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Race Report Buttonwillow 3hr Enduro 6-27-09
By: Dr. Karen Salvagio
Buttonwillow Race Report: 3 Hour Enduro
Dr. Karen Salvaggio
This would be my first return ride in the GTM-R since my early track session with her in 2008. I had been watching these guys month after month work the car over last year, and had the opportunity to work with them over the last two years as teammates in the 25 Hours pits, so it was with great anticipation that I arrived at the track ready to get behind the wheel of the GTM-R and compete in the 3 Hour Enduro.
The team arrived at the track on Friday evening with what has become their usual hallmark: 1) A very well-prepared car, and 2) a sense of joy and enthusiasm for this car that is simply boundless. This was a 3 Hour enduro, and race plan would be for GTM-R regular Chris Durbin to qualify the car and then for him and I to split the race time, with me taking the green and Chris bringing her home. I was looking forward to some coaching from Chris before taking her out for some test sessions, but alas, that was not to be….
The chance to jump into the GTM-R came much sooner than expected, when Richard tells me, “Karen, you'll be qualifying the car, get your helmet.” Well all-righty then….The interesting thing about that was the fact that I was also instructor driving this weekend. Fellow FFR Cobra (roadster) owner John Tongish was signed up for HPDE, and I would be his instructor. HPDE session was slated in just ahead of the GTM-R qualifying, so the plan was for the GTM-R crew to get the car to grid and stage behind the trucks. I would ride with John and we would come in a couple of laps early, I'd jump out and strap in the GTM-R...Well, that all went out the window when, due to so many accidents, tows and off's in the previous race sessions, that John's session was cut by almost 6 minutes...Yikes! The course is open for Race Group B, and we're still just getting to Cotton Corners!!! John did a great job of getting me to grid a quickly as he could (without getting a black flag himself), but by the time I was strapped in and ready to go, the entire field was out....Got to run a few pretty good laps, but traffic was an extreme issue every single lap, so the best I could do was a meager 2:09:xx. I knew there was a lot more there, but that would have to wait for the race...We would start 6th on grid. Chris gets there in the late afternoon (yea!) and we spend some time strategizing, discussing gear choices and overall race strategy. BTW, I had met Chris on several of his other performances in driving the GTM-R, and was truly looking forward to running this race with him as his co-driver. His mentoring, coaching, and as an added bonus, keen sense of humor, made this ride all the more fun! Thanks Chris!!!
The remainder of the day is pretty much a blur....Qualify my FFR for the Saturday afternoon race, instructor drive 3 more times, race, and then do what little I could to see that the FFR BBQ was going off (thanks to so many of our local FFROG's who came out!!! Food and fun was abundant). We had 15 owners/builders/drivers there, and it was quite a sight!!! Oh, and did I say, all of this was in 109 degree heat!!! Kudos to everyone who braved the heat both on and off the track that day!!!
So race start, and I'm pounding down water and actually feeling pretty good. Richard, (who's constant encouragement and belief in my skills pretty much made me feel like Wonder Woman :>) gives me the final race strategy....Dispatch BMW's quickly (check), and keep the trucks in striking distance (check, check), and oh ya, have so much fun the smile won't come off your face for days! (check, check, check).....When the green falls, it's a tight pack, and within pretty short order, the Beemers are behind us and we're running with the Pro Trucks.
The GTM-R's awesome handling is simply no match for them, and while they are HP kings, it quickly became clear that we could not only run with them, but hey, I think I can take that blue truck. So I set off to run him down, and once I make the pass, I just stay focused on the gray truck and keep him in check. As the race wears on, I begin to feel the effects of the massive heat of the day.....Ted's steady and upbeat voice on the radio are keeping me well informed on the action on the track, and I'm having the ride of my life!!!
At 45 minutes in, I let Ted know that the heat (which I now believe was radiating as much from my overheated body as from the car/track) was really getting intense. He tells me we've moved up to P2, and to hang in there as they were getting Chris ready, and that we'd fuel and do driver change after the full course yellow. Ted gives me the call, and this team does a driver change and refuels in less than 1 minute!!! I unstrapped, and the next thing I know, I'm out of the car! Nice work guys!!! Turned a 2:04 XX in my race session, so overall pretty pleased!
Chris gets in and quickly moves the car back up through the field, and within the hour, we're at P1....I spend the rest of the race up on the tower with Ted, Jim, and Kevin, or just watching the action with Richard, all the while cheering on Chris and watching the competition come in for several fuel and tires stops, while we just keep running and running.
When the checkered flag fell, there were joyous shouts, hooting and a sense of true accomplishment throughout the team... Lucky Dawg (me) had the chance of a lifetime to be a part of this awesome effort, and to drive the coolest car on the planet!!!
Sincere and big thanks to Richard for believing in me and giving me the opportunity to drive his baby! And to Chris...You 'da Man!!! You did an outstanding job behind the wheel, and it's obvious that this team and you are a perfect match!!!...Thanks for taking it on and bringing it home for us!!!!
Special thanks to Ted for his encouragement and steady voice on the radio, and to Don who is a wealth of knowledge, and has helped me to an immeasurable degree in improving my skills and perfecting the machines I drive!!
This entire team is a phenomenon, and if the other teams were out there having half the fun (and the success) that this team is having, they'd be very fortunate indeed......But, in keeping with tradition, the ultimate test of the weekend's success for this team is measured in where we were on the "Fun Meter." Well, we broke it again guys, and as actor Chevy Chase (Vacation) would say, "It's gonna take a plastic surgeon to wipe the smile off my face!" Yes, it was a very good weekend!! Thanks again guys, and best of luck in your next adventure!
