What happened over the weekend? anyone? Andy?

 

Oh, well it was a great weekend.
I believe the official results for H1 were;
Saturday;
1st Andy Hope
2nd Sandor Bota
3rd Tom Liang

Sunday;
1st Jeff Owen
2nd Glen Kawano
3rd Tom Liang

(I think that's right, I've only slept about 4 hours since the race and I didn't get a lot in the days before the race.)

Sunday I took a pretty good hit, caught some good air, and tweaked the car a bit. Then I had to get it on the trailer, tow it to JDM Honda Parts, Pull the motor, wrench on the suspension a bit, and then thismorning drop it off at the body shop, then start work on the tranny, and now I must sleep.

There was a lot going on this weekend. I'll try to write something up soon. The racing was as intense as I've ever had though. That was awesome.

Thanks Shaun, Rob, & Tom. I needed that win. & congratulations Tom, on your 1st podeum finish!

Andy,

 

Any of you drivers care to comment on why so many people had trouble making that last left hander onto the straight? Was the heat cooking the tires or was it just serious high adrenaline competition out there? Was fun to watch but the accidents were totally unfortunate. Andy did a heck of a job driving a steady smooth race Sunday until he retired early due to contact. The 4 hour drive from NorCal was worth it.

 

Ohman the racing action was too good this past weekend.
Andy (Team Hybrid CRX - Black) and Shawn (CWest Integra) were just going at it every session.
Saturday Shawn was taken out by an evil russian (EK coupe - B18C), so he ended up 2nd place.
Sunday Shawn and Andy took each other out (lots of door to door).

I think the top drivers of the series are Andy, Shawn and Jeff (Special Projects ITR) - no particular order.
Tom (Team Hybrid CRX - Red) is bad *** too. He held his lead over the "pro" DC car.

I saw Glen (DC ITR) spin big time at least once and also he came in early on the sat race.
Nice car but it seems to have a lot of issues every race.
He was running Jeff's old motor that weekend as well.
Sunday Glen was last in the HC grid (13th) and caught up to Tom, but Tom's B16 was too fast.

Sam (Endless EG) was running further back Saturday with the H4 cars and did not race on Sunday.

All in all a great weekend of racing.

Paul

P.S. Hey Andy I thought that Tom finished in front of Glen on Sunday.


Modified by Primo. at 9:09 PM 6/24/2003

 

Great weekend! Thanks to the organizers and all the other competitors.
Was it just me? or did the track seem much more slippery than usual? Our car was running great with our new cylinder head (Thanks Joe Aleniz) But in the saturday race I got black flagged because of a leaking Oil Breather catch tank which was causing a lot of smoke from only a little oil leakage (Fortunately). On sunday we managed to take pole position due to the very short Quallifying session. I was lucky to get a couple of quick laps in before the rescue team came out on the course. I guess everyone thought I had fallen asleep in the rolling start! I had planned on leaving it in third gear as we were behind the Viper & Corvette but instead of a reasonably fast rolling start which is usually the case when were behind big HP Cars, these guys got slower and slower as we came up to the line and of course when the flag dropped I went nowhere! Sorry Tom, I know I hung you out to dry in turn 2! but I had to catch up with Shawn and Andy as quick as I could. My plan had been to just wait and see... I knew that Andy and Shawn would probably take each other out? I planned to just stay behind and let them race themselves ragged which is kind of what happened. Unfortunately I had not planned on doing any off course driving myself !! Which I did on a couple of occasions which allowed the gap from the two front runners to increase. At last! towards the end of the race I started seeing large dust clouds as Shawn then Andy started doing a little off-roading. Allowing me to close the gap again. On the third last lap I saw Andy heading down the pit road and I thought his Gear box had finally given up? The I started gaining on Shawn as he was slowing! Then I ralised that the two cars had touched and both were damaged. I could'nt quite catch Shawn before the finish line. Sorry about the DQ Shawn... I guess everyone will learn from it? It was'nt that many years ago that I would have been right there... Banging doors and Knocking off mirrors with you guys! But the fun soon goes out of all that when the bills start coming in! Shawn, dose'nt the one race suspension mean that you can still run on the sunday at the next event?
Hope to see you all at Hyperfest.
Kiwi


Special Projects Motor Sports
Thanks to..
GTP. Pro-Drive. Clutchmasters and ProgressGroup.

 

sorry jeff...i had too much to deal with this pas weekend. im loosing interest in dumping all my money in this racecar. i believe i can run hyperfest on sunday but i dont have much motivation. i dont have contracts with sponsors so its no big deal for me if i run or not.

3 incidences in 3 races makes me rethink....i may have some driving talent and car prep talent...but you need a wallet as well.

good luck to all you racers!

wheres my damage control!!!!


hey PRIMO....i heard a little good news on the EVO project

 

I was there Saturday. It was very exciting watching from the tower.

I believe the 'Evil Russian' with an EK/B18C5 qualified first and took 2nd place. His real name is Varo (sorry if mispelled). He is a really nice person who races with SCCA with a Joe Alaniz P&P head work as well

Congrats to G. Kawano for the podium finish Sunday. It seems like the 7only grill did the job

 

Sorry to hear about all the damages... and how lenient your organizers are.
Makes it really hard on the guys with no Big sponsorships, doesn't it.
Makes most of us here on the East Coast hope our ECHC series doesn't end up like yours. It would be the end of our 25 car fields, and our own Race group. Most of us just want to race, not play demolition derby.
Sad, but true.

But, Glad you guys had fun. I'm sure it was exciting to watch.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by XR4racer &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Sorry to hear about all the damages... and how lenient your organizers are.
</TD></TR></TABLE>

I wasn't there so I don't know but it sounds like DQ's & suspensions were handed out.

 

Uh oh here we go...

I want to know as much about the racing as possible. I will join you guys In November at Buttonwillow with my EG hatch. It is interesting that once everyone went from TCRA to Honda Challenge the racing has become a hackfest. What happened? No TCRA incidents with the same drivers and now there seems to be something every race. What happened?

 

The racing has seemed to become much more hardcore since I stopped racing with Emil. Nothing wrong with that tho. These things happen. You should have seen the Mustang that ate the wall this past weekend. That car was totaled.
I've raced with you as well rick, I had the white itr car #0, and JUN decals at laguna seca. I think that was the last time I raced against your celica. I also remember going against your VW in the time trials back in 99.

Hey boss! EVO here I come!

Paul

 

I remember. Funny, I think that was the first time I actually raced the Celica.

That is sold and the new project is being contructed now..a '92 EG hatch with an ITR motor. It should be ready late this summer with a HC debut at Buttonwillow in November and a full assault in 2004.

I know the stakes probably seem higher in HC. But in the end it is still amateur racing with no prize money. With increased incidents and unenforced rules, I have to think "what the hell am I getting myself into?".

 

Actually V.A. was DQ'd for taking out Shawn in the last turn on Saturday so he did not place at all that race.

Then on Sunday he had alternator issues, and went out when that race was 1/2 way over.

He also got suspended for 1 race. Not the most jolly fellow IMHO.

Paul

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by SBE &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
3 incidences in 3 races makes me rethink....i may have some driving talent and car prep talent...but you need a wallet as well. </TD></TR></TABLE>


Hey man... Dont get discouraged! 3 Crashes in 3 races... The worst is over!
No one ever said Motor racing was easy... But both you and Andy have amazing raw talent! Believe me, I've driven with the best and the worst for over 30 years! And I recognise driving & car prep talent when I see it. I'm proud to be able to race against guys like you (And beat your asses too!) I don't mind a little rubbing... Rubbing is racing! But crashing aint cool!
The Penaltys at Buttonwillow were bound to happen! We have a new series with only a few points separating the top drivers... Egos and the will to win are bound to cause this type of thing. What everyone has to do now, is weigh up the desire to win cleanly, with the cost of winning dirty! Remember I told you of Special Projects Motor Sports plan to eventually set up a multi car team... Well, (No promisses) You two idiots are prime pickings to be offered drives... if we can get it off the ground! Don't give up so easily! And Do'nt let the ECHC Guys say we told you so... We have the makings of a great series here... Lets keep it that way!
If you need a hand with your bodywork? Give me a call.

Kiwi
Special Projects Motor Sports

 

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


Hey man... Dont get discouraged! 3 Crashes in 3 races... The worst is over!
No one ever said Motor racing was easy... But both you and Andy have amazing raw talent! Believe me, I've driven with the best and the worst for over 30 years! And I recognise driving & car prep talent when I see it. I'm proud to be able to race against guys like you (And beat your asses too!) I don't mind a little rubbing... Rubbing is racing! But crashing aint cool!.....snip</TD></TR></TABLE>

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">...snip....Remember I told you of Special Projects Motor Sports plan to eventually set up a multi car team... Well, (No promisses) You two idiots are prime pickings to be offered drives... if we can get it off the ground! Don't give up so easily! And Do'nt let the ECHC Guys say we told you so... We have the makings of a great series here... Lets keep it that way!
If you need a hand with your bodywork? Give me a call.

Kiwi
Special Projects Motor Sports</TD></TR></TABLE>

I believe this is the mark of a true sportsman, and a gentleman...very nice offer for your competitors, I can't wait to meet you Jeff.

Austin

 

I like the sound of this too.

Bring an extra car for me to Thunderhill so I don't destroy mine!

Scott, who didn't know KIWI was THAT great of a guy...I'm really starting to like him...can't wait to crash.....er, race him....

 

anyone have a spare right side lower control arm? mines bent


i look up to you jeff with the way you run your racing and car prep. thanks for the offers. i may end up at fontana afterall...we will just have to see.


by the way, all you newbies to HC, dont get scared because ive been in 3 incidences. they werent so bad, let me download:

incident #1 was with a porsche that just lost it right in front of me. i couldnt do a thing about it because i was right on his ***.

incident #2 STAY THE F#$K AWAY FROM VARO! when he tries to pass he thinks he owns the track. my advice is to block that guy so that you dont get dive bombed like i did unless he has a clean pass. everyone knows how to make a clean pass.

incident #3. um...what can i say we all make mistakes. i locked up brakes and next thing i know im into hopester in the apex of a corner. sorry pal. i messed up worse than when you ran into my brand new Cwest rear bumper last year. im sure your car will be spick and span like nothing anyway.

 

OK stop!
This was not anykind of crashfest. As far as I know there were only 2 incidents this weekend. Yes that is a lot more than there should have been, but there were just two. In both cases the driver at fault was both disqualified and suspended. That was it. There was no other rubbing, or smacking mirrors, or any of that crappy driving stuff going on in the Honda Challenge this weekend.

Personally I hate any kind of contact. I do not believe that rubbing is racing. I raced wheel to wheel for 5 years and the only time I had contact was when I dinged the back of Sandor's Teg in a 25 mph hairpin. And even that was so light that he didn't know about it till I apologized and pointed it out after the race.

In the last year I've been leaned on a couple of times (not saying where or with who) and it makes me furious. I love my car. I believe it's the best car Honda ever made. I have been building it up for over 9 years. And I don't like seeing it get beat up.

On Sunday I had real contact for the first time. A brand new TE37 got bent, 4 inches of toe-in got knocked into the front suspension somewhere, my front spoiler that took me 45 hours to build got destroyed, and there was body damage to the driver side. It sucked for sure, but I didn't really get THAT mad. I was just depressed. It wasn't a rub by someone who didn't care though. It was an accident.

I've either watched or been in every race that Sandor's run for the last three years and I've never seen him cause an accident before. His car was also just out of the body shop and looked beautiful (I hope someone has pics.) So I know the last thing he wanted to do was slam it into my car. So I forgive him. And I look forward to racing against him and Varo. They are both fast as hell and make the series truly challenging.

I and my car survived our first crash at the track. I've watched a lot of racing and know that if this is the worst that happens in the next five years I will be one of the lucky ones. Here's to good clean racing


Modified by AndyHope at 11:14 AM 6/26/2003

 

Here is some video from my H4 CRX.

Saturday 1st lap
http://www.mindless.tv/site/mo...d=103

Sunday 1st lap
http://www.mindless.tv/site/mo...d=104

 

it was so frustrating following a corvette that you are faster than in the corners!-no faster overall lap times! man talk about **** blocking. (re. sundays video clip)

thanks ellsworthy