Lime Rock Is A Race To Forget!

I’m still trying to recover from Watkins Glen, and all I have to do is ride and stay "focused"! Imagine how hard it is for Matt and the crew to have to begin thinking about another race, so soon!

I will tell you it’s OK to sit back and relax today. The Lime Rock race is one to forget!! The 1.54 mile, eight-turn, bumpy road course was almost impossible to negotiate. Because the track is short, the officials split the 40-car entry field into two groups. One group was all the GT cars (GT, GTS. AGT), and the other group was all the SRP cars—(SRP, SRPII).

Of the 33 GT cars that went out for qualifying, 30 made the grid. Matt qualified 3rd in the GT class, putting us in the #8 position. The team was not expecting to do as well here as last week, because some of the competition’s handling ability is better than our cars’, and because there is no mandatory driver change. Single driver cars will have an advantage, having to stop only for fuel.

It’s Saturday and Race time is here. Guess what conditions we have weather wise? How did you know? ----RAIN!!!!!!!! Did you hear the chorus of driver’s singing," Rain, rain go away, come again another day. Grand Am-drivers want to play, rain, rain go away." After Phoenix and Watkins Glen, no one should have been surprised---!

The rain was so heavy at times the windshield wipers were useless. And, you should’ve seen the rooster tails!!! They happen when the tires deflect the water away from the road surface, for better traction, and the water seems to come out from the back of the car, like a big feathery tail. While it is neat to watch, you know the conditions are bad.

Matt is in #81 and ready to go. He radios to crew chief, "Want me to take a reconnaissance lap?" Chief says, "Copy. Take as many as you like, be careful in the low spots and run with your lights on." "Copy". Chief tells Matt, "Be mindful of the wet. They are still bringing in cars from the last race.
Later, Chief radios, "Time to grid, shut off engine until start. Going to open exit now." Matt tells him," I’ll do a warm up lap." Chief tells Matt, "Go around cars on the outside. How was the reconnaissance lap?" Matt answers, "Not too slippery". Chief wants to know how the windshield is. Matt says," Not too bad------yet!!"

Chief lets Matt know all the standing water is in the middle of the track. He says, "AGT cars may have trouble putting power down (getting speed). Have a nice and safe first lap, you’ll be in good shape." Matt says, "Copy." "Matt, Build up as much heat as you can (for the tires), we’ll go green next lap. Nice and easy this first lap---Green, Green".

The rain is falling so hard, the drops are the size of your fist! No one (except maybe "Wild Bill", sitting on the car roof) can see very well. I do think I heard a"whoopie," so he must be fine! The crew is waiting for the first full course yellow to make the driver change. It is the only time to make the change to avoid losing time, as everyone must slow with the pace car.

Matt tells Crew Chief, "It is REALLY slippery out here. Steering feels like it’s slipping, too." Chief, "Matt, hold on as long as you can. Stay on track, nice and easy. I know how rough it is, bub, just hang in there. Stay on track—nice and easy. Nice job, Matt. Thank you".

It seems like forever, but there is finally a full course yellow. Chief says, "Time to pit and driver change—pit now, Matt, pit now"—the change is fast and smooth. Darren is now at the wheel. Chief says, "Time to get out of here. The safety car is in front of you, it will wave you by."

Darren calls to chief, "There are literally rivers of water crossing the track, and corners 1 thru 12 are really slick."

"Copy that. There are 44 minutes left. Like Daytona, just take one lap at a time." With 30 minutes left, Darren radios, "This is a bummer". And then, another full course yellow.

Ten minutes left and Law is also complaining about the steering. Crew Chief tells him, "The most important thing to remember is to keep the car on the track. Only 5 minutes to go and we have another full course yellow." We finally finish 6th in GT.

The team is frustrated. Crew and drivers just want this one over. They all need to remember, 30 GT cars started this race and that finishing 6th is great. No dings to the car, it comes home in one piece, which is more than most of the other GT cars can say. It’s time for all of us to re-group and begin to focus on Mid-Ohio, our next stop. Hope to see you there, and hope my commentary is so up-beat, it will knock your sox off!!!!!!!