The MCR77 team Mark Connolly and Dave Heinz left for The Fun One at the Glen on September 17, 2010. We arrived and went through registration, tech and found a nice paddock space near the false grid. We left so we can get a good dinner and get some rest.
Saturday morning it was cool with some wind. We heard that the qualifying was only 12 minutes and our race would be 8 laps. Not a lot of track time. We looked over and saw that Group 5 was lining up. So Mark and Dave rushed to get ready just to find out that there has been issues on the track and that Group 3, 4 and 5 were lined up waiting. The fields were so large that everyone was nervous about getting clear track to qualify. One of the stewards told us that each of the sessions has been going out hot and the tires were not ready and there has been cars off everywhere.
Mark and Dad waited till they were called to line up which was about 10:30 am. They managed to get up front so that they can be one of the first ones out to qualify. They were running the long course. For a 12 minute qualify they managed to get 5 laps in. Mark qualified 16th and Dave qualified 14th. Not bad in a field of 58 cars.
Mark and Dave when back to the paddock to look over the car again and make sure everything is OK. Tires checked, gas filled fluids checked and data reviewed. Cars are ready for the race.
Our call for the race came later in the afternoon. Another competitor came up to us and informed us that the races has been shortened to 6 laps due to all the accidents on track. GREAT. Mark and Dave lined up for the pace laps. GREEN GREEN GREEN. Dave got a jump on the green flag and Mark got stuck behind traffic going in to turn 1. about Lap 2 approaching lap 3, I get a call over the radio that a driver passed Dave under yellow. Also on lap 3, I saw Mark come on to the front straight and saw another driver came into him and rubbed his tire on the outside onto the front straight. He almost lost the car due to the hit. Checker flag came out after lap 5. We were shorted a lap on this race due to several cars off on track. Mark came off the track and headed to paddock. Dave went to Impound to file a protest. So I head back to paddock to get Mark and he was livid. We both went to tech and approached the driver that if he is going to drive recklessly not to come near us again. Dave is filling out paper work for his protest. Later to find out that there was not enough evidence to support the protest so Dave withdrew.
We loaded the cars and left for dinner. Needed to get away from the track and everyone. Dave finished 6th in ITS and Mark finished 4th in STU.
Sunday we woke up to heavy fog. Racing was on a delay till almost 10:30 am. There was a meeting and was told that there will not be any qualifying. We will be lined up from our results of the finishing race and have 2 pace laps. Great. More time taken away from us. I understand that we cannot control the weather. But we wanted track time.
We head back to the paddock space to go over the cars. Changed tires, checked fluids, gassed up and waited for our time. We watched the SM race and saw our friend Charlie go off. We headed to his garage space to find out he busted a ball joint. Mark, Dave and I jumped in to help him change the part so he can join the race with us in group 7. Team work. Got his car fixed.
We were called to grid. Dave was grided 13th and Mark was grided 15th. Pace laps under way. GREEN GREEN GREEN. Dave got a ready good jump on the start. Passed 3 cars I believe. Mark also got a good run at the start. On Lap 2 Dave came over the radio stating he got hit. Left side of the door was crushed in. He left the track and went to paddock. Mark was running the best he could in traffic. Mark came over the radio stating the car got loose and brushed the guard rail. Minimal damage. Checker flag came out. Mark finished 4th in STU again. Dave was a DNF.
We cleaned up and said our good byes to our friends. 6 hour tow home. In our minds this was not a fun weekend for the MCR77 team.
