Season Opener for NorCal fell on a weekend with changing weather.

Just five from the NorCal group was going to brave the rain but Greg and Ivan both had other commitments and couldn't make it out so it was up to the three of us (Jerry Whitteridge, Sid Lee and Steve Huey) to break in the new Season.

Sat practice was all race groups in the rain - I did 2 laps where I couldn't see a damn thing as the rain-x had worn off and I pulled into the paddock. Steve belted up but didn't try to come out and Sid did his "I'm staying in bed - See you at Qual".

Qualifying went O.K. given the amount of cars in the group and I ran a 2.08 (not great) Sid did 2.04 and Steve a 2.13 running the longer 7A track configuration. We staged for the race with 65 cars on grid. We held back to get our own green and at the drop Sid was able to pull me with his rebuilt 88 motor and get to T2 in front of me. It then became a chase where he was able to pull away from me tiny bit by tiny bit. My best was a 2:05 and Sid had 2:03. Once he got away from me I kind of slacked off and 3 laps from the end Steve appeared in my mirrors. Now I had to really turn it up again and not let him get up or past me. He finished a car length behind me - I won't make that mistake again.

Sunday was a much better day - dry and a little cool and our normal track configuration without 7A, Again just Steve and me for practice - which consisted of ALL the race groups except the Formula Mazda's. I again got 2 laps in when the car died coming out of T11. Towed back into the paddock Steve and I found the set screw in the rotor had dropped out. &^%$#$&) - I was sure I put some locktite on it when I replaced it last year. We put the set screw back in but the threads had stripped just enough to not allow the screw to tighten but also it wouldn't just drop out so we ended up with a big glob of locktite and a zip tie to make sure it didnt back out.  That seemed to do the trick and Qual went well. Well enough that I ran a personal best of 2:03.6 and qualified on the pole (of 944Spec) with Sid at a 2.04.5 and Steve at 2:08.9.

We confirmed with Jerry K that the pole sitter has to take the inside for T1 so that had me with Sid on my outside and Steve behind me. I knew that if Sid got into the lead he would again manage to walk away from me so I held the revs right at the start of my powerband as we approached the green. When it dropped we went for it and stayed side by side through T1 and T2 with Sid having to drop some speed on corner exit of T2 so I was able to pull into the lead at the entrance to T3. So now I had my first Pole and first time I lead a race ! I was pulling out all the stops to keep him behind (ran another personal best of 2:03.2) but he managed a run on me coming out of T10 in lap 7  and I was not quick enough to get over and defend T11. Side by side we went through T11 and he was able to lead me on the front straight. He then proceeded to run 2:01's to my 2:03's to finish the race. This was one of the best races I've ever had and I learnt so much even though I didn't hold on for the win!