Summit Point NASA Time Trials: new lap record for TTD

This past weekend Nov 5-6, I ventured out to Summit Point with NASA for one last day of fun this season with my Spec Boxster.

Since there was no wheel to wheel racing and I wanted to capture some lap times to refine my driving I signed up in the TT division in TTD where the Spec Boxster fit perfectly.

On Sat, not being 100% sure on how the TT points worked I erred on the side of caution and ballasted my car to 2850 lbs (min was 2822 lbs) and gave myself about 10 + points of wiggle room in case there were questions about my classification in TTD.

Ran the day without issues, went to the scales and checked my weight (2850+), managed to turn a 1:25.0 in the very first session out but that time didn't count because on my last lap of that session I spun in T10 and beached the car in the gravel. For those that didn't know if you go off in TT your entire session is DQ'ed.

No biggie, went back out and backed it down a notch and posted a string of tidy laps, the best one recorded at 1:25.4s. The existing lap record for TTD was a 1:27.2 set back in 2008. The lap record was mine !

Overall, I had an excellent day. Hit my marks consistently and moved up my game considerably in T3, 9 and 10 running about 10mph higher than normal. Thank you Mr. Hoosier. My only challenge was a Hoosier that was leaking about 10psi in an hour and since I had 2 students and my session was wedged in between them, I had to stage the car on the hot pit and overinflate my left rear tire and "hope" that when it came time to do my timed session I could just bleed out a little and hit the track.

Now understanding the rules a whole lot better, I reduced my running weight for Sun using up some of the points to take a weigh reduction down from 2822 lbs but still being conservative to leave myself some wiggle room.

Again on my first session out for the day I set my best laps for the day and posted a 1:24.5 with a string if 1.24.x laps around it. Hopefully that lap record will stand for a while or not either way I had a blast

Here is a video for some entertainment from Sun's fast run. (Thanks to Mark Francis/OG racing for setting up a nifty roof mounted camera for another perspective.)


The 3rd lap out is the fast one but the 5th isn't too shabby either.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yv0-tk1C4lo

I highly recommend the NASA Time Trials for anyone that wants to step it up from DE. The requirements work very nicely for a street car and you get 5 timed sessions per day and open passing.

First Race: Porsche Club Potomac Region Club Race, Summit Point

Had a great weekend at my rookie PCA race at Summit Point Raceway.  I was joined by my crew; Brad Roberts from California and Virginia local Matthew Yip.  Their experience and patience helped me to be ready to run each time and to listen to my rants about what I thought the car was doing and what really needed to be done.  Brad was able to take my input and make pretty effective changes that I was able to immediately take advantage of each practice or qualifying session.  Over the course of the entire weekend we made a lot changes on the car to dial it in making it progressively quicker, also actually learning the car (2nd time ever driving it) and learning to dial back the driver. A lot of self reflection afterword about what I could have done differently.

Paul Alexandre

I  had the opportunity to meet a good bunch of fellow Spec Boxster drivers from NJ, MA, CT, etc.  We had some great runs together in the practice sessions and during the races.

Progressed through the day making changes on the car, progressively going faster each session.  Put on my race tires for what would be qualifying and only managed to go .1 seconds faster than I did on street tires.  Hmmm?  This proved to be a temporary hold up as things improved further the rest of the weekend

Sprint Race 1, I started in 4th got all the way up to 2nd place. Had a nice gentlemanly battle going with Charlie Boyer #28 who was in 2nd, I got ahead of him and then coming into T1 I got behind Hunt and Charlie took advantage and slid up the inside ahead of me. I then settled in and was holding 3rd the rest of the race. Then a momentary distraction inside the car caused me to turn into T9 early causing a huge spin flat spotting both fronts with 2 laps to go. Came back onto the track in P4 and didn't find a clean opportunity to pass so I ended up finishing 4th. (I had flipped my visor up for some air and it crashed down right at the entry set for T9 both startling me and slightly changing the viewing angle) DOH!

Sprint Race 2 qualified 1st and lost the position right at the start due inexperience in timing the start of the race.   I waited about 2 laps exploring where I had more speed and challenge back for P1 going into T1 and the lead car and I made contact in T1. My crew and I spent a worrisome night expecting to be assigned partial fault and learned in the morning that I was cleared and fault was put onto the other driver. Just a dented fender and the front tire was cut, fixed those items and we were back in the game.

Sprint Race 3 was a particular highlight with a downfall at the end. Started 2nd from last with Scott Bresnahan due to the DNF in prior Race. Worked up through the field to P2 in Spec Boxster and held it the entire race. On the last lap I was the first car through debris in T5 and put 2 wheels off going into T6 letting two Spec Boxsters past me. Finished 4th.

As for the Enduro.... sorry everyone about the massive smoke screen I caused from T3 to T4. My air-oil separator let go. I thought the motor let go and moved over into the grass but didn't seeing any fluids as I rolled down the hill to T5 into the midfield so I returned to the pits and packed it up.

A lot of fun, a lot of work, lots of ups, lots of downs. Looking forward to honing my craft and being dialed in as a driver and consistent lap after lap.

A donor car is found

After much consideration to alternatives...

I found a 1997 Porsche Boxster perfect for gutting and transforming into a Spec Boxster eligble to compete in Porsche Club of America Club Racing, NASA GTS-2 and SCCA ITR.

The car is currently in Phoenix, Arizona. Need to determine my next move on bringing it home or I have an idea on a great AZ resource for a cage.

This car has a very worn out interior and the engine is not currently running. I am assuming the worst that the engine is toast. The price reflects the interior condition and need for replacement motor.