http://itforum.improvedtouring...=6295

This is bad news.

For my effort, this means that unless we can find some other test day to drive that fits both of our schedules, we are either:

punting on the whole thing or

going out there with a car that hasn't turned a wheel since June's wreck and subsequent new front clip, along with a driver who hasn't driven road atlanta in 2 years and has never driven this car on track at all.

The fun part will be getting off work and making schedules work for a test day that we can't afford.

 

Now that just sucks.

Suck it up Karl. Qualifying is Sunday morning.
At least you just saved enough money to buy that pimpy new helmet.

 

Yea, this is bad news. I guess I'll be showing up for qualifying with an untested suspension and an unproven/unknown new engine v3.0 (since v2.0 threw my planned h-c weekend out the window for this weekend). Yea, it's been a rough couple of months. I guess I'll be bringing more spares and parts than I was planning too now since I don't know how anything's going to be working or not.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">For my effort, this means that unless we can find some other test day to drive that fits both of our schedules, we are either: </TD></TR></TABLE>

Rockingham with THSCC the week before???

And who is "we"???

 

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

Rockingham with THSCC the week before???

And who is "we"???</TD></TR></TABLE>

"We" is myself and my co-driver Fred Snow.

Rockingham was off the list due to being so different from Rd. Atlanta and so damn far away, and probably stays off the list due to $$$. Fred doesn't get back from SEMA until the 6th, so it does him no good, and I don't really have the budget.

The biggest issue is getting him in the car and getting him acclimated. If the car is a little off after the wreck I can drive around it. He hasn't driven anything other than his shifter kart in anger (once) since the SIC in '03.

 

This is not good.

 

You'll be fine.

 

Practice? You 'shoes' don't need no stinking practice.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Track rat &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Practice? You 'shoes' don't need no stinking practice. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Seriously, with an OPM LSD who needs practice?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by .RJ &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Seriously, with an OPM LSD who needs practice? </TD></TR></TABLE>

Oh god, here we go

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by .RJ &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
Seriously, with an OPM LSD who needs practice? </TD></TR></TABLE>
Maybe those without one?

This is not good news. It will be tough to have a car (and driver!) ready to go at 100% for the first qualifying session on Friday. Still, for those new to the track with a car that can run the Pro IT race, that opens up 1.5 hrs of track time on Friday before Saturday's ARRC sprint race at a price probably less than what a test day would cost.

 

I would think this would be a good thing for those of you that drive road atlanta all the time. Now all your competition will have less practice than you so you should be able to do better. Thats just how I would look at it. Its going to suck for everyone, just suck less for you all that know the track very well.

 

On a hunch, I just called the track about maybe doing a Wednesday test day. No dice. The track is rented Monday-Thursday, with no openings. Bummer.

Fred and I have conferred, and we will still be running the enduro. Nothing like starting a 3 hour race on sticker tires with the co-driver having about 30 minutes in the car...but you know what, we will still be giving it our best and going for 1st in ITA!

Muresan, you ready for a battle? Can that big heavy Integra keep the pace up for 3 hours? I know the little lightweight Miata can, and will!

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by RacerBowie &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Can that big heavy Integra keep the pace up for 3 hours?</TD></TR></TABLE>
I don't know, but I guess we will both find out soon enough.

Ryan, yes you are right. If there is an advantage for those who ran this track before, it will probably be most evident in qualifying.

 

Anyone need any help/crew for this? We'll be around and be glad to help if someone needs it.

-Tom

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ryan12321 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I would think this would be a good thing for those of you that drive road atlanta all the time. Now all your competition will have less practice than you so you should be able to do better. Thats just how I would look at it. Its going to suck for everyone, just suck less for you all that know the track very well.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Exactly! Give em hell, local boys!

No excuses!

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by trhoppe &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Anyone need any help/crew for this? We'll be around and be glad to help if someone needs it.

-Tom</TD></TR></TABLE>

God, we hope we don't need any help.
But don't stray very far from the skid pad.

BTW - If the planets align and I should somehow manage to win this thing, someone needs to be in the tech shed taking the head off the car for me.
I'll be somewhere in the infield bouncing off the tree tops.

 

Bowie need any crew help?

 

Damn, I was really counting on that test day. Looks like qualifying for the Pro-IT will be my first ever time on the track at RA, guess I'll just try and follow Serra or Muresan around there, as well as watch in-car vids for hours, lol.


-Planning on getting his *** handed to him but is going to have fun anyways, --Mark

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Racerboy03 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

guess I'll just try and follow Serra or Muresan around there</TD></TR></TABLE>

Start eating your Wheaties now.
A couple of boxes a day.

Scott, who hopes to be in impound after the ITC race, and hopes to be out of impound before the start of the ITA race.
Maybe a Miata guy will crash into the timing loop again.

 

Bowie, you're co-driving with Fred? Cool.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by JRDbuilt &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Bowie need any crew help? </TD></TR></TABLE>

You will be on the list to get in, but the actual crewing is handled.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by David S. Wallens &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> Bowie, you're co-driving with Fred? Cool. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Yeah, we hatched this plan over beers about 6 months ago since his 320 wasn't ready for any action. Once we figured out that his lanky *** fit in the car, it was go-time!

The eventual goal is to have the brightest lights anyone has ever seen on a non-pro car at a night enduro. We just have to figure out just how many Hella HIDs a Miata alternator can handle before it bursts into flames! We may win overall just because no one will want to be in front of us!

Frankly, whenever that happens the lightkit will probably be the most expensive part of the car.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Racerboy03 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">guess I'll just try and follow Serra or Muresan around there</TD></TR></TABLE>

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Catch 22 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Start eating your Wheaties now.
A couple of boxes a day.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Yea, no doubt. If you can follow those two around, you just mind end up on the box at the end of the day.

 

^^^^ Awww crap, that was me on my roommate's username. It's early and I suck at the internet.

 

There is an October 14th day at Roebling with seat-time. Its way cheap and lots of seat time. Not exactly Road Atlanta, but it will get you guys familiar with the car.

-Tom