I think I needed to run around a 50.975 to out PAX Paul (I told you I'd update this stuff Paul!!). I know the car has it in it. I just need to figure out how to drive it. I finally managed a 52.381. I think another 10 runs and I'll have it figured out! It's really not much different than my car despite the fact that they are totally different in almost every aspect. I actually felt very comfortable in it.

I was pleased that I could beat Jim on every run (except my last DNF run). I was .046 seconds ahead on the first run, .177 seconds on the second run, and .975 seconds on the third run and ended up beating him by .3 seconds. Since Jim was running before me (he was *my* tire warmer??!) on our runs, I knew after he made his 4th run I had him beat. I figured I try some different things just to see what the car would and wouldn't do and I pushed pretty bad a couple of times and ended up DNF'ing.

The car is a hand full. It's very quick. The steering is heavy but you don't have to move the wheel a lot to get the car to move. It seems to break away VERY quickly which means you have to constantly be ready to catch it. The car really needs a smooth surface to go really fast. The suspension is very stiff (I would make some changes if it were mine) and causes the car to react to bumps very dramatically, hold on!!! Very good power though. He's putting a new engine in after Thanksgiving so it should have about 90+ hp or about 15 more than it has now. It would help if we weren't running on his crappiest tires. He has three sets, one set for National level events, one set for divisional events and one set for regional events. The regional tires are passed down from the National and Divisional events so they have a fair amount of use on them. He soaks them in Formula V but you could tell by my last run that we had worn all of that off the tires.

I think the car needs a softer suspension and more front brake bias. This is not a car you trail brake with, the rear end would love to lead the way. Of course, what do I know, I've only had four runs in it!

Next time.