Mat
Moran Motorsports
Event Report
Infineon Raceway
Sept 6th, 2004
Car # M752
I signed up to
run in two different categories. My usual (Street)
category where I badly needed to earn some points and the California
Foot brake Racers Association (CFRA)
category.
First time
trial
13.272 @ 103.71
mph
0.053 reaction time.
The wheels spun a little on the line because I didn't do a very good
burnout otherwise it would have been a little quicker.
Second
time trial
13.329 @ 103.32
mph.
0.039 reaction time.
Looking good.
Third and last
time trial
13.366 @ 103.13
mph.
0.037 reaction time.
The temperature was up around 90 degrees by now so I'm getting exactly
what I would expect.
First elimination
round (Street)
The temperature
was up around 100 degrees so I dialed in at 13.45. My opponent was a
very good racer who was way ahead of me in the points standings so this
was going to be tough. He was dialed in at 13.65.
I got a 0.032 reaction time and he got a -0.078 foul so it was all over
at the start.
My car ran 13.442 at 102.81 which was almost exactly what I had
expected.
First elimination
round (CFRA)
My car was still
very hot from the first round of street so I knew it would be slower
but I didn't know how much. Also, I was racing someone who I knew was
very good.
I dialed in at
13.48. My opponent was dialed in at
11.67.
He got a 0.003 reaction time and won easily.
I got a 0.036 which is pretty good but my car ran a 13.585. Nearly a
tenth slower than I had expected. On hot days like this I still haven't
exactly figured out how much slower I'm going to go when the engine is
hot. I have a temperature gauge in the intercooler circuit so maybe if
I collect some more data I can figure it out. Also, a low temperature
thermostat might help. Anyway... there was no way that I was going to
win this one.
Second elimination
round (Street)
My opponent
didn't show up so I won.
I ran 13.556 at 102.09 but also got a -0.042. foul reaction time. Maybe
because I knew it didn't matter.
Third elimination
round
I had to race
another very good competitor with a faster car.
I dialed in at 13.55. He dialed in at 12.10.
I got a 0.042 reaction. He got a -0.025 foul.
My car ran 13.509 at 102.46. That's quicker than I expected.
Fourth elimination
round
Finally I got to
race a slower car but It's my friend Steve and he's very good so who
knows. Also, I'm having trouble dialing in my car in this heat.
I dialed in at 13.53. He dialed in at 15.81.
I got a 0.051 reaction. He got a 0.121.
I passed him shortly before the finish line and we were both on the
brakes from then on so I won fairly comfortably. I ran 13.687 and would
have run about 13.59 if I hadn't eased up.
Fifth elimination
round (Semi Final)
I wasn't all
that sure about this competitor. I knew that she's been around for a
few years and had beaten some good people but I'd never raced her
before. Her car was faster than mine.
I dialed in at 13.58. She dialed in at 12.24.
I got a 0.059 reaction. My worst reaction time of the day. Thankfully,
she got a 0.125.
I eased up a little at the end and crossed the finish line 0.0395
seconds ahead of her to take the win.
It turned out that I had run 13.556 at 100.89 and so had broken out by
0.024 seconds but she had broken out by 0.051 so I won by 0.0275
seconds. This is getting too close for comfort.
Sixth elimination
round (Final)
My competitor in
the final was the 2004 track champion.
I dialed in at 13.58. He dialed in at 13.45 so the cars were fairly
evenly matched. It was going to be an interesting race.
Even though I thought I got a good start, by the time we were half way
down the track he was just in front of me. From then on however, I
started to pull ahead and by the end I was able to ease up a little and
still stay in front of him to take the win. I ran 13.632 at 94.48 mph
but would have run about 13.57 if I hadn't eased up. The reason that I
won however, was because my reaction time had been almost perfect at
0.006 seconds against his 0.048 seconds. What a way to do it.
Final thoughts
Undoubtedly,
this is the best win of my career. I beat 5 good people, ended with an
almost perfect light, won enough points to make it to the regional
finals and even won $300. It doesn't get any better than this.