Final Race Before Nationals

In grid, ready for action!

Final race before Nationals at Devens with NER! I got to test out quite a few new goodies this event, such as my new Series 2 RX-8 transmission, new matching lightweight flywheel and clutch kit, custom intake, and tune. I really was hoping to have the new brake pads in by this race, but unfortunately didn't get the chance to and fought with any sections I had to brake hard into.

NER @ Loudon

Photo by Michael Siergiej - Michael Siergiej Photography

Another co-drive with Brian, only this time at NER! With Serenity still under the knife at Flatout Motorsports getting the new intake, followed by going to Wankel Works for the new transmission and clutch/flywheel kit, I asked Brian if I could drive his C Street RX-8 again.

Not So Well @ NER

Photo credit to Chang Ho Kim - FunPhotos

This was not a very good event for me unfortunately. Ironic because now that I have finally sorted out all o my problems and the car is at 100%, I drive as hard as I need to. That didn't seem to be the case during this event...

Devens Match Tour 2014

Photo credit to Chang Ho Kim - FunPhotos

Match Tours are seemingly losing their popularity due more and more as the 2014 season goes on. I can understand why, especially due to the format, but they are still fun to some respect in their own right.

2nd Place in Pro @ NER

Photo credit to Chang Ho Kim - FunPhotos

My first race back with SCCA NER for this season, and it's a blast! A great course, paired with most of my problems finally sorted out, I was feeling pretty confident about the car.

Stirling Moss Finale

Photo by Michael Siergiej - Michael Siergiej Photography

This was it, the finale for the New England Region. Same as every year, it is also the Stirling Moss run offs. Now, as much as I wanted to compete for the Moss trophy, as mentioned in my previous post, my fuel pump was having issues. That being said, I unfortunately was not able to run my car in the Moss. I was willing to even risk the replacement pump as well and see if I could even manage a run or two, but the fuel pump ring wouldn't even stay on oddly enough. I still had a seat for the Moss though, as Mickle Motorsports came to the rescue and let me run in their ASP Subaru STi.

S2000 Codrive @ NER

Photo by Michael Siergiej - Michael Siergiej Photography

Back from Nationals, and feeling better than ever! This is the last points event of the year for NER SCCA before the finale, and I wanted to have some fun this time around. It would be good for me, as I needed to clear my head of some negativity I still had from Nationals, and my car is still in Pennsylvania getting aero anyways. Nick Barbato was kind enough to offer me a seat in his B Stock Honda S2000 CR, so a huge thanks to Nick for the opportunity!

Last Race Before Nats @ NER!

Photo by Michael Siergiej - Michael Siergiej Photography

This is it. After this event, I have a weekend off, and then off to Lincoln Nebraska. John was unable to make it to the event, so I took this opportunity to really focus on getting more intuned with the car. Seeing how far I could push it through different elements, at what point I needed to dial it back, played with a few minor settings, etc.

John Takes Top PAX @ NHMS!

Photo by Michael Siergiej - Michael Siergiej Photography

Race Against Leukemia weekend over at New Hampshire Motor Speedway! We didn't have a lot of people this event, only having about  54 registered to run. If there was a time to shine and get that PAX glass, it was now. Fortunately for John, he had figured out the secret to the course where I had struggled, and went for the goal!

Ayer Match Tour 2013

Black Halo Racing in the house!

This weekend there was a Match Tour over in Ayer! It wasn't only great because it was a national level event, but I even got a visit to give some support by my good friends and sponsor, Black Halo Racing (BHR)! Charles and his wife helped me keep my head in the game, and got to hang out with everyone afterwards. Can't say the weekend could have gone any better. If you're unsure of the difference between a normal National Tour, and a Match Tour, check out the rules here on SCCA's official website.

Pro Class Mix-up

Photo by Michael Siergiej - Michael Siergiej Photography

This event was a little bit of a different story for me. Today, I decided to run in Don Kuehl's STR Miata and have some fun, while Ben and John run my RX-8 together. I guess that's one of the beauty's of Pro class is that you can hop into any other car and still compete for points!

Pro Class Comeback!

Photo by Ed Savage - NoWin Photography

Close battle, lots of fun, but I was pretty upset I kept messing up the last section of the course for whatever reason. Couldn't stay focused on the prize!

NER Pro Class Flop

Photo by Ed Savage - NoWin Photography

Cinco de Mayo! No better way to celebrate it than by racing, right? This was my second attempt at Pro class at NER. This attempt however, wasn't a very encouraging one for me. At least on the upside, the camera worked for the whole event finally, so hopefully no more of that!

First Race Of The Season

Photo by Ed Savage - NoWin Photography

First race back, and damn it feels good to be doing what I love again! This was the first event for SCCA NER, and the only practice event before the upcoming ProSolo in New Jersey!

Team Challenge - Soul Glo!

Photo by Ed Savage - NoWin Photography

At the end of every year, NER holds the Team Challenge! Team Challenge consists of teams of four. Only two Moss competitors are allowed in each team. Each team member chooses a class to compete in, and aims to take first place in it (so clearly, you want to not compete in the same class as one of your teammates!) You are allowed to share cars as well. Which ever team has the most 1st place wins, wins the event! There are some trophies for other categories as well, such as best team costumes. It's too bad we don't have more team challenges throughout the year...

2012 Stirling Moss Runoffs

Picture taken by Jack En

Here we are folks, the finale that everyone has been working so hard to get up to! At the end of each season, NER SCCA holds a special event known as the Stirling Moss Runoffs. The trophy is a mounted silver bowl that was originally presented to Sir Stirling Moss back in 1967 for his racing on the Nürburgring in Nürburg, Germany. Then this prestigious trophy was donated to our region by someone who knew Sir Stirling's daughter. Essentially, it's our version of the Stanley Cup. That being said, at the end of each year the winner gets their name engraved into the trophy. It's not very easy to obtain this beautiful trophy however...

Come Back @ NER!

Photo by Ed Savage - NoWin Photography

Today was NER SCCA's second to last points event, "Scorched Orange". Looking ahead, I found out that the Stirling Moss event will NOT be a points event for the first three runs in the morning like last year, which means I've already lost first place for the season to John. John definitely deserves it, as he has been able to consistently drive Serenity fast with all the setup changes throughout this season, so congratulations to John! Just because he is in first though, doesn't mean I'll make it easy for him for the remainder of the season!

Rough Time @ The Speedway

Photo by Ed Savage - NoWin Photography

Rough day at NHMS. I couldn't figure out how to go faster at all, my hands were everywhere on the steering wheel, the car was understeering a lot... Talk about a mess! John managed to figure it out though, as he came 5th in PAX! Congrats to him on that and the win in BSP for the day.

Fresh Rubber For NER!

Mmmm... Fresh Hoosiers

Nothing beats the feeling of running some fresh Hoosiers on the car, don't you think? Since our last set of Hoosiers A6 tires were completely useless at this point, John had picked up a brand new set to last us the rest of the season (Thanks again John!). Time for me to stop driving slow and make a come back!

SCCA Solo Northeast National Tour

Photo by Ed Savage - NoWin Photography

I wish I had more time and resources to do more National Tours... Nothing is quite like that full weekend experience. The people, the energy, the flow, the pressure… It's very different than any local autocross race. This weekend was the SCCA Solo Northeast National Tour at my home course, Moore Airfield in Ayer, MA. With over 200 people signed up, and 8 competitors in BSP, I was ready to rock!