by 1/2 a second. I was absolutely overjoyed!
Race City will be destroyed at the end of this season, the track will be replaced by a landfill water retention pond and the next closest track is about 1000km away - so I started thinking.......
I've done many laps this season in the high 1:19's so I felt that if I had a fresh car, new brake pads and new tires at the same time that I might take a shot at my record.
I also know that there's a local guy - a very fast guy - with a ZR-1 that's been gunning for my record. He's even been modifying his car to make it faster - but he still hasn't beat the 1:19.5 - his best is a 1:20.0. And now he's even running slicks.
Meanwhile, the condition of the track has deteriorated markedly. It's been getting the absolute basic repairs just to make it to the end of this season, which is next weekend. Would it possible, with the track conditions to get a fastest lap? Especially with the weather getting quite cold? I needed to try.
So last Monday I ordered a new set of skins and had them mounted on Friday. On Saturday morning (in clear but freezing conditions) I went and took my shot.
First hot lap, 1:19.7 - pretty good.
Second hot lap, 1:19.3 - I DID IT! I DID IT! I was so overjoyed that I 'welled' up a bit - but I kept my foot on the throttle down the long front straight. I knew I was close to the 18's and that I might have a shot at it.
Third hot lap, 1:18.8 - more joy, more emotion - but my foot stayed down. Unbelievable - the 18's.....
Fourth hot lap, 1:18.6 - almost in tears, but my foot stayed down!
Fifth hot lap, 1:18.4!!!! I couldn't continue. I was spent. I gave it everything I had, and that was it. 1:18.4. FANTASTIC! Just then a Corvette pulled out of pit lane to block my next lap anyway, so I cooled down, composed myself and returned to the pits.
I can't tell you how happy I am - 1:18.4.
By the end of the day yesterday I started getting congratulatory phone calls and text messages - word get's around fast in the motorsport community.
So, the track will die with Viper holding the production car lap record.
Fantastic.
Greg
I had set a goal for myself of a lap at less than 80 seconds - 1:20. I achieved that by 1/2 a second. I was absolutely overjoyed!
Race City will be destroyed at the end of this season, the track will be replaced by a landfill water retention pond and the next closest track is about 1000km away - so I started thinking.......
I've done many laps this season in the high 1:19's so I felt that if I had a fresh car, new brake pads and new tires at the same time that I might take a shot at my record.
I also know that there's a local guy - a very fast guy - with a ZR-1 that's been gunning for my record. He's even been modifying his car to make it faster - but he still hasn't beat the 1:19.5 - his best is a 1:20.0. And now he's even running slicks.
Meanwhile, the condition of the track has deteriorated markedly. It's been getting the absolute basic repairs just to make it to the end of this season, which is next weekend. Would it possible, with the track conditions to get a fastest lap? Especially with the weather getting quite cold? I needed to try.
So last Monday I ordered a new set of skins and had them mounted on Friday. On Saturday morning (in clear but freezing conditions) I went and took my shot.
First hot lap, 1:19.7 - pretty good.
Second hot lap, 1:19.3 - I DID IT! I DID IT! I was so overjoyed that I 'welled' up a bit - but I kept my foot on the throttle down the long front straight. I knew I was close to the 18's and that I might have a shot at it.
Third hot lap, 1:18.8 - more joy, more emotion - but my foot stayed down. Unbelievable - the 18's.....
Fourth hot lap, 1:18.6 - almost in tears, but my foot stayed down!
Fifth hot lap, 1:18.4!!!! I couldn't continue. I was spent. I gave it everything I had, and that was it. 1:18.4. FANTASTIC! Just then a Corvette pulled out of pit lane to block my next lap anyway, so I cooled down, composed myself and returned to the pits.
I can't tell you how happy I am - 1:18.4.
By the end of the day yesterday I started getting congratulatory phone calls and text messages - word get's around fast in the motorsport community.
So, the track will die with Viper holding the production car lap record.
Fantastic.
Greg
!
It does not surprise me, but to go out breaking your own record, not only once, but
four times is amazing. A big hearty congratulations from the Red Deer boys.
.
