At the autocross yesterday, Heat #1 and my first (of five) runs was decent, the line I chose was good and I learned where I could improve. I was leading HS.
I worked Heat #2, and the skies opened up. I was considering turning the timing trailer into an Ark, just in case. But I didn't have to run in the downpour, so lucky me.
Heat #3 I had 2 runs, and my first was .1 seconds faster than my first, which was actually quite an improvement because the course was still very wet. Love these BFG Sport Comp-2s! My second run was a little slower, I tried a different line, won't try that again.
Heat #4 it got interesting as I jumped from a 49.1 to a 47.5...but coned the run. No idea where, which sucks. Then an HS Mini clipped a 49.0 (nice run man!) which bumped me out of the top spot. The tension builds.
Heat #5 and the track is completely dry and warm. The Mini lays down a 48.4 and now I am sweating. There is another Fiesta ST running, and he lays down a blistering 47.6. Oh crap! Now I have to match my best run but with no cone or drop to third place. The mini is a co-driver car, so fourth place is a possibility as well. I'd better get my act together, and fast.
I check tire pressures, run the course in my head, try not to be nervous, and then line up. I get a good launch and hit third before jumping hard on the brakes for a button-hook left. I pull out on the line I want, set up perfectly for the slalom. The slalom has a kink in it and a hard 180 at the end, but I am nailing the apexes just the way I planned. I nail the switchbacks at the top of the course and keep the hammer down over the finish for a 47.3 run. That puts me in first place in HS and 7th out of 77 in PAX.
I'm not bragging, really I'm not, it was a great day of competition and there were three cars/drivers who could have walked away with the win yesterday. It was the kind of day that reminds you why you race. I'm happy that I came away with the win of course, but a hard-fought win is always better than an a slam-dunk victory in my book.
