We went to a double regional event at Thunderhill this past weekend to continue to work on our set-up at this track since we made the "big" change earlier this year. Last time we were here at the Majors event in March we did manage to barely break our old qualifying record, but not our old race record which stands as the fastest lap ever turned in a race in SCCA competition at THill. So the focus of the weekend was to make the car better and reset the all-time race lap record.

In testing, we scorched the track with two back-to-back laps in the mid to high 1:35's, a first for us. To up our odds of duplicating this feat, we waited and put new sticker tires on for the first race. Bringing our new Avon tires up to temperature correctly means a slow gradual build-up of heat that requires patience. With ideal cool morning temperatures after a rainstorm the previous night, this meant more laps than normal...about 5 total. So just as we finally are ready to go for it, we catch the back of the field and the passing began. Normally you can find a hole in traffic and get in a few good unobstructed laps. Not this time, the race went green for the whole 25 minutes and we had to pick our way through traffic for the final 10 laps. Even though we never got the clear lap we wanted, we did accomplish the goal and took 7/10's off the old record--it is now 1:36.574.

All the group 2 competitors did a great job of racing hard and clean as we made our way through to lap the field. At the end of the weekend, Stew Tabak, a fellow racer in formula Mazda, told me he appreciated my courtesy on track in not over-pushing and causing any problems as we knifed our way through...that comment made my weekend. Enjoy the highlight video we've entitled "The Art of Passing" as the dream season continues.

Click on the picture to view The Art of Passing.