USTCC Laguna Seca
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 349
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From: Southern California
USTCC Laguna Seca
We'll were all pack and ready to get to Laguna Seca for the 1st USTCC race of the season. We are a support race to the A1GP series and just learned we may have some TV time. Here is the info.
They are going to include a 3-5 minute clip of our race during the A1GP TV show which is to broadcast the same day on OLN. I think the show is on Sunday at 4:00 Pacific Time.
They are going to include a 3-5 minute clip of our race during the A1GP TV show which is to broadcast the same day on OLN. I think the show is on Sunday at 4:00 Pacific Time.
6th Gear
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 3,957
Likes: 2
From: a canyon, south Bay Area
Rich, and for those who were able to make it, please share!!!
About the only thing that has me more engaged than the MINI, is college sports (March Madness, and its prelude, currently...).
Hope all went well...
About the only thing that has me more engaged than the MINI, is college sports (March Madness, and its prelude, currently...).
Hope all went well...
Originally Posted by TonyB
Rich, and for those who were able to make it, please share!!!
Originally Posted by TonyB
About the only thing that has me more engaged than the MINI, is college sports (March Madness, and its prelude, currently...).
Hope all went well...
3rd Gear
Joined: Sep 2003
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6th Gear
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 3,957
Likes: 2
From: a canyon, south Bay Area
Originally Posted by onasled
[center]
.Just playin' with ya. While I know that they are virtually everyone's favorite, I think this baby is wide-open this year! At leat 4-5 teams could easily take it...
I'm just elated that we made the Dance. Go Bears!
6th Gear
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 3,957
Likes: 2
From: a canyon, south Bay Area
Originally Posted by MarkC
5th Gear
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 630
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From: twisties~Vermont tarmac rallye style
I watched the race last night on OLN. Unfortately, I missed the first 30 mins. Did the USTCC get any TV coverage? If so, any vids of you guys in your MINI Coopers 'esses?
BTW, Laguna Seca has a total European flair to it since the Sheik pluned down with the A1GP. British reporters, F1 warm-up lap, standing start with an RS6 or S4 as the medical car. "Fly Emirates" sponsorship signage - whew. You'd never know it was the same place I used to do time trials at with the Golden Gate Region Porsche Club back in 1987 - even the hills were green and wet - wadda yaa guys do! The giveaway is the vintage "Laguna Seca" logotype that needs updating...
BTW, Laguna Seca has a total European flair to it since the Sheik pluned down with the A1GP. British reporters, F1 warm-up lap, standing start with an RS6 or S4 as the medical car. "Fly Emirates" sponsorship signage - whew. You'd never know it was the same place I used to do time trials at with the Golden Gate Region Porsche Club back in 1987 - even the hills were green and wet - wadda yaa guys do! The giveaway is the vintage "Laguna Seca" logotype that needs updating...
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 349
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From: Southern California
This is just a quick post, I wrote a detailed one up last night and will post later.
How many of you can say you've seen snow at the corkscrew at Laguna Seca? It was cold, wet, rainy, windy, schedule changes, tire choices and I had to listen to the British Announcer the whole week end he never stopped talking.
But did we have fun? You bet. The race Director declared dry track. We all went out with slicks. On the warm up lap it started to rain.
To be continued.
How many of you can say you've seen snow at the corkscrew at Laguna Seca? It was cold, wet, rainy, windy, schedule changes, tire choices and I had to listen to the British Announcer the whole week end he never stopped talking.
But did we have fun? You bet. The race Director declared dry track. We all went out with slicks. On the warm up lap it started to rain.
To be continued.
3rd Gear
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 291
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I watched it on tivo last night.
OLN did not show any USTCC, only A1GP.
Laguna does drain pretty good when it stops raining.
Can't wait to hear your report Rich.
I've raced on that track when it was was wet - slippery!
As David Hobbs would say "One must have large attachments" to go down that cork screw in the wet.
OLN did not show any USTCC, only A1GP.
Laguna does drain pretty good when it stops raining.
Can't wait to hear your report Rich.
I've raced on that track when it was was wet - slippery!
As David Hobbs would say "One must have large attachments" to go down that cork screw in the wet.
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 349
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From: Southern California
What a weekend at Laguna Seca! We arrived at the track Thursday evening after a long day of driving, found our paddock area and set up by 6:00pm. We left and went to dinner and by 7:00 it was raining cats and dogs.
Friday morning it was a very soggy drive to the track from Salinas. The hills surrounding Laguna Seca were covered in snow. We heard later that The Corkscrew was covered in snow in the morning, but we couldn’t see it from where we were. Our first practice was scheduled at 10:15am with the second at 2:15pm. At 9:00am we were told the1st practice is cancelled because the track is in bad shape from all of the rain. Some areas washed out, others have rivers of mud flowing over the rack. Some of the runout areas were also washed away leaving large ruts. Needless to say, the 2nd practice was canceled, but we were told to stay around. A practice was still a possibility. At 5:45pm we finally got the go-ahead for a 15 minute practice. The temperature was 42 degrees. This was my first time at Laguna Seca and I was a little nervous; cold track, cold tires, etc. On the pace lap under yellow, we lost one of our competitors off into the gravel at turn 6. This brought out the black flag. We all came into pit lane and waited. When the pace car led us out once again and the green flag was waved, we got 3 laps in and the session was over.
Saturday morning it was colder. When we got to the track we had snow in the paddock area. I don’t know the elevation but it can’t be more than 200-300 feet above sea level. Again the track was damaged from all of the evening’s rain. We were scheduled for 8:45am and 10:15am qualifying runs. At 8:39am they canceled the1st qualifying and it was rescheduled for 4:30pm. At 9:50am we were told we’re on in 10 minutes. We scrambled to get suited up and on the track. Wow what a track! I started out slow to learn the track and progressively got faster. Because there were still areas of water flowing over the track, our speeds were not where I’d have liked but by the end of the session I was feeling better and couldn’t wait for our next session at 4:30pm. At 4:00pm we were told our 2nd session was cancelled due to track maintenance. All was not lost however, we did get the chance to talk to many other MINI owners that come by. MSFIT stopped by and chatted for awhile.
Sunday was race day. It was pouring rain when we got to the track. We were scheduled to have warm-up at 8:45am. At this point I’m wondering which tires to use, dry or rain. At 8:00am we got the call that warm-up is cancelled. Now the race was scheduled at 11:15am. With the car up on jack stands we had both sets of tires ready. It looked like the skies were clearing up and the track drying out. All of the maintenance trucks were working on the track. At 9:50am the race director ran through the paddocks saying were going in 10 minutes (10:00am). With the dilemma of which tires, we went with the dry, as puffy white clouds and shining sun were overhead. All the other teams did the same. We gridded and went out on to the track for the pace lap. What seemed like moments later I think,”What was that, a rain drop on the windshield?” We got through turn 6 and I had to turn the windshield wipers on. When we came to the main straight for our standing start it was pouring. My position for the start was in a river of water crossing the track. The flag dropped, dumped the clutch and got nothing but wheel spin. I dropped it into second and lost the torque but accelerated just fine, keeping up with everyone as we went into turn 2. I thought for sure we would loose a few at that point but we all made it through T2 clean. By T5 it was raining heavy. Up through T6 and T7 it was hard to see and now it was time for The Corkscrew. A brown river was flowing down and across T8 and T8A. It maybe called the corkscrew but Sunday it should have been called the Slip and Slide. T9 is called Rainey Curve. Good name, because the rain caused a river to flow across the track just after the apex. T11 was coming up and it leads to the main straight. The caution flag was out, as a car went straight off at T11. This was all with one lap down and a full-course yellow was called. Three laps later we were green again and it was still raining. Not much else to say but more of the same as other cars made excursions in the gravel run-offs with other full-course yellows. We finished 12 out of 16. I should say we survived. We couldn’t hook up with the tires we had on. But everyone else also had dry tires on. I’m not sure if it was just the MINI, but when I would hit the two rivers of water flowing across the main straight it was like changing lanes; one time to the left, next time to the right. It was a real learning experience. I kick myself for not putting on the rain tires. It was right there in my mind to go that way, but was told the track was dry. I’ll go with the gut instinct next time. In all of the rush to get out on the track the video was not turned on. It was set up and on but the record button was not pushed. Darn, it would have been a great video.
Again, thanks to all who came out to the A1GP and for watching our season opener with the US Touring Car Championships.
Next race: Mexicali, Mexico April 1-2.
Here are a few pic's, What it looked like at the start and 1 lap later.
Friday morning it was a very soggy drive to the track from Salinas. The hills surrounding Laguna Seca were covered in snow. We heard later that The Corkscrew was covered in snow in the morning, but we couldn’t see it from where we were. Our first practice was scheduled at 10:15am with the second at 2:15pm. At 9:00am we were told the1st practice is cancelled because the track is in bad shape from all of the rain. Some areas washed out, others have rivers of mud flowing over the rack. Some of the runout areas were also washed away leaving large ruts. Needless to say, the 2nd practice was canceled, but we were told to stay around. A practice was still a possibility. At 5:45pm we finally got the go-ahead for a 15 minute practice. The temperature was 42 degrees. This was my first time at Laguna Seca and I was a little nervous; cold track, cold tires, etc. On the pace lap under yellow, we lost one of our competitors off into the gravel at turn 6. This brought out the black flag. We all came into pit lane and waited. When the pace car led us out once again and the green flag was waved, we got 3 laps in and the session was over.
Saturday morning it was colder. When we got to the track we had snow in the paddock area. I don’t know the elevation but it can’t be more than 200-300 feet above sea level. Again the track was damaged from all of the evening’s rain. We were scheduled for 8:45am and 10:15am qualifying runs. At 8:39am they canceled the1st qualifying and it was rescheduled for 4:30pm. At 9:50am we were told we’re on in 10 minutes. We scrambled to get suited up and on the track. Wow what a track! I started out slow to learn the track and progressively got faster. Because there were still areas of water flowing over the track, our speeds were not where I’d have liked but by the end of the session I was feeling better and couldn’t wait for our next session at 4:30pm. At 4:00pm we were told our 2nd session was cancelled due to track maintenance. All was not lost however, we did get the chance to talk to many other MINI owners that come by. MSFIT stopped by and chatted for awhile.
Sunday was race day. It was pouring rain when we got to the track. We were scheduled to have warm-up at 8:45am. At this point I’m wondering which tires to use, dry or rain. At 8:00am we got the call that warm-up is cancelled. Now the race was scheduled at 11:15am. With the car up on jack stands we had both sets of tires ready. It looked like the skies were clearing up and the track drying out. All of the maintenance trucks were working on the track. At 9:50am the race director ran through the paddocks saying were going in 10 minutes (10:00am). With the dilemma of which tires, we went with the dry, as puffy white clouds and shining sun were overhead. All the other teams did the same. We gridded and went out on to the track for the pace lap. What seemed like moments later I think,”What was that, a rain drop on the windshield?” We got through turn 6 and I had to turn the windshield wipers on. When we came to the main straight for our standing start it was pouring. My position for the start was in a river of water crossing the track. The flag dropped, dumped the clutch and got nothing but wheel spin. I dropped it into second and lost the torque but accelerated just fine, keeping up with everyone as we went into turn 2. I thought for sure we would loose a few at that point but we all made it through T2 clean. By T5 it was raining heavy. Up through T6 and T7 it was hard to see and now it was time for The Corkscrew. A brown river was flowing down and across T8 and T8A. It maybe called the corkscrew but Sunday it should have been called the Slip and Slide. T9 is called Rainey Curve. Good name, because the rain caused a river to flow across the track just after the apex. T11 was coming up and it leads to the main straight. The caution flag was out, as a car went straight off at T11. This was all with one lap down and a full-course yellow was called. Three laps later we were green again and it was still raining. Not much else to say but more of the same as other cars made excursions in the gravel run-offs with other full-course yellows. We finished 12 out of 16. I should say we survived. We couldn’t hook up with the tires we had on. But everyone else also had dry tires on. I’m not sure if it was just the MINI, but when I would hit the two rivers of water flowing across the main straight it was like changing lanes; one time to the left, next time to the right. It was a real learning experience. I kick myself for not putting on the rain tires. It was right there in my mind to go that way, but was told the track was dry. I’ll go with the gut instinct next time. In all of the rush to get out on the track the video was not turned on. It was set up and on but the record button was not pushed. Darn, it would have been a great video.
Again, thanks to all who came out to the A1GP and for watching our season opener with the US Touring Car Championships.
Next race: Mexicali, Mexico April 1-2.
Here are a few pic's, What it looked like at the start and 1 lap later.
3rd Gear
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 291
Likes: 0
Rich,
Thanks for the race report.
Sounds like a very rare event at Laguna, snow and mud rivers.
Did Vesko Kozarov make down for the race?
How many cars in all were on track?
Mexico, no snow and a little warmer.
Do you know what the "street" track will look like?
And - congrualations on your Racetech award:
Good work
"Rich Peterson, owner and driver of the #58 The Bergman Companies/MINIdeck Motorsports MINI Cooper-S, will be presented with the 2005 Racetech Seats USTCC Promotional Award. This is the series' highest non-racing recognition award, given to the driver individual and/or team for their promotional contributions on and off the track towards the overall exposure and success of the series."
"...Rich Peterson, owner and driver of the #58 The Bergman Companies/MINIdeck Motorsports MINI Cooper-S, who along with family took on the road with their #58 MINI Cooper-S race car in tow for a non-stop promotional tour on top of their 2005 Hankook USTCC campaign. Look for Rich Peterson’s Racetech Seat clad MINI Cooper-S this up coming 2006 Hankook USTCC season."
Thanks for the race report.
Sounds like a very rare event at Laguna, snow and mud rivers.
Did Vesko Kozarov make down for the race?
How many cars in all were on track?
Mexico, no snow and a little warmer.
Do you know what the "street" track will look like?
And - congrualations on your Racetech award:
Good work
"Rich Peterson, owner and driver of the #58 The Bergman Companies/MINIdeck Motorsports MINI Cooper-S, will be presented with the 2005 Racetech Seats USTCC Promotional Award. This is the series' highest non-racing recognition award, given to the driver individual and/or team for their promotional contributions on and off the track towards the overall exposure and success of the series."
"...Rich Peterson, owner and driver of the #58 The Bergman Companies/MINIdeck Motorsports MINI Cooper-S, who along with family took on the road with their #58 MINI Cooper-S race car in tow for a non-stop promotional tour on top of their 2005 Hankook USTCC campaign. Look for Rich Peterson’s Racetech Seat clad MINI Cooper-S this up coming 2006 Hankook USTCC season."
6th Gear
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 3,957
Likes: 2
From: a canyon, south Bay Area
Rich, thanks for the fine report. I felt like I was there!
Sort of ironic... Laguna Seca, I believe, means dry lagoon, which it obviously was not
.
Congrats for finishing under such conditions, esp being your first time there!
Good thing your next race is not in Mexico City.... 6,200' . Again, thanks for sharing.
Sort of ironic... Laguna Seca, I believe, means dry lagoon, which it obviously was not
.Congrats for finishing under such conditions, esp being your first time there!
Good thing your next race is not in Mexico City.... 6,200'
. Again, thanks for sharing.
3rd Gear
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 162
Likes: 0
Hi Rich,
Sounds like a typical race weekend. Glad you survived. Good luck in Mexico. See you in May.
Congrats on the Racetech award.
(shameless plug) If you can make it out to the right coast, we're having a MINI owners gathering and BBQ at VIR in April. All are invited see my web site for details. www.nuzzomotorsports.com
Tony
Sounds like a typical race weekend. Glad you survived. Good luck in Mexico. See you in May.
Congrats on the Racetech award.
(shameless plug) If you can make it out to the right coast, we're having a MINI owners gathering and BBQ at VIR in April. All are invited see my web site for details. www.nuzzomotorsports.com
Tony
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