Imported HC-dudes working on Tom Lepper's Team Cobalt California crew.


Brian Lock holding down the EZ-Up in the fierce winds of Phoenix while the rest of the crew shows how easy it is to change a Subaru head gasket.






Sam Higashi greasing the track all the way down the front straight into the entrance to turn one and giving a safety crew something to do...








Sam getting interviewed for the crowd about his spectacular dual with death.


Sam's crew of AZHC dudes trying to remain upbeat and supportive despite their obvious concern.


Sam kinda flipping me off 'cause I'm leading the points in his class and my engine still runs...


Sam's Car leaving the pit area in style.

PS: Sam Kept bugging me to take more photos of him, so I hope this proves I wasn't just ignoring him...

 

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

</TD></TR></TABLE>

I met the guy interviewing Sam at the C16 party at SEMA. I believe he works for ESPN2 as technical correspondent. Totally kool guy. Sorry to see Sam's motor blow.

 

What I get no love? not to mention Danny is a HC racer.. (both working on headgasket)

 

Congratulations to GO TO Racing for their effort in the Grand Am ST race. Brain had the Subaru Legacy in third place and was pulling away from 4th until a very slow pit stop killed any chance of a podium finish (at least that what it looked like on TV) Great effort non the less . Question, how come there was only one person changing tires when all the other teams had two guys on the tires?

Sorry about the engine Sam. I hope you get back out with us

Great pics John

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by BrianZ &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">What I get no love? not to mention Danny is a HC racer.. (both working on headgasket)</TD></TR></TABLE>
Okay...

Brian was there.
Danny was there.
Danny's GF was there.
Danny's GF's dad was there.
Scott was there.
Joel was there.
Chris was there.
Steve was there.
Linda was there.
But Mike wasn't there...

Team GOTO Racing pulled off a solid eleventh place finish after a big thrash and head gasket replacement drill that required pulling the engine out of the car. (This begs the question: Is it common practice to replace the throw-out bearing when changing a head gasket on a Subie???)

Happy now?

 

LOL... much thank you...

 

great write up john. good to see you again of course.
wish that car still ran under its own power. it only took an hour and a half to get that thing onto the trailer. congrats to sam on 2nd place FF
wheres the photo of the big check?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by #19crxHC &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> Question, how come there was only one person changing tires when all the other teams had two guys on the tires?</TD></TR></TABLE>

One of the tire guys ended up having to help Chris (2nd driver) get in the car because Brian (1st driver) was extremely exhausted and dehydrated after his 1:15 stint. They also had some concerns about the motor, so they needed to check oil during the stop.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by R you serious &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">congrats to sam on 2nd place FF wheres the photo of the big check?</TD></TR></TABLE>
I guess I missed that shot while I was playing with my collection of Honda drain plugs...

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by #19crxHC &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> Question, how come there was only one person changing tires when all the other teams had two guys on the tires?</TD></TR></TABLE>

The reason is that in grand am you can have only 4 crew over the wall at a time (drivers and fire bottle crew do not count). When Brian came in he was so heat exhausted that he could not help with the driver change. We had to take one of the crew that would have done tires and help the driver change. what you did not see on TV was we checked oil and coolant levels too (the car was running HOT). We had been spending so much time on car and driver development that we did not practice pit stops as a team (we are also just starting to get our core team down). Plenty of pit stop practice is in the future!! you WILL see that car on a podium very soon! I firmly believe we have the drivers, and the car to do it!

 

more pics of sam on this forum.

http://www.az240sx.org/forums/...st=15

hey John, i think i know someone who might have needed a drail plug on friday night..

 

Nice pics John, and good to see you as always. I had a great time and enjoyed hanging out and helping as much as I possibly could.

I can't begin to describe how much fun it was for us the LBR crew to get the opportunity to help Sam out. We get treated great every time we travel to SoCal and it's only fitting we show the same attitude when people like Sam, Andy, GOTO, and OPAK decide to brave the AZ desert and come play in our backyard.

Yes it's sad that Sam's motor went(John, I wouldn't rule him out of H1 JUST yet...he he). But I gotta admit it was fun getting to that point. HUGE props to Sam, and the Opak crew for braving the hot sun and replacing that spun bearing on Friday during the day. Luckily I had gotten a bearing secure for him, he just needed to pick it up, and big thanks to Jody Frego at Tempe Acura for helping him out as well. I wished I could have been there to actually get down and dirty, but having a day job sucks and I didn't have any choice. Nevertheless, the motor went back together and started up, but after it got to operating temp, the knock was still there...so we decided to run with it anyway. Sam was learning the track in the dark but still managed to finish at least 1 timed lap netting him the 2nd place in the FWD Class in the Time Attack. I guess you could say it was a lucky break...but hey...if there's only 2 or 20 cars...2nd place is second place...doesn't matter who's after you

Team LBR will be in the SoCal area in about 2 weeks if any of you crazy kids want to come hang out, and throw back a couple...we're ALWAYS down for that.

Also, I can't leave out Dan and Jeff Sturla, who truly made this a team effort and thanks to Jeff for giving me the opportunity.

See you all soon!

Justin

 

What setup does the Legacy run? Stock boost/ECU? restrictor? weight?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Evan55 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">What setup does the Legacy run? Stock boost/ECU? restrictor? weight?</TD></TR></TABLE>

Stock boost = yes, ecu = stock, restrictor = no, weight = YES! 3050 w/o fuel or driver. With me in the car and a full tank, it weighs 3310lbs.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Evan55 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">What setup does the Legacy run? Stock boost/ECU? restrictor? weight?</TD></TR></TABLE>

The Legacy is STOCK except for the roll cage and suspension. Stock ECU(re-programed), stock Boost, stock intake, stock exhaust, no restrictor. and it is the heaviest ST car at 3050 lbs dry (no fuel, no driver)

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by BrianZ &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">The Legacy is STOCK except for the roll cage and suspension. </TD></TR></TABLE>
Brake rotors & pads?

 

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

Stock size rotors and stock calipers... but you got me... we are allowed to put aftermarket pads on the car.

 

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

We are restricted in our brakes. We may replace rotors if they fit under the stock calipers. RacingBrake has developed a 2 piece center hat design that has an OEM fitment for our legacy which we love. Pads have been a range of different compounds and brands, as we hunt for the right pad to stop a 3300lb car. At phoenix we ran Raybestos and they worked very well.

 

looks like it was a blast guys

if you ever need another head in the pits let me know.

 

damn wish I was their, I got to watch it on TV though

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by gotocrx &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Stock boost = yes, ecu = stock, restrictor = no, weight = YES! 3050 w/o fuel or driver. With me in the car and a full tank, it weighs 3310lbs.</TD></TR></TABLE>
ouch!!! Now thats a tank. Good job wrestlin that thing around the track into 3rd.

There is another team that is making their debut in a Legacy Wagon at Limerock this year. Let me know if you make it out to the east coast and need a hand in the pits.

Evan

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by thawley &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
Imported HC-dudes working on Tom Lepper's Team Cobalt California crew.</TD></TR></TABLE>
Woohoo, I made a picture! That's me in the bottom right, carressing my beer.

 

Nice meeting you John, here's those flame photos you asked me to post.

Sorry they are small size, these might end up being submitted with my coverage.

 

Thanks for the post Justin. Nice meeting you too.

Love the shots...

 

Something tells me this isn't the first time sam's car has caught on fire