Valentine's 300 at VIR

The 2004 racing season got off to a full start:  with both new results and an unfortunate continuation from last year.  Bobbie recently completed her license and the NASA Valentine's 300 weekend would include her first race.

The Saturday sprint race had Bobbie towards the back of the pack, but bunched closely with some other RX-7s for her to play with.  Dan, meanwhile, had blown a head gasket and ended up driving Factory Five Chief Engineer Jim Schenck's car.  Unfortunately, the decision to put Dan in the car came at the last minute and Dan was not permitted to grid:  he would start from a standing start on pit row after the green had dropped on the field.

For Bobbie's first real race, she drove very well and managed to finish ahead of her arch-rival (and nice guy) in another RX-7.  She drove a nice clean race and continued to show good improvements as she secured a podium finish in her first race!.  The sprint race was just 8 laps, but Dan showed he hadn't entirely forgotten how to drive:  he passed 27 cars (more than half the field) to claim a class win.

The endurance race featured a veritable crowd of indispensable help.  Friends from Richmond and Factory Five people all helped to get ready for the 3.5 endurance race.  Bobbie would drive with talented RX-7 guru Tom Sweeten while Harry and Dan would see if they get a class win that had eluded them in 2003.  The Cobra ended up with an emergency fuel pump replacement just before the race.  Tom and Harry took the first legs.

A Honda on the track blew up the engine and dumped oil all over the track at the critical Oak Tree turn of VIR.  That meant a Miata spun and hit Harry hard - ending the day early for the Cobra.  Meanwhile, Tom picked off nearly 20 cars before the driver change to Bobbie.  Once in the car, Bobbie kept a strong pace and ended up finishing in the top half of the field.  On the very last lap, however, another Honda got too aggressive and hit Bobbie, causing  fair amount of damage to the car.  It is certainly repairable and Bobbie finished well in just her second race.