Last Sunday, after a weekend of preparations, class races, and qualifying runs, all remaining eligible competitors lined up for a 3-hour endurance race to close out the August SCCA regionals at NHIS. Spec Miatas, IT racers, a lone T1 Corvette–all were on track. Most cars had two drivers who switched at about the half-way point. The variety of cars made for great racing from the first rush into turn 3 to the checkered flag.

One of the better battles of the afternoon was between an ITE BMW and the T1 Corvette. Though not in the same class, they were neck and neck for a while, swapping positions and trying to hold each other off.

Meanwhile, the Miatas were flying. And there were so many Miatas it was easy to forget that there were actually other cars out there. Being so evenly matched there was a lot of close, nose-to-tail action up the hill at 3, in the bowl, and through the north chicane. Bumping was inevitable, as were a few dramatic spins.

While Noah and I were looking for photo positions out behind corner 9, I noticed that most of the cars were taking a very different line through the 9-10 sequence. When I approach that section I use a lot of brake-turning initially. Positioned mid-track for 9, I make a gradual turn-in so that I can straighten out alongside the wall coming down the hill. I’m on the throttle quite early, then I brake briefly before turning in for 10.

Most of the racers (and all the Miatas) were braking earlier for 9. Like me, they were mid-track before turn in. But they hugged the inner portion of 9 and reached the wall much later than I. Braking for 10–if there was braking–was late, and I could see some of the cars carrying their braking nearly to the blob of asphalt that marks the apex of 10.

Spec Miatas and IT cars have much less body roll than my ice-racer Protege, which explains the difference in the approaches. Whereas I need much more straight time against the wall to settle the car, the club racers can snap through that transition. However, their line covers less total distance than mine. The average speed might be lower with earlier braking and a tighter line through 9, but that shortens the corner. It also makes braking for 10 less necessary, which allows them to go smoothly in places where I am more unsettled. I’ll be trying their line the next time I’m out.

In the oddball category was this Oldsmobile, a car we liked because it was much faster than it looked. We didn’t get a chance to see it parked, but it was impressive in motion. Of all the cars we saw, it got the most rear wheel lift going through 3.

Towards the end of the race several cars had pulled out due to damage or mechanical failure and the pack had thinned considerably. We packed up to go home with a new-found respect for the strain and abuse of endurance racing.