[Dr. Liz]

Day 1 of the Utah-EISCCA blood-sport rivalry.



The day started off snowy and cold. (See above.) At noon there was a driver’s meeting (while it was snowing), and it was decided that the course workers would be stationed in 3 trucks; a driver, and a cone-shagger for each truck.



Given the conditions, this was actually a very creative solution to the problem. No course workers freezing, quick response to cones, and full radio access.



When cones were down, the truck(s) would move in, reset the course (although it was so wet that there was no way to mark the cones, so the cones were put back in ‘approximate’ locations, causing the course to ‘walk’ a bit throughout the day – no fault other than the weather!). The timing/announcing people would be in the trailer. The only suckers who would be out in the cold would be the starter and the grid monster.

After a course walk by those of us who were brave enough to do it (didn’t do much for me, as the wind was blowing the snow so hard that I couldn’t actually see the course; Matt and I were joking about walking the course backward – walking with our backs to the direction of the course – so we could see where we had come from…. With all the spinning that we did, we might just have well have walked the course that way…). For those who weren’t brave enough, we got in 2 parade laps, and then it was time for the first run group.

Yours truly, of course. But the snow had stopped, and it actually looked like it was clearing. We got three runs; unfortunately, due to the weather conditions, we were pretty much limited to running a car every 45 seconds (or so, longer depending on the outcome of the run…), and so it was essentially one car, one car, one car. And I went out and put down an okay first run. Not fast, but something.

(Lesson from the nationals, that I was not able to actually employ during the nationals: get in a good first run, and build from there.)

Matt hopping in for my second run, and it all went to heck (this is still a Utah forum, right?!?). I picked up my speed, and coned (could’ve hopped out of the car and replaced it, if I had been on top of it). The third run, I was going great guns, great speed, and then got set up for the final pivot. Hit the brakes and found myself asking Matt “what do I do now” as I found myself facing the direction from whence I had just come. (Note to self: when spinning, get on the clutch….) Too bad, but that’s racing. (And what fun!!!)




Gary ran in the 2nd heat, and Matt was in the third heat.



The final results? Matt is in first place in PAX, 1-tenth of a second ahead of his Idaho rival. Other notables: Brian Coulson is in third, and the rookie of the year rival continues, with Jon Pomrenke in 10th, and Gary in 11th. With Gary in 11th, he is the current tie-breaker in the Utah-Idaho rivalry, with Brian’s co-driver a tenth behind Gary in 12th. Today was definitely an AWD/FWD day, but tomorrow, with warmer, drier conditions, this could all change. The corvettes that were struggling today could really step it up tomorrow. Weather is definitely a big issue in this whole battle; today, big horsepower was a disadvantage. Tomorrow, it could be totally different.

Of course, we’ll keep you posted.

(Oh yeah. And did I mention that I split the starter position for the third heat? Great fun, but a little nippy!!! Time to warm the tootsies.)

And here is the slideshow of today, including some great spins!

http://picasaweb.google.com/gdranow/...98376219877682