Mid-Ohio provided a mixed bag of weather for the NASA Great Lakes annual Memorial Day weekend event. From cloudy dry conditions during Friday testing, rain for qualifying, a drying track for races one and two, and a downpour at the start of race three when Spec Miata‘s many competitors were on slicks, challenging only begins to describe driver’s feelings.
Teen Mazda Challenge racer Lincoln Olson started the weekend off hot by besting the field during a rainy Saturday warm up on the Club Course over 2 seconds faster than the next best competitor with a 2:21.06. Ken Williams set a 2:23.37, and Gary Jenkins with a 2:23.56. Qualifying two hours later, with light rain and improved track conditions allowed the skills of a few other drivers to rise to the top. Aryton Grim took pole for race 1 with a 2:06.4, seven tenths up on John Allen and Wyatt Wood 1.5 seconds off Allen’s pace. The remainder of the field was significantly spread out as they searched for the best line during the six laps of qualifying.
Saturday’s race one over four hours after qualifying would run under mostly sunny skies and nearly dry track conditions. Racers did have to tread carefully through the chicane, the exit of keyhole, and at the exit of Thunder Valley as each section had water draining across the racing surface. That water at the exit of keyhole would be the source of an early yellow due to two out of class cars spinning into the sand. During the initial lap under green Olson overtook Wood for P3 and Marc Cefalo gained two positions over Chris Finnigan and Wood for P4. The field returned to green after two laps for the final six laps. The lead exchanged hands no less than four times with Grim, Allen, Cefalo, and Olson each taking turns with Olson holding P1 for the final three laps. Vaughn Mishko showed strong form steadily moving up through the field from P8 to P2 and finishing P3.
For Sunday, the Pro Course configuration was utilized without the chicane heading into keyhole. Similar track conditions as race 1 were at hand for race 2 Sunday morning at 10:30. Unfortunately the same wet condition at the exit of keyhole would be the cause of another incident limiting the race to only 1.5 laps under green. Wood, who started P1 finished in the same position, Olson finished P2 after starting P4, and Mishko held on to his P3 starting position.
The weekend finale had racers guessing between the Hoosier SMW and RCES. Many SM racers made the commitment to go with the RCES, but rain would start while the cars were on grid and continue with conditions becoming worse each lap. Any changes in position occurred early as everyone searched for grip and contact between Spec Miatas took a couple competitors out of the race. Olson, starting P1 dropped to P4 at the start with Grim moving up five spots to P1 and holding there for the win. Notable finishes for Ken Williams finishing P5 after starting P12, and for Teen Mazda Challenge racer Connor Thomas finishing P7 after starting P16.
Shout Outs for the Weekend
- Mazda MX5 Cup racer and Great Lakes Alumni Vaughn Mishko for joining us in the fun.
- The SM paddock for assisting John Allen with tire changes as the prior champion left his jack at home.
- Marc Cefalo for providing a spare transmission to Aryton Grim.
- Hard luck award of the weekend to John Poppenhouse who’s car sputtered to a stop due to a failed alternator while heading on track for race three.
