Limerock results....sort of....longish.

[Kwattro at aol.com]

Well, all in all, I should consider it a bad weekend, but I still had a blast.

First day, friday, was a wash.  The glass company sent the wrong windsheld 
(surprise, for a 4K - is there a difference? :-)_ ) and so I couldn't go 
Friday morning.  By the time we got the car together, I couldn't make friday 
afternoon, either.  Bummer.  95 was closed down near exit 72 on my way down - 
slowed my progress by about 1.5 hours.  Another bummer.  Forgot my track 
forms - another bummer

Devine intervention?

Saturday, woke up, jumped in the car, made it to the track.  Light rain.  No 
prob.  First run session, second lap, E30 M3 dumps copious amounts of 
synthetic oil around the entire 1.5 miles of track.  On the line.  Jon Linkov 
and I both volunteered  to help out, although for some reason, I ended up 
sweeped half the track, and Jon ran around in the back of the Dakota support 
truck dumping speedy dry and laughing at me. :-)
We got out soon after that, and it was like Ice!  Wow!  By the end of the 
session, we were one of the very few cars running pretty hard - although it 
was an effort to find grip.  Travis, record holder in many categories, was 
great in teaching his rain line.  Note, there are about 14 different rain 
lines at Limerock.
Second run - thanks for the weather report from Jon's wife!  It was dry, we 
were pushing hard.  Car felt great, pulled well, only a 2002 race prepped 
passed me.  Not too shabby.  Third run, got out there, running hard again, 
car again felt great, only the 2002, a moddified 944 Turbo S, and a E36 M3/4 
passed me.  Wow!  I could stick with them through turns no problem - actually 
caught the M3, but couldn't quite stay with them on the straights - no 
surprise, I was down 130-150hp.  I figured I was losing about 1 sec. a lap to 
them.  My fastest recorded lap was a 1:10:99, but I think the car had another 
few seconds in it for sure.  I pulled in quite happy, until I popped the hood 
and saw steam.  Pulled the radiator shroud, and there was fluid everywhere.  
Looked underneath, and the front of the motor was leaking heavily.  I'm 
guessing waterpump.  So, dang-nabbit, I drove the Turbo S for the last 
session.  What a power difference, but I was slower overall.  I'm sure I 
could have been faster, but it took me the first 4 or 5 laps to learn how the 
car felt.  The E36 M3/4 spun in front of me, but I couldn't stay with him, 
anyways.  On the other hand, I didn't spin :-)
I think that Jon has finally realized that he needs R-tires.  And a jack  :-) 
 What a pretty A4 he has, though.  
So, back to the drawing board.  By the next time the car is at Limerock, I 
should be running the 225-50-15's - about 5 years NEWER than the rubber I'm 
using.  The car more than held its own in the Advanced run group at a BMW 
school.  I was very happy.  Great time, greater people.  Wish more of you had 
been there,

Regards,
Carter Johnson
Kwattro at aol.com