Here is a 14 minute in-car video of me in the Viper chasing Marco Cirone in his white Corvette. It was taken during a CASC-OR Sprint race at Mosport in August 2008. You can read my comments about the race below the clip.
Sorry for the corny 80's soundtrack - but my camera is mounted on the roof of the car and all it records for sound is "wind howl".
This video starts as we catch the first of lapped traffic. (The lens was fogged up with moisture during earlier laps.)
What was great about this race (and you can't see it from the forward facing camera) - but - Marco's team mate, Roberto Sabato, in a blue Corvette, was right on my bumper for the entire race. Several times the three of us went almost side by side through 9 - 10 and through 1,2, 3 and 4. As a result, I was driving a defensive line - while still trying to take the lead from Marco.
I thought I was faster than Marco for several laps (we were running mostly 1:26's that day) - but not fast enough to find my way around him, until at 4 minutes :20 - he got caught up in traffic and made a poor exit from Corner 5. I drove a full line and passed him for the lead on the back straight.
That's a nice visual example of just how much faster a car can be when it gets a proper launch from corner 5 - as opposed to driving a compromised line.
Then at 6 minutes :45 - as we exit corner 10 - you can see the nose of the Corvette edge up side by side with me along the front straight. When we reach corner 2 - I hesitate when approaching a BMW, and Marco takes advantage and pounces back into the lead (this time to stay) while I try to keep up with him in traffic.
Later at the 13 minute mark, I get cut off by a Datsun and am forced to lift (mid corner), losing momentum and any chance of winning the race. I then had to drive hard just to defend my second place position from Roberto who was right behind me.
It really hurt to lose that race - but the action was fantastic, the fans loved it - and - somedays . . . well, it's just not there . . . and you have to accept things and make the most of how they turn out.
It's was long season and I ended up beating both Corvettes for the Annual Championship, largely by finishing every race of the year strongly, with minimal incident or breakdown.
Nick
