FFCS at Watkins Glen
October 8, 2018
This was my second race weekend racing with the Formula Ford Challenge Series, and my first time ever racing at Watkins Glen. I made the venture with my Dad (team owner) and 5 year old son (crew chief). It was a track I has been going to as a spectator since I was younger than my son, and was surreal to finally be racing on it myself. We were 1 of 6 Canadian cars that made the trek south along with Brian Graham, Steve Wagland, Brent McPhail, Paul Hollister, and Ed Luce
I got thrown into the deep end right away, in a field of 42 cars, mixed from early vintage fords, to late 80's tweeners. I qualified 3rd for the Friday afternoon race. In the race, we had a 5 car breakaway. I managed to stick myself in 4th place for the entire race and watch, use it as a learning session and find out where to pass, get my shift points right, find the fastest line. The win went to Andrew Graham.
Saturday morning, we were met with some threatening weather. Early morning race, we managed to get out on the track before the rain hit. As we come around to the start of the race, there's a slick flag at the starters stand with the green flag...oil in turn 1?....instead, we were met with a wall of water as we crossed the starters stand (now my first Formula Ford wet race). Everyone fans out, and tries to find their way through turn 1 without seeing. Up to the top of the esses, the rain stops! These bizarre conditions continued for the entire race. I managed to stick with the leaders in 4th, with the win going to Doug Voss.
For the second race Saturday, it was now a full wet race, and somehow I set the fastest lap in the morning and started pole. With no confidence at all going into turn 1 in the wet from the lead, I quickly fell from 1st to 4th. I made my way back up to 2nd by the inner loop, and touched the rumbles ever so slightly, which pitched the car around a full 360, thankfully by myself and no contact with anything or anyone. After my VRG enforced stop and go in pit lane, I used the rest of the session as a learning session in the wet, slowly moving myself back up to 8th. Win again to Doug Voss.
For the feature race that afternoon, I felt like I finally had the confidence and speed to race the leaders. Quickly off the start, there was a 4 car break away between myself, Doug Voss, Michael Hummel, and Joe Griffin. After a couple laps, Michael fell off, and it was a 3 car battle for the remainder of the race. There were multiple passes all around the track every lap, with all of us taking a turn at the lead. I have never been in such a respectful, trusting, fast battle as I was in that race with those two drivers. The end of the race is also something I've never experienced. Around lap 9, going into the toe of the boot, we saw a black flag waving from the flag stand. VRG rules state a black flag in a race is "all to pits", as there is no full course caution. However, there were no other black flags to finish the lap. Unsure of what to do, the three of us took the safe decision and came into the pits together. The official, confused, told myself and Doug to leave pit lane, and Joe to the black flag box. We were later told that there was supposed to be a number board for Joe in the boot, which none of us saw. Doug and I took off, and ultimately finished 2nd and 3rd to Michael Hummel. In the true spirit of vintage racing, Michael acknowledged that he was not deserving of the win, and requested that the results go back to the final green flag lap that we (Doug and I) completed before we saw the black flag. That gave the feature win to me, which was my first ever win. What a way to get a first win! I have to express my gratitude to Michael and Doug for graciously doing the honorable thing for the feature race.
If there is anyone looking for a series to race in, the Formula Ford Challenge Series is it. I can't say enough good things about the organizers, the racers, and the competitiveness. Looking forward to getting back out there with this group next year!
This was my second race weekend racing with the Formula Ford Challenge Series, and my first time ever racing at Watkins Glen. I made the venture with my Dad (team owner) and 5 year old son (crew chief). It was a track I has been going to as a spectator since I was younger than my son, and was surreal to finally be racing on it myself. We were 1 of 6 Canadian cars that made the trek south along with Brian Graham, Steve Wagland, Brent McPhail, Paul Hollister, and Ed Luce
I got thrown into the deep end right away, in a field of 42 cars, mixed from early vintage fords, to late 80's tweeners. I qualified 3rd for the Friday afternoon race. In the race, we had a 5 car breakaway. I managed to stick myself in 4th place for the entire race and watch, use it as a learning session and find out where to pass, get my shift points right, find the fastest line. The win went to Andrew Graham.
Saturday morning, we were met with some threatening weather. Early morning race, we managed to get out on the track before the rain hit. As we come around to the start of the race, there's a slick flag at the starters stand with the green flag...oil in turn 1?....instead, we were met with a wall of water as we crossed the starters stand (now my first Formula Ford wet race). Everyone fans out, and tries to find their way through turn 1 without seeing. Up to the top of the esses, the rain stops! These bizarre conditions continued for the entire race. I managed to stick with the leaders in 4th, with the win going to Doug Voss.
For the second race Saturday, it was now a full wet race, and somehow I set the fastest lap in the morning and started pole. With no confidence at all going into turn 1 in the wet from the lead, I quickly fell from 1st to 4th. I made my way back up to 2nd by the inner loop, and touched the rumbles ever so slightly, which pitched the car around a full 360, thankfully by myself and no contact with anything or anyone. After my VRG enforced stop and go in pit lane, I used the rest of the session as a learning session in the wet, slowly moving myself back up to 8th. Win again to Doug Voss.
For the feature race that afternoon, I felt like I finally had the confidence and speed to race the leaders. Quickly off the start, there was a 4 car break away between myself, Doug Voss, Michael Hummel, and Joe Griffin. After a couple laps, Michael fell off, and it was a 3 car battle for the remainder of the race. There were multiple passes all around the track every lap, with all of us taking a turn at the lead. I have never been in such a respectful, trusting, fast battle as I was in that race with those two drivers. The end of the race is also something I've never experienced. Around lap 9, going into the toe of the boot, we saw a black flag waving from the flag stand. VRG rules state a black flag in a race is "all to pits", as there is no full course caution. However, there were no other black flags to finish the lap. Unsure of what to do, the three of us took the safe decision and came into the pits together. The official, confused, told myself and Doug to leave pit lane, and Joe to the black flag box. We were later told that there was supposed to be a number board for Joe in the boot, which none of us saw. Doug and I took off, and ultimately finished 2nd and 3rd to Michael Hummel. In the true spirit of vintage racing, Michael acknowledged that he was not deserving of the win, and requested that the results go back to the final green flag lap that we (Doug and I) completed before we saw the black flag. That gave the feature win to me, which was my first ever win. What a way to get a first win! I have to express my gratitude to Michael and Doug for graciously doing the honorable thing for the feature race.
If there is anyone looking for a series to race in, the Formula Ford Challenge Series is it. I can't say enough good things about the organizers, the racers, and the competitiveness. Looking forward to getting back out there with this group next year!
