1) Car upgrades
2) Additional Race Series
3) New car number
We have made a number of improvements to the car to improve the suspension and performance for this season. We have changed the rear trailing arms to new M3 much stronger parts with all new bushings and bearings to improve handling in corners. We have also changed the fly wheel and clutch from the stock heavy M3 - E36 version 52 lbs to a super lightweight JB Racing aluminum fly wheel and racing clutch - 11 lbs. We have also removed more weight from the interior, reducing the overall weight to 2400 lbs compared to the 2650 from last season.
We have also entered a 3rd race series-National Auto Sport Association (NASA) to give us more race weekends and to expand our track experience to most of the key tracks in North America in preparation for entering a full pro race series for next season which is part of our 3 year plan.
To enable a common number across all three series we have had to change from #009 to our new #30 number.
Please come our see our first races in 2009 and stop by the paddock and say hello
Regards,
John
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( 3 / 701 )Rain/Rain/Rain
Not a great weekend, it rained all three days with Sunday being the worst. I was able to finish 6th overall in my first points race on Friday, 13th overall on the Sat race. The Sunday race was a wash out, I should have started 13th on the grid but with all the rain and lack of communication I was a few minutes late getting to the grid and had to start at the back of the field.
The rain was heavy for two hours prior to the race and very heavy during the race. There were rivers of water running across the track at many corners. I as able to move up from the back of a 30 car field to 13th before two serious crashes and a full course yellow ended the race.
I did well for my first race at the Glen but I wanted to do much better.My next race is at Mid Ohio Oct 24-26th
John
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( 3 / 665 )I am looking forward to the upcoming BMW club race weekend at Watkins Glen in New York state Sept 25-27th. There is a registered field of 140 cars with the larger field divided into two race groups of 70 cars each. There is also a number of pro racers registered to compete this weekend.
It will be great to test myself versus some excellent pro competition from the World Speed Challenge series with the new lighter car.
Watkins Glen is an excellent high speed historic track, ad we are hopeful that the recent changes with the lighter car will allow us to be more competitive with the high horsepower cars. We may also be lucky and have some rain, our new Hoosier full rain tires would be helpful and may give us a real advantage. We may have a chance to win a race or two this weekend.
Please follow our daily blogs as I update you on the results from the Friday, Saturday and Sunday races.
John
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( 3 / 678 )A great weekend for Hansen Racing, plus a new personal best laptime for myself at Mosport, (1 min 32.9 seconds).
The 009 car ran excellent starting with the Friday test & tune day. The test day was wet and we were able to try some different set-up combinations for a forecasted wet weekend.By the last run on the Friday we felt the car was ready, the only issue was that our full wet Hoosier tires are getting old with only 1/3 of the tread remaining. We have a new set ordered and will be available for the next race in Watkins Glen. We were hopeful that the rain would hold off and the wets would stay in the race trailer.
We were lucky on the Saturday and the track was dry all day. We were able to use the new Hankook slicks. The tires were great but I pushed too hard too quickly and had an off at turn #10 on the second lap of practice. I was lucky in the off, in that the car did a complete 360 degree spin butI missed the wall by about a foot, ending up back on the track facing the wrong way.
I was not completely settled down in the qualifying and finished 17th overall or 5th in the GT-A class.
I was calm by the start of the first race and set my personal best laptime in this race to finish 3rd in GT-A and 12th overall.
In the two races on the Sunday we were fortunate: the rain held off until the end of the race weekend. I was able to finish 3rd in both races achieving a 3rd place podium in all three weekend races.
Overall I was able to secure 57 points this weekend now with 342 points, maintaining 2nd place in the GT Sprints season competition.
There is one more CASC GT Sprints race in two weeks but we will be in Watkina Glen for a BMW club race, so my season is complete for CASC.
I had a great time in my first season and thank all my competitors and the CASC organizers for an excellent 2008 season. I look forward to the CASC Banquet.
Look for my next blog during the exciting Watkins Glen race weekend, five races and a very large field of 130+ cars.
John
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( 3 / 546 )The best racing of the season. The feature race Sunday afternoon was amazing, with some of the best competition I have experienced this season.
I was able to maintain 2nd place overall in GT-A for the season and also extend my lead by another 6 points to now lead by a total of 43 points.
I was part of a four car pack that traded position back and forth over the 14 lap, or 20 minute race.
Unfortunately, one of my competitors had an incident, crashing into another car that had previously spun. While we were racing in a close pack we came through turn #8 and car #34 crashed with two turns to go until the checkered flag.
I feel so bad that we did not see the stopped car or a yellow flag in time for us to avoid the crash. I hope his damage is not too expensive to fix and he will be back for the next race in two weeks, he is a great racer.
John
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