I spotted myself - behind the wheel - on the track - in two race groups.

Now I don't want any of you thinking that I've got an ego problem, and that I give a **** what you think.

No, it's not like that at all. What you have to understand is that a driver of my "aspiration" has to tend carefully to his "image". It's just business you know.

That said then , results-wise it was a pretty good weekend. 2nd overall in both groups, with one class win and one class second. ITE and RS. There wasn't any real competition in RS though - just a novice - so it's not really a victory in any meaningful sense (which reminds me - a friend told me of a story of a guy who managed a second place despite being the only guy in his class. He passed under yellow and was docked a postion). I owe second in ITE to one of the Porsche guys passing another under yellow.

But....my mojo was slow working. And after going into a nasty straightline fishtail under brakes at high speed right next to a wall in the first qualifier I went into "take fewer chances mode" if I thought there was any moisture on or off line.

And...that being the case, I got outqualified in one group by several of the faster Spec Miata's. Ouch. It doesn't help that I know the real story - some of them probably think I suck now. Specially the one that ran into me (says I ran into him) in the first turn of the race. I saw the video of a following driver - kinda inconclusive. The guy inside him said it looked like he went pretty deep. I told him "I'm sorry" for all the good it would do him. I barely felt a thing, and he and another guy had dinged front fenders.

And Ron Cramer's fast lap in his SPU GSR was about a second faster than my fastest dry lap. He's still on Hoosiers though - since real race tires (like GY or Hoosier 23X8-15 and 23X9X15) cannot be fitted to a DC2 without bodywork modification - so save your breath those of you who would suggest that it should work - Ron had some takeoff's mounted and proved it to himself at the track (just like I did a couple of years ago). He's about 100 lbs lighter than me, and has a little more power. I think I have to give credit to the driver too unless I'm able to prove otherwise one of these days. Gives me a good target for the rest of the year.

I'm gonna hafta put on some good tires to get a better idea though.

I was ultra cheap this weekend, and wanted to try to use up my worst left overs from last year. I know it's wrong to start a race with a corded tire, but that's why I like Hoosiers - those steel belts give an extra level of assurance . Then I got lucky on the last race and got to enjoy my Dirt Stockers again.

I drove like a clod. Ugh. But I worked out some dust and rust, and even felt comfortable enough to bash curbs in the wet, and even tried the gators in old T-7 just for fun. It was kinda fun...being thrown that hard to the outside, but I gathered it up ok. By the end of the weekend I still wasn't comfortable with how much sensitivity and grace I was getting out of my right foot on the brake pedal, but then again I rarely got into the ABS after the warmup lap.

You know, everybody always talks about rain setup. Loosen the barz....blah, blah, blah. I was driving my car exactly as it came of the track last year, with crazy rates - 1400F and 1600R or something close. I really didn't find it to be a handful in the wet. <Shrugg>

It was really exciting for a couple of laps during the last race when I'd just taken second and thought I had a shot at catching Doug Hebenthal. That made the weekend, and reminded me again that you gotta keep looking up.

But you gotta look down too - I watched the water level in the passenger footwell get higher and higher and started worrying that it was going to douse my ECU - I was going to move it anyway, but now I've get an even better reason.

Scott, who REALLY has to get some things done on the kaa...it's just getting ridiculous.



Modified by RR98ITR at 1:50 PM 4/18/2005

 

Was it a chicane race? If so, how do they mark the inside now?

 

Congrats! What track? PIR?

Andy - who autoxed for the first time in months yesterday... little rusty.

 

Yep - chicane...new chicane. At Portland.

They moved the apex closer to the main straight and maybe a little further down the straight - making the approach to the left hander easier.

The whole thing is just wide and spacious. And the curbing is some symetric speed bump type stuff. I ran over/thru it with all four after getting hit and seeing large masses of sheet metal converging on where I was going - it wasn't pleasant but it was survivable.

The Spec Miata guys are telling each other it's taken 2 seconds off a lap. Could be - I can't say yet the way I was driving. I don't think I've got it down yet.

The surface itself is pretty grippy - amazingly so in the wet, till you got to the standing water just before getting back on the main straight.

Scott, who can't remember being this rusty before...guess that means I'm Old And Rusty.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by RR98ITR &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> I spotted myself - behind the wheel - on the track - in two race groups.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Got any pics to prove it?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by FormulaIntegra &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Got any pics to prove it? </TD></TR></TABLE>

I saw the Moto-Photo guy - you'll get yor pruf!

Scott, who always worries that he's gonna get the moto-photo guy pissed one of these days...

 

New layout, courtesy of michaelhatesfans at offcamber.net:

 

Congrats!

Did the Motons help at all?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Sean O’Gorman &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">New layout, courtesy of michaelhatesfans at offcamber.net:
</TD></TR></TABLE>


I ran the track in mid-March and the new curbing wasn't there yet. Two seconds seems like a stretch, but we'll see.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by descartesfool &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Congrats!

Did the Motons help at all?</TD></TR></TABLE>

Nah - can't really say that they helped AT ALL!

Scott, who still hasn't mounted the Motons on his kaa...to be fair I probably should do that...

 

You stick a "good" header on that heap yet?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by zygspeed &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">You stick a "good" header on that heap yet? </TD></TR></TABLE>

I did - Comptech 4-2-1...small short primary traditional Tri-Y. Makes mad power.

Scott, who will spend this year focusing on chassis and driver...next year the motor.

 

That's certainly an improvement over stock, but I'd have thought a real racer with Motons and 4 digit spring rates would have a decent long tube hytech/comptech/SMSP race header.

Not that there's that much wrong with the 4-2-1, but seriously ....
I can see the "joy" (for lack of a better word) of doing well in spite of handicaps, however I no longer see the true satisfaction of not doing my ultimate best in these types of situations. It's not we're/you're looking at a complete motor rebuild or something (which I'm sure may be due soon enough).


Modified by zygspeed at 9:50 PM 4/18/2005

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by zygspeed &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">.....but I'd have thought a real racer ....</TD></TR></TABLE>


Scott, wondering where...oh where...Ed might have erred...

 

Hehe ... fighting dragons and saving my own ****!

As well as looking forward to heading a federal agency its lower level administrative heads on a platter, in return for considerable compensation.


Modified by zygspeed at 9:52 PM 4/18/2005

 

I just sent you a cookie via UPS Ground. Look for it in about 7 business days.

There are some Marigold seeds in the box as well. You know, just in case you get into deep contemplation with those Motons.

Scott, who thinks Scott should sell his new-in-the-box Motons while he can still get $$$ for them and spend that money to RACE RACE RACE!!!
Getting beaten by Spec Miatas in a pimpy Type-R??? You ought to be able to beat SMs in a plain old fashioned ITA CRX.
For shame for shame.

 

Dear Scott,

First let me say what a pleasure it is to see the insight you bring to this thread. Good show, and Fu-uk You.

I said they outqualified me - if you can even call those few laps of mine in that session an attempt to qualify.

And in the race - in the dry - I ran at a pace 2 seconds slower than my best dry lap of the weekend. I didn't have alot of tire left, and was saving what little was left if I needed them for the last race of the day.

Scott, who was just warming up...clearing the cobwebbs....feeling around for my mojo....you know what's funny: if I'd had the car all done, and run new tires and everything, I still wouldn't have finished any higher in either race.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by RR98ITR &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> I still wouldn't have finished any higher in either race.</TD></TR></TABLE>

That's what has the rest of us wondering.
Have I pushed any of the "right" buttons yet?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by RR98ITR &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
First let me say what a pleasure it is to see the insight you bring to this thread. Good show, and Fu-uk You.
</TD></TR></TABLE>

Oh I bring plenty of insight, and you know it, which is what earned me a hearty "**** you.'

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by RR98ITR &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I said they outqualified me - if you can even call those few laps of mine in that session an attempt to qualify.
</TD></TR></TABLE>

Oh, so you got beaten in QUALIFYING by some SMs. Pardon me, I didn't realize that qualifying didn't count these days. I mean, it did last month at VIR, but maybe things have changed.
I stand corrected. Getting beaten by Spec Miatas in a pimpy Type R isn't actually getting beaten at all. Ignore that, it didn't happen. It doesn't count.
I'm sure they weren't really in front of you on the grid either.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by RR98ITR &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">And in the race - in the dry - I ran at a pace 2 seconds slower than my best dry lap of the weekend. I didn't have alot of tire left, and was saving what little was left if I needed them for the last race of the day.
</TD></TR></TABLE>

Oh, thats right. I forgot.
You're the guy that will spend thousands on dampers and then race on corded tires.
NOW it all makes sense. I'm slow, but I'm trying to learn.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by RR98ITR &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Scott, who was just warming up...clearing the cobwebbs....feeling around for my mojo....you know what's funny: if I'd had the car all done, and run new tires and everything, I still wouldn't have finished any higher in either race.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Really?
Now you don't say?
Who would have thought...

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Catch 22 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
Oh, thats right. I forgot.
You're the guy that will spend thousands on dampers and then race on corded tires.
NOW it all makes sense. I'm slow, but I'm trying to learn.
</TD></TR></TABLE>


Scott, who says "well sure it sounds ridiculous when you put it like that"...

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by RR98ITR &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
Scott, who says "well sure it sounds ridiculous when you put it like that"...</TD></TR></TABLE>

I have a gift.
&lt;shrug&gt;

 

Here's a shot from the chicane:

You can see how little there is to the curbing. I suppose that in a more softly sprung car you'd hardly even feel it.

I think I can see the inside rear lifting. Dirt Stockers plus really grippy surface. Do you think I have enough rear roll stiffness?

http://www.photosport.net/gall...4.htm


Scott, who looooooves the rain...and wishes he had a more dependable supply of it...like johng

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by RR98ITR &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
with crazy rates - 1400F and 1600R or something close. </TD></TR></TABLE>

hmmm. So what rates do you have on the car?

 

Nice pics, but what happened to jooh wing? Kind of looks a little nudie for a Hype R. Now you might not need any aero help in those slow wet conditions, but as the track dries out, a nice bling wing might help keep your rear tires on the tarmac. I say put it high and mighty like on those BTCC cars.

And don't let that other Scott make you worry too much about the SM thing. Motons, a wing and a little tuning should bring back a little more mojo. Then again, driving on the steel belts in the rain, that shows courage, determination and a total commitment to cheapness!

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by descartesfool &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">And don't let that other Scott make you worry too much about the SM thing. Motons, a wing and a little tuning should bring back a little more mojo. </TD></TR></TABLE>

If you need motons and a wing to beat Spec Miatas in a Type R...
Well, lots of people say golf is fun and very relaxing.