First big event, first big weekend with a new car, that is a lot of pressure. I find every event is a learning experience in some ways. Many asphalt courses behave so much differently with temperature changes. Maybe the car didn't handle like you expected, but now you know what doesn't work for you. Great write-up, I took some notes from it. Get the car back to setting you like and keep picking away at refinements until you get it where you like it. One thing I learned on hard (cold) asphalt and in wet is soften up the suspension, especially the rear (just like road racers) the car digs in a little more on the outside tires and the softer sway bars and shocks help transfer the weight instead of skidding out from under you. After you run some more events and get your confidence back you will be back on track. I still think you had a very good showing considering the competition.
I am still 1-1/2 months from our first event, so I love reading these reports and watching the video. Did Mr. Strano come around to see your group run at all?
As for the E85 post, I doubt more power would solve much of the handling issues, momentum.....