May 11, 2008 - Team Autoxrs Headquarters

After a month long break, the team was back on the road for the Steel Cities Region Mother's Day autocross at Consol Energy Park in Washington, PA. Sharing driving duties would be Roy Wendell and Sean Banerjee. Roy is helping develop the car and will share co-driving duties at all events as permitted by his work schedule. When the team left home base it was evident that weather would play a big factor. Forecast called rain all day, and when the team pulled into Consol Energy Park it was evident that it would be cold and wet. Shortly after the driver's meeting the skies opened up and a steady downpour began. With no rain tires at hand the team was stuck running the shaved Bridgesones.

Sean would be first car out, given the slippery conditions it was unclear whether the tires would have enough grip. To the team's surprise there was plenty of grip and the Bridgestone RE-01Rs held up very well despite the small areas of standing water. Sean's conservative first run netted a time of 43.4 seconds, after a quick debrief Roy would begin his first run and quickly set the stage with a 41.9 second run. Sean's second run was much faster, but dirty as a late cone call in the slalom ended a fast 42.4 second run. Roy took provisional FTD and PAX FTD with his second run with a 40.1 second time, it was clear that the car was working very well given the conditions. Sean's final run of the morning came within a second of Roy's fastest time. But, a slide through the finish netted three cones that meant that the first run would be his fastest for the day. Roy's final run for the first session began, it was evident this would be a blistering time until a slide in the first sweeper ended hopes of a low 39 second run. The timer stopped at a 42 second range, meaning the second run would be Roy's fastest. The team held 1-2 in STS2 and a top 10 PAX time for both drivers at the end of the heat.

With the weather clearing for the second heat it appeared there would have an enthralling battle for the STS2 win. A quick glance at the time sheets indicated the teammates still held top 30 spots in PAX after the relatively dry second heat. But, as the final cars in the second heat began taking their runs the clouds started opening up and another torrential shower began. The team decided to take an early lunch and return for their afternoon runs. When they returned there was no cars running on site as the event had been stopped due to lightning in the area. After discussion the team decided to pack up and head back to base as there was no possible way the times would get any faster. "It was a real shame that the weather played foul, it was a fantastic course and we really wanted to get some dry runs in." commented car owner Sean Banerjee after the event.

The team would like to thank Mark Connolly and everyone at McB Autosport for their continued support of the team.