Mark and Brendan Dougherty have replaced the shortblock in my car since VIR with one of Wayne’s spares (thanks Wayne!), got it in the car just in time for the event. My old new shortblock somehow bent the crank at VIR by .015 we are suspecting a bad Fluidyne balancer as we reused it from the last block which exploded at Atlanta.

At the track Wayne Patterson and Pat McMahon were there with their FFR Challenge cars, along with John K. in Comp school with his LS3 powered GTM. Pat even though its a Challenge car at the beginning of life was classified in ST2 as he has aero, big tires, etc.. Brendan towed the 2car trailer along with my car and Chris Allen’s SpecE30 racecar. Chris has a FFR Coupe which Mark and Brendan helped build with him and is a NASA rookie race driver just getting his race license this year along with this weekends races being his 3rd and 4th races ever.

The weather predicted to be nice for the race weekend but rainy on the Friday test day. Both Wayne and Pat decided to stay dry not to venture in the rain, with Chris convincing me to come out and play in the rain. We played follow the leader and had a hoot driving the rain line at NJMP slowly going faster and faster, Chris being a quick study picking up the race line like a pro.

Saturday brought perfect race weather, sunny, low 70s, but a green track lack of grip saw car control at its best. Wayne and I were classified in the FFR class and saw me qualifying up front with Wayne back a few spots. For the race Pat started next to me I on the inside, he outside heading into turn one I was glued to the front runners on the inside with Pat choosing the outside line. That outside line was a poor choice with Pat getting blocked by other cars allowing me to open a gap to him. Unfortunately on the straightaway my trunk flew up and was flapping in the wind causing me to get the ‘meatball’ flag thrown my way having to come into the hot pits to get it latched down. When I rejoined the race I saw Pat may cars infront of me and put my head down to try to catch him. 2 laps left I was on his bumper trying to get by him battling hard, and on the last lap managed to get next to him on the straight finishing just behind him. Wayne came in early and did not finish the race.

Chris Allen’s race was next and all of us spectated watching him on track sideways sometimes finish 3rd! in SpecE30. After the Lightning race post race inspection saw the top5 SpecE30’s getting scaled and randomly picking Chris’s E30 to get Dynod. He was right on the limit weight-wise and his dyno #s came right on par solidifying his 3rd place finish! Way to go Chris.

Sat night Brendan decided to fix my leaky car as the make-shift ‘oil dypers’ he placed on the back of the oilpan didnt really work all that well. Replacing an oil pan gasket is a pawin in the behind for those who have never had the pleasure of changing one. He finished pretty late but success!, no leaks for Sunday.

Sunday saw 2 track sessions, practice and qualifying combined together, then the 35min race. First up was Chris Allen’s race him qualifying 3rd, all of us decided to come watch him go to the front, and he did not let us down! leading a couple of laps then in traffic getting shuffled to 2nd towards the end of the race. Unfortunately an inconsiderate Porsche driver decided to let the leader in E30 by but not Chris in 2nd place. Severely frustrated Chris finished in 2nd but was quite happy because his laptimes came down top 3 separated by hundredths.

Brian Casella asked if Wayne and I could up-class to SU to help out the SU class #s getting them 5 starters so we did. My race was uneventful running consistent fast laps even getting down to high 1:29 close to the end of the race. I didnt want to interfere in others races so after the restart I let a bunch of people by that looked like they were racing hard in their respective classes.

Next race will be at a brand new racetrack in Connecticut, Thompson road course. There is a rumor that the one and only Jim Schenck is coming out of sabbatical and will be racing ffr#52.

Pictures: http://www.johngeorgeracing.com/gallery/index.php?/category/325

John George Incar videos FFR#48:

Chris Allen Incar SpecE30 #477: