WOW! That is one hell of a car.

A couple weeks ago I had the opportunity to test one of the Andersen/Walko Formula Mazda Pro cars. After watching them on tv, and seeing them at Mid-Ohio and Road America, I was really excited to actually be driving one, and boy it did not dissapoint.

I met John Walko through the BeaveRun Motorsports Complex while I raced karts, and once this summer when I was up there practicing and he was helping his son out I asked if I could test one of his FM cars.

The agreement they had me sign said to be at the track at 7 AM, but nobody showed up untill about 8:30. They unloaded the cars and I took a few laps around the track in my RX-8, since I knew the kart track like the back of my hand but I had never been on the big track before. To compare it to some other track, I'd say its like a cross between Mid-Ohio and Lime Rock. It's more technical like mid-o but It's mostly fast corners like Lime Rock and there's a really cool uphill and blind downhill sweeping complex.

I waited for what seemed like forever while they replaced a bent steering rod and prepped the car. Since it was my first time we didn't bother to mold a seat and I used one of Jonathan Klein's, which was a little big for me but it did the trick. My mechanic Scott explained all the buttons and the left foot braking deal and off I went. It was a little akward being so low in the car, in the pits it seemed the steering wheel was right in front of my face, but somehow I seemed to raise myself up when I was on the track.

Coming out of the pits the acceleration was phenominal! We all know the Renesis engine is powerful but when it only has 1/3rd the amount of car to push it really flies. It slid quite a bit on cold tires and on the last corner it cought me out. D'OH! I spun on my very first lap. Oh well, at least I got it out of the way, and after that I began to have so much fun I forgot to try to impress anyone.

To describe the car in a word, it would have to be "Friendly." It had incredible grip and a lot of power, but not so much that you were spinning the wheels all the way down the straight. When you reach the limit it would slide out gradually and controllably (is that a word?). It wasn't nearly as finickey under braking as the Skip Barber cars I'm used to. and I adapted better to left foot braking than I thought I would. The lights along with the no-lift shift was really cool, and I felt like I was in a video game.

After I came in from my first stint John downloaded all the date onto his computer. We were both stunned by my time. I felt like I was just screwing around and I did a 54.8. Robbie Pecorari's best lap ever on this track is a 51.7. We looked at the graphs, which displayed ground speed, throttle and brake position. He used the graphs to critiqued my performance and I was braking early just about everywhere, and I was losing a lot of time through turn 7, a completely blind downhill righthander leading onto the backstraight. If you get the line right, which is difficult because by the time you can see the apex you need to be right on it, you can take it flat. The braking issue was due to my still getting used to the car's powerfull brakes, and using my left foot. The line through turn 7 would just come with practice, and though after the 2nd session it felt much better, I was never able to get it quite right.

I did three more sessions, each one felt better and better and worse and worse. The car was rediculously fun to drive, especially going into the 1/2 complex and blasting through 3 into 4, but my had was getting bruised and blistered from the shifter and my shoulder was getting sore from the crazy g forces and a hard spot on the seat. My best time of the day was a 54 flat, and I remember I tried a different line through the last turn which didn't work as I had hoped, so it could probably have been in the high 53's.

Everyone that I worked with, John Walko, Scott the mechanic and Ray the truck driver were all really friendly and encouraging. I will probably be testing again towards the end of October, and next week I have a meeting with a friend who works at National City bank to discuss possible ways to approach them about sponsorship, and brainstorm some other ideas.

It was a fantastic day and hopefully my next test will go as well.

On another note, RX8club.com member Luis Schiavo is knocking on Champ Car's door, and it looks like he may even compete in Mexico City this year! Good luck Luis and maybe in a few years I'll be lining up alongside you!

 

^sweet wright up..glad to had a lot of fun...sound slike it was a blast. i am green with envy :D

 

OMFG lucky!