First time to run a National Event and ended up the first loser.

[David Buschur]

I lost. I lost to a hell of a guy though, Bill Brees. The loss is a tough one to swallow for me though. Let me put a little story out there.

Each time anyone set a fast time they were taken from impound to the scales/tech. So anyone with any sense knew trying to cheat rules was stupid if you were going fast cause you were gonna get caught.

I set fast time twice. First time I was weighed I weighed in at 3556. My minimum weight was 3472. So I was WELL over the minimum. The next time I got tech'd is when I hit the 1:39.906. That time I was 3559. Very odd, I was 3 pounds heavier than the first time and I ran TWO sessions and never put gas in the car. So I pointed out to the tech guys, while I was on the scale that something wasn't right. They asked if I added fuel, I told them no, NOTHING is changed and you guys are saying I am 3 pounds heavier than the first time. So I was pulled off into a tech area and the car was gone over from top to bottom to make sure I claimed all my mods etc. I have 5 mod points left before I would get moved to TTC, BTW. This means if I wanted to take those points in weight, I could drop another 50 pounds taking my minimum weight to 3422 pounds. So while I was being tech'd I told them again the scales didn't make sense, two or three of the tech's walked over as I said to them maybe the scales were full of mud and rocks from all the rain. We all looked and the scales looked clean.

Bill ran a 1:39.876, beating me by .030 seconds. The next session I rotated the A6's on the car and unbolted one of the 50 pound ballast bars I had in the back of the car. I changed the tire pressures and decided I was going for it the next session. Well it rained Saturday afternoon and I didn't go out.

That brings us to this morning. First session I had my mind in the game and drove hard, I do not like driving a car loose but knew that was the key to going faster, I set it up loose and drove it for all I had. Lap #2, I ran a new best of 1:39.807. This put me back in first. I was told to go to the scales.

As I was driving there I started getting nervous as I didn't notice the fuel was down to a half tank. In my head I start doing the math, 3559-50-20/30 pounds in the fuel I was down, I knew it would be close but figured I'd be around 3482 or so. I got on the scale and was told I was 3462, 10 pounds under weight. I couldn't believe it. Greg Greenbaum asked what I weighed the time before, I told him, that's what makes no sense I was 3559. So he looks it up and says, "No Dave you were 3539." I said, "That's not what I was told and told you guys my weight last time made no sense, Joe Sullivan (who was standing there) remembers I was complaining about how the car was heavier after running two sessions and never adding fuel. Joe said he remembered but couldn't remember exactly what the weight was I was told. I said well look at the first weigh in and it was 3 pounds heavier than that or for that matter go off the first weigh in." Nope, bottom line was I was 10 pounds under and that was the end of that and my time was DQ'd. I told them I guess I'd have to go faster the next round and it was what it was. No argument but I was not happy. Then I thought of the extra 50 pounds I could remove from the 5 points that were left........added to my disgust. Last session was a mess, I filled the tank and the traffic and stupidity were out of control. Guys in TTC/TTB doing slow laps on lap 2-3-4 for no apparent reason.

I congratulated Bill on his win and he told me it was bull****, 10 pounds isn't going to make a difference and he didn't like winning like that. This is his 4th National win, great driver, great guy. Someone I could be friends with a drink beers with.

My first National event after just 3 or 4 years of road racing a few times a year and I got the "First loser" trophy, 2nd Place. It was very close, with my DQ'd time I'd have won by .07, with my time that wasn't Bill won by .03 and it all came down to the last run of the week.

I had an absolute blast this week, really enjoyed myself and that's what counts. I'd sure have liked to taken that 1st Place home but..................

I was going to quit after this year, I may have to rethink that and give it another shot next year.

[blackout]

Congrats on the loser trophy! haha Sounds like you had a blast and in the end thats really the most important thing. There is always next year.

[JTEVO2932]

That sucks that they messed up....but you did a great job for your first time at a national event! You should keep doing it, I would like to do some events like that next year.

[David Buschur]

Road racing is definitely a blast, much more fun than drag to be honest. I get more seat time in one session one day then I can all year at the drag strip.

[JTEVO2932]

Road racing is definitely a blast, much more fun than drag to be honest. I get more seat time in one session one day then I can all year at the drag strip.

Yeah that is true..nothing wrong with trying a little of every type of racing.

[tackla]

Congrats Dave! What are the plans for next year?

[David Buschur]

I have no real plans for next year. The schedule is tough because of my wife's work schedule. It seems every race this year fell on a weekend she was working, that leaves me in a tough spot for our kids. Between the Winged Warrior event, our two races, 3-4 weekends of road racing it eats up most of the summer weekends. I don't know that I can commit to it again. I'd love to run Nationals again, I may try to squeeze my five events into just two weekends next year. Double enter the car in two classes one weekend. You have to have 5 Time Trial events to qualify. My other thought has been to just go try some other tracks instead of Mid Ohio, that means more travel and more time away though.......who knows.

[SloRice]

If you want to travel, You have a few tracks within 6 hours of you David - Putnam, Gingerman, Watkins Glen

[David Buschur]

Yeah Tim, I may run some other tracks and then still end up with enough events to qualify for Nationals.

[Kody]

congrats you did it man.