My review 2012

Hello,

here is my review of 2012:

Februar 19th

First race with guys  from 2o4f (=Too old for Forza) was terrible, because everybody overtook me several times at Infineon. It was a race in the EUSL II series and we drove a Toyota MR II. A nice to drive race car.

[img]http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8217/8321932555_ffa8d08433.jpg[/img]

My first design was a simple one.

After the race I was infected and couldn’t wait to next Sunday. In the following weeks I learned much about the Xbox, my Router and various technical issues. At some point I was very frustrated, but everytime someone gave me a tip, so I could solve all problems. Step by step. Since than I only had problems with connecting, if the Turn10-servers had problems.

March 25th

I missed the last race of the EUSL (= Euro Sunday League) II, but started soon doing qualifying laps with the special car “BMW 1” on Infineon. I slipped, slided, was more off the track than on it, tried harder, found no rhythm,…..

[img]http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8358/8322996058_f550a74135.jpg[/img]

At that time I decided to drive more RWD cars. In FWD cars I was quicker, but I wanted to learn the real thing.

April 29th

In a stock car race with a Ford Escort at Ladera Short Track I made a mistake, hit the wall and after that the race leader. He lost the championship, was sad, but not angry. I found that a great attitude. He gave me a good feeling as a rookie, who simply made a mistake.

[img]http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8218/8321958781_be370fd29f.jpg[/img]

May 6th

The first race from the third EUSL season. It was in Silverstone with a Mini, which is such a great car to race in! I was prepared, had trained a lot and then I learned a lesson: Race incidents can happen anytime and anywhere! In the first round my Mini got a little touch - not a gentle one. I flew from the track, took one other Mini with me and was very frustrated.

[img]http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8216/8321944029_6c64dd9000.jpg[/img]

May 20th

EUSL III at Road Atlanta. I had found some speed to follow some guys and made it to position 8 and 9. For the first time I wasn’t the last one!

[img]http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8493/8321944163_b8df5d654e.jpg[/img]

June 6th

After training and racing in different cars I made a deal with myself: No FWD cars for the next three months. I wanted to learn more about racing techniques, breaking, pushing or lifting the throttle,……. I had many  frustrating moments in driving those RWD’s, but a least it was the right decision for me. Even today I try to avoid FWD cars.

[img]http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8501/8322996262_eba0711d9b.jpg[/img]

June 9th

I bought myself a racing suit.

[img]http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8214/8323102418_4a58bae2fc.jpg[/img]

July 15th

For the new EUSL IV series I wanted to have something special. So I made a design for the first car - VW Scirocco. A  design, which expressed my personality best. In hours of designing I tried to describe some of my thoughts, believes and passions. The car had no sponsors or commercials on it.

Only one exception: My own business “time for change” has found a place onto the car. And the latin phrase “Nunc. Aliter. Amplius.” is my personal slogan. In german “Jetzt. Anders. Weiter.” and in englisch “Now. Different. Forward.” As always with my racing number #246. The story behind: My son is born June 1999, 24th. In Germany we write the date different 24.6.1999.

[img]http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8211/8321936457_bd99fb715d.jpg[/img]

Funny is, that I never drove that car in one single race. During that time I had major health problems and much stress in business life.

July 17th

In the Austin Healey Cub at Iberian Short Reverse I had a excellent race. I wasn’t the last of the field and achieved the first series points. Other racers saw and remarked my progress. Training, training,…. and you’ll have the chance to get there, where you want to.

[img]http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8084/8321952273_dfeeba771c.jpg[/img]

October 7st

After a very long time I returned for racing. I had to change my racing setup, had to buy new glasses, because I couldn’t see enough in the new monitor, and it felt like “starting all over new again”. I had lost all of my speed and progress. The race of the EUSL IV series was in a Honda S 2000 at Silverstone. I was very slow and due to a lack of fitness I lost my concentration too fast and therefore lost the car in some curves.

[img]http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8221/8323006476_92177240e0.jpg[/img]

November 6th

After several miles at Silverstone, trying many different cars from different tuners, I had decided to compete in the big Britcar race with a Altezza. I had trained a lot, as bad news came into the house. Due to a business project I won’t be able to race. This had happened many times during the year, but this time it was very frustrating, because this race was a very special one. New drivers, new rules and tires, live video transmission via the web,……

[img]http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8084/8322984246_a6e2c6daa0.jpg[/img]

November 26th

I bought my first, but not last Porsche. My childhood dream. The 911!

[img]http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8494/8323130468_df1c99d2b8.jpg[/img]

December 2nd

Race day! Britcar. After changes in my business schedules I was able to race, but ……. it was a lonely and sad race. I was nearly 2 seconds behind my personal best time, which was 4 seconds behind all other club racers. Many hours training at this track and with the Altezza, but no racing-, driving-, speed-progress. I felt terrible. After I realizied how fast the rest of the pack was, all I could do was staying out of trouble. I think the leaders were overtaking me 3 or 4 times.

[img]http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8217/8322984446_6cda5ec17c.jpg[/img]

December 11th

After months I raced a FWD car. A Toyota Yaris, tuned by a Kraigger for the Yaris Cup. In this race at Maple Valley Short I overtook another racer first time in a real race. Due to a handicap system, which is installed in this series I had a chance to follow and I made only three major mistakes. Well, concentration and consistency is everything. It was fun and this was deserved, because one week before I made a stupid mistake and ruined my first Yaris Cup race.

[img]http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8216/8323140086_f696ae86a6.jpg[/img]

December 23rd

What a fantastic race. My first podium! 3rd place in the Mazda MX5 Playboy series. On one of my favourite tracks, Infineon, I finished as third. The pokal I have got from Church Pro. Many greetings and wishes reached during the hours after the race.

[img]http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8352/8322977814_10b48346b4.jpg[/img]

[img]http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8212/8323172372_40b70abfa9.jpg[/img]

Overall:

2012 was a year full of up's and down's. After all it was a good year. Especially because I have found a new hobby: Racing with you! Thanks for your support.

My preview for 2013:

I believe, that 2013 will be again a very stressfull year in my business. There will be changes from day to day and often I will have to leave my home on Sunday. I want to make as much races as possible, but I won’t do it in a racing team. It is necessary for me to be flexible and mobile, so if I am online I will compete. I am a privateer, who won’t be able to do a whole racing series. Maybe that is possible 2014.

For the next weeks I want to race in following series:

MX 5 Playboy series

[img]http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8363/8321919349_b21ecbfd21.jpg[/img]

[img]http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8363/8321919169_647c79c8d4.jpg[/img]

GT open

[img]http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8213/8321919609_bb65a0a85a.jpg[/img]

Yaris Cup

[img]http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8491/8323192390_563320a385.jpg[/img]

DTM Retro

[img]http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8360/8322978906_3c256bc797.jpg[/img]

Other challenges and cars:

Porsche GT 3

[img]http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8219/8321918955_ec2ccb2f82.jpg[/img]

V8 Supercars are a big challenge for me. RWD, heavy but fast and no TCS.

2,4 hours of Le Mans

For me is 2013 a year of training and developing more driving skills. If I will save enough money, I will buy a new wheel. This is my goal for 2013. I want to optimize my racing setup.

Many thanks and all good wishes to all members from 2o4e and 2o4f for 2013!!!!!

Let us make our world better!

JDANKERT