When a racer arrives at the track, the possibilities are limitless. It could be the greatest weekend of racing they’ve ever experiences, or it could be a complete waste of time and money. For Daniel Demaras, the 2024 Formula 1200 season has been a train wreck. Week after week of mechanical issues have plagued the No. 12 car.
Only a week earlier, Daniel took his race car out to Cayuga for exhibition runs in the CSCS series. While testing his new 1200 CC race motor, a crankshaft bearing seized during the 2nd session. At this weekend’s big F1200 race, the No. 12 came back back on tow truck after the 1st session.
Demaras tried to remain positive, and laughed along with jokes the mechanics made about installing his ‘qualifying engine’ between sessions. But it would be a lie to say that installing the third motor in 6 days didn’t worry Daniel.
On the positive, the Vallis Motor Sport crew made quick work of the engine change.
As Demaras prepared to take the Can-Jam Motorsports sponsored race car out for qualifying, the possible outcome remained an unknown. Qualifying, especially in wet conditions, are Daniel’s strengths. But would the engine have any power? Would the car have speed?
Confident in his abilities, Demaras blocked out the doubts that crept into his mind, and focused on the task at hand.
An incredible twenty-four F1200 race cars took to the track for the BEMC Indian Summer Trophy Race. The combination of the regular competitors from the Canadian Formula 1200 Championship, plus visiting American racers from the Challenge Cup Series made for the biggest F1200 race north of the border in years.
With a 1:50.5 qualifying time, Daniel would be well back in the pack at the start. But he had confidence in his ability to take the outside line on Turn 1 and make up a bunch of positions.
As the green flag dropped, cars began jostling for position. Only a few seconds into the race, Demaras’ VMS teammate Jason in the No. 18 car got cut off, touched wheels, and had the nose of his race car pointed at the sky. Scary moment!
It may seem like an excuse, blaming the engine in the back of the race car, but after the race, Daniel pointed out that in the morning practice session with the ‘race’ motor he drove a 1:47.5 lap on a green track. During qualifying he lost 3 seconds. So either he completely forgot how to drive, or the replacement engine was down on power.
Still, Demaras managed to go from a P22 qualifying position up to P13 i the race through some fancy footwork. Still not out of the woods, the event would continue on Sunday morning with two more races for the Indian Summer Trophy.
Gotta be frustrating to deal with the engine problems! Looking forward to the next post about this.
Yes, we’ve got 1 more article on the conclusion of the BEMC Indian Summer Race tomorrow. Spoiler! things go only marginally betted
Good on him for keeping his head and staying with it, it must get disheartening all this failures! great photo shots by the way👏👍. Best…Jay.
Hey Jay…the pics are from Alex at GoFast Photography. He’s a total maestro with a Minolta.
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But yes, it can be so disheartening to have mechanical issues beyond one’s control.
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I think there are life lessons in there somewhere. Like a Rocky Balboa speech about taking hits and moving forward.
Yes, all these lessons should make us better at what we do, and are…it is the law of incremental gains!
Great photography! he certainly knows what he is doing👍
Yeah, but sometimes a 21 year old, they just want to have fun and be competitive… but I guess the racing gods decide when to teach lessons.