Race Weekend at BeaveRun Motorsports Complex

Hey there fellow trackhounds!

I realize that I just posted a blog for some of our June events that didn't include anything about our race weekend June 25-27!  We had an awesome weekend filled with adventure and quite a bit of drama (more so than I would have liked but that's racing...), so I thought that this topic deserved it's own post.  Our most recent stop on the racing schedule brought us to BeaveRun Motorsports Complex in Wampum, PA (about 40 minutes north of Pittsburgh, PA - my hometown!).  The 12-turn winding road course is a challenging circuit filled with sweeping curves, tight corners, and two straights long enough to get some serious speed.  Turn 9 is a high speed corner and can be taken flat out for those with "large attachments" (stealing a quote from David Hobbs).  I had never driven this track so it was was fun learning a new circuit, but made for added work to prepare for racing.  One thing working in my favor was that NASA GreatLakes has not raced at BeaveRun in 4 years so the track would be new to many (but not all) of my competitors.

IARG's Doug Livingston (crew chief) and Geoff Eaton (crew and data) made the trip, providing excellent support and camaraderie for the race weekend.  Things got off to a bit of a bumpy start.  Pulling out of Indy we were rear-ended while sitting at a stop light less that a quarter mile from the I465.  Fortunately it was a low speed impact.  The rear trailer door sustained some damage which was not cool, but the trailer contents were unharmed.  It was hot waiting for the police and the incident report.  In the end we lost 2 hours getting underway which was bogus.  Regardless, Doug managed good time to Beaver Falls, PA.  We pulled in with plenty of time to get checked into our hotel and get a good night's sleep.

 Friday was a testing day for the #09 IARG/Project 6 Racing BMW Z3 M-Coupe.  NASA had not rented the track for Friday testing.  Instead we hooked up with John Wojnar and the Viper Club of Ohio that were hosting an open lapping day.  Great group of folks who play well in traffic.  :-)  The day was productive working on car setup and learning the fast way around the track.  As this was my first trip to BeaveRun I was on a steep learning curve.  Many thanks to John for introducing me to Grand Am driver Jim and Kathy Stout.  Jim took me for a ride in one of the Stout's Competition Viper Coupes.  Just a few laps with Jim greatly accelerated my preparation for the race weekend.  One thing that did crop up on Friday was an electrical gremlin that caused sporadic misfiring.  Doug made a quick fix that kept us on the track, but this issue would resurface later in the weekend.

Overall we were quick, improving our lap time by over 12 sec through the course of the day.  We finished the day with a track walk to better scope out track/corner conditions and discuss race strategy.  This is the time when Doug and I really get to the details of a race.  To anyone doing track events (whether HPDE, open lapping, time trial or racing) the "track walk" is a key part of driver preparation.  Think of it like this; you would study before taking a test when you were in school right?  So why would you not study when preparing to race?  Much can be gained (visual markers, surface condition, camber, elevation, etc...) by standing on the track looking at all aspects of a corner, something you can't do driving the corner at speed.  With some helpful nuggets of knowledge from our walk we headed out for a well deserved beer and dinner.  It was during this time that the NASA group began to roll in and assemble.  The scene is kinda like when a concert or the circus comes to town...  :-)

Saturday we arrived at the track and quickly got prepared for our race day.  Given the results of Friday I was confident that we would race well, but being a newcomer to the GTS-3 classification I still didn't have a good index of where we stood versus the competition.  Doug did an excellent job and had the car prepared perfectly.  We were scheduled to race in the Thunder Race Group, which consisted of the Super Touring (ST) , American Iron/American Iron Extreme (AI/AIX), Camero-Mustang Challenge (CMC), Factory Five (FF), and German Touring Series Challenge (GTS) race series.  Following a morning practice checking track conditions, and testing the extra nuggets from the track walk, we were set to qualify.  With a set of sticker Hoosier A6 tires we qualified 4th in class and 16th overall in heavy traffic with a total field of 30 cars.

The race proved to be one for the archives.  Doug called an excellent race!  With the exception of one mistake (a mis-shift), I drove the best race of my life.  At one point I put the #09 IARG/P6 car to the front, leading the GTS-3 classification.  Unfortunately our electrical gremlin (possibly a sensor or ECU issue as the stock engine temp gauge was pegged while our oil temp, oil pressure and water temp gauges all read normal) caused engine overheating and made me back off a bit resulting in losing 2 positions.  To make matters far worse as I was battling to maintain 3rd position in class a GTS-4 Porsche decided to get racey with me on the final lap of the race.  The guy put his nose in too deep and hot into Turn 1, lost it and hit me.  The impact sent the Porsche off track and out of the race, but left me with an injured car (some body panel damage and knocked the toe out on the left side rear wheel) to pilot for the remainder of the lap all while being hounded by a GTS-3 BMW M3 (the white/blue one pictured in 3rd place above).  The car and rear wheel (the left rear tire sidewall was cut into the cords from the body panel rubbing) held together long enough for me to bring it across the finish line.  You can check out the race video by following these links:  Part 1 (start and mid race) and Part 2 (close battles and finish)

When the race was over we had finished 3rd in class and 6th overall!  Getting a podium under these conditions was an excellent result for the team!  I must say I was really proud of the work that Doug and Geoff had done giving me a car that I could drive to the front!  The results told us and everyone that we were a team to keep an eye on.  Making the podium was SWEET, especially considering our performance at Putnam Park just 4 weeks prior.  Unfortunately, Doug and Geoff had no time for celebration and worked hard to get the body work and the rear suspension repaired in time to race on Sunday.  Worse yet, the overheating issue crept up again on Sunday during qualifying and the car simply shut down and would not re-fire (no the motor did not go kurblamo!).  We packed up and headed home high on confidence about the our race performance, but concerned as to what was broken in the car.

So that is about it.  Currently Doug is working to diagnose and fix the car to get it ready for our race weekend at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Park the end of July.  I am confident that Doug will get the car repaired and ready to do battle!  I am excited to repeat our performance from BeaveRun this time at Mid-Ohio.  Our biggest problem remains financial.  If you like what you see and read consider sponsoring our program.  Visit our website today and pledge your support!  You will get a team shirt and proceeds will go to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.  Your support will keep us racing and go to finding a cure for diabetes!  Many thanks to all that have joined our effort this season!

Until the next post...

Cheers!
Michael S.

A busy June for IARG/P6 Racing!

Well folks June continued to heat up both with ambient temperatures climbing and with our race program!

Most recently our on-track adventure has taken us back to Putnam Park Road Course for a day of testing on June 18th.  The format was a Friday "open lapping" day with instructors for the Bluegrass Chapter of the BMWCCA.  Really a great group of people out of the great state of KY.  The focus of the day was on suspension setup.  It was crazy hot that day with a heat index of 96F which tested both the car and my fitness.  Fortunately the off-season training prepared me physically for being in the car for extended periods of time in high temperatures.  The experience also taught me about how important mental conditioning is as well, since it was stifling hot which made even breathing difficult much less driving a race car at speed.  I was able to spend more than 2 continuous hours in the car without exiting before lunch.  During the lunch break Doug, Calvin and Geoff adjusted the rear by changing to a softer set of springs and made a few adjustments to the front camber and shock settings all around.  Through the course of the day we made numerous runs and made significant progress in getting the car set up.  Indeed, we were by far the fastest car on track.  Here is a small clip of the action (note the helmet hook as an ad hoc gyroscope).

We left the track overheated and exhausted but with a good feeling about the progress that we had made during the day.  Most importantly we had gained a lot of confidence heading into our next race weekend at BeaveRun Motorsports Complex.  The car setup was working well, the motor had great power, and I was able to drive the car hard with confidence.  Again a great job by International AutoSport Racing Group for making such big improvements in such a short timeframe to get us ready to race.

 Next on the weekend schedule was a benefit fund raiser sponsored by IARG/Project6 Racing for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF).  The event was held at Sun King Brewing in downtown Indianapolis on Saturday June 19th and featured a pork barbecue from Ron Harris of Locally Grown Gardens, beer from Sun King Brewing and music from recording artist Cari Ray.  First, I must say that our sponsorship supporters really went all out for this event.  After a day of intense track time just 24 hours earlier, International AutoSport Racing got the car cleaned, shipped and prepared for the event in all of its glory.  Sarah from the JDRF and a few volunteers explained to the crowd the mission of the JDRF, and the racing sponsorship program.  Clay and the guys at Sun King Brewing had some awesome beers on tap.  Given that temperatures were again around 90F nothing was better than a nice cold Osiris Pale Ale (which is available locally in Indianapolis in cans from retail distributors).  This brew matched perfectly with the awesome pulled pork shoulder barbecue.  It was food and drink that was good for the body and soul...

 In preparation for racing in the high temperatures and humidity of the midwest, I have been training with Abby Fox (owner of Abby Fox Fitness) who is regarded as one of the best personal trainers in the Indianapolis area. Abby was on location at the Sun King Brewery concert event showing her support for me and the racing program signing autographs and pictures for the fans.  She has a tremendous amount of positive energy and generates a lot of attention wherever she goes (which is understandable...). 

We had a nice crowd given the high heat index, although with fund raisers there can never be enough people in attendance.  Several people joined our effort and bought signature decals.  Remember that the checkerboard hood is not just a design, but it’s so much more than that.  Each of those squares is a space available for anyone’s name who pledges or makes a donation to the JDRF through our organization. So far we’ve had a great response, but we’re always looking for more. It couldn’t go towards a more noble cause. You can find more information on securing your spot on the hood for upcoming races at our website or by attending one of our upcoming benefit concerts.  So listen people follow our website posts for events and get out there and show your support!  We can't do it alone!

But I digress...  As I was saying, Cari and her band got the music jamming around 5:30 pm and played two sets.  Cari Ray has been featured on radio stations throughout the Midwest and has been compared to the likes of Sheryl Crow. She put on an awesome show and really capped off the event.  Her bluesy/alt country version of Depeche Mode's "Personal Jesus" caught a lot of attention from those in attendance that were unfamiliar with her work and opened the door exposing these new fans to her original music.  The band's sound was great and all that one could see were feet tapping and rear ends shaking.  ;-)  Everyone that attended had a great time and said that they could not wait until our next event.  Incidentally we are targeting a date sometime in August.  Stay tuned for more info...  So that wrapped up a crazy busy weekend with both on- and off-track activities for the race team.  It was fun, but we had to quickly refocus our efforts for the following race weekend...  Yes, June wrapped up with a race weekend!  This time we traveled to BeaveRun Motorsports Complex located about 40 minutes north of Pittsburgh, PA (my hometown!).  But that is the topic of the next blog...  :-)

All the best to you!  Cheers!
Michael S

Debut Weekend at Putnam Park Road Course

 It has been a little while since I have posted.  Since the last post a lot has happened with our race program.  Our website went live a few weeks ago.  Go to http://internationalautosportracinggroup.com/ and check out what we have put together.  Most importantly, we got our new motor from Fletcher Made Horsepower.  Doug Livingston and International AutoSport got the car assembled in time to make the NASA Races at Putnam Park Road Course on May 15-17.  He spent many days and nights pushing to make it happen.  We were fortunate to have the added help from Geoff Eaton (crew and data), Calvin Krug (crew) and Bob Young (towing).  A true herculean effort to make getting the car on track and running the whole weekend without anything breaking.  It was completely amazing to witness as the weekend began to unfold.  These guys really pulled out all the stops and gave 100%.

Friday was a test and tune day which was good because the 9:00 am test session was the first time that I had strapped into the car in 2010.  Since the offseason everything except brakes, differential, transmission, wheels, body panels, pedals mirrors and the steering wheel have been modified or changed out completely.  So I was basically driving a totally new car.  The day was a tough one at that track that day running the shakedown and breaking in the new engine.  The setup really needed more track time, but we made good progress each session.  The day ended early as we needed to update our dyno numbers in order to race the next day.  In addition, we needed to pick up 2 new sets of hoosiers for the weekend and still make it to our dyno appointment.  Bob Young stepped up and towed the car so that I could make the dyno, while Doug picked up the weekend's rubber.  Turns out that our Fletcher Built Horsepower really improved motor performance (and the motor is not maximally tweaked with the magic of Chris Fletcher).  Dyno results were completely unexpected, as with the motor build from Chris Fletcher we picked up 34 hp and 30 ftlbs torque over last season.  Numbers like these created quite a dilemma.  At the new ratings we would need 1000 lbs of ballast in addition to my weight in order to make specs for GTS2.  So we decided to remove 400 lbs of ballast that was in the car and bumped the car to GTS3 (which is the class we will race the rest of this season).  Not what we planned for the season, but I am learning to expect the unexpected.

Saturday was race day 1.  We had a great crowd and a number of our team supporters showed up to cheer us on.  The day started dry, but it would end up raining in the mid-afternoon before the race.  Morning practice was rough as we continued to get the car prepared.  The improvements showed in qualifying and we put the car in the show mid-field in GTS with a 1:19:01.  While lap was the first sign of the car's potential, I know we have another 2-2.5 seconds in the car once we get the setup figured out.  Our upbeat mood was tempered when the rains came in the early afternoon.  The track began to dry out and again we were left in a dilemma as to tire selection.  Anticipating a drying track, Doug made the call and sent me out on slicks, as did most of the 54 car field (overall across all race series/classes competing in the race group).  The race was quite an adventure for everyone as the track was as slick as a hockey ring.  It quickly became a apparent that the goal was to simply complete the race and bring the car home in one piece.  During the race I had 2 spins and we finished at the bottom of the GTS field.  I was disappointed at where we finished, but realized that we crossed the finish line without contact or crashing; which considering the conditions was an accomplishment that many of my competitors could not claim.  Given that the car was in pieces 36 hrs prior to the race, and that I had a total of 2 hrs of testing, finishing our first race of the season felt like we had made the podium.

Sunday was the second race day, and again weather would play a significant role in the outcome of the day.  Heavy rains Saturday made the track green on Sunday.  Moreover, the Saturday race had taken a toll and fielded 36 cars.  Although it was dry and sunny the times were slower in qualifying due to green track conditions.  However, I improved my qualifying position by 2 spots over the previous day.  Qualifying was promising and I was gaining confidence and getting acclimated to the car.  Fate as it would have it had a different plan and the Sunday race would start dry but end in a rain of biblical proportions.  As we were preparing on the grid for the race the skies clouded up and smelled of rain.  We had a great start gaining 3 positions on the first lap.  In the early part of the race we held our own as the car handled well enough for me to be quite aggressive.  Then mid-race it started to rain quite hard just as I was navigating the Turn 9 and 10 complex.  My Hoosiers quickly aquaplaned and I nearly put the car into the wall at the exit of turn 10.  Immediately Doug radioed me to nurse the car around the track and take it to the pits.  Indeed, before I crossed start/finish the skies completely opened up into a massive rainstorm.  There was nothing to be gained staying on track under those conditions on slicks except crashing the car so I babied it around the track and put the car straight into the trailer.  The DNF was not the way that I wanted to end the weekend, but was most certainly the correct call.

At the close of the weekend the team gathered and recognized that while we have a lot of work to do this season we had accomplished our goal of competing at Putnam Park.  Many thanks to all the folks that helped make this happen (Doug, Calvin, Bob, and Geoff) and to our supporters.  We are on schedule with making some suspension modifications that will greatly improve rear grip and are making adjustments to the car in preparation to compete in the GTS3 classification.  We will get the #09 BMW Z3 MCoupe to the front this season.

Our next race weekend is June 25-27 at BeaveRun MotorSports Complex (http://www.beaverun.com/) located about 1 hr north of Pittsburgh, PA (my old hometown!).  If you are in the Pittsburgh or Cleveland area come down to the track, say hello and spend a Saturday or Sunday enjoying some sports car racing.  The weekend will be challenging as NASA GreatLakes/MidWest region has not raced on this circuit before.  Therefore, most competitors will be working through the same experiments with car setup that will face us.  We are just going to need to be the fastest at getting the correct setup.

Until the next post...

MS

Preparation for Season Opener

Hey there folks,

Well the season for IARG/Project6 racing got off to a bumpy start in 2010.  All was set for racing at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Park April 9-11.  Doug was busy getting the car together and was on schedule.  Well that was the case until our motor had not shipped from the builder on April 5th.  Given the timeline to the race weekend we decided to withdraw from the races at Mid-Ohio.  Big disappointment for both of us not only from the expenses incurred but the loss of potential championship points.  A big bummer to say the least, but "that's racing".  Nothing we can do about it except live with it and move on.  Now we are preparing for the races May 14-16 at Putnam Park Road Course a 1.78 mile, 10 turn road course in Mt. Meridian, IN (west of Indianapolis).  As this is my home track I really want to have a strong showing that weekend.

So we are making the best of the cards that we have been dealt and getting on with our program.   The motor shipped this week and we are anticipating the car reassembly to be completed sometime next week.  Then the real work preparing for the races in May will begin.  We have scheduled 2 days for shakedown and testing of the car (and to knock the dust off the driver...) May 8-9 with 10/10ths Motorsports.  The schedule will be jam packed with getting the car drivable on Saturday. 

A very exciting development is that ALMS GT2 Team Falken Tire driver Bryan Sellers will be working with us.  I am totally stoked about learning as much as I can from Bryan on driver preparation and how to improve my performance behind the wheel.  It should prove to be an awesome 1:1 experience.

Following the test weekend we then move quickly to a race weekend May 14-16 at Putnam Park Road Course.  There we will get the first look at the translation of off-season modifications to performance when it counts.  Stay tuned for the next post where I will jaw about the car shakedown and test.  It should prove to be a very interesting month of May 2010 here in Indianapolis.

Lastly, I would like to give a shout out to Steve Wu and the folks at OG Racing.  Check 'em out.

Until the next post...

M

IARG/Project6 Racing Charity Fundraiser Program

Greetings to all of you sports car fans in cyberland...

The focus of my post today will be something very exciting that has recently come together for the 2010 season.  IARG/Project6 Racing has initiated a fund-raising campaign for the Indiana chapter of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF), an international organization supporting advocacy, public outreach programs and research grants to find a cure for diabetes.  The goal of the our campaign is to generate donations to the JDRF through our racing program.  I am particularly excited about the opportunity to work with the JDRF this season as I believe that the race program will raise significant revenue for the foundation.

So now you might ask: how does the program work?  There are two methods by which an individual may donate to the JDRF.

1. Join the "Laps To Cure Diabetes" program.  The "Laps" sponsorship provides a 100% donation to the JDRF.  A per race lap donation is pledged by the sponsor.  The donation can be for a single race, race weekend, or the entire season.  Race formats are either 30 min (complete approximately 18-20 laps depending on the track) or 50 min (complete approximately 28-30 laps depending on the track), with no pit stops.  If you need to pit during a sprint race you are finished.  For the 2010 season IARG/Project6 Racing has one race weekend per month from April-Oct (total of 7 weekends).  Each weekend generally consists of 2-3 races, typically two 30 min and one 50 min sprint race.  Race results (including overall and class finishes, fastest lap, and number of laps completed) are published on Mylaps.com throughout the season.  I am personally participating in the "Laps" program and I hope that you consider sponsoring this program as well. 
2. The second method of sponsorship is to purchase a signature decal(s) on the race car (red and white squares on the hood below) and 20% of the proceeds will be donated to the JDRF.  Decals are $200 (US)/decal.  Your signature will be on a block on the car (if you can get to Indianapolis then you sign directly on the car, if not then a decal signature will be put on the car).  The support from your donation by purchasing a signature decal is that the sponsorship dollars will help the JDRF, and will help keep me racing.  The more race laps completed the more money will be generated by the "Laps To Cure Diabetes" program (more races = more laps = more $$$ for the JDRF!).  

 

If you would like to support the JDRF program please contact me and i will send you the forms for the sponsorship application.  Together we can really make a difference in the lives of children living with diabetes.

Until the next post.  

All the best...

Kickoff of IARG/Project6 Racing Official Blog

Greetings and Salutations!

Welcome to the International Autosport Racing Group/Project6 Racing Team blog. Let me introduce myself. During the work week I am Mike Statnick, Ph.D. a research scientist working to discover new medications for the treatment of metabolic diseases including diabetes. Outside of the laboratory, I am Mike Statnick a club racer in pursuit of a motorsports dream - to compete in the 2014 Rolex 24 at Daytona. This blog will chronicle my journey, and take you along for the ride. I intend to focus posts on everything from driver and car development, to race weekend reviews, to events hosted by IARG/Project6 Racing, and of course to the sponsors supporting our program.

So put on your helmet and tighten your safety belts, it may get a little rough at times...

The journey begins at the start of the 2010 NASA Racing Season where I race in the Great Lakes/Midwest Chapter competing in the German Touring Series. However, the quest to compete in the Rolex 24 at Daytona began to reveal itself to me toward the end of my rookie season in 2009.

I have been a long-time fan of German sports cars, and as such had a bone stock 2000 BMW Z3 MCoupe converted over the years into a fully prepared race car. The race car design and build is the creation of Doug Livingston, owner of International Autosport Racing Group, who represents the other half of the IARG/Project6 Racing Program. Along with development, maintenance, and setup of the car, Doug is my crew-chief who makes the calls on race weekends. Doug has an extensive background in professional sports car racing that started in 1994 when he was a member on Ferrari's American LeMans Series racing crew, and continues today with teams in the Grand Am Racing Series. He has been a valuable friend and guide on my development in racing. Yes indeed, we are a bare bones, small budget, two man team, but we have big goals and play hard when the flag drops.

The first race weekend of the 2010 season is April 9-11 at the famous Mid-Ohio Sports Car Park. We have exactly 26 days, 5 hours, and 58 minutes to finish the off-season rebuild of the car, load up and head out to Lexington, OH. Its going to be an action packed month!

This winter our efforts were focused on four goals: forming the race team, securing sponsorships (which of course is ongoing), continuing car development, and improving driver fitness. We made some pretty good progress on all of these goals. First, we incorporated the team and called the program Project 6, since the effort will require the support of everyone we know, and as you know there are only "six degrees of separation" between anyone on earth. So we would like to start off by "buying the world a coke" (or should I say beer?) and connecting with everyone. The past several months we met some great people and businesses that were interested in sponsoring our program. A number of great people have purchased and signed 3" x 5" decals that are on the car (we have these available to anyone). Current businesses supporting IARG/Project6 Racing include Zionsville Autosport, Sun King Brewery, CARi RAY, MCoupe.com and Clear Skies Consulting. In conjunction with the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (Indiana Chapter) we have developed a campaign to raise money and awareness for the treatment of childhood diabetes (more on the JDRF program in the next post). Thanks to this support we have been able to continue car development. I am very happy to announce that as a result of sponsorships we will kick off the season with a rebuilt engine, improved engine cooling system, new suspension components, and data acquisition system.

The last achievement was improving driver fitness and sensitivity to heat stress. My personal trainer Abby Fox, owner of Abby Fox Fitness, has pushed me to my physical limits. Our training started in September '09 with a focus on improving body strength, aerobic conditioning and resistance to heat stress. Training with Abby twice per week then additional days on my own has transformed me, and made me as fit as I can be at the age of 44. Now just 26 days, 4 hours, and 38 min until we find out where we stand against the competition.

So that is where we start the adventure of IARG/Project6 Racing. Many thanks to all of you out there that have helped us make this possible!

Cheers... M