BIR April 30, May 1st and 2nd

[mngolfer]

It rained all day on April 30th. One GT3 P car lost it on the straight away (drag strip). He hit the wall and did an estimated $80K worth of damage. No injuries to anyone. He did not follow directions and drive down the middle of the drag strip until he was past the end of the drag strip as he was told.

Saturday another GT3 did the same thing in the rain on the drag strip. He was able to duct tape his broken body work together and still run the balance of Saturday and Sunday.

This HPDE was the P club and Audi club. Many of the P cars are full track cars and they are not street legal. It rained off and on both Saturday and Sunday in the morning and afternoon.

On the short straight away I was passed by five P cars in a row. I was going over 120 MPH coming up to a 90 degree turn. I decided in the rain it was not worth an incident. I like my car too much to have the red mist over take me. On Sunday afternoon they combined group 1 and 2 together and run group 3 and 4 together for 1/2 hour sessions. My son drove in group 2 and I drove in group 3. One hour straight on a set of OEM tires turns them into marshmallows. Group four drivers were the instructors and many track legal only cars. They have soooooooo much more skill than I possess. I passed some of them in the straight secessions, but they were on me in the turns. I need some R6 tires to compete with these cars and drivers. Road America in August??? Group four drivers were told they MUST abide by the Audi club passing rules. They could only pass is three straight sections.

Both my son and I passed driver instruction on Saturday. We both ran solo all day Sunday.

For those who track their cars you know how much fun it is to participate in HPDE. For those that do not words cannot describe the exhilaration you feel.

No problems with the car...or drivers. A really fun time was had by all...except a few P cars. Quattro rules!!

[desperado]

Don, sounds like a good time, and glad you brought the car home in the same condition you arrived in!

Wow, P-club and A-club running together! The P club's reputation is for a more aggressive track culture; the A club is generally more sedate. That must have been some culture clash!

Also, I'm sure the combo and the rain made for some great photographs, please post when you get yours from the event.

[mngolfer]

I have sent some video to Desperado. I hope he can get them uploaded.

[mngolfer]

Here is a video of the PPI Design's professional driver in an R8 at Brainerd International Raceway in October 2009. If I could only drive like this.

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b9ALHUqdYiQ[/ame]