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Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Honda Challenge Buttonwillow Oct. 2010

Greetings,
Time for the fall race report.This past weekend October 9th and 10th,was the second to last race weekend for NASA So Cal and the weather was fantastic,and not to mention the racing close.
My second event weekend in the tough H2 class was a great one with close racing among the top 5 racers.Saturday I was adjusting to the track conditions and my car setup,and made some changes that were helpful.Adding power steering made the car very easy to drive and took much less effort than no power steering,thus saving me energy and helping my consistency driving.Qualifying 6th,I avoided a first lap crash in front of me,and was quickly 3rd after turn 2. In a hard fought battle for 3rd with the H2 front runner Greg Neuwirth and his AEM integra,I did the best I could and he eventually got around me and I settled for a solid 4th place out of 8 finish with my #64 Civic.
Sunday's race was much better since I had a rhythm from Saturday.I qualified 6th yet again but this time was a reverse grid and standing start,giving me outside pole position.With the faster cars coming up behind a few laps later, I drove defensively and gave up a few spots from driving under pressure.Once I got settled down,I fought hard with Benny Pecqueur for 4th position clicking off a personal best 2:04.2 lap.Though as my brakes and tires started going away,so was my chance at passing for 4th. Ending in 5th right behind the top 4 with in a few seconds of each other! There is much more on the table for me once my confidence driving gets even higher,the car can do it I just have to execute.
A real fun weekend and I hope to do better yet at the season finale next month at Buttonwillow.
Thanks so much to my sponsors and supporters,you know it means alot.
Cheers
Justin
JW Racing
Tuesday, August 3, 2010

Auto Club NASA Honda Challenge 7-31/8-1-2010

Greetings to all,
Another update from the JW Racing camp. This past weekend at Auto Club raceway in Fontana,Ca was the final NASA So Cal event before the Nationals at Miller motorsports park in Utah next month,and was a good chance to make sure our car was solid. This was the first complete weekend we had since I converted my #64 civic coupe to the H2 class and the summer weather was on par with temps in the 90's.
Saturday was a good run for me qualifying 4th and I would likely have finished there,however a rare black flag stopped the race mid way.While stopped in hot pit lane,I was discouraged by tons of oil and dirt accumulating on my windshield.Not sure if it was my car of the car ahead of me,I chose to be safe and pull off and into the garage to examine my car.It turns out it was the car ahead of me and I could have finished the race once the black flag condition ended.Bad break and a lesson learned.
Sunday I qualified 5th after a heated qualifying race, with the top 5 H2 cars all with in about 2/100ths of a second! In the main event I got a great start and unfortunately got slowed up by a car from another class which set me back a few seconds.Since the top 5 were so close in speed,it was nearly impossible for me to make up the gap I lost.Just a 1/4 mile away from the pack I could not catch the draft which is very important at Auto Club.Thus in the end I had the same gap and in 5th position behind Winner Edik Stepanyan,2nd Steph Papadakis,and 3rd Greg Neuwirth.
I am very happy about my conversion to H2 and the closer racing is much more fun and I am learning even more.I hope to be able to still make it to the Nationals at Miller and show what I can do.The car is competitive and as long as I do my job and wheel her to the front,we should be good!
Thanks to Password:JDM for the Blog,and thanks to all of my sponsors who are great supporters of my program.You know your roles and I am grateful.
Untill next time, Cheers
Justin Wesseling
Monday, May 24, 2010

NASA Honda Challenge Willow Springs 5-2010

Greetings again my friends,
I have always had good news each race, and of course, I am mortal.It has been a tough weekend and will keep this report short and sweet.
Reaching the halfway point of the NASA Honda Challenge season,we stopped in Rosamond CA at Willow Springs raceway May 22-23rd.Normally a warm place being in the desert,it is sometimes known for snow in the winter and this race was a taste of the latter.Extreme winds,showers and very cool temps were in the area reminding us more of March than May.
Saturday's race was a good close race with many cars,though in the end few survived as a surprise tech inspection served disqualifications to several cars.Unfortunately I had my own car issues in the #64 H1 civic coupe,and could not capitalize on my competitors misfortune,since we did not start the race. Sunday I managed to get the car somewhat functional and went of for some practice and qualifying laps.After trying to adjust driving style to a dangerous front brake lockup issue from a poor pad selection,I chose to not race Sunday for safety reasons.
This weekend showed to me that making changes to the car and not testing prior to a race weekend can be a severe set-back.I also learned that a car and driver can hit a plateau and I am in need of a little push to get the car's development to the next level so I can get the seat time I need.
Hopefully we can sort things out for the next event at Buttonwillow Raceway park next race.
I want to thank all of my supporters and sponsors
Cheers
Justin W.
Monday, April 19, 2010

NASA Honda Challenge Buttonwillow #13 April,2010

Greetings again my friends,
Hope all is well.This past weekend was the third NASA So Cal event of the season,held at Buttonwillow raceway park.The weather was amazing and this race weekend also had the 3hr day to night enduro which is fun to watch.It was also great so see some of my customers' engines run well at the track this weekend,both in the top 2 for the H2 class.
In my H1 class Honda Challenge Sprint races,I got a 2nd Saturday and a 1st place on Sunday in my #64 Gold K24 powered EJ1 coupe.Saturday I was spending most of the time getting acquainted with a new rear sway bar and a few other adjustments that were unsettling at first,but once I got used to them I was 2 seconds faster then the last time I ran the #13 clockwise layout.I ran a best time of a 2:01,getting ever so close to my goal of the 2:00 barrier;a highly respected feat among the better drivers. Some rear bumper contact left me controlling my sliding car as if I was in the drift series,but I learned alot and managed to man handle my car to the finish.
Sunday I did not qualify as I hoped,but with the standing start I got a great start and was among the leaders.A very close quarters battle between the 2 top cars of the H2 class and the top two H1 class that I run in,me leading H1.There were many many cautions during our race including a Full course yellow,which is rare for us.I was passed under a caution flag by my competitor,which after I showed my tape to the Director,was DQ'd for not relinquishing the position.I did finish 2nd over all and 2nd in class,however in the end,I was awarded 1st place in H1 following the disqualification of the winner.Though he was a few tenths faster per lap.I would rather have to race him to win than be cheated on.A great lesson for everyone.
After 3 wins and a 2nd in the last 4 races,I now have a solid points lead for the season H1 class championship,and I hope to hold it.See you next month at Willow Springs International raceway.
Thanks to all of my sponsors and supporters,
Cheers
Justin