Bryan's racing debut in America

[95BlkMiata-038]

I am pretty sure it was Bryan's first Road Race in America since finishing GT Academy. There were two great looking 370zs that showed up at Mid Ohio last Saturday, an 04 and 05 car accompanied by a lot of filming. Poor guy couldn't do much of anything without a boom mic over his head. Maybe they are still shooting the GT Academy episodes (last one maybe?). I believe Bryan was driving the 05 car and placed it pretty high up on the grid in qualifying in an extremely competetive series (Contintental Tire Sports Car Challenge) with a car that has not run much in the series. It was a little lacking in power at the back end of the main straight versus the Mustangs and BMWs. He qualified much higher than the 04 car which was near the back which tells me he was getting the most out of the car. A great job I would say.

I got the opportunity to talk to him a couple times. Would really have liked to have chatted with him some more. Nice guy.

I am not going to give anything away for the race but I would recommend checking out the Speed broadcast of the race that is coming up on Saturday at 1pm EST.

 

[Motor City Hami]

I was there too, racing in a bright green Miata with the SCCA club race. Didn't get to see much of the Contintinental Challenge because I was working on my own car. Sounded line a wreck fest with like six or more full course yellows? Can't wait to watch the Speed broadcast this weekend.

 

[95BlkMiata-038]

Hey Motor, I watched two of your qualifying races but left mid Sunday. That yellow CRX was so sick fast around the corners. Driving a Spec Miata I would assume?

The race was a real hoot with the battles for the championships on the line. One wreck broke one of the posts in the fencing just before the bridge in madness.

 

[CodeRedR51]

I'll save this from those who haven't seen the race and/or are waiting for it to air on SPEED:

Spoiler

Bryan ended up losing the car in turn 9 and a Camaro ran into him hard enough to end their day. He was doing really well up to that point. Sucks to hear it ended that way.

 

[95BlkMiata-038]

I would bet that he had never driven at Mid Ohio which makes his speed that much more impressive. Unless he did it in iracing..

 

[Motor City Hami]

Hey Motor, I watched two of your qualifying races but left mid Sunday. That yellow CRX was so sick fast around the corners. Driving a Spec Miata I would assume?

The race was a real hoot with the battles for the championships on the line. One wreck broke one of the posts in the fencing just before the bridge in madness.

The yellow and the orange 90's CRX cars are a father/son team. Those are two of the fastest Improved Touring cars in the country. They place 1st/2nd almost every time they race. Dad Moser blew a water line from 2nd on Saturday morning. I was running 5th and was lucky enough to spin in his engine pee. There were 38 cars behind me and I was sitting facing oncoming traffic on the back side of the hill entering Thunder Valley, in the kill zone. Noone hit me, but it was close. Drove from like 40th to 23rd in 5 or 6 laps. I'll post video this week.

I got spun in turn one in the noon race. Guy in 25th decided he could win it on lap one, turn one. Worked from 44th to 18th by the end of that one.

Sunday feature was better. Finished 11th overall and 6th in Spec Miata.

 

[IforceV8]

News about the race. http://paddocktalk.com/news/html/story-173899.html

 

[CudaMan]

He qualified much higher than the 04 car which was near the back which tells me he was getting the most out of the car. A great job I would say.

Thanks. The 04 car actually qualified 14th, one row behind, but a precautionary engine change overnight sent them to the rear of the GS field for the race. Mike was doing an awesome job going from 39th or whatever it was to the top 15 in about 15 laps when he got collected in someone else's accident. Tough luck for the whole team - it was shaping up to be their best finish of the season.

It was tough to end the race on that note but overall the weekend went excellently. It was my first time sharing (a) car(s) with pro drivers so I was finally able to get a realistic benchmark of where I stood on speed. The pace was very good, and I was holding my own in the race despite the power deficit on the straights, racing door to door on a challenging (and great fun!) track, and in fact moving up looking to get into the top 10. It all unraveled with the tiniest mistake, which through a series of unfortunate circumstances ended our race. It's highly unusual for me to spin. But, I suppose this is one of those character building moments in the early career of a racing driver. They all have to go through it at some point.

Also, when/where did I meet you? Help me put a name or face to the online handle. I met so many people over the weekend. Definitely the biggest race I've done so far. Lots of fans! And an incredibly competitive series.

 

[Lord Grey]

It was tough to end the race on that note but overall the weekend went excellently. It was my first time sharing (a) car(s) with pro drivers so I was finally able to get a realistic benchmark of where I stood on speed. The pace was very good, and I was holding my own in the race despite the power deficit on the straights, racing door to door on a challenging (and great fun!) track, and in fact moving up looking to get into the top 10. It all unraveled with the tiniest mistake, which through a series of unfortunate circumstances ended our race. It's highly unusual for me to spin. But, I suppose this is one of those character building moments in the early career of a racing driver. They all have to go through it at some point.

I watched the race on SPEED and was rooting you on. My wife thought I was crazy, as I kept pointing out your car whenever it happened to be on the screen. I thought you drove really well, especially considering the power differences.

 

[IforceV8]

Good luck at Silverstone 24hr Bryan.

 

[Mac K]

Thanks. The 04 car actually qualified 14th, one row behind, but a precautionary engine change overnight sent them to the rear of the GS field for the race. Mike was doing an awesome job going from 39th or whatever it was to the top 15 in about 15 laps when he got collected in someone else's accident. Tough luck for the whole team - it was shaping up to be their best finish of the season.

It was tough to end the race on that note but overall the weekend went excellently. It was my first time sharing (a) car(s) with pro drivers so I was finally able to get a realistic benchmark of where I stood on speed. The pace was very good, and I was holding my own in the race despite the power deficit on the straights, racing door to door on a challenging (and great fun!) track, and in fact moving up looking to get into the top 10. It all unraveled with the tiniest mistake, which through a series of unfortunate circumstances ended our race. It's highly unusual for me to spin. But, I suppose this is one of those character building moments in the early career of a racing driver. They all have to go through it at some point.

Also, when/where did I meet you? Help me put a name or face to the online handle. I met so many people over the weekend. Definitely the biggest race I've done so far. Lots of fans! And an incredibly competitive series.

Nice to see your still around! Congrats on winning GT Academy and good luck in your future endeavors!

 

[BlacqueJacques]

Well done Bryan 👍

 

[CodeRedR51]

 

[NEPALII]

GT Academy winner go to this championship and yet we dont have these cars in GT5. That's odd. Im sure Gran Turismo has some collaboration/licensing with the championship, so I dont understand how can we not have these cars in GT5. I could be mistaken with my assumptions, just a thought.

 

[grzajabarkus]

I wish we got these cars and tracks in gt5, at least silverstone!

 

[95BlkMiata-038]

Thanks. The 04 car actually qualified 14th, one row behind, but a precautionary engine change overnight sent them to the rear of the GS field for the race. Mike was doing an awesome job going from 39th or whatever it was to the top 15 in about 15 laps when he got collected in someone else's accident. Tough luck for the whole team - it was shaping up to be their best finish of the season.

It was tough to end the race on that note but overall the weekend went excellently. It was my first time sharing (a) car(s) with pro drivers so I was finally able to get a realistic benchmark of where I stood on speed. The pace was very good, and I was holding my own in the race despite the power deficit on the straights, racing door to door on a challenging (and great fun!) track, and in fact moving up looking to get into the top 10. It all unraveled with the tiniest mistake, which through a series of unfortunate circumstances ended our race. It's highly unusual for me to spin. But, I suppose this is one of those character building moments in the early career of a racing driver. They all have to go through it at some point.

Also, when/where did I meet you? Help me put a name or face to the online handle. I met so many people over the weekend. Definitely the biggest race I've done so far. Lots of fans! And an incredibly competitive series.

Hey, glad I checked back in on the threads. We chatted a bit at the Nissan tent in the infield. They asked us to re-film the exchange when I told you that I'd be watching you during the race. I tried to catch up with you a second time but was not able to. Didn't realize the other car was back there due to a change, makes sense.