{"id":2879,"date":"2010-10-04T13:37:40","date_gmt":"2010-10-04T17:37:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.boostiao.com\/portal\/?p=2879"},"modified":"2010-10-04T13:39:05","modified_gmt":"2010-10-04T17:39:05","slug":"blog-chip-herr-conduciendo-un-mazda-6-en-rep-dom","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.boostiao.com\/portal\/2010\/10\/04\/blog-chip-herr-conduciendo-un-mazda-6-en-rep-dom\/","title":{"rendered":"BLOG>> CHIP HERR – CONDUCIENDO UN MAZDA 6 EN REP. DOM."},"content":{"rendered":"

Estoy muy emocionado al escribir sobre mi altas y bajas del fin de semana que estuve en Rep\u00fablica Dominicana para competir en la DTS con Unicaribe Racing y su Mazda 6. Todo empez\u00f3 cuando llegamos por American Airlines y no tener nuestro equipaje. Perdimos el equipaje por unas 30 horas y tuve que hacer mi primera sesi\u00f3n de practica con un traje prestado de buen competidor Cesar Santana. Tampoco tenia tapones para los o\u00eddos, Hans, guantes o mis botas racing. Solo mi casto y un par de tenis!<\/p>\n

I am very excited to write about my ups and downs of a weekend I had in the Dominican Republic for the double race weekend in the DTS class racing with Unicaribe Racing in a Mazda6. It all started off landing on American Airlines and not having our bags. We lost our bags for about 30 hours and I had to do my first session in the car with a borrowed suit from a kind competitor Cesar Santana. I also had no ear plugs, Hans, gloves or racing shoes. Only my helmet and a pair of tennis shoes!<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Durante la primera sesi\u00f3n me percate de los problemas que estaba teniendo Tonino. Aqu\u00ed entre a hablar con el equipo y comenzamos a realizar los cambios para ayudarlo a ser mas r\u00e1pido y mejor durante una carrera. Mi Jefe de equipo de Mazda, Barry Trivette, a estado ayudando y estaba muy emociado para trabajar junto a mi denuevo. Trabajamos muy bien juntos, realizamos los cambios e hicimos el auto mejor.<\/p>\n

During the first session I realized that the issues that Tonino was having. I came in talk over the info with the team and started to make changes to the car to help it get faster and better during a race. My crew chief from Mazda Barry Trivette has been helping out and was excited to be working with me again. We work very well together. We made changes and the car got better.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

En la tercera sesi\u00f3n pensamos tener un mejor setup pero estaba comenzando a oscurecer, salimos denuevo y en la segundo vuelta el carro simplemente se apago. Luego encontramos que un terminal cayo detr\u00e1s del limpia vidrios y pelo un alambre lo cual hizo un corto circuito y no permit\u00eda que el auto encendiera.<\/p>\n

The third session we thought we had a good setup and it was starting to get dark when we went out and on the second lap the car died. We found out that one of the lugs fell down behind the wipers and rubbed a wired bare and made the ignition short out and not let the car run.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Luego de llevar el auto devuelta a CarLab, encontramos el problema, hicimos los cambios y preparamos el auto para la practica del Viernes. Sent\u00eda en mi mente que el auto era capaz de hacer 23.5 o parecido con gomas usadas y quer\u00edamos probarle eso a Tonino. En 23.5 estar\u00edamos encima del record de pista y esto seria fabuloso hacerlo en el primer fin de semana en el pa\u00eds.<\/p>\n

After getting the car back to the CarLab we found the issue made changes and prepared for Friday practice. I felt in my mind the car was capable of running around a 23.5 or so with used tires but we wanted to prove this to Tonino that the car could do it. At 23.5 we would be right above the track record and that would be awesome to be able to do that on the first weekend in the country.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Llega la ma\u00f1ana del Viernes y luego de solo mi primer d\u00eda en pista, hice unas vueltas en mi mente y quer\u00eda salir a practicar, encontrar el tiempo e ir los mas rapido que pudiera en el auto. Sal\u00ed, hice 2 vueltas a solo un 50%, sacudiendo el auto y luego a darle con todo durante 4 vueltas. La primera fue 24.1, la segunda 23.7, la tercera 23.8 y para seguir caliente un 24.0. Estaba muy contento con como el auto se estaba comportando y de lo que hab\u00eda aprendido de la pista.<\/p>\n

Friday morning comes and after my only first day on track I did some laps in my mind and wanted to get back out there and find time and get the car as fast as I could. I went out and did 2 laps at 50% just shaking the car down and then let her rip for about 4 laps. First flyer 24.1 second flyer 23.7 third flyer 23.8 and last to bring it in hot was 24.0. I was very happy the way the car was working and plus what I had picked up about the track.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

El equipo estaba muy emocionado por lo que ten\u00edamos para el fin de semana ya que yo iba a clasificar y correr la primera manga. Luego de esas vueltas el auto comenz\u00f3 a gustarme y quer\u00eda pasar la tarde para que Tonino se montara en el auto por unas vueltas y sintiera los cambios que hice.<\/p>\n

The team was very excited about what we had for the weekend since I was going to qualify the car and run the first race. After I ran those laps was really liking the car I wanted to spend the afternoon to get Tonino back in the car for some laps to feel what changes I had made.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Luego de las primeras vueltas el supo que el auto estaba bien suelto e inestable pero le segu\u00eda diciendo que si aprend\u00eda a manejar as\u00ed seria mas r\u00e1pido. El lo hizo muy bien y aprendi\u00f3 muy r\u00e1pido. Luego de la sesi\u00f3n subimos el auto al trailer para poder prepararlo para la clasificaci\u00f3n del fin de semana.<\/p>\n

After his first couple laps he knew it was really loose and unstable but I kept saying if you can learn to drive this you will be faster. He did very well and was picking it up very quickly. After that session we loaded up so we could prep the car for qualifying and the weekend.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Cuando llego el d\u00eda de la clasificaci\u00f3n estaba impresionado con la cantidad de personas que fueron a ver el evento. Fue interesante ver que teniamos autos de diferentes caballajes y motocicletas.<\/p>\n

Once qualifying day came it was amazing to me how many people came out to see the event. It was cool that we had cars of different HP and motorcycles too.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Nos sent\u00edamos muy bien con lo que ten\u00edamos para clasificaci\u00f3n y cuando el tiempo llego est\u00e1bamos listos pero la sesi\u00f3n se adelanto al horario y nos sentamos en el grid por unos 15 o 20 minutos. Nos dijeron que seria una larga espera, por por suerte no sal\u00ed del auto, ya que los autos comenzaron a entrar justo cuando me quite el casco. Hicimos una vuelta muy limpia en 23.9 lo cual nos puso en la pole por el momento.<\/p>\n

We really felt good about what we had for qualifying and when the time came we were ready but the session was ahead of schedule and we sat on the grid for 15-20 minutes. They told us it was going to be a long wait but boy and I glad I didn\u2019t get out of the car because cars went on track right after I took my helmet off. We went out and ran a nice clean lap at a 23.9 which put us on pole for the time being.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Luego de unas vuelta Santana salio y marco una vuelta r\u00e1pida de 23.8 y Kiko solo pudo correr un 23.9 altos. Un top 3 muy cerrado y con los Mazda 6s que solian correr en la World Challenge Touring Car!!<\/p>\n

After a few laps Santana went out and put down a flyer at a 23.8 and Kiko was only able to run a high 23.9. What a close top three and all Mazda6\u2019s that used
\nto run in World Challenge Touring Car!<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Luego de la clasificaci\u00f3n pude dar una vuelta para conocer a los competidores, decir hola y agradecer a todos por recibirme para correr en su pais. Todo el mundo fue incre\u00edble y todos estaban emocionados por la carrera que venia con la apretada competencia en la DTS.<\/p>\n

After qualifying I was able to go around and meet the competitors and say hello and thank everyone for being so welcoming to their country to race. Everyone was awesome and everyone was excited about what the race may bring for such tight competition in the top class DTS.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Aqu\u00ed estamos Santana y yo bromeando un poco.<\/p>\n

Here’s me and Santana joking a bit.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Ya en el d\u00eda de carrera, todos sab\u00edamos que eran dos mangas para correr y que con suerte todos saldr\u00edan limpios, sin contactos o problemas mec\u00e1nicos en la primera manga. Yo pase la mayor\u00eda del dia viendo las otras carreras para ver donde hac\u00edan sus movimientos y ver donde se daba bandera verde y cosas as\u00ed. Mazda tenia un incre\u00edble VIP que era fant\u00e1stico para ver toda la pista en el ultimo piso.<\/p>\n

On race day we all knew that there was two races to be run and hopefully everyone would stay clean the first race with out contact or mechanicals issues. I spent most of my day watching other races and see where people were making moves, and where the green flag was getting thrown and so forth. Mazda has an awesome VIP setup that was great for watching the whole track on the top level.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Al inicio de la carrera estaba en la linea de afuera, salimos a la ultima curva bien lento y desde que llegamos a la recta todo el mundo salio disparado justo antes de la verde. Tuve una buena salida pera nada fuera de lo normal y esperaba salir limpio de las primeras curvas y que luego dejar que todo se desarrollara.<\/p>\n

At the start of the race I was on the outside pole and we came out of the last turn real slow and once we hit the straight everyone took off before the green. I got a decent start but nothing real good and was hoping just to make it clean through the first couple corners and let it figure itself out.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Llegando a la curva 1, yo b\u00e1sicamente ir\u00eda justo detr\u00e1s de Santana en segundo y Kiko tercero, pero Kiko entro bien caliente al apex y tranco los frenos bien mal pero lo mantuvo limpio, llegando a la curva 2 yo estaba detr\u00e1s de Santana y Kiko cuando mire, estaba justo detr\u00e1s de mi, bien pegados, cuando aplique los frenos y doble con Santana… BOOM! all\u00ed estaba Kiko dejando se caer como una bomba en el apex y us\u00e1ndome como frenos lo cual bajo mi auto de 2do a 3ro y cai de 2do a 4to detr\u00e1s del RX-7.<\/p>\n

Going into turn one I was basically going to tuck in behind Santan in second and Kiko third but Kiko got hot into the apex and locked the brakes up real bad but kept it clean and going into turn 2 I was right behind Santana and Kiko when I looked was right behind me and we were single file and I got on the brakes and turned in with Santana and BOOM Bang there was Kiko with a dive bomb move to the apex and used me for brakes which knocked my car from 2 to 3rd and fell from 2nd to 4th behind the RX-7.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Llegando a la curva 4 pude ganarle en la frenada al RX7, subir a 3ro y r\u00e1pidamente atrapar a los Mazda 6s de la punta y empece a encontrar donde yo era r\u00e1pido y donde pod\u00eda hacer un pase LIMPIO a Kiko aunque el me pegara anteriormente.<\/p>\n

Going into turn 4 I was able to out brake the rx-7 and move into 3rd but quickly caught the lead Mazda6\u2019s and started to find where I was fast and were I could make a CLEAN pass on Kiko even though I was hit earlier.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Desde que me acerque a los lideres pude darme cuenta que Kiko dejo de concentrarse en Santana y empez\u00f3 a preocuparse por donde yo iba y comet\u00eda errores y sobre manejaba, asi que espere que el trancara los frenos o se pasara en una curva y as\u00ed tomar ventaja.<\/p>\n

Once I caught the leaders I could tell that Kiko stopped focusing on Santana and started to worry about what I was going to do and was making mistakes and driving to hard so I waited for him to lock the brakes or slide wide and take advantage.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Esto paso luego de unas 4 o 5 vueltas, luego que le pase comenc\u00e9 a ir tras Santana que en este punto el clutch comenz\u00f3 a patinar y yo estaba preocupado ya que el clutch podr\u00eda romperse.<\/p>\n

This happened after about 4-5 laps and once I got by him I started after Santana which at this point the clutch started to slip and I was worried the clutch would come apart.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Les hable por radio al equipo sobre el problema pero no recib\u00ed respuesta as\u00ed que entend\u00ed que yo solo deb\u00eda hacer los cambios cortos y ser mas gentil con el acelerador. En este punto pod\u00eda correr con Santana pero perd\u00eda tiempo en las rectas.<\/p>\n

I radioed to the team about the issue and didn\u2019t get a response so I figured I would just short shift and be a little more easy on the throttle. At this point I could run with Santana but I would loose time on the straights.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Faltando 2 vueltas el RX7 finalmente me atrapo y trataba de hacer mi auto mas ancho en los lugares que el era rapido pero no queria bloquearlo por que estaba conduciendo un auto herido que creo que la fuga de aceite en el clutch vino del impacto en la curva 1.<\/p>\n

With about 2 laps to go the RX-7 finally caught me and I was trying to make my car wide in the places he was quick but I didn\u2019t want to block him because I was driving a injured car which I think the oil leak on the clutch came from the impact on lap 1.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Pude arregl\u00e1rmelas para llegar 3ro y mi primer podio, aunque ten\u00edamos un gran auto para ganar ese dia.<\/p>\n

I was able to manage a 3rd place and my first podium even though we had a great car to win that day.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Aun asi quiero agradecer al equipo, Tonino Aybar, Brahma Light, Quiznos, Stoli y Unicaribe Racing por permitirme disfrutar la comida, la pista, los autos y la gente de Santo Domingo. Definitivamente tuve un fin de semana incre\u00edble y no puedo esperara volver para obtener esa primera VICTORIA!.<\/p>\n

I still want to thank the team, Tonino Aybar, Brahma Light, Quiznos, Stoli and Unicaribe Racing for letting me come enjoy Santa Domingo\u2019s food, race track, cars, and people. Definitely had an amazing weekend and cant wait to come back and go for that first WIN!<\/p>\n

– Chip.<\/p>\n