Wed Sep 4
We ran only two cars at Watkins Glen, Colby's Mecca Corvette, and Clair's #37. Clair, Alan and Edward got to the Syracuse Airport and into a rent car on time, but got to the track too late to make the first session - Edward took Colby's car out for the second and last session of the day, and Clair took his car out. Clair was not fast out of the box, but to no one's surprise, Edward was!
Edward and Luke decided to stay and work on the cars while the rest of us went for the historic Seneca Lodge for a few beers and dinner.
Thurs Sep 5
Edward drove both cars, on Thursday. Alan drove one session and got in four laps. He got down to a 2:12, each lap faster than the last, but he needed to keep that up for about four more laps. All of us rank Watkins Glen as our favorite track of all time. Edward just blew away Clair and Alan. The gap here was more than anywhere else we run, and both Clair and Alan were determined to close that gap substantially, but that might just be dreaming.
Edward in 11A and Clair in his #37 Thursday morning, the second test day.
All of us ate dinner at the lodge. L-R Alan, Colby, Edward and Clair. Colby hadn't taken his car out yet, but he planned on running Friday morning.
Fri Sep 6
Colby was in his car and Alan in the 37 car for the first practice session. Colby had never driven at Watkins Glen, and asked Alan to wait for him and lead him around, which Alan was happy to do, but as they approached Turn 12, Colby passed him! Later he said he got his foot stuck between the tunnel and the throttle and just steered around Alan to avoid hitting him! It wasn't really a pass!
Left image below is the last Group 6 practice session. That is Edward driving Clair's car. On the right is the right rear tire he ran on when he set this time. This is the same car in which Alan ran a fastest lap of 2:12. Unbelievable.
After the session Colby decided he preferred watching Edward run his car more than he enjoyed driving it himself, so it was Edward's car for the weekend.
It rained in the late afternoon, so we all stayed at the track and ate at Regogo's fish fry.
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