sleeper02Z06

Tomorrow mid morning I will be leaving for Watkins Glen, my 5th National race of the year and one that will likely be the most difficult. The combination of never having been on this track and the largest T1 field thus far this year has me a bit nervous. This year, my rookie in T1, has been riddled with mechanical issues and hurdles for me. Loosing a torque tube, having to change exhausts, a clutch, a transmission and some light contact in one race ( deemed not my fault ) in addition to learning many new tracks while trying to keep my head up in the racing has given me much to overcome this year. In spite of all of this I have managed to stay in the hunt for the Runoffs in what is a very competitive Northeast Division. I am currently 8th in points. Although I am happy that I am still in the running for the "big show" I am a bit down about 8th place overall. I think I could muster a better standing if I could get rid of these monkeys on the car. I will likely not do better though, all the issues have taken their toll on my budget and I may not be able to make the last couple of NEdiv races to try and better my points. Such is the battle! One of the positives in all of this is that in spite of all my troubles, I have finished every race this year and gained points in all but one. I am proud of that.

At any rate, as long as I meet my pre-season personal goal of a runoffs berth I will be very happy. Hopefully Watkins Glen is good to me and I can at very least finish in a position that garners me points. It's gonna be a tough crowd though. The car is ready with a new tranny after loosing the 3-4 cluster at Beaverun. I just need to get comfortable with the track, the walls, and the high level of competition. I want to give thanks to all those who have encouraged and supported me with a dream I just recently realized I had a shot at. My competition towers over me, but I am doing my best while learning from them and having much fun! The thrill and everyones support makes it all worth it!!

Check out my site for updates and more details, vids, and write-ups to follow!

Joe Gaudette

wtknght1

You'll do fine Joe. Just remember - LOOK WHERE YOU WANT THE CAR TO GO...not at the walls!!!!!!!!! Good luck and give 'em hell!!

Come on down to VIR in August too!!!!!!! It's even better than Watkins!!!!!

Falcon

Go get 'em, Joe! Those obstacle are no hill for a climber, you'll do well!

NJCRUISER

Hey Joe, It's been awhile since I met you at Summit. Wish I could be there at the Glen with you guys as it's my favorite track. Can't say enough about turn 9 , turn 9, turn 9. My one and only crash was there last year trying to hold off Pintaric. My 300 lb fat *** did 2:09 flat so you better beat that buddy. It's funny how your in 8th. That's where I finished last year in NEDIV. Even worse, only 1 point away from a 4 way tie for 5-8th. So here's a video of first 2 laps of last years race for ya to get motivated. Yea, I'm off line holding Scotty B at bay so no lecturing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pH5ZeIUbszo

John Shiels

Good Luck enjoy some safe fun racing

Lancer033

Good luck

AU N EGL

Right foot to the Floor - and get 'um Joe

Bob 33

Good luck Joe! I enjoyed meeting you and others of the T-1 crew at Summit.

Bob 33

Don Keefhardt

Come find me in the paddock and introduce yourself...I'll give you some 'secret racer tips' on racing the Glen - yellow and black SRF #57. (run big V8 stuff in vintage...so am somewhat familiar with prod-based big HP cars). One of the Chief Instructors at the Glen SCCA licensing school the last 5+ years...former HPDE Chief there...probably 8-10,000 laps of the place...not my favorite track, but it's my home track. Yeehar...Start/Finish has moved way down the front straight, so Turn 1 should be a lot more exciting on the first lap.

folsomlarry

Good luck and I hope you make the Runoffs.


Larry

ScottZ

Go get 'em Joe
I want to see you on TV at the runoffs!

BuckeyeZ06

Hey Joe,

I am looking forward to seeing you and Ron in a few hours.

Those darn monkeys hanging on the car sure do slow ya down, man I know about that all too well. The upside to your monkeys are that they are not of your creation. My personal chimpanzees were brought into this world by your's truly...Once you get them cleaned up and caged, off you go!

BTW: my first T1 year I too finished 8th in divisional points. I had Freddy Baker, Lance Knupp, Dave Roush and Heinricy in the top four (Cendiv that 1st year). Last year was my second, and I finished in 4th. So the progression means I should finish...well let's say better than 2nd...

VetteDrmr

Let us know how it works out!

AU N EGL

Tough group of guys to START out against.

But I bet it made you a better driver right away.

FastZR1

Good luck out there. Have fun either way it goes!

BuckeyeZ06

Naw, they were too far in front of me for me to learn anything from them!

But I did learn how the "ropes" of SCCA National from Roush, mostly, and of course the guidance of the Kryder team.

NJCRUISER

Full results

Touring 1:

AJ Aquilante Viper 2:03.7 (Fractured last years C5 track record JH of 2:04.225)

John Heinricy C5 2:04.6

D. Pintaric Viper 2:05.7

A. Longtin C5 2:06.8

J. Buttermore C6 2:07.5

J. Yarosz C5 2:07.9

J. Gaudette C5 2:07.9

P. Kulka C5 2:08.4

J. Berkeley C5 2:08.8

D. Kahn C5 2:09.0

J. Warren C5 2:14.1

H. Kahn C5 2:18.0

C. Murray C5 2:07.9 (Hit wall in turn 6 - out)

M. Scornavacchi C5 2:08.2 (Taken out by a Mini early on)

C. Ott C5 No Time (Contact with Turner - M3) Lost tire pressure - out)

L. Knupp C5 No Time (Bad vibration retired first lap)

Most guys picked up about a second or more between last years race and this one. Crazy stuff.

AU N EGL

Joe Got 7th

Mikelly

Damn, I told you guys this boy can drive!

Give 'em hell at the runoffs JOE!!!

MIke

BuckeyeZ06

Joe certainly drove well this weekend.

Watkins Glen is a very intimidating track. Unlike DEs, in T1 racing you abolutely must go flat out up the hill or you just freight-trained. Driving up that hill with your right foot against the floorboard and seeing nothing but Armco is awefully unnerving, but our boy Joe "got er done!"

I kept telling him and Ron that he'd do well. I just don't think he listens to me anymore...