Ultimate Track Car Challenge Weekend and NASA Recap

This was a weekend to remember for sure. After three weeks of rebuild on the Miata and fixing everything that needed fixing, we have a running car again just a few days before the big event. We left Thursday morning and set up camp. It was a normal July day at VIR...hot! But we were prepared. Lots of water and lots of portable shade and of course every ones favorite...amazing food.

So many fantastic and diverse cars started showing up for the UTCC Event. From a DP car to my Miata...there was something there for everyone.

Murt and Dirty not only got me back together for the event, they were also an amazing pit crew. They did all the work and I only had to concentrate on driving. Over the course of the UTCC event we made a few adjustments and I drove as hard as I could. I ended up 51st out of 56. Considering the amazing machines I was up against...I think I did well. I didnt come in last, so I am happy. Video can be found in the video section on this website.

Results for the UTCC can be found here

The rest of the weekend was a blast. Lots of old friends as well as new ones too. It was so much fun seeing all my South East friends again. Keri, a new DE drive paddocked with us. She was paired up with a real good instructor and had a blast.

I had the honor of taking Tom Heath from GrassRoots Motorsports Magazine in Mike Morris's CMC Mustang for a Hyperdrive. Tom did real good. GRM might have a racer on there hands.

This is a picture of Tom and I on the track between T3 and T4 I believe.

I learned a lot this weekend. This weekend was a blast loaded with lots of fun and great people, friends and family. Not to mention having two great students. By far the most interesting student was Earle. Wow...instructing a student in a NASCAR Sprint Cup car was a blast.

This is a picture of the car and driver.

Ultimate Track Car Challenge Getting Close And Things In The Works

This is the big event of the year. 48 states, thousands of racers to pick from....but only 100 drivers get the invitation. A chance to compete in one of four classes to find out where a driver and his/her car ranks.

...and we are one of them.






Tales of angry snails and evil vaccum cleaners have been buzzed around the internets. But TDMS has chosen to keep things in perspective as far as keeping the car close to a Showroom Spec Miata for the future. Though we will say we have ventured into gray areas and have done a few things that are not Spec compliant until such time comes. But we have plenty of time to reverse those things when the time comes.

The TDMS crew has been working with some great friends to get the miata in one piece again. A couple years of problem free events has caught up with us. The oil pump went out and sped up the failure of what was already an engine on the way out. Ronald "Stringer" Roderick was quoted at Summit Point while getting out of the car..."...hey, the engine has been trouble free for three years. I knew this was coming because I could feel the loss of power over the last few events. But she held together long enough to beat my personal best time by 2 1/2 seconds. That was awesome! I have to thank Michael D. for some pointers on reviewing my video with me to help me out."

Now into several weeks of tear down and rebuild...things are coming together. The block and head are at the machine shop and they have been advised on class spec rules to stay within when machining the parts. Murt has spent a lot of time going over the engine rules to keep the engine Spec legal for future use in the series.
Ronald states..."these guys are awesome. I cant wait to give this new engine a try. Basically the only thing left on it that is from the old engine is the oil pan and the valve cover. I am just amazed at how much stuff there is to know about an engine."
On top of everything...TDMS will be visited trackside this event by sponsors and long time online racing friends for a fun and festive weekend. Three years running sponsor Glaze Communications of the TDMS miata will be there as well as Tony Resha from Tailgaiting Internet Talk Show and also the owner of Tailgating Trackside.
See everyone at the track!