21 becomes 18
And so it begins...20 laps of newbie racers. And to make matters worse, pretty much *everybody* in the club is watching. They have a vested interested, as those of us that pass will join them in the red or orange race groups. So they want to make sure we aren't boneheads. And as our instructors drilled into our heads over the weekend, "show us!" No talk. No lap time. Just get out there and show us you know how to race.
I was gridded 21 out of 30 (two drivers were sent home for the contact on Saturday...tough crowd!). We headed out for the formation lap, and I just knew I needed to keep breathing and trust the car. The pack formed into 8 and around we went at about 35. Nice and smooth, and a nice tight grid. From my position I could not see the flag, so I had to guess based on engine noise of the front runners. We cruised along the straight for what seemed like an eternity, then I heard the noise and floored it in 2nd. Dodged left to get some space, quick shift to 3rd, then we're 4 wide heading into turn 1. I'm just off the inside and find some space to squeeze through, driving towards 2 where I know I can go full bore in and stay on it. I can't get my preferred inside line because someone is there, so I ride his door one car length out. Then into 3 and 4 where I'm usually fast and catch people. Blasting through 8 I'm close to the 2 cars in front of me, then I see the lead car (Mike Mills, a very fast II car) swerve a bit and lose it going into 9...and I'm heading right for him. He's all over the place so I ease of, finally figure out where he's going, then FLOOR IT to get past him. That puts me on the bumper of the other car.
And so it goes. I have a great battle with Matt for 2 laps until I finally get him in 2 and then leave him behind. Then I have a 944 spec car in my sights, and eventually get him. After getting lapped by the cup cars and some other fast guys, I reel in another 944 spec. I finally get on his bumper as the white flag comes out. I almost have him in 2 but I can't quite pull him and my car was really struggling in 2b heading up the hill. I stick close through 3 and 4, get back on his bumper in 5, and get a very good run down the hill out of 6. I pull to the side of him on the inside just as we're heading to 8...both flat. I'm about at his front fender with my nose but I've got momentum...but here comes the apex. I know he sees me, and he eases over towards the apex. I've got a decision...he's left about 7/8's of a car width. If I want to stay in it and flirt with the dirt, I can get the pass. But the checkered awaits, and the most important thing for this is to finish. There will be another pass. I ease out, let him take the corner, and take the checkered about a car length behind him.
Frickin' amazing. This is bad...really bad ;)