Thursday morning :
with all the rigs arriving at VIR as you read this, excitement and anticipation is in the air. New cars debuting this weekend, lots of intrigue and sub plots throughout the paddock, great event coming up, as this race has always been a show case event on the Koni schedule.
Please allow me to Congratulate Christian Miller on winning the drivers Championship ! ( just realised all he has to do, with 28 ST starters, is take the green flag and he has won the title, no matter what the Subi does).
Excellent driving all year long by this young gun talent. Kudos to Karl for creating and managing an incredible Koni campaign. And to the Jedi Master (who's been there, done that, so many times )
Compass can even start and park CM, begin the partying while the 4 Hour race goes on, saving  the wear & tear on the #74, and the $$.
Or, maybe qualy and start Randy, bring him in one lap one and let CM drive the entire 3:57 left in the race, like back in the day ...
These guys earned their Championship, they can play it however they want.
Anyone already there please provide some behind the scenes reports before Sunday's race ...
looking foward to meeting a few of you on Saturday /Sunday.
 

Sportswriter wrote: Or, maybe qualy and start Randy, bring him in one lap one and let CM drive the entire 3:57 left in the race, like back in the day ...

Lets hope Compass avoids that stratagy.  Rule book says -  3 hour maximum consecutive driving time.  

Today is a test day for SCCAs MX-5 guys. No KONI today. Move in is in the morning. Cars on track starting at 1:00 PM.


Joe

Sportswriter, thanks for the kind words.

But it's not over 'till it's over. And we will be going flat out just like we have all year. Yes, Christian has to be smart, but it would be great to finish his great year on a high note and get on the podium.

There's more to play for. We're aiming to keep Randy in third place in the Driver's Championship, and if #75 can finish two points ahead of the wicked-fast #181, we can take third in the Team's championship as well. Just like our 1-2-3 sweep at New Jersey, if memory serves, no team has had two cars in the top three at season end before.

And our #76 car sits eigth in the points. If we can make up the 19 points defecit to #171 (hmmm, there's that VW team again!), we can end the year with all three cars as Pacesetters. That would be quite an achievement.

So, we've brought our ringers along. I'm not sure how the driver line-ups will actually play out, but at the moment Chris and Randy will be in #74, I will share #75 with last year's Champ Jamie Holtom, while #76 will be helmed by former Canadian Touring Car Champion Scott Nicol and Jack Baruth.

Like all the teams at the sharp end of the KONI stick, we are fiercely competitive, and we're doing everything we can to finish off the year in style. Heck, I even rented garages ;-)

-k-

-k-  ;
Lest people start thinking you have won the Lotto or, lost your mind, let it be known those garages each have nice accomodations with a bath upstairs ... so,  you won't have to rent the crew hotel rooms. 
and, thanks for the detailed response, that's what makes the Koni Series special, where a team owner comes on this board to report the race plan for the weekend 
Looks like the #75 will be up front, as CM and the Jedi Master in the #74 ain't messin with those two drivers, then, we all know the APR cars will be up front, as will the Subi.

just heard that DerekFSU just signed  their own ringer to co- drive the Freedom #146,  Mark Pombo, now on board, will be flyin in that blue rocket ship along with the proven ace  young gun, Andrew Carbonell  ... 
oh, and please keep Randy a minimum of 2 car lengths away from 'Thomas Largo'   at all times, never seen the Jedi Master so @%#&# off in 15 years, as he was at Utah ...


best of luck and good racin to all






This post edited by sportswriter on 10-01-2009, 11:02 PM EST

There's a thought -- what happens if Mr. Miller starts, but gets Terminally Wrecked, say, two minutes in? Does a driver have to complete a minimum number of laps to earn points? [NOTE: This is a Serious Question.]

But then, How Likely Is *That* To Happen?

[Thunder, Distant Rumble Of, 1 ea.]

>:)


This post edited by csadn on 10-03-2009, 2:43 AM EST

how bout them GS Muscle cars?  man, its gonna be awesome!

GA posted two nice pictures of the cars. They look great! They should of had the camaro next to the dodge so we could see a little more of it. I can't believe this race isn't even televised

Update from the track:

Camaro in the garage more then on track. At times the team closed the door to the garage. Word is suspension issues. 
The Dodge also saw the garage more then the track, ending the day with major motor issues and could be done for the weekend.  
TRG car lubricated the track twice in the last session limiting track time during big clean up. 
APR fast in first session but may have added some sand later in the day.
 
Joe

What a shame that this event isn't televised.  I understand the reasons, but it doens't ease the pain for those of us who can't be there in person!

I hope there's a great turnout at VIR this weekend and that the weather is good for those of you who could make it.  My next door neighbor's daughter is getting married at noon tomorrow, so I won't even be able to monitor live timing and scoring. 

I appreciate the updates, and I'm anxious to see how the new "throwback" GS cars will qualify!

It should be like most other Koni events, a terrific race!

Saturday AM - first practice session and Mustang, Porsche and BMW are all already under the track record. all the mustangs are fast ...  three BMW's in the hunt, Shawn the Sheep (Lamb) late flyer to get within .5 of Auberlen, impressive  ...
joe-disco is right ; the Camaro needs suspension and set up development , bleacher view shows car don't turn in / rotate good, loose out, 2.8 sec off the pace, not bad, to be expected on it's maiden voyage, vs cars that have been ultra developed for many seasons. Looks like the Challenger may not make it for the race, motor issues, more development ($$$) needed there, all part of the drill in getting these cars ready for 2010.
ST official 1st practice coming up ....
 

This post edited by sportswriter on 10-03-2009, 10:53 AM EST