Brady Dohrmann at SCCA Solo National Championships, Day 2
SCCA Solo National Championships
Competition Day 2
The Royal Rumble!
Wednesday
After getting pummeled by the competition on Tuesday due to mistakes of my own, I had some work to do on Wednesday to move up a few spots, or at least leave with a little bit of pride! The combination of the Type R being too soft in the long slaloms on Tuesday’s East Course, and of course, my dismal driving performance, left me over two seconds back from the leader at the end of Day 1. Wednesday’s runs were a big improvement driving lines were tighter, turns were smoother, I was using more of the course and I finally started to get my autocross driving rhythm back after taking nearly two years off to go road racing. However, I quickly learned that D-Stock is perhaps one of the most
competitive classes at Nationals. With only 0.6sec separating the top ten drivers in the class, it would take a miracle to move up noticeably in the ranks. Unfortunately, despite my great competition time in the Type R on day two, you wouldn’t even notice by looking at the results.
I had more fun with the camera today. There’s the all new Spoiler Cam”, a new and improved Wheel Cam (that shows the rear wheel movement), and the roof cam to show the course layout. Be sure to pay attention near the beginning of the roof cam video, as I slid sideways through the first slalom on cold tires. The wheel cam was especially informative to me, since it showed my distance off the cones and my driving line around the course. All the links are in the email.
The top time on the West course was a 44.3sec run. My 45.6 placed me mid-pack or better for the day, but didnÂ’t do anything to bump me up overall since the gap from Tuesday was too big to overcome. Regardless, given the limited setup time and little experience on a National level in Solo, at least I didnÂ’t leave Topeka in a bad mood! The level of competition was incredible, and plenty was learned both for me and material for the Modified Magazine piece. Results aside, enough was taken away to give a sense of confidence going into 2009, and give me hopes for a competitive future in D-Stock. My purpose for going to the Solo Nationals was to work on the piece for the Modified Magazine feature, but of course take in the experiences, people and cars that only an event of the magnitude can offer; and naturally, see how I stack up on a national level. I would have preferred a top ten finish,
but being realistic, and of course, completely under-estimating the level of competition wasnÂ’t a wake up call necessarily, but more of a reminder of just how good some of those drivers and cars are! With the 2009 season, including some National Tour events on the west coast this winter, the goals and path to reach those goals are much clearer now.
After the event I hung out for a bit, took some photos and took in a little more of the event to bring back out in my magazine article. Two wheel studs managed to break on the final tire change (changed wheels four times during the week), which was perfect timing considering the competition was finished.
Driving home was rather uneventful, aside from a swerve to avoid a deer, a dramatic drive through the tornado leveled town of Greensburg and about 40 hours of continuous talk radio about Sarah Palin. As I was driving home, results from the Thursday runs came in via text message and on my PC using the free wireless at the LoveÂ’s Truck Stop (congrats on your national championships: Brian, Fred, Doug.. and close: Elliot, Jay, Tage!). The odometer on the Type R flipped over to 100,000 miles as I drove through Texhoma (and IÂ’m not sure what state Texhoma is actually in).
I would like to thank Chris at Science of Speed for the help preparing the Type R for the long trips back and forth, and of course the National event itself. A HUGE thanks and appreciation goes out to Hankook Tires for their support at this event as well! The tires were perfect the entire week and their true potential was really shown at the end of the week. I am looking forward to a long association with Hankook Tire as their products are top-level, and the people are really first class all the way.
Thanks to everyone for reading this and watching the videos! I hope to do this again sometime soon.
-Brady
Attached is my final installment from Topeka.. for now! 
Here are some YouTube videos from the second day of competition on the West Course:
Roof Cam - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YScUTmLxJkY
Wheel Cam (new and improved) – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SdtJSAPvCU4
Spoiler Cam - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lrYEiI9wVps
Thanks!
brady
