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**BE SURE TO CHECK BACK HERE EVERYDAY AFTER 0900 FOR A RECAP OF THE PREVIOUS DAYS EVENTS (SCROLL TO THE BOTTOM)**
This will be my first time competing in the SCCA Runoffs and I am hyped! – The 2019 Runoffs at VIR is the 56th anniversary of this prestigious event. As many of you know, a few seasons ago I picked up a FE (Formula Enterprise) to compete in these kinds of events. My race group consists of 29 cars (20 FE2 and 9 FE) and the field is stocked with National Champs and wicked fasted dudes… and me. For those not familiar with the Runoffs, this is SCCA’s crown jewel event and serves as a gathering for the top SCCA racers (over 600 SCCA racers from all over the country and me) go head-to-head and prove who is best! The 2019 Runoffs will be the largest event in VIR’s history. The Runoffs isn’t just a weekend event, but a week long spectacle, and is being held from Oct 8th through the 13th. I started my adventure on on the 5th getting setup, through tech, and ready for Monday’s test day. My race was scheduled for Friday the 11th at 5 pm. So stay tuned to this page for daily updates… (Scroll to the bottom for the latest coverage by GTM).
Day 1 (10/5): Walking the paddock here is insane!
You’ll see things like FIA spec Liger chassis. F3 America’s run turbo Honda motors, a de-tuned version of the street engine.
“Amateur” road racing… right? – There’s more transporters here than an IMSA paddock!
Come on down … And realize how poor you are. The money here is insane
Day 2 (10/6): I was not aware that I have to use a spec fuel for the Runoffs…
SCCA is being super strict on fuel testing. You can take your fuel over to the fuel tent and they’ll test it there. That way you can fix it before tech busts you. I have to run a spec blend Sunoco 100 ethanol free. I don’t want ethanol because it will ruin my fuel cell. So I had to pump my fuel cell empty. Then flush it with the spec fuel. Then I can run the spec fuel. On the plus side my F150 will be running Sunoco 100 Super GT!
It’s Sunday, a test day and people are trying to win the Runoffs right now. I’m bedding in pads, rotors and scrubbing stickers, not sliding or over working them. My old rotors (below) probably had another season in them – lol
I have run a total of 7 hot laps today because of black flags all. First session we had like 8 cars off track scattered everywhere. Session 2 the defending FE champ bundled his car into the tire barrier. Guys are already in 1:49s from today’s practice, but that’s an FE2… I was hoping high 50s would be good enough.
Day 3 (10/7): Disaster Alert!
Everyone is asking me why I’m alone … well, that’s because everyone else has team support – duh!; I will say though the Alliance Autosport mechanics have helped me out tremendously. They even gave me special tools and showed me some stuff I’ve never done before.
Meanwhile, my friend is swapping the motor in her AS tonight (below). It was running at 250 deg with air flow. They think there’s a crack in there somewhere that’s allowing exhaust to heat the water. I guess its something they’ve seen before, and it’s why they bring spare motors.
Thankfully, AS cars are pretty primitive, easy motor swap! Just 8 cylinders of FREEDOM.
Overall Monday was a complete disaster. Our last test day and we had at least one black flag each session. Total crash fest!
Day 4 (10/8): When it rains, it pours
Great news! A #^%&@#! super cell wind gust tore apart my engine cover on the back straight. And it tore up some cables too.
We’ve found extra body work from others that wrecked and my homemade smartycam mount (below, left) worked! But more importantly, I found out why I couldn’t shift! Input shaft broke (below right). So in one session my bodywork exploded and my gearbox exploded (sigh).
Admittedly, we have used input shafts of questionable strength…so hope I can buy new. Typical of Harrington racing. But even though my car exploded I’m at least the cover guy for scca.com and Facebook! Although this has me thinking it might be SCCA’s version of the #maddencurse.
My goal is to have this done by 1600 tomorrow for Q2… wish me luck!
Day 5 (10/9): Repair Phase & Qualifying.
SITREP: We got the gearbox fixed, replaced brake line, kill switch, fixed air temp sensor, brake light, etc. I got a loaner roll hoop cover from a wrecked FE2 supplied by One Formula and I got a loaner engine cover from another driver. Gearbox worked great, but the camlocks kept popping out on the loaner engine cover. So I only did 4 laps today, none of them flying laps because I didn’t want to shred this cover. I think we have it good for Q3 tomorrow, with the addition of gorilla tape. Two fellow FE racers helped me all day today working on the car and everyone has been super helpful with loaner bodywork. Just ask and they’re like “sure, here you go.”
Day 6 (10/10): Last Chance to Qualify!
I was finally able to run for a full session yesterday, thanks to gorilla tape. My Q3 time wasn’t great, but it’s the only session I was able to get a time in at 1:58.671. There definitely more time there. The car still has a couple issues we need to address. I trimmed out the rear wing since I was only hitting 132 on back straight, 130 on the front, and 130 through the essess. Positives from Q3 are the gearbox is fixed, Gorilla tape is the truth, and I did my time on 3 cycle tires when most everyone else was on stickers. I think T1 will be interesting and there will be at least 1 FCY. Hopefully guys will be super aggressive and burn up their tires quickly.
**Tune in for live stream and live timing and scoring on the Race Monitor App and on SCCA.com**
Runoffs TV coverage is live on SCCA’s website. TV broadcast is being done by CBS Sports and replays of the races will be shown there. Video link. I’m last race of the day, so probably between 4-5pm. You won’t see much of me since they focus on the leaders. I can crash though, that will bring the cameras my way.
By 1500 hrs, GTM HQ was ablaze with live chat through con-calls, banter and trolling over slack, and many members in support remotely! Amazing support group, so many members tuned in to cheer me on. Really awesome even if they couldn’t all be there in person. ** Want to cheer Sam H on? Leave your comments below! **
Friday racing had the SRF3 race group with a 56 car field and also had my friends Beth and Amy racing in the American Sedan class which was a blast. Unfortunately Amy had an off at T14 due to brake failure. Amy was unconscious when medics got to the car. She got knocked out bad. Amy got life flighted to Duke University hospital, she’s awake, but she hit hard. They’re going to check her over. We’re all hoping she comes out OK despite the incident. Meanwhile, there was tons of TV coverage… and me!
Overall the race was a bit messy – Split start was bad. 5 cars passed me under FCY. Restart was bad being in with FE2 and everyone packed up behind. My brother BJ H said I left a trail of fuel from paddock to grid- lol! – I def need a fuel cell, and engine, and gearbox, and rads, and engine cover, oh and I need to rebuild the shocks, front rotors are good though (see Day 2) … or maybe just a whole new car.
Tomorrow’s 62 car Spec Miata field will be chaotic!
Overall the runoffs experience was fun and challenging!
What a week that was. My first runoffs in the book. The week was rough. I’ve never had so many mechanical issues for a race before. Dead battery, wind gust ripping off the roll hoop cover and shredding the engine cover, broken input shaft, fuel leaks, puking coolant and limited practice and qualifying sessions because of the issues. There were a few points I thought I wouldn’t be able to make the race, by my fellow SCCA racers stepped up to help me. Massive thanks to Eric and Kelton for helping me with the input shaft, Keith for loaning me his spare engine cover, the folks at One Formula for loaning me a roll hoop cover. Thanks to BJ H and my dad for coming down. Thanks to @madgame_racing for coming out and thanks to the GTM folks for watching that race coverage and cheering me on. On to next year and a lot of work is due for the car and I need more seat time.
… well, that’s because everyone else has team support – duh!; I will say though the Alliance Autosport mechanics have helped me out tremendously. They even gave me special tools and showed me some stuff I’ve never done before.
