Post by dkmura on Jun 12, 2020 8:50:42 GMT -7
In our 1:1 racing season, the Colorado Region of the SCCA has held two races. After planning around extensive Covid-19 precautions, the first race came off in May without a hitch. This race was an SCCA Majors that was originally planned for Pueblo Motorsports Park's 2.2-mile circuit. But when Pueblo closed all events in May, the decision was made to resurrect the race at the 1.3-mile LaJunta Raceway. Unfortunately, that race started out with Ian having a major shunt when an oil fitting broke on his H Production Datsun 1200 in qualifying. It happened just before the turn six kink and laid down oil through a turn that you must be committed to in creating a fast line. There's adequate runoff area at the exit and Ian spun off track helplessly and came to a stop in the dust with the nose pointed towards the track. Just as he was starting back up, a Porsche spun there and ended up spinning into the Datsun.
Fortunately, the mandated safety equipment in both cars functioned, although Ian suffered some groin and knee injuries and the Porsche driver broke his left arm in the impact. Both cars are likely write-offs, although some parts and pieces may be salvagable. The Datsun 1200, which was previously owned and raced by John Parker and his dad for 15 years (as well as being owned by Jerry Oleson and raced by me at Stapleton Raceway in the past), died a good death in protecting and allowing Ian to race another day. Ian and his crew had resurrected the Datsun after Tony Wilson had raced it, taking it in his rookie year through racing school, Regional and Majors racing and into the 2019 SCCA Runoffs at Virginia International Raceway. Ian won the 2019 Rockie Mountain Division SCCA Rookie of the Year award through this effort. It's a tribute that so many in our slot car group have been affiliated in this effort--including Nick and Robert--that the story itself has a life of its own.
Ian is already making plans to return to racing and I'm happy to report I finished all six races between the two races (two Majors and four RMDiv regionals) in hot, dusty and windy conditions. Hard to believe, but between us, we are most active Nissan-NISMO campaigners in the Rocky Mountain Division SCCA as the 2020 season grinds into summer and fall.
Fortunately, the mandated safety equipment in both cars functioned, although Ian suffered some groin and knee injuries and the Porsche driver broke his left arm in the impact. Both cars are likely write-offs, although some parts and pieces may be salvagable. The Datsun 1200, which was previously owned and raced by John Parker and his dad for 15 years (as well as being owned by Jerry Oleson and raced by me at Stapleton Raceway in the past), died a good death in protecting and allowing Ian to race another day. Ian and his crew had resurrected the Datsun after Tony Wilson had raced it, taking it in his rookie year through racing school, Regional and Majors racing and into the 2019 SCCA Runoffs at Virginia International Raceway. Ian won the 2019 Rockie Mountain Division SCCA Rookie of the Year award through this effort. It's a tribute that so many in our slot car group have been affiliated in this effort--including Nick and Robert--that the story itself has a life of its own.
Ian is already making plans to return to racing and I'm happy to report I finished all six races between the two races (two Majors and four RMDiv regionals) in hot, dusty and windy conditions. Hard to believe, but between us, we are most active Nissan-NISMO campaigners in the Rocky Mountain Division SCCA as the 2020 season grinds into summer and fall.