Jim Nichols Report

Schanzle wins VIR Double Regional SARRC/MARRS May 11, 2002

Racers converged on VIR on a beautiful but hot & steamy Thursday late afternoon and evening for the Friday test day. The heavens proceeded to become very black as the radio stations warned that severe storms and hail were predicted. The teams scrambled to tie down the canopies. I had just made it back to the hotel when the skies opened up. I could just imagine the Racers Edge canopy lashed to the upright on my car. As the winds rise so does the canopy and my car. Then it all comes crashing down, ending badly. Well, the next morning all was well and everyone survived for a great test day.

This was my first venture at VIR, and I must say it is now at the top of my list of racetracks. If you have not been, this place is fantastic. Park like setting, beautiful buildings, efficient staff (SCCA registration opens at 11am on Friday-what a concept!), covered false grid area, covered lunch area with deck overlooking the track(perfect for a beer and race watching)and a combination of turns that has something for everyone. If you can master the 3.26 miles here, you are set for anything. Long straights, 1st gear hairpins, blind turns at 110mph, downhill off camber turns, tank slapping esses that make Road Atlanta's look like a straight away, several 5th to 1st threshold braking spots. Get the picture! So no excuses to not get your car here for the August National.

On Friday, we ran 4 test day groups. FMs were in the last open wheel group of about 30 cars. Not too crowded but certainly many moving chicane types. Jamie Clark was having some teething problems on his backup car evidenced by his creeping down the back straight at about 20mph and finally parking it. Apparently the front calipers had seized probably due to a brake puck jamming and not releasing. I have never seen baked rotors like that before. In the afternoon, an accident by another non FM caused a black flag all. In the pits the Marshals told us our session was over after only about 5 minutes of track time. They promised an extra session at the end of the day. They were true to their word, but gave the other groups a session also so our group ended the day after 6pm. I did read on the FF Forum that several folks got their money back on the day for that. How about the rest of us? With no other FM incidents, everyone was ready for Saturday.

Saturday was interesting as we awoke to a damp track from the overnight rain that seemed to take forever to dry. Coopster, who skipped the test day, showed early to unload his rig among the other 450 racers. A 9:30 East Series drivers meeting was fun discussing how Schanzle was awarded the hard Charger points from the prior Roebling race after he started from the back of the grid due to a delay getting to the false grid. Well, the rules did not clarify this circumstance so he got the points, but this strategy will not be allowed in future races. Crockett won the much-needed set of new sticker tires as he was running on some old dogs. Cooper won the 5 free points, doubled to 10 points for the Regional weekend! Todd Cook was hillclimbing this weekend so he couldn't be there to police some very loose Super Traps that the Series Administrators corrected.

As the 11 East Series FMs were in the last Race Group #8, we weren't worried about the damp track. So at about 11:45 all 45 cars(FA,FC,FM,FF,CFC,CF,CSR,DSR,S2) took to the track. As we all had expected, the traffic with so many groups was going to be tough and a real crapshoot as to who would get a break to get a good time. Well, needless to say it was awful. Maybe one of the worst qualifying sessions I have ever had. I don't loose my cool often but I even pulled in to get a gap and was really pissed about the traffic. Add to the fact that the Thunder Dunsters(Roadsters) are CSRs and were again a real hazard like at Roebling. Cars virtually parked in the blind turns trying to figure it all out. Cars with Rookie X marks to stay away from. And last but not least the stalled tar paving steamroller stuck at turn 7 just off track to the left near the end of the esses with the operator sitting in his seat watching us zoom zoom by at 120 mph! All this with a waving yellow.flag. Ok, since it wasn't going anywhere, no one seemed to slow down either. More on this fact later.

Near the end of the 20-minute session, a FF got tagged at the top of the Roller Coaster section and was on the side of the track. Well, it took 3 laps for the wrecker to get it removed. They did however leave the nose cone on the track at the 1 marker braking zone going into the hill. Some fun threading the needle at 135mph. I am sure the flaggers though were were nuts going to the outside of it. Yes we do need this part of the road thank you!

Needless to say, no one got any good times during that period. Anyway, Chris Schanzle got the best lap for Pole at 1:58.864. Followed by Cooper for the front row. Seaber 3rd for 4th on the grid, then Crockett(who is later moved to the back of the grid- read on), newcomer Santa, Nichols, Watts, Field, Falcone, Anderson 13th on the grid, and Clark farther down. Before I forget, the Qualifying grid was not released until 5pm an hour before our race due to being held by the Chief Steward.

Off to the drivers meeting which was so crowded it spilled over to the impound area. Arriving a little late and being outside, I proudly announced that I couldn't hear a thing and this was ridiculous. That is a quote. Glen Cooper proudly announced to the crowd that it was me and much laughing ensued.. As we cooled our jets over lunch, the PA system announced a Special Drivers Meeting for Group 8. Was the Chief Steward upset at my prior meeting's comments? No he wanted to announce that in his 25 years as a Steward and a former racer, he had never seen such a poor display of total disregard for the yellow flags. He also stated that several drivers were having their times disqualified. Also, the flaggers were upset we were not slowing down under a waving yellow flags and were afraid to go ontrack for the incidents. Hello! That was qualifying remember! Well the drivers certainly had something to say about all that too. So several not to be repeated comments followed. But to no avail as one of the drivers was none other that Bruce Crockett who was faulted for passing on the back straight after what he thought was a signal from a very slow moving car. Give him a break already! Even our plea to get the Thunder Dunsters out of our group failed, even with the support of those drivers.

Enough of that, lets just race already. So we whiled away the beautiful afternoon with a quick pause for a shower during the Spec Racer race. Those guys were really sliding everywhere. But at least their tires had some groves in them to handle some wet conditions. So 6:15pm rolls around and we are called to the grid. Needless to say Schanzle was there since mid afternoon taking no chances getting caught out again. It was sad seeing my racing buddy, Bruce sitting at the back of the grid.

Let the racing begin. We roll off on the pace lap, get the green and fly to turn one. Everything is fine so far. There are 2 FCs in our lead pack dicing for position. I get a good jump on the green but actually back off for the black FC of Chuck Moran. Eraldo Della Santa is right on my outside. Now we are heading to the turn 3 left hander, when Coopster slides wide and bites some dirt and losses position to Seaber and puts up a dust screen for us as we come through. No problem as we all string out in the turn 4 hairpin leading onto the esses. The lead cars are slowly pulling away and I am heading up the rear of the front pack. Great. Oh well, settle in and pick them off. Not so fast as we make it through ONE lap and go for a second. Schanzle, Seaber and Cooper mix it up with the FCs as they lead the field onto the back straight. Then comes Della Santa, myself and a long gap to the next group of FMs.

Coming around for the SECOND green lap, I am losing some ground as I think I should be going to dinner about now. In turn 7 in the esses a FF car has gone off to the right which brings out a full course black flag all! The heart rate was just beginning to kick in as we all parade single file into pit lane. The marshals give us the kill engine signal. You know the hand sideways across the throat jester. I felt like slashing somebody's too. After 15 minutes with the race clock still running, the gird workers rearrange us in original starting order for a single file restart. They told us we would have 5 laps under the green.

Ok I can get Eraldo in 5 laps no problem, but it will be tough to catch the lead trio. Now stay close to the leaders on the restart. Well, Chris had other ideas and was in full tilt buggy(that's a technical racing term) going down the hill leading onto the front straight. Hey, wait for us, man. Well on the second green lap we get the one lap to go board from start finish. What's up with that?? Ok I'm gonna have to make a one lap move on Santa for forth place.

Meanwhile up front, Schanzle crosses the line in first. I heard later that Coop made a move on Seaber for 2nd place. I give Eraldo a little room down Roller Coaster(imagine the corkscrew at Laguna-no kidding) and make a blast into Hogpen to sprint to the finish. Well, he made a great run onto the front straight also and I missed him by a car length at the checker. Back in the pack, Doug Falcone has drafted next to Marcie down the back straight and she pulls out a deep brake maneuver on Doug going into the Roller Coaster Hill. You go girlfriend(teammate). That should make nice press for your reporter friend. Oh yeah, I forget to tell you about Marcie's new reporter friend who is doing a documentary on women in racing. Maybe that new pink suit will look good through the camera. Or maybe he just really likes your greyhound dogs. BTW, Marcie loaned her car to her husband Dave for Sunday's race so he can meet the race requirements for his license. Keep it in one piece Dave.

Everyone else ended up where they started. Glad Jamie could finish the race for his confidence. We were all worried he was getting a little down after so many mishaps on track. Keep it up Jamie, we are rooting for you.

Well, after impound for the top 5 FMs, it was 7:45pm, and the barbecue was in full swing for the workers. But we had quite the audience as we all got our checks. By now I am anxious to get on the road for the 10 hour drive home for the Mothers Day party on Sunday. Heck, family points count more than race points any day. Right?? Next East Series Race is Mid Ohio national June 2nd.

Jim Nichols