Lime Rock Pro-Am race, May 30, 2005

This date is usually a big Pro Racing weekend at Lime Rock but instead it would give us an unmuffled weekend where we could run our Porsches, Vintage cars, and SCCA cars. I entered both my cars in the Porsche races, there would be a stock group and a Race group and I thought I could do well in both.

Here is an awesome shot taken by Jol Dantzig. Jol is a friend from the guitar world (founder of Hamer guitars) and also races Porsches and a vintage Chevron and has his 'n' hers 911RS Carreras.
My '73 RS clone had a freshly rebuilt engine, was running fine but seemed VERY low on power. So I could only qualify 6th in the field, with a 1:03. I got a great start in the race though, up to second, just behind Jim Scott who was only racing as exhibition (it was not a stock car at all, a PCA GT4 car). Here we are on the 1st lap, I was trying a move over the inside curb a bit which did not work nor hurt. Jim is in front and Mayo Smith behind in a similar 2.7RS. Mayo's car was sporting a new paint job after an incident at Watkins Glen. Click on the picture for a large version.

On the next lap, Mayo tried to pass me in Big Bend, but was not able to slow it down quite enough and nearly went off the outside of Big Bend. So I tried to get back around him on the inside, but he shot towards me causing me to brake to avoid contact and I let him ahead. He then went into the lefthander too hot, and started spinning halfway through. I was right behind him, tried to slow down then saw him seemingly headed to the inside of the track, pointing that way, so I decided to go around him on the outside. His car quickly shot back to the right, towards me, so I broke and steered hard right towards the grass to miss him, but my left side hit his left rear (he was obviously more backwards than forewards at that time) and I went off into Lake Lime Rock.

I somehow kept the car moving and paddled it around to the back of the flag station where I got out and looked at the damage in disgust. Then I helped the flagger for the rest of the race. Mayo pulled in and did not race any more though his car was not bad. My front fender was slightly dented, door pretty bad, and rear slightly dented. Back up to see Damon in NH... he put on a new door skin and it looked great soon afterwards.

Well the Stock race was done... still had the Race group! Here are some of the cars we had.

In the GT race, I qualified 3rd behind my 911RS mechanic and fine racer Chris Musante in his 3.4 RSR, and a 944Turbo with mongo HP. It started drizzling on our pace lap, ugh! So I took it a little easy on the first few laps until it was dry, allowing those two cars to get a good lead on me. Then Jim Scott in his other 911RSR was soon closing in on me. His car is MUCH MUCH lighter, with bigger wheels and tires. I was barely able to keep him behind me, finishing third and getting a faster race lap than the leaders (56.8), trying to stay ahead of Jim. So I had a podium finish and got an interview and some pictures after the race. Much better outcome than the stock race!

Here is the race report from the Lime Rock website.

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