Well, it's finally over. My story of NASA Nationals (might be a tad long for some).
09-22-2006, 06:56 AM
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Well, it's finally over. My story of NASA Nationals (might be a tad long for some).
After nearly a year of planning, preparing, bleeding, sweating and pulling all-nighters, the first ever National Auto Sports Association National Championships is officially in the books. Like NASA, many of the competitors were also green to the challenge of preparing for a national event, myself included. The NASA Championships went off without a hitch and the level of competition and sportsmanship displayed by the participants is the thing that will draw the attention of motorsports fans and racers for years to come.
For my #212 Audi S4, preparation for this event started back in May with the complete disassembly of the car. The plan: to make the final transformation from street/race car to a fully prepared, serviceable and competitive race car. The class for which myself, S&S Fabrication and AMS were preparing? Time Trial and Performance Touring "A". PTA is the fastest of the limited Performance Touring classes, with Super Unlimited being the only class where a more extensively built car (more tire, more power, more everything) can compete. Performance Touring borrows the rules used in Time Trial for classifying every single type of car ever produced. The fields are very diverse and make for amazing competition; this is the first year NASA has sanctioned the Performance Touring class and I expect to see a lot more PT cars filling the grid in the future.
So the #212 Audi changed appearances for the first ever NASA Nationals, but underneath the sexy new shell sat essentially the exact same car. Same drivetrain, suspension, wiring, cage, etc... the big differences were made in the chassis and extra time was spent making all components of the car more reliable and ultimately safer. The result is a much different appearance with the overall package being a little slimmer on the scales.
For the #117 American Iron Mustang, some suspension components changed and so did the motor after it let go at Infineon Raceway in Sanoma in late Spring. I hadn't driven the car since then and was in for quite a surprise during the first practice at Mid Ohio; the overall package is a great success.
Although Nationals didn't officially start until the Wednesday night driver's meeting (Sept. 13th), my journey began the evening of Thursday the seventh with a flight from New York to LAX. I had left my truck there the weekend before after working on the Audi at AMS, I returned five days later to finish what was only a shell of a car a week prior. Friday had its fill of challenges and rather than torment you all with individual issues, let's just say that they were overcome by 5am thanks to the efforts of the AMS crew: Marc, Jesse, Julio and of course the non-AMS employee of the month, EF.
<img src="http://images18.fotki.com/v346/photos/6/681510/4020560/DSC00567-vi.jpg">
<img src="http://images19.fotki.com/v327/photos/6/681510/4020560/DSC00537-vi.jpg">
BTW, I'd like to thank Mike K. for a couple borrowed intercooler ducts. I owe you beer, a ride, etc... just name it.
After a day of running the last errands before our journey, Jesse from AMS and myself hooked up the "big" trailer and headed over to S&S Fabrication to pick up the #117 mustang and the gorgeous #212 Audi S4 which was beaming in its new vinyl. The mustang rode up top on the lift for the 45 hour journey to Ohio with the audi tucked snuggly underneath. The trailer hauled beautifully, loaded with all the tires, tools, spares and consumables that would be needed for the six day track event. Having left at 8:30pm Saturday night from Bakersfield, Jesse, Tom from S&S Fabrication and myself happily pulled into the Mid Ohio race complex at 8:30pm on Monday evening. We dropped the car and a couple items into our garage and headed for the hotel.
Tuesday, rain. We spent the entire day completing the final touches on the Audi. Safety items took precident and many other things needed buttoning up before the week started heating up. Troy Stacey of S&S Fabrication arrived that night and we were all in high anticipation for the event to come.
Wednesday, more rain. EF arrived via the red eye and I got the Audi dirty for the first time on Wednesday! What a feeling to feed in the throttle on a wet, slick surface and hear the motor sing as all four wheels work to pull the car out of a corner. I think we put on a show for some spectators who decided to brave the weather on Wednesday. I thought it was a fitting break-in for the car, to use the quattro system in its eliment. It was also a confidence builder for myself since I hadn't been in a race car since June. To step into a car that can do no wrong even in standing water can do great things for your psyche. Then we cleaned the car for a couple obligatory glamour shots. Since you guys are pretty much seeing the car for the first time, the paint is a mix of Denim Blue (from the B6 A4) and Achet Gray (from the RS4). The interior is Chrysler Silver.
First, proof that I drove my shiny car in the rain
<img src="http://images18.fotki.com/v16/photos/6/681510/4020560/Pat1-vi.jpg">
<img src="http://images19.fotki.com/v292/photos/6/681510/4020560/Beauty6-vi.jpg">
<img src="http://images18.fotki.com/v16/photos/6/681510/4020560/Beauty5-vi.jpg">
<img src="http://images19.fotki.com/v292/photos/6/681510/4020560/Beauty4-vi.jpg">
<img src="http://images18.fotki.com/v16/photos/6/681510/4020560/Beauty3-vi.jpg">
<img src="http://images19.fotki.com/v22/photos/6/681510/4020560/Beauty2-vi.jpg">
<img src="http://images18.fotki.com/v86/photos/6/681510/4020560/BeautyShop-vi.jpg">
<img src="http://images19.fotki.com/v18/photos/6/681510/4020560/TheOffice2-vi.jpg">
<img src="http://images18.fotki.com/v86/photos/6/681510/4020560/TheOffice-vi.jpg">
ATL Fuel Cell with custom enclosure fabricated by S&S Fabrication
<img src="http://images19.fotki.com/v18/photos/6/681510/4020560/FuelCell-vi.jpg">
<img src="http://images19.fotki.com/v292/photos/6/681510/4020560/Engine2-vi.jpg">
After the driver's meeting Wednesday night, my stomach tightened a little with the realization that the time to compete for the first ever NASA Championship was just a few days away. However, we didn't have time to focus on anticipation since we were struggling to get the mustang setup. Ernesto Rocco, an AIX competitor who managed to get his car and himself to Ohio on a shoestring and the help of some key sponsors, basically did the whole setup on my mustang. He's an amazing sportsman and a helluva driver.
Thursday, practice. Thursday morning came quickly and we were ready. I was focused on making driver's meetings and making sure all paperwork was in order. I'm still a rookie and I try to stay focused on the basics - being eligible to compete. With the rookie placards come some sort of dumbass ideals. Call it over-eagerness call it a lack of experience, but in my infinite wisdom I thought it'd be great to sign up to run in three classes. The Audi would run Time Trial A and Performance Touring A while the Mustang was signed up to run American Iron. Cool, except I can't be in three places at once. So we made the practice sessions we could and even managed to get a timed session in for Time Trial, a 1:39 or so. Good enough for first through the first day.
<img src="http://images18.fotki.com/v86/photos/6/681510/4020560/DSC_0155-vi.jpg">
Friday, Qualifying races and timed sessions. I qualified first for American Iron, however after a trip to the mobile dyno my hopes of being competitive in that class were shattered because the car made about twenty horsepower more than we were allowed to run given our race weight. So in the interest of salvaging the race week, we dumped the ballast on the car, found a set of 275 Hoosiers and entered in the AIX class (American Iron Extreme). The race went well and I finished third. I also had some changes to make to the Audi since we were awarded two more points on our classification form for the layout of the cage. This is the part where I have to thank AudiWorld's Steve Trac for supplying us with his stock swaybar which he overnighted to our hotel the day before. By installing the factory rear bar we were able to get back the two classification points without adding ballast to the car and stay in TTA/PTA. Thanks Steve! The PTA qualifying on Friday found myself piloting the S4 from the pole position and having a fairly uneventful drive during the qualifying race, securing the first race win for the #212 Audi *pumping fists in the air*! Shortly after the PTA qualifying race, we ran the last session of Time Trial to the tune of a 1:36.863, about two and a half seconds faster than the next competitor. We were all smiles going into the second day of qualifying - The hot tub and beers were the fountain of youth that night
<img src="http://images19.fotki.com/v18/photos/6/681510/4020560/2490006DSC_1150-vi.jpg">
<img src="http://www.finishlineprod.net/2006_events/2006nationals/cmc_ai/sat/IMG_7994.JPG">
Saturday, qualifying and timed sessions. It just couldn't go perfectly... After hounding a Grand Am Cup mustang for the first two laps of the AIX qualifying race I finally got my wish, he had overdriven a corner and was about to drive off the track in a cloud of tire smoke. Just one problem, I was going to cross his path before he made his agricultural excursion which forced me to skip through the gravel trap in exchange for keeping the sheetmetal on my car square. Well I finished seventh in the second AIX qualifying race and I was extremely peeved about it. So what did we all do to blow off some steam? A little automotive therapy in the form of an AWD sedan putting the smack down on a field of tube-frame RX7's. The Audi performed flawlessly, taking first by a margin of 17 seconds in a mere seven lap PTA qualifying race. Shortly after, the title of TTA National Champion was sealed with the winning time being my 1:36.863 from Friday. That time held off two very fast guys in ZO6 corvette's by about two seconds. So a short celebration was in order at the steak house that night. Thanks to my parents for treating!!!
<img src="http://images19.fotki.com/v315/photos/6/681510/4020560/IMG_0016-vi.jpg">
Sunday, Championship race day. I was all jitters that morning as I put on the monkey suit for the AIX warmup. I had spilled coffee piling into the crew van that morning, I was sweating every nut and bolt on the Audi and I couldn't even tie my own shoes :P Strapping on some American V8 and taking some hot laps around the track set my head straight and I was dying to climb into the Audi for the PTA race. Starting from the pole is the coolest thing in racing. You control the field, the starting speed and the pace of the warmup lap. I soaked it up and when the green flag flew it was all downhill. Just before the two lap caution flew, we had a 21 second lead over second. After two and a half laps of yellow, I let it all hang out for the final laps and in the last lap set the quick time in the class for the weekend, a 1:37.314. Driving the cooldown lap after whooping the field in a Championship race is something that I wish I could relive over and over again. I'll never forget that... even the crowd got the high beams Post-race impound = passed! Then we really felt good. FYI, the bad thing about winning by a big margin is what can happen to you on the podium; I was defensless 
<img src="http://markus.smugmug.com/photos/96169693-M-1.jpg">
Okay, the NASA hat didn't fit :P
<img src="http://markus.smugmug.com/photos/96169696-M-1.jpg">
WOOT!
<img src="http://markus.smugmug.com/photos/96169697-M-1.jpg">
She wanted me :P She actually took a picture in the car while we were waiting for the scales in impound and said "it's a lot nicer than my '95 Grand Am!" LMAO
<img src="http://markus.smugmug.com/photos/96169698-M-1.jpg">
It was nice and civil until...
<img src="http://markus.smugmug.com/photos/96169699-M-1.jpg">
<img src="http://markus.smugmug.com/photos/96169700-M-1.jpg">
<img src="http://markus.smugmug.com/photos/96169703-M-1.jpg">
I'd just like to mention I gave as good as I got.
Race #2, AIX. I smelled like a whino when I put my champagne-soaked monkey suit back on, but it was all business upstairs as I tried to psych myself out for the task ahead. The PTA race was one thing, but this was thunderdome we were about to enter and I was starting from the second row against cars with more power, more tire and in general, more everything. American Iron is named accordingly, the cars are heavy, loud, fire-breathing animals with crappy brakes and even worse mid corner manners. With the warmup lap over, we tightened up for the flag. I got an incredible jump, but had to lift to keep from ramming Ernesto. We went two-wide through the first three corners and I finally ended up third. Ernesto made his move for first and made it stick. I was left staring at the back of a more powerful yet worse handling car. After a few laps I guess the driver couldn't keep the car underneath him and spun coming out of the carousel. Again, I was in damage control mode, trying not to bend any sheetmetal. I was successful and started banging gears down the front straight in an effort to run away from the other AIX cars behind me. Finding yourself second in a class where you should be a back marker is a weird thing. You feel instantly blessed and at the same time infinitely entitled and you don't want to give up that blessing for all the girls in South Beach. I held off a charge by the third place car and managed to weed through traffic fast enough to keep my position until the checkered flew. I nearly collapsed upon reaching impound, but I ran over to give Ernesto a big hug and congrats for his win in AIX. He's a great competitor and he gave so much of himself to make sure my car ran well. It's awesome to see the good guys come out on top.
Tightening up for the flag.
<img src="http://www.finishlineprod.net/2006_events/2006nationals/cmc_ai/sun/IMG_9739.JPG">
Me in the #117
<img src="http://www.finishlineprod.net/2006_events/2006nationals/cmc_ai/sun/IMG_9741.JPG">
<img src="http://www.finishlineprod.net/2006_events/2006nationals/cmc_ai/sun/IMG_9927.JPG">
So we packed up with all smiles, got a shower in my folks room to wash the track and sticky, dried champagne off and hit the road. After unloading Tuesday afternoon, I left the Audi tucked away under its factory car cover (Thanks Gary)!
<img src="http://images19.fotki.com/v315/photos/6/681510/4020560/DSC00587-vi.jpg">
<img src="http://images18.fotki.com/v16/photos/6/681510/4020560/DSC00589-vi.jpg">
<img src="http://images19.fotki.com/v315/photos/6/681510/4020560/DSC00590-vi.jpg">
Final thanks to everyone at AMS, Marc you did a killer job. Troy at S&S fabrication. Jesse for coming to Ohio, sharing driving duties and doing a helluva job making the car run throughout the week. EF for keeping things going while I was at the drivers meetings and for keeping my head straight all week. And my folks for coming all the way out to Ohio to support me and feed all of us at the track. Finally, thanks to this forum and AudiWorld as a whole. I can't lie, I may not even have a B5 S4 right now if it weren't for the Camaraderie of the owners and the great group of folks I have met through this forum.
For my #212 Audi S4, preparation for this event started back in May with the complete disassembly of the car. The plan: to make the final transformation from street/race car to a fully prepared, serviceable and competitive race car. The class for which myself, S&S Fabrication and AMS were preparing? Time Trial and Performance Touring "A". PTA is the fastest of the limited Performance Touring classes, with Super Unlimited being the only class where a more extensively built car (more tire, more power, more everything) can compete. Performance Touring borrows the rules used in Time Trial for classifying every single type of car ever produced. The fields are very diverse and make for amazing competition; this is the first year NASA has sanctioned the Performance Touring class and I expect to see a lot more PT cars filling the grid in the future.
So the #212 Audi changed appearances for the first ever NASA Nationals, but underneath the sexy new shell sat essentially the exact same car. Same drivetrain, suspension, wiring, cage, etc... the big differences were made in the chassis and extra time was spent making all components of the car more reliable and ultimately safer. The result is a much different appearance with the overall package being a little slimmer on the scales.
For the #117 American Iron Mustang, some suspension components changed and so did the motor after it let go at Infineon Raceway in Sanoma in late Spring. I hadn't driven the car since then and was in for quite a surprise during the first practice at Mid Ohio; the overall package is a great success.
Although Nationals didn't officially start until the Wednesday night driver's meeting (Sept. 13th), my journey began the evening of Thursday the seventh with a flight from New York to LAX. I had left my truck there the weekend before after working on the Audi at AMS, I returned five days later to finish what was only a shell of a car a week prior. Friday had its fill of challenges and rather than torment you all with individual issues, let's just say that they were overcome by 5am thanks to the efforts of the AMS crew: Marc, Jesse, Julio and of course the non-AMS employee of the month, EF.
<img src="http://images18.fotki.com/v346/photos/6/681510/4020560/DSC00567-vi.jpg">
<img src="http://images19.fotki.com/v327/photos/6/681510/4020560/DSC00537-vi.jpg">
BTW, I'd like to thank Mike K. for a couple borrowed intercooler ducts. I owe you beer, a ride, etc... just name it.
After a day of running the last errands before our journey, Jesse from AMS and myself hooked up the "big" trailer and headed over to S&S Fabrication to pick up the #117 mustang and the gorgeous #212 Audi S4 which was beaming in its new vinyl. The mustang rode up top on the lift for the 45 hour journey to Ohio with the audi tucked snuggly underneath. The trailer hauled beautifully, loaded with all the tires, tools, spares and consumables that would be needed for the six day track event. Having left at 8:30pm Saturday night from Bakersfield, Jesse, Tom from S&S Fabrication and myself happily pulled into the Mid Ohio race complex at 8:30pm on Monday evening. We dropped the car and a couple items into our garage and headed for the hotel.
Tuesday, rain. We spent the entire day completing the final touches on the Audi. Safety items took precident and many other things needed buttoning up before the week started heating up. Troy Stacey of S&S Fabrication arrived that night and we were all in high anticipation for the event to come.
Wednesday, more rain. EF arrived via the red eye and I got the Audi dirty for the first time on Wednesday! What a feeling to feed in the throttle on a wet, slick surface and hear the motor sing as all four wheels work to pull the car out of a corner. I think we put on a show for some spectators who decided to brave the weather on Wednesday. I thought it was a fitting break-in for the car, to use the quattro system in its eliment. It was also a confidence builder for myself since I hadn't been in a race car since June. To step into a car that can do no wrong even in standing water can do great things for your psyche. Then we cleaned the car for a couple obligatory glamour shots. Since you guys are pretty much seeing the car for the first time, the paint is a mix of Denim Blue (from the B6 A4) and Achet Gray (from the RS4). The interior is Chrysler Silver.
First, proof that I drove my shiny car in the rain
<img src="http://images18.fotki.com/v16/photos/6/681510/4020560/Pat1-vi.jpg">
<img src="http://images19.fotki.com/v292/photos/6/681510/4020560/Beauty6-vi.jpg">
<img src="http://images18.fotki.com/v16/photos/6/681510/4020560/Beauty5-vi.jpg">
<img src="http://images19.fotki.com/v292/photos/6/681510/4020560/Beauty4-vi.jpg">
<img src="http://images18.fotki.com/v16/photos/6/681510/4020560/Beauty3-vi.jpg">
<img src="http://images19.fotki.com/v22/photos/6/681510/4020560/Beauty2-vi.jpg">
<img src="http://images18.fotki.com/v86/photos/6/681510/4020560/BeautyShop-vi.jpg">
<img src="http://images19.fotki.com/v18/photos/6/681510/4020560/TheOffice2-vi.jpg">
<img src="http://images18.fotki.com/v86/photos/6/681510/4020560/TheOffice-vi.jpg">
ATL Fuel Cell with custom enclosure fabricated by S&S Fabrication
<img src="http://images19.fotki.com/v18/photos/6/681510/4020560/FuelCell-vi.jpg">
<img src="http://images19.fotki.com/v292/photos/6/681510/4020560/Engine2-vi.jpg">
After the driver's meeting Wednesday night, my stomach tightened a little with the realization that the time to compete for the first ever NASA Championship was just a few days away. However, we didn't have time to focus on anticipation since we were struggling to get the mustang setup. Ernesto Rocco, an AIX competitor who managed to get his car and himself to Ohio on a shoestring and the help of some key sponsors, basically did the whole setup on my mustang. He's an amazing sportsman and a helluva driver.
Thursday, practice. Thursday morning came quickly and we were ready. I was focused on making driver's meetings and making sure all paperwork was in order. I'm still a rookie and I try to stay focused on the basics - being eligible to compete. With the rookie placards come some sort of dumbass ideals. Call it over-eagerness call it a lack of experience, but in my infinite wisdom I thought it'd be great to sign up to run in three classes. The Audi would run Time Trial A and Performance Touring A while the Mustang was signed up to run American Iron. Cool, except I can't be in three places at once. So we made the practice sessions we could and even managed to get a timed session in for Time Trial, a 1:39 or so. Good enough for first through the first day.
<img src="http://images18.fotki.com/v86/photos/6/681510/4020560/DSC_0155-vi.jpg">
Friday, Qualifying races and timed sessions. I qualified first for American Iron, however after a trip to the mobile dyno my hopes of being competitive in that class were shattered because the car made about twenty horsepower more than we were allowed to run given our race weight. So in the interest of salvaging the race week, we dumped the ballast on the car, found a set of 275 Hoosiers and entered in the AIX class (American Iron Extreme). The race went well and I finished third. I also had some changes to make to the Audi since we were awarded two more points on our classification form for the layout of the cage. This is the part where I have to thank AudiWorld's Steve Trac for supplying us with his stock swaybar which he overnighted to our hotel the day before. By installing the factory rear bar we were able to get back the two classification points without adding ballast to the car and stay in TTA/PTA. Thanks Steve! The PTA qualifying on Friday found myself piloting the S4 from the pole position and having a fairly uneventful drive during the qualifying race, securing the first race win for the #212 Audi *pumping fists in the air*! Shortly after the PTA qualifying race, we ran the last session of Time Trial to the tune of a 1:36.863, about two and a half seconds faster than the next competitor. We were all smiles going into the second day of qualifying - The hot tub and beers were the fountain of youth that night
<img src="http://images19.fotki.com/v18/photos/6/681510/4020560/2490006DSC_1150-vi.jpg">
<img src="http://www.finishlineprod.net/2006_events/2006nationals/cmc_ai/sat/IMG_7994.JPG">
Saturday, qualifying and timed sessions. It just couldn't go perfectly... After hounding a Grand Am Cup mustang for the first two laps of the AIX qualifying race I finally got my wish, he had overdriven a corner and was about to drive off the track in a cloud of tire smoke. Just one problem, I was going to cross his path before he made his agricultural excursion which forced me to skip through the gravel trap in exchange for keeping the sheetmetal on my car square. Well I finished seventh in the second AIX qualifying race and I was extremely peeved about it. So what did we all do to blow off some steam? A little automotive therapy in the form of an AWD sedan putting the smack down on a field of tube-frame RX7's. The Audi performed flawlessly, taking first by a margin of 17 seconds in a mere seven lap PTA qualifying race. Shortly after, the title of TTA National Champion was sealed with the winning time being my 1:36.863 from Friday. That time held off two very fast guys in ZO6 corvette's by about two seconds. So a short celebration was in order at the steak house that night. Thanks to my parents for treating!!!
<img src="http://images19.fotki.com/v315/photos/6/681510/4020560/IMG_0016-vi.jpg">
Sunday, Championship race day. I was all jitters that morning as I put on the monkey suit for the AIX warmup. I had spilled coffee piling into the crew van that morning, I was sweating every nut and bolt on the Audi and I couldn't even tie my own shoes :P Strapping on some American V8 and taking some hot laps around the track set my head straight and I was dying to climb into the Audi for the PTA race. Starting from the pole is the coolest thing in racing. You control the field, the starting speed and the pace of the warmup lap. I soaked it up and when the green flag flew it was all downhill. Just before the two lap caution flew, we had a 21 second lead over second. After two and a half laps of yellow, I let it all hang out for the final laps and in the last lap set the quick time in the class for the weekend, a 1:37.314. Driving the cooldown lap after whooping the field in a Championship race is something that I wish I could relive over and over again. I'll never forget that... even the crowd got the high beams
Post-race impound = passed! Then we really felt good. FYI, the bad thing about winning by a big margin is what can happen to you on the podium; I was defensless <img src="http://markus.smugmug.com/photos/96169693-M-1.jpg">
Okay, the NASA hat didn't fit :P
<img src="http://markus.smugmug.com/photos/96169696-M-1.jpg">
WOOT!
<img src="http://markus.smugmug.com/photos/96169697-M-1.jpg">
She wanted me :P She actually took a picture in the car while we were waiting for the scales in impound and said "it's a lot nicer than my '95 Grand Am!" LMAO
<img src="http://markus.smugmug.com/photos/96169698-M-1.jpg">
It was nice and civil until...
<img src="http://markus.smugmug.com/photos/96169699-M-1.jpg">
<img src="http://markus.smugmug.com/photos/96169700-M-1.jpg">
<img src="http://markus.smugmug.com/photos/96169703-M-1.jpg">
I'd just like to mention I gave as good as I got.
Race #2, AIX. I smelled like a whino when I put my champagne-soaked monkey suit back on, but it was all business upstairs as I tried to psych myself out for the task ahead. The PTA race was one thing, but this was thunderdome we were about to enter and I was starting from the second row against cars with more power, more tire and in general, more everything. American Iron is named accordingly, the cars are heavy, loud, fire-breathing animals with crappy brakes and even worse mid corner manners. With the warmup lap over, we tightened up for the flag. I got an incredible jump, but had to lift to keep from ramming Ernesto. We went two-wide through the first three corners and I finally ended up third. Ernesto made his move for first and made it stick. I was left staring at the back of a more powerful yet worse handling car. After a few laps I guess the driver couldn't keep the car underneath him and spun coming out of the carousel. Again, I was in damage control mode, trying not to bend any sheetmetal. I was successful and started banging gears down the front straight in an effort to run away from the other AIX cars behind me. Finding yourself second in a class where you should be a back marker is a weird thing. You feel instantly blessed and at the same time infinitely entitled and you don't want to give up that blessing for all the girls in South Beach. I held off a charge by the third place car and managed to weed through traffic fast enough to keep my position until the checkered flew. I nearly collapsed upon reaching impound, but I ran over to give Ernesto a big hug and congrats for his win in AIX. He's a great competitor and he gave so much of himself to make sure my car ran well. It's awesome to see the good guys come out on top.
Tightening up for the flag.
<img src="http://www.finishlineprod.net/2006_events/2006nationals/cmc_ai/sun/IMG_9739.JPG">
Me in the #117
<img src="http://www.finishlineprod.net/2006_events/2006nationals/cmc_ai/sun/IMG_9741.JPG">
<img src="http://www.finishlineprod.net/2006_events/2006nationals/cmc_ai/sun/IMG_9927.JPG">
So we packed up with all smiles, got a shower in my folks room to wash the track and sticky, dried champagne off and hit the road. After unloading Tuesday afternoon, I left the Audi tucked away under its factory car cover (Thanks Gary)!
<img src="http://images19.fotki.com/v315/photos/6/681510/4020560/DSC00587-vi.jpg">
<img src="http://images18.fotki.com/v16/photos/6/681510/4020560/DSC00589-vi.jpg">
<img src="http://images19.fotki.com/v315/photos/6/681510/4020560/DSC00590-vi.jpg">
Final thanks to everyone at AMS, Marc you did a killer job. Troy at S&S fabrication. Jesse for coming to Ohio, sharing driving duties and doing a helluva job making the car run throughout the week. EF for keeping things going while I was at the drivers meetings and for keeping my head straight all week. And my folks for coming all the way out to Ohio to support me and feed all of us at the track. Finally, thanks to this forum and AudiWorld as a whole. I can't lie, I may not even have a B5 S4 right now if it weren't for the Camaraderie of the owners and the great group of folks I have met through this forum.
09-22-2006, 07:14 AM
#4
AudiWorld Super User
Join Date: Mar 2003
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HEY and you got some wheel lift!!!
<img src="http://images19.fotki.com/v18/photos/6/681510/4020560/2490006DSC_1150-vi.jpg">
Not sure if you mentioned that I didn't read your entire post.
Not sure if you mentioned that I didn't read your entire post.
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09-22-2006, 07:36 AM
#8
AudiWorld Super User
great job. congrats!!
