Chris Keller Racing

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Porter Racing – SCCA Formula Ford Race at Thunderhill Park, Willows, CA

My first Formula Ford race at Thunderhill Park was as exciting and thrilling as I expected. The Porter Race Team (and Neil Porter) has a great reputation of winning races. My team mate, Viktor Sinzig is also part of the Ron Sutton Career Development Program.

The Thunderhill name stands true; the track was on a gigantic hill range at the base of a mountain. The track was like driving your own roller coaster. Friday was testing and we made a lot of progress throughout the day as I became comfortable with the car and track. The weekend happened to be the first for a new spec tire. It was typically 110 degrees during the summer months here, but we were lucky to have a cooler weekend of only low 90’s. At the end of the practice day, I set the fastest lap time of the day. I was very excited and ready for qualifying on Saturday.

Saturday morning I warmed up the new tires to scrub them in for later that day. The car felt great with fresh tires. In qualifying, although a fairly long session, we would only have 3 laps to do our best lap time to save the tires for the race. We arrived at the grid late, but fortunately I was waved onto the track first along with my teammate Viktor. After our three hot laps it was time to bring the car in. Anxiously awaiting the results, I qualified second! I was thrilled to start off pole along side Viktor.

Sunday was the perfect race morning. We beat the sun to the track, since the race was at 8:30 in the morning. Our race was the first on the track with ideal conditions. I set off from pit lane, and I had a late start from the grid and passed cars on the pace lap (which is not allowed.) After a couple of laps of warming up our tires, the pace car caught us and lined us up in formation. He brought us down the front stretch to take the green. All 38 cars took the flag and roared into turn one. Later that lap Viktor spun out entering a turn a little fast with oil on the track. I was able to take the lead after avoiding his car in the middle of the turn. I was then black flagged and was clueless as to why, but I was forced to make a stop about the pass on the pace lap. Finally, I re-entered the field nearly a half lap down and attempted to chase down the field. Luckily a yellow flag came out and I was sitting in about 15^th place under the caution laps. Viktor was in 6^th. It was a dash to the finish, with only about 4 laps remaining. I needed to pass cars and run fast enough laps to catch the leaders. I was able to do just that, but about a lap too late catching the lead 2 cars at the checkered flag to finish 3rd. I was disappointed at not winning because of the lack of enough laps left, but I successfully set a new track record.  Viktor won the race.

It was a fabulous experience racing the Formula Ford. I hope to run a few more races this season. Neil Porter and Crew did a fantastic job giving me such an outstanding racecar to drive.

 

Skip Barber Pro Series National Race – VIR

The Rolex weekend was fabulous; we were racing along side many professional racing teams in the pits and it was my first car race ever. This weekend was full of surprises, ups and downs. I was able to finish in my first two Skip Barber National Races.

Friday started an interesting day, after a long drive from New Jersey Thursday. We had a hotel 45 minutes away. My Mom, Sister and I, drove to the track in the pouring rain. In the morning practice, the track was treacherous. It was raining cats and dogs. Cautious yet excited the practice was short. The qualifying also started with rain. By the end of the session, the track was drying. The best laps of the session would be near the end.

It was race time; the treaded tires would be used again in case of more rain. It was an intense 11 lap race, hesitant yet confident, the Green Flag dropped. Cars everywhere, tire smoke blocking almost all vision; the track was practically blind the first lap. I was able to start making some moves towards the front. White flag lap, coming down the last straight; I had the draft behind two cars. Using the draft we went three wide into the final set of turns. I had the inside and was able to make the pass stick to ultimately finish 14th.

           Saturday was the Star Mazda race, we had limited track time. One qualifying session. I was given a different car due to engine problems with the first. My first laps of the session were impressive, but after coming in the pits and making an adjustment, I was unable to better my time near the end or take advantage of the draft. I qualified 14th, greatly improving from the first day.

           Sunday was for all the marbles. There was a warm up session, and the race. The morning session didn’t go so well. After another car left the race track, they preceded to drag race me into the next turn, ultimately running me off the track into a tire wall. The crew spent the morning fixing my car in preparation for the race.

 When the Green flag dropped, turn one looked like a parking lot by the time I reached it. I made it through, but that was only the beginning. There were cars and dirt all over the racetrack. Rapidly moving forward, the race went yellow flag conditions. We all lined up single file. I was sitting in 11th. The race would soon take a turn for the worse. Close to completion of the first lap (Turn 17), an overzealous driver tried a move on the inside to ruin the day for both of us. Taking out my front suspension, I completed the race in 15^th place with a trashed racecar.

           For my first car race weekend I was happy to finish. Next time I will be happy to finish first. Wish me luck.