Having grown up with slot cars and having an endless love for the WipEout series, I need all of this.

First time back at the gym in… well first time this year. Felt good to get active again. Prep for next year starts now.

First day officially in my new job role. Still taking care a lot of the previous role’s crap, so the only notable change so far is the new desk location. In other news, I’m all registered and reserved up for MFF in one month!

There hasn’t been a better example showing the NASCAR playoff structure is absolute dog shit than this weekend. I feel bad for everyone…

Happy Halloween! Get spooky today!

Hmmmmm… yeah I need to have some stickers made.

We’re in the back corner to the left once you walk in.

Its one of those nights…

I know it’s still early, but can the work day be over? Really just not feeling it today.

Felt good to get caught up in posting onboard videos from the past 3 race weekends to YT finally. Finally have some time to slow down and relax for the first time in weeks. Still plenty left to be done, but not having to rush is nice.

So, have to switch from Toyo to Hoosier tires next year. I’ve got a ton of Toyo $ that I won’t be using. Anyone looking to get some discounted Toyo race tires? 👀

It did the thing! Thank you everyone! The little boost I needed for the post-trackday-weekend hangover.

That’s a wrap! Hell of a day: Pole position, 1st in race 1, 2nd in race 2. Regional Championship WINNER

It’s go time.

LOL my last seminar this afternoon, and the last of the conference, was attended by a whole one single person. So instead of presenting, I just sat next to him and we chatted about whatever he wanted for a little bit. When we were done, I got TF outta there. Now I’m unpacked and the car is ready! 😴

Feeling antsy on the last day of the conference. Don’t even care about my last presentation today, the conference is a ghost town. I’m ready to get to the track and RACE.

Nothing says “I need to relax after work” quite like loading a race car into a trailer and packing for the weekend.

Whew okay… First presentation for this conference is done, always the most attended one… Just two more to go, tomorrow and Thursday.

Can this week be over yet? I want to teleport to 4:00 Thursday, after this work conference is over, so I can go racing again.

I take a nap

New tire time…

I’m one week out from the final event of the year. Sitting 2nd in points, but only by 5. I still have a chance to win it. I will say, this year has been very difficult to stay consistently at the top. I’ve missed the podium only once in the 20 races completed this year. No DNFs or penalties either.

Following up, confirmed the vibration is just due to the left rear tire internally separating, lucky it still held pressure. They also found the front right bearing and U-joint were on their way out too. This truck needs to stop trying to fall apart…

So I forgot to mention, the drive back home in the truck was like driving an out-of-balance washing machine. TCS light came on too. We thinking bad wheel bearing, hub, or something else? It was a gradual escalation in violence the longer I drove; not like I hit a pot hole. 50 mph is the worst.

I’m caffeinated and took the full dose of DayQuil. Time to rock today.

Vent post… The rough weekend continues. I’ve worked tirelessly to tweak setup since putting this car together last year. It has never felt right, but I’ve just driven around the problem to the best of my abilities. As the season has progressed, it’s clear my changes aren’t addressing the problem.

Not the way we wanted the day to end. 1 hour into the 4-hour portion of the race, an upper radiator hose blew and ended our day. Motor probably needs replaced, it was absolutely bone dry of coolant and oil when we got it towed back to our pit space. We’ll rebuild and be better for next year!

Been a great morning so far. We’ve successfully made it through the first 3 hours of the TREC race without any issues. We’re still figuring out fuel consumption, but we have a way better handle on it now than when we started. Yes we’re last in class, I expected no less. We’re not last overall!

Not sure on the timeline to transition to my new role, but I expect to last through the end of the year after talking with my current manager… My current role of Product Service Engineer will fade away, and the new role of Application & Installation Engineer will take over. Excited for the change!

Oh that interview from last week? Yeah 😎

The past 8 days have been hella busy, but it’s also really cool to finally say it… I have TWO race cars ready to hit the track this weekend! Please excuse the messy shop, I’ll clean it up tomorrow pls I’m so tired.

Oooooh baby. Excited for Friday’s 7-hour endurance race with an email that came out with some new details a short while ago. Got the driver change strategy all settled, now let’s hope the car lasts until the end.

Light at the end of the tunnel, still plenty to do before leaving Thursday evening… Truck is aligned and ready to tow after this afternoon. Mazda 3 is track ready. The spec miata got the new steering rack installed and scaled. Tomorrow it gets an alignment.

Busy day… Truck is done, getting dropped off tomorrow for alignment on Monday. The ChampCar Mazda 3 is READY to hit the track minus some stickers. I’m absolutely stoked for a ton of Gingerman track time in it Friday. The SM has been washed, put on jacks, wheels off. Will work on that tomorrow.

Let the penetrating oil work for a day, a torch, and a BFH, and the old track bar is finally off. Steering damper I got from O’Reilly is the wrong one, meant for a RWD truck instead of my 4WD. No worry, I can install that later. Tomorrow morning, all new linkage gets installed.

Fuck I hate working in the truck. Previous owner replaced the steering damper and installed the stud on the drag link backwards, somehow seizing and stripping it at the same time. Wasn’t planning on replacing it, but now I have to. Still need to get the old track bar off…

Today was a mentally rough day. Spent all morning stressing about my mid-afternoon interview while still doing my regular job. The interview went pretty well. I don’t think it was great, but I haven’t had an interview in like 7 years so it was good practice at least. Now to wait for like 10 days…

Needed a boost… The one thing in the work cafeteria that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg.

It’s Monday and I’m already tired and facing a mountain of work ahead. Finish unpacking from last weekend. Fix and prep the SM for Gingerman. Also finish prepping the 3 for Gingerman. ALSO Try to replace more truck steering linkage and get aligned for Gingerman. Wednesday job interview! HALP

Hardest race weekend of the year, and today alone was on another level. Literally scraped by to move from 3rd to 1st in this morning’s race, but couldn’t hang on in the drying conditions. Finished P2 with fresh scars on the car. Bodywork will have to wait until this winter to address.

Yep, mind is made up. I’m changing diff oil tonight. Gotta go get some, but I’m hoping that helps the car’s persistent handling deficiency. Certainly can’t hurt!

Really good close racing. Started P2, finished P3. We were nose to tail through the first half of the race before I made the first mistake. Frustrated with the car. Feeling like it’s missing oomf out of corners. My own mistakes cost me big, can’t capitalize on others’ errors.

Half an hour before the first race of the weekend, and I’m full of the pre-race restlessness. I hope I never don’t have this feeling before a race.

lol last night’s forecast didn’t quite get it right: Was there rain? yes. Did it call for sideways rain, lightning and thunder for a few hours? Lol nope No one sustained any damage that I can see, and the sunrise this morning is nice. Time for wet tires for warmup…

Hotter than anticipated day at Autobahn Country Club has got me feeling pretty wiped out. The rain that’s rolling through right now is pretty soothing while hunkered down in the trailer.

Half day at work to spend the afternoon at the vet instead. This little is guy getting his heart checked out again for any changes.

I need someone experienced in setting up and operating Motorsport radios to help me. Did enough to have comms for the upcoming endurance race, so that should make life much easier. I have a basic config done, but I know I’ve barely scratched the surface.