A disappointing end

Car started making bad noises and Jerrit brought it in to be safe. Looks like we're out

21st with a but

We were in 13th when Randy got out and I got in. At the track entrance, we for donned for a fuel spill (which we had cleaned up). After about 3 laps I got black flagged. Wasn't sure if I had missed a yellow and passed someone, so I came back to the penalty box. They called me in for the same fuel spill again! So that cost us a few laps. I think I was faster this time, but it's hard not to lose a few spots when you're standing still for a few extra minutes.

In in 13th, out in 17th

We had a plan this pit stop and got the car turned around in 6 minutes, so we only lost 4 places. Tantalizingly close to the top 10...

Day 2 begins

Oleg is in the car, but unfortunately the timing and scoring information isn't online so we won't know if he's gaining positions.

23rd after day one

Last time we were 29th after day 1 and picked up 6 more spots on day 2. That would give us a Top 20 finish this time.

30th after my stint

That includes the driver change and refuel. I didn't think I was that fast, but I can't have between terrible if that's where we are after stopping. Nikolai will probably finish out the day.

Top 20

Randy has us in 19th, but we'll obviously fall back again when we change drivers to put me in the car.

First pit stop

Jerrit ran the tank dry and we came in in the 20s, but we lost a ton of places during the driver change.

Still not started

They're pulling every car into the hot pits to check them one at a time for using the police band radio. We can only assume the punishment will be severe.

Overheard announcement

"If you are using a radio on a police frequency, please turn it off. The Vallejo police are not happy."

No penalty laps

Like last time we didn't get any penalty laps, so we're on even footing. Here are some photos of us in costume.

23rd

Oleg ran a long stint to finish out the race, and one of the cars ahead of us breaking down with 20 minutes left in the race meant we could pick up an extra spot at the end.

First black flag

I got a penalty because someone tried to dive bomb me on the inside of a slow corner and I never saw them. It was our first penalty, but it was the second for the guys who hit us which meant they got a humiliating penalty which we got dragged into. Hopefully I'll be able to post a photo of that later. Because of the time we spent off the track we dropped down to 39th after the first hour, but Jerrit got behind the wheel and has us up to 32nd already.

End of day 1: 29th

Randy got a second stint and picked up a few places for us to close out the day, while setting a new fastest lap for the team. Part of the reason he got a second stint was that I got an upset stomach during my stint and brought it in after 25 minutes just to play it safe. I'll be taking the first stint tomorrow when it's cooler, and hopefully I'll be able to make up for lost time.

35th after 4 hours

Randy set our best lap early in the day with a 2:26. Oleg is out there now. So far we've been managing 80 minutes per stint with 10 minutes between for refueling and getting the new driver strapped in.

Green flag at Thunderhill

The Miata is fueled up, Randy is at the wheel, and we have 115 opponents to outrace over the next two days. Also, we didn't get any penalty laps this time, so we have a chance at being competitive. It's already hot and humid, so we may have to run short stints to keep the driver hydrated despite the cool shirt pump.

Double Digits!

99th, to be exact. 217 net laps, 232 overall. The leaders managed 300, so a big gap to make up in future races, but celebration in Wonderland tonight for a clean race.

103rd

40 minutes left. Definite chance to make double digits. One of the teams immediately in front of us got pulled into the penalty box.

Last Stint

Jerrit's back in the car to close out the race. Should get a position report soon.

105th

Randy's stint picked up two more places. We're close to a bunch of teams, but can we lap them?

Last refuel

Randy brought it in. Nicolai going out. Just under two hours left.

Rocky few hours

We went from 109th to 107th, down to 115th, and now back to 107th.

Finished a stint

I was in the car for an hour. Lost all sense of time and couldn't get any reception on the radio. Got bumped a few times, but still no penalties.

109

Contributing our 7 spot per hour climb.

Fuel stop

Jerrit came in early because we were out of gas. Calista is now in.

116th

Two hours into sunday and we're 14 places up. Oleg put up some fast laps, including a 2:12. Jerrit is in now.

Day 2 Begins

Green flag just dropped. Oleg is taking the first stint again. Much dryer than it was this time yesterday. The plan is to take longer stints today so we spend less time on driver changes.

130th

At the end of day 1. Didn't go off the track and didn't get black flagged, and the car still works. Positive result.

60 laps (net)

Just came back from my second stint. Spent the first half under yellow and the second screwing up down shifts. Now in 140th place with Randy behind the wheel, and his last lap was a team best.

Raining again

It started raining just as Oleg went out for his second stint. There was a bad wreck in corner 4, so they may be bypassing a big chunk of the course while they sort it out. Jerrit's out there now, which means I'm up next, probably in about 40 minutes.

Climbing the Ranks

After another hour, we're all the way up in 151st.

Nicolai out, Calista in

And with that all out drivers have had a stint.

+10

According to the hour 3 printout, we're at +10 net laps, which means 25 gross. Just 28 behind the leader.

Full Course Yellow

The whole track has been under caution for a while, so we're neither gaining nor losing ground, except against the teams that aren't on the track. On the plus side, the track is drying out, so the risk of going off is much lower.

We're in the positives!

We got 15 penalty laps for getting a good deal on our car, and we've definitely done more than that now. That puts us ahead of a bunch of teams who didn't start. That still puts us in 150th place or so.

Done my first stint

I think I did 4 laps. Everyone was passing me, and I never saw them coming. I down shifted once when I tried to up shift. I got some oversteer st the exit of 9a. But I didn't go off or get flagged, so it was a successful shift

Oleg out, Jerrit in

We're doing short stints to start until we know what our endurance level is going to be.

Barely a minute in

Someone spun out on the main straight.

Green Flag

The race is on!

Starting the parade laps

The Starting Grid

Drivers' meeting about to start

Oleg is taking the first stint. It's pouring rain, do things will be interesting.

Drivers' meeting about to start

Oleg is taking the first stint. It's pouring rain, do things will be interesting.

The Cheshire Car

Here it is, in all its about to go through tech inspection glory.

Early report from Infineon

It's raining off and on, and as a result my shoes and socks are wet. I'm drying them off with my car heater while recharging my phone. Have seen very few people in costume.

It begins...

Entry was submitted last night...we wait until the 17th to find out if we got accepted.