Travel dates: April 5-10
Purpose: To attend the GRAND-AM Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge race at Barber Motorsports Park (Leeds, Alabama) with Subaru Road Racing Team (SRRT)
Start/Finish: Drive Performance headquarters in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Distance:
- According to mapping services -- 1,578.2 miles point to point
- Actual (with commute from hotel) -- 1,795.5 miles
Major routes to Barber Motorsports Park:
- Wisconsin: Interstate 94
- Illinois: Interstates 94, 294
- Indiana: Interstates 94, 65
- Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama: Interstate 65
Fuel consumption: 66.7 gallons
Mileage: 26.9 mpg
The Drive Performance WRX was a different beast this trip. As noted in the March 25 Journal entry, we've added several new pieces to the car, and it makes a difference in how the car travels.
Most emphatic is the sound of the performance exhaust system. It grows from a low rumble at idle to a staccato baritone as the engine climbs the rpm range. In addition to the benefit of increased horsepower, it provides a constant audible reminder of the engine's potential.
Another addition contributing to the sounds emanating from DP WRX is the Genuine Subaru Accessory KICKER® subwoofer installed in the trunk. Music played through the audio system now benefits from richer bass with noticeable vibrations. The subwoofer adds to just about any type of music -- yes, including classical. (The beginning of Richard Strauss' "Also Sprach Zarathustra" takes on added dimensions.)
The new boost gauge reacts to engine and turbocharger operation, depending on how you drive. Increased throttle pedal and kicking in the turbo is reflected by the gauge.
Perhaps the most significant change was switching the snow tires for the original-equipment summer performance tires on the new O.Z. wheels. The Bridgestone BlizzakTM tires were as good for handling in the snow during the winter as these tires are for spring, summer, and fall months.
Notes from the Drive
As I traveled south from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to Birmingham, Alabama, my thoughts went to layers and levels. (This is the type of thinking I do when I'm alone in a vehicle for long distances.)
It occurred to me that a lot of the things we encounter organize readily into levels. The seasons, for instance, and divisions in racing lend themselves to such categorization.
Seasons: When I left Milwaukee on April 5, I left piles of snow behind. Throughout the day, I drove into spring.
In Indianapolis, Indiana, the grass was green. Those of us who live in the upper Midwest haven't experienced that change yet this year.
In Louisville, Kentucky, the secondary tree level had blossoms and flowers.
The trees in Nashville, Tennessee, were budding.
Many of the trees in Birmingham, Alabama, had leaves. Of course, all the fun stuff like pollen is part of springtime, and the car had a green coating after sitting parked for any length of time.
Racing Divisions: GRAND-AM has four levels of racing. Since I spend a good amount of time with the series, I forget that everyone might not be aware of them. Two levels are in each GRAND-AM series: Rolex Sports Car Series presented by Crown Royal Cask No. 16 (Daytona Prototypes and GT) and Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge (Grand Sport -- GS -- and Street Tuner -- ST). In descending order of performance, the levels sort out from Prototype to GT to GS to ST.
Read more about these divisions here.
Barber Motorsports Park: The paddock at Barber has four levels. From bottom to top, they're quite a hike! This terraced scheme gives the park an opportunity to organize the race teams so fans can visit teams from the same series on the same level, rather than having to hike up and down between them.
Electrical Gremlins
SRRT did well during practice, qualifying, and the first part of the Barber 200 at Barber Motorsports Park. Drivers Bret Spaude and Andrew Aquilante put the #35 WRX STI in the top half of the field during practice sessions, then qualified 8th.
At one point during the race, pit-stop strategy and full-course cautions worked together to put #35 in 1st. The team held the lead for several laps before falling prey to an electrical glitch that required a tow to the pits during another caution period.
The start of the 2011 GRAND-AM Continental Sports Car Challenge season has proven difficult for SRRT, which has two DNFs in the first three races.
The next race is at VIRginia International Raceway near Alton, Virginia, May 13-14. SRRT would love to have your support!
|
SRRT Performance in the 2011 GRAND-AM |
|||||
|
Event |
Date/Location |
Drivers |
Finishing Position |
Driver Standings |
Team Standings |
|
Round 1: GRAND-AM 200 |
January 28 |
Andrew Aquilante/ |
13 |
25/25 (tie) |
13 |
|
Round 2: Kia 200 |
March 5 |
Andrew Aquilante/ |
DNF1 |
38/38 (tie) |
20 |
|
Round 3: Barber 200 |
April 9 |
Andrew Aquilante/ |
DNF2 |
|
|
1 Transmission
2 Electrical
