JC Ward
Sept. 23rd, 2006
Needing a big points night I started practicing early in case there were changes to be made. The car felt good so I left it alone and qualified sixth out of thriteen cars.
I started on the outside front row of the A-heat and took the lead in the first corner on the first lap. I held the car to the inside and made the other drivers go to the outside. By doing this I managed to hang on to win the race.
The main was a very different story. On the first lap coming out of turn two I got into the left rear tire of the car in front of me. When we seperated he spun around with a flat tire and I went head on into the tires at the start of the back wall. Then the car flipped up in the air and came down on its nose and then rolled upside down onto the roof of another car and then rolled off the nose of that car onto its right side. It rolled over once again to end up in the infeild on all four wheels.
All drivers involved are okay but the car is bent beyond repair. With one race left to go I find myself in fifth place in the points and hoping for a few no shows.
Needing a big points night I started practicing early in case there were changes to be made. The car felt good so I left it alone and qualified sixth out of thriteen cars.
I started on the outside front row of the A-heat and took the lead in the first corner on the first lap. I held the car to the inside and made the other drivers go to the outside. By doing this I managed to hang on to win the race.
The main was a very different story. On the first lap coming out of turn two I got into the left rear tire of the car in front of me. When we seperated he spun around with a flat tire and I went head on into the tires at the start of the back wall. Then the car flipped up in the air and came down on its nose and then rolled upside down onto the roof of another car and then rolled off the nose of that car onto its right side. It rolled over once again to end up in the infeild on all four wheels.
All drivers involved are okay but the car is bent beyond repair. With one race left to go I find myself in fifth place in the points and hoping for a few no shows.
Sept. 9th, 2006
It was a bad day at the races.
I qualified fifth out of fourteen cars and that is normal. The car felt better but still was angry with the second groove.
I started the A-heat race on the outside front row and fell to last when the car spun out of control in turns three and four.
I had a good starting position for the main but that was the best thing about the race.
Aftering losing the car coming off of turn two and putting another car into the wall, the car started to over heat real bad. It forced me to leave the race and finish fourteenth.
Two weeks until the last two races and I not only hope to do better, I need to.
It was a bad day at the races.
I qualified fifth out of fourteen cars and that is normal. The car felt better but still was angry with the second groove.
I started the A-heat race on the outside front row and fell to last when the car spun out of control in turns three and four.
I had a good starting position for the main but that was the best thing about the race.
Aftering losing the car coming off of turn two and putting another car into the wall, the car started to over heat real bad. It forced me to leave the race and finish fourteenth.
Two weeks until the last two races and I not only hope to do better, I need to.
Sept. 2nd, 2006
During the off weeks we changed the motor and made some slight adjustments to the car. After hotlapping I knew that the new motor was just as strong as the old one and the changes to the car made it easier to drive. I qualified fifth out of eleven cars and started the A-heat race on the outside front row. The car did not like the outside to well and I finished fifth.
I was on the outside of the third row when the main started but the car was angry with the second groove so the first chance I could get I dropped to the inside. The car was running hot due to a colapsed top radiator hose but I kept racing. Running fifth and with only two laps to go enough pressure was built up that the overflow bottle blew a hole and the water in it was sent all over the electrical wires and forced me to leave the track.
No major damage was done so all I have to do before next week is replace the top hose and the overflow bottle. I will also make an adjustment to the car to try and help it handle the second groove.
During the off weeks we changed the motor and made some slight adjustments to the car. After hotlapping I knew that the new motor was just as strong as the old one and the changes to the car made it easier to drive. I qualified fifth out of eleven cars and started the A-heat race on the outside front row. The car did not like the outside to well and I finished fifth.
I was on the outside of the third row when the main started but the car was angry with the second groove so the first chance I could get I dropped to the inside. The car was running hot due to a colapsed top radiator hose but I kept racing. Running fifth and with only two laps to go enough pressure was built up that the overflow bottle blew a hole and the water in it was sent all over the electrical wires and forced me to leave the track.
No major damage was done so all I have to do before next week is replace the top hose and the overflow bottle. I will also make an adjustment to the car to try and help it handle the second groove.
Sept. 2nd, 2006
I had a new motor in the car and made some slight adjustments in the off weeks. I took the car on the track for a few hotlaps and found out that the new motor was just as strong as the old one and the changes made to the handling were correct. Although the times were the same as before the car was a lot easier to drive.
I qualified fifth out of eleven cars and started on the outside front row of the A-heat. I finished fifth.
At the start of the main I was on the outside three rows back. The car was not handling to well in the second groove so the first chance I got I dropped to the inside. The car was running hot but I kept racing and eventually the top radiator hose collapsed and enough pressure built up to blow a hole in my overflow bottle. This ended the race for me. I was running fifth at the time and had only two more laps to go.
Everything is alright though because there was no damage done to anything and all I have to do before next week is replace the top hose and the overflow bottle. I will also make another adjustment to try to help the car in the second groove.
I had a new motor in the car and made some slight adjustments in the off weeks. I took the car on the track for a few hotlaps and found out that the new motor was just as strong as the old one and the changes made to the handling were correct. Although the times were the same as before the car was a lot easier to drive.
I qualified fifth out of eleven cars and started on the outside front row of the A-heat. I finished fifth.
At the start of the main I was on the outside three rows back. The car was not handling to well in the second groove so the first chance I got I dropped to the inside. The car was running hot but I kept racing and eventually the top radiator hose collapsed and enough pressure built up to blow a hole in my overflow bottle. This ended the race for me. I was running fifth at the time and had only two more laps to go.
Everything is alright though because there was no damage done to anything and all I have to do before next week is replace the top hose and the overflow bottle. I will also make another adjustment to try to help the car in the second groove.
August 19th, 2006
In the weeks off we took the last of the weight out of the left rear and fixed the brakes.
Before getting to hotlap a car from another class oiled the track. The officals and cleaning crew went to work but did not due a good job.
Knowing this only after being on the track the car was unusally loose. However I did make some adjustments. I lowered the rear of the car and put back some of the weight we had taken out. I qualified fourth out of ten again.
Unlike the last race we had with only ten cars this time we were split into two heat races. I started on the outside front row of the A-heat. The car did not handle the outside too well so I dropped to the low groove and waited for the leader to mess up. When he slid up the track in turn two I got underneath and passed him in turns three and four. I won the race but again had no virtualy no brakes.
The left rear brake line was leaking so we pinched it off and started at the back of the main with only three brakes.
The racing surface was still slick and at one point I almost wrecked the car coming off of turn two. I did gather it up and soon was in a battle with three other cars. The car in fornt was doing a great job keeping us at bay. So good in fact that the car outside of me and I were both trying to get into the second groove. This caused some bumping and rubbing. It also caused us to loose the position to the car behind us. When the fourth place car slid up the track in turn two I followed the car in frone of me passed and from there on out it was follow the leader. After the race was over I had learned that the car that was running second had come off the track with a flat tire. That moved my finish, by surprise, to fourth.
In the weeks off we took the last of the weight out of the left rear and fixed the brakes.
Before getting to hotlap a car from another class oiled the track. The officals and cleaning crew went to work but did not due a good job.
Knowing this only after being on the track the car was unusally loose. However I did make some adjustments. I lowered the rear of the car and put back some of the weight we had taken out. I qualified fourth out of ten again.
Unlike the last race we had with only ten cars this time we were split into two heat races. I started on the outside front row of the A-heat. The car did not handle the outside too well so I dropped to the low groove and waited for the leader to mess up. When he slid up the track in turn two I got underneath and passed him in turns three and four. I won the race but again had no virtualy no brakes.
The left rear brake line was leaking so we pinched it off and started at the back of the main with only three brakes.
The racing surface was still slick and at one point I almost wrecked the car coming off of turn two. I did gather it up and soon was in a battle with three other cars. The car in fornt was doing a great job keeping us at bay. So good in fact that the car outside of me and I were both trying to get into the second groove. This caused some bumping and rubbing. It also caused us to loose the position to the car behind us. When the fourth place car slid up the track in turn two I followed the car in frone of me passed and from there on out it was follow the leader. After the race was over I had learned that the car that was running second had come off the track with a flat tire. That moved my finish, by surprise, to fourth.
August 5th,2006
During the week I took the flat tire off the rim and switched it with the tire that was on the right rear. This was a newer tire and would do better as the right front. The spare right front tire then was set on the wheel the flat came off and then was put on the right rear. After hotlapping the car I found that this change of tires made the car a little more loose then it was before. Oh, I also took some weight out of the left rear corner of the car.
After qualifing I was fourth quick out of ten cars. We only had one heat race and it was like playing dodgeball. I had to avoid more would be cautions then in all the mains this year. With a few laps to go I was on the ouside third row of a group that was two wide three rows deep. On the last lap going into turn one there was contact between two of the cars in front of me and I had to squeeze my way between a car that was sidways and another in the third groove. When I came out of turn two I was in third place and that is were I finished.
The main was less involved then the heat. I did have some tough driving but no spinning cars to avoid. Working patiently through the feild I finished third for the second time that night.
The brakes were extremly week during and after the main so with two weeks off I will look into this promblem.
During the week I took the flat tire off the rim and switched it with the tire that was on the right rear. This was a newer tire and would do better as the right front. The spare right front tire then was set on the wheel the flat came off and then was put on the right rear. After hotlapping the car I found that this change of tires made the car a little more loose then it was before. Oh, I also took some weight out of the left rear corner of the car.
After qualifing I was fourth quick out of ten cars. We only had one heat race and it was like playing dodgeball. I had to avoid more would be cautions then in all the mains this year. With a few laps to go I was on the ouside third row of a group that was two wide three rows deep. On the last lap going into turn one there was contact between two of the cars in front of me and I had to squeeze my way between a car that was sidways and another in the third groove. When I came out of turn two I was in third place and that is were I finished.
The main was less involved then the heat. I did have some tough driving but no spinning cars to avoid. Working patiently through the feild I finished third for the second time that night.
The brakes were extremly week during and after the main so with two weeks off I will look into this promblem.
July 29th, 2006
After a two weeks rest the car and I were ready for battle. The hotlap session went as it always does and after qualifing I was third quick out of the thirteen cars. It was the the fastest lap that I have had this year.
Once again, it will always be this way, I dropped out of the trophy dash. By the end of the A-heat race I was side by side for a photo finish for third. We never did find out who really got the position.
Because I finished second in the last main I had to have a rear start along with the winner and third place car. We were told that the main was going to be tweny-five laps. I told myself that there is no need to get in a hurry. Soon after the start I found myself in the middle of three wide, due to no ones fault but my own. I made it through and shortly found myself back in the same situation. This time I did not fair so well as I got pinched between the other two cars and blew my right front tire. That was the end of the race for me.
All is good though as there was little damage to the car and I should do better next week.
After a two weeks rest the car and I were ready for battle. The hotlap session went as it always does and after qualifing I was third quick out of the thirteen cars. It was the the fastest lap that I have had this year.
Once again, it will always be this way, I dropped out of the trophy dash. By the end of the A-heat race I was side by side for a photo finish for third. We never did find out who really got the position.
Because I finished second in the last main I had to have a rear start along with the winner and third place car. We were told that the main was going to be tweny-five laps. I told myself that there is no need to get in a hurry. Soon after the start I found myself in the middle of three wide, due to no ones fault but my own. I made it through and shortly found myself back in the same situation. This time I did not fair so well as I got pinched between the other two cars and blew my right front tire. That was the end of the race for me.
All is good though as there was little damage to the car and I should do better next week.
July, 15 2006
After the fire and damage from last week was fixed we still had doubts on how the car was going to handle. After hotlappong the car all worries were set aside.
I qualified thrid fast out of fourteen cars. I decided not to run the A-trophy dash because it was midseason and I felt that the double points in the heats and main were more important then a pice of plastic.
I finished fourth in the A-heat race due to the car not handling the second groove as good as I thought it should. I made a slight air pressure change on the right side tires for the main.
With one of the slower cars chosing a rear start I was in the tenth postion when the main started. Holding back alittle and waiting for the traffic to clear I soon found myself in a four car battle for second. The leader was long gone by this time. Being patient alowed me to not wreck myself or anyone els as the battle for second last for about six laps. After waiting patiently the battle for second became between one car and myself. A late caution, which took out the leader, Closed up the feild for a tight battle for the lead for the last five laps. I held my position and finished second.
No work needs to be done to the car so it will sit and rest for two weeks.
After the fire and damage from last week was fixed we still had doubts on how the car was going to handle. After hotlappong the car all worries were set aside.
I qualified thrid fast out of fourteen cars. I decided not to run the A-trophy dash because it was midseason and I felt that the double points in the heats and main were more important then a pice of plastic.
I finished fourth in the A-heat race due to the car not handling the second groove as good as I thought it should. I made a slight air pressure change on the right side tires for the main.
With one of the slower cars chosing a rear start I was in the tenth postion when the main started. Holding back alittle and waiting for the traffic to clear I soon found myself in a four car battle for second. The leader was long gone by this time. Being patient alowed me to not wreck myself or anyone els as the battle for second last for about six laps. After waiting patiently the battle for second became between one car and myself. A late caution, which took out the leader, Closed up the feild for a tight battle for the lead for the last five laps. I held my position and finished second.
No work needs to be done to the car so it will sit and rest for two weeks.
July, 3rd 2006
It was another hot day and the track was once again slick. After hotlapping the car I found out that the right rear tire was coming apart, so we changed the tire and hotlapped angain. This time the car felt better.
After qualifing we could not really trust the times the officals gave us. There were seven cars anywhere from 4 to 5 tenths of a secomd faster then they have been all year, and I was one of them. Since the tracks time is the one we go by I was fifth fast out of fifteen cars.
In the A-heat race I started outside the second row and had to watch the inside row pass me like a freight train. I did however move to the fourth postion but lost the handling in the second groove and fifshed fifth.
In the main the car was on fire, literally. On the fourth lap in between turns one and two the car turned sidedways in the second groove and was hit hard by at least two other cars. It was still running so I put my foot down and took off to continue. Shortly after I smelt the smoke from the fire that had started in the truck area of the car and then I came to a stop in the infeild of turn three. I quickly got out of the car and watched the safty workers put out the fire. My night was done.
Over the next couple of days we put the frame of the car back to its original postion and cleaned up the mess from the fire. This week is the mid-season championship race and that means double points so I have to have a good finish to still have a chance at t top five in the points.
It was another hot day and the track was once again slick. After hotlapping the car I found out that the right rear tire was coming apart, so we changed the tire and hotlapped angain. This time the car felt better.
After qualifing we could not really trust the times the officals gave us. There were seven cars anywhere from 4 to 5 tenths of a secomd faster then they have been all year, and I was one of them. Since the tracks time is the one we go by I was fifth fast out of fifteen cars.
In the A-heat race I started outside the second row and had to watch the inside row pass me like a freight train. I did however move to the fourth postion but lost the handling in the second groove and fifshed fifth.
In the main the car was on fire, literally. On the fourth lap in between turns one and two the car turned sidedways in the second groove and was hit hard by at least two other cars. It was still running so I put my foot down and took off to continue. Shortly after I smelt the smoke from the fire that had started in the truck area of the car and then I came to a stop in the infeild of turn three. I quickly got out of the car and watched the safty workers put out the fire. My night was done.
Over the next couple of days we put the frame of the car back to its original postion and cleaned up the mess from the fire. This week is the mid-season championship race and that means double points so I have to have a good finish to still have a chance at t top five in the points.
July 1, 2006
After last weeks win we made no changes to the car, when I hot lapped it felt the same as last week.
I qualified third fast with the fastest time I have had in the Hobby Cars. I started outside the front row of the A-trophy dash and won the race. In the A-heat I started inside the third row and battled for the second position before losing the handling of the car . I ended finishing fourth.
The main was a little different for me because I had to start tail end of the field. I thought that if I held back a little at the start and waited for the other cars to spread out it would be best. Things did not go my way as I was caught up in an early caution and messed up the front end of the car a little. It was not enough damage to take me out of the race but it did make the car hard to drive so I could only manage a fifth place finish.
I will work on the damage and be back next week as strong as ever.
After last weeks win we made no changes to the car, when I hot lapped it felt the same as last week.
I qualified third fast with the fastest time I have had in the Hobby Cars. I started outside the front row of the A-trophy dash and won the race. In the A-heat I started inside the third row and battled for the second position before losing the handling of the car . I ended finishing fourth.
The main was a little different for me because I had to start tail end of the field. I thought that if I held back a little at the start and waited for the other cars to spread out it would be best. Things did not go my way as I was caught up in an early caution and messed up the front end of the car a little. It was not enough damage to take me out of the race but it did make the car hard to drive so I could only manage a fifth place finish.
I will work on the damage and be back next week as strong as ever.
Life As I See It