Awfully quiet from the wrecking crew...what/who is going on?

Victor Penner

 

ill bring my in the works for 04 hc car. Red hatch...

 

ah, just got back. the honda challenge/rising sun race group 9, qualed at curt storm (H4 CRX), andrie (H1 b18c5 EG), Greg marshall(bulldog H4 Integra), Jim Hill (H1 B16 CRX) and then im not sure about the rest of the order, but i think it was Brian Lock (H4 integra) and brother Chris Lock (H5 1gCRX), with James Ayotte (h5 dx civic) and Duane Starr (H5 civic). many of these drivers were doing double duty this weekend racing in other groups. Curt Storm only had one race session of 30 minutes to properly cool down between races in the hot northern california sun. He says big props to Honda Challenge sponsor Ice Vests for keeping his body and mind cool throughout that second race.

the start was probably the most exciting part of the race. pole sitter curt admittedly got the start wrong trying to back the field up by accelerating and then jetting early before the green, but the green flew a bit early so he was caught undergeared compared to the the awesome power of Andrie's Type R engine, and even Gregs integra and Jim's H1 CRX which all got past Curt thru turn 1. Then we heard the unmistakable squeel of an eminent off over the horizon, but since turn 2 from the paddock is blind, we didnt know who it was, so we all eagerly awaited who would or wouldnt pop back up. andrie was the first to pop out to turn 3 with a good lead, then amazingly Curt came out second, followed by Greg and it turns out Jim was the one who took it in turn 2. Good thing for Curt because he was able to get his class lead back. Jim eventually made it back in line and moved his way up pretty quickly amoung the H5s. Meanwhile, andrie with his sizable lead was only making it bigger. Throughout the whole race he was a lonely winner, even experimenting with fun lines thru turn 1. Unfortunately, Jim's crx after 6 laps broke yet another axle, which he just replaced an hour ago. Greg made a great effort to stick to Curts rear, but never seemed to have gotten a shot for a pass. I dont believe i saw any other passes than the first lap the whole race and traffic from the Mazda RX7 and Miatas who split started behind HC never seemed to be an issue. But good racing.

Some extra racing notes, co drivers Mike Quan and Derrick's yellow H4 civic was derailed this weekend from losing oil pressure in their engine and chose to save the engine than race slow. Clyde's integra showed up during practice the day before and seemed to have had clutch or tranny issues and went home early.

race #2 set for Sunday. expect a race report from Norcal HC director Mike Quan, since I wont be at the track.

 

Chris Lock, This is Greg, your H5 comp from Sears this earlier year. How did you do?

Mike sorry to hear about your engine probs.

Tyson thanks for the report. It made my day.

 

Well, here is a quick update.....got to unpack & start wrenching to get ready for the Oct. race.

First a huge Thanks! to the series sponsors Toyo Tires & Cobalt Friction. I also want to thank Allview Mirrors, Etch-o-matic, Ice Vest & RoadRaceGear who agreed to sponsor this weekend. We were able to offer some great prizes for our drivers!

Another big Thanks! goes out to Greg M. for setting this up & TC. Everyone made the NorCal racers feel welcome. Greg did a tremendous amount of work to pull this off. Kudos!


Sunday had all the same players except Curt Storm's CRX would have Keith driving it.

Qualifying saw all the racers improve their times. Something to note is that TC chose to run the 'eagles nest' this weekend instead of the bypass @ T5. FYI, NASA always seems to run the bypass. The order was the same as Sat. except that James A. H5 was just a few hundreds faster than Chris H5. Andre also had the pole today. He chose to be outside.

The Mazda group was the first to start this time. TC holds the cars in grid until the 1st group is about 1/3 of the way around so there is a really big gap.

Andre & Keith had the group formed up & were rolling fairly fast when the green flew. IIRC, @ T3 we saw Andre, Keith, Greg M. Brian, J. Hill, Chris, James & Duane. Once again, Andre checked out. The exciting racing was happening behind him. There was a great race going on in H4 & H5.

H4 - Greg M. & Keith were racing hard. Brian was behind them but never quite close enough to make a passing attempt. Right behind Brian was J. Hill wanting to get up & battle with Andre. Greg & Keith traded places many times. On one lap Greg tried to pass outside going into T1 & couldn't make it stick. The next lap he tried inside & did. Their were also passes in made between T1 & T3 as the order would change when they came back into view. H4 finishing order: Keith, Greg, Brian.

H5 - Chris, James & Duane are all racing pretty close. As the race goes on, Chris opens a gap on James who has a gap on Duane. Honestly, the H4 race was so tight, it took me a little time to notice.....the gap between Chris & James is getting smaller. With one (or two?) lap to go James is able to make the pass!

It was interesting watching the PacNW drivers figuring out the line. Many got faster as the weekend progressed.

Andre is actually driving Jim Shen's hatch (5th gen). The last time it came out it was sporting a GSR engine. This is the hatch's first HC race (weekend) with Type R power.

Something that I found sort of fun was watching Brian Lock trying to remove stuff to get his 'new' race car lighter. He came in 160 lbs over the min. weight & immediately started trying to get lighter. He still had his a/c in it!

Unfortunately, Lepper & Vanni (NorCal H1) were unable to come out. Both of their cars were down.
I am still very bummed that I didn't race. It came down to $$$. The engine might be saved. If I ran it, it would most assurdedly cost me a lot more to rebuild. That is assuming I didn't hole the block. Last time I had to buy a new crank - retail is >$900!

So.....I lost the bet with Greg. I supplied Gordon B. beer to all takers.

It was a great weekend! You guys should have been there!

 

after a long post, and no lap times?? come on!! so a H4 CRX was on pole?!! wow.

ps, who the hell tell you to buy a new crank?! $900 should buys you two used d16z6 motors man. sheesh. next time, call me!!

 

I'm exhausted. Four straight days of 100 degree weather takes a lot out of you. I'll post more later, but this was a weekend to remember.

PS> I'm pretty sure both Keith and Curt were in the 2.11's.

 

I need to check my folder which is still in the trailer. I know that Andre was turning consistent 2:12s in the race(s). He did pull a couple of 2:11s. I believe that Curt turned high 2:12s/low 2:13s. Greg got some 2:14s...maybe lower.

 

First, let me thank Jeff Frank from homemadeturbo.com for his help putting my altenator belt and various other things. I won't make the race without your help!

Thanks to Steve Ingersoll who provided the altenator belt. This is the guy who sells Ice vest. Anybody from NorCal who races in the summer must get this!

Thanks to Jim Shen for letting me drive his car.

Thanks for fellow racers who made me comfortable in my first Honda Challenge race. You guys are world class. I must go visit Seattle or Portland in the near future. It was a pleasure running with you guys!

Sat Qualifying, Curt was pole with low 2:12. I was second with high 2:12. <excuse>I spun in the first lap as well as has broken altenator belt which forces me to pit. Came out later, only to manage 2 laps with traffic.</excuse>
No matter my excuse, Curt drove well.

In the race, I used my HP advantage to take the lead. Manage to extend the lead and took the win. I clocked in 2:12 throughout the race except 12:13, until I got fuel starvation (2 laps left) and cat bypass pipe fell off.

Sun qualifying. I took pole with 2:11.585. Keith second with 2:13.858
On the race I managed to pull away and lead from flag to flag. I don't have the times for the last race, maybe someone can post it up as I'm curious as well.

The car I drove has stock ITR motor and weigh 2,346lbs with driver and 1/2 tank of gas.

Andrie Hartanto

 

John... You and Kyle made the double-double weekend possible... thanks a mill.

I never thought a 30 minute race could last so long!! Christ the races were hot!

Big thanks to Mike for the seriously warm welcome and for paying off the WCHC wager even though he claimed he was broke... (*****...)

All the NW Honda guys appreciated the support of all the Cal drivers who showed up. Man, what an event that could be if we found 30 hondas and 30 mazdas!!

It was great meeting Mike, Derrick, Tyson, Andrie (fast bastard) and brothers Chris and Brian. We all had a great weekend and I'm sure there will be some great pics and videos posted by Johng and Kyle as soon as we are all over the heat stroke... I'm just sorry for Clyde and Tom. I really wished they could have made it out.

Mike. High-five Bro! TC/WCHC is in the books! Every one of the HC and Mazda guys asked when is the next event! Go figure... If next year is possible, let's make it even bigger... and we'll double the bet to a half-rack.


Greg ~ who is worn out as his Toyos. Cheers!

 

BTW, I have no sponsor and looking for some. Anybody interested shoot me an email.

Thought I give this a shot.

 

Pictures are at the two following links. I'll have video within a few days. Anyone want to host it for me? It might be big.

Picture page #1
Picture page #2

This is the radiator from Curt Storm's CRX (Keith was driving) after a BMW went off in front of him. Believe it or not, it didn't leak a drop of water and they were able to run two more races with it 'as is' before the replacement arrived from Sacramento. The smaller rock was stuck half-way through, so we didn't touch it.

 

Yikes!

Glad you guys had a good time and made it there and back in one piece.

Scott, who awaits some more vicarious racing...

 

Nick Thoreux was driving Ingersoll's CRX and was directly behind Keith Carter in Storm's car when the bimmer went off launching the meteor shower. Nick ended up with a matching set of dents and stones, size and location but the radiator was busted resulting in a DNF.

Rick--who is still wilted from the heat of a six day adventure

 

Hi Greg, this is Chris. I haven't seen you man. Hyperfest i hope? Anyway, My brother and I did really well. I took the pole and the win on saturday, and as the thread indictes, I was off to an early lead on sunday too. But about halfway through, an old fuel pump started to fail against a clogged filter. We didn't check it after reno and it cost us. The engine started to cut out at high rpm . But as the story above goes, James started to creep back up on me, and then my car was REALLY a momentum car, cuz I was throwing it through corners trying to keep my speed up! Lesson we got second and lesson learned. but I have already replaced the pump and filter, and I am ready for hyperfest. Be there, Greg!

 

Scott, I know you probably don't want to hear it, but you should've been there. The facilities and the track are top notch. You would've enjoyed it.

 

Sorry I missed it!! Sounds like a "hot" time was had by all. Glad everyone was safe and sound, minus the rock launching. Can you imagine that coming through your windshield at speed?

Victor Penner

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Victor Penner &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Can you imagine that coming through your windshield at speed?</TD></TR></TABLE>

As an intersesting side note Keiths win in ITA with "Rocks in the Rad". The big rock wieghed about 2 pounds and along with the water he drank in the scale line, he weighed in right on the min weight of 2140. The racing gods must have decided this race was his.

Rick

 

Can't hear you - have my hands over my ears and singing "Super Freak".

Scott, who's waiting for the vicarious racing..."the kind of car you read about...in Grassroots magazine"...lack of racing has reduced me to a late stage Rick James sort of existence...you know that look of desperate withdrawl...looks alot like you guys probably looked on the last day at TH...

 

Hey John, Thanks for the pics. I really feel homesick now. It was great to see the pics of home and you guys. I am glad the event was a HUUUUGE success.

The pics of the drivers meeting at the observation tower shows the burning heat of Thunder HIll.

 

Wish I could have gone w/ Greg, John and Kyle Looks like a blast. Maybe next time I can have more than a few days notice before seeing if I wanted to go j/k John

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by johng &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Pictures are at the two following links. I'll have video within a few days. Anyone want to host it for me? It might be big.

Picture page #1
Picture page #2
</TD></TR></TABLE>


why does it say i'm forbiden????

guess it's because I'm just a lowly auto-xer and not a real road racer

 

wierd... try these.
http://members7.clubphoto.com/...phtml
http://members7.clubphoto.com/...phtml

&gt;edit&lt; not sure what happened. Maybe we overloaded it. They're still there to access from the main page. Lemme see...
Should work now.

 

A great weekend of racing !!
As a first timer to this track i found it quite intimidating at first. Alot of seat time, track tour by Turfer and listening on others proved valuable.
I understand now why racers travel all the way down there to race.
to Greg and Mike for putting the HC together.
Thanks Mike for the Hotel hook-up, to JohnG for stepping in an helping out between racing on Saturday, Team Bacchus, (Greg and Rob) for being the "icemen" for the HC races and rotation on Sunday.
Super big thanks to my pit crew (my wife), for stepping in where she has only observed before. Usually i do everything my self. It was nice knowing people where there when i needed it!
Nice to meet the Northern Cal. Racers. Everyone was cool as expected.

I did not grab the last race time sheets. Can anybody post them? thanks.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by JAMES "A" &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Thanks Mike for the Hotel hook-up, to JohnG for stepping in an helping out between racing on Saturday,I did not grab the last race time sheets. Can anybody post them? thanks.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Yes, thanks again Mike. The indoor pool got a workout. James, you looked completely wiped out after the Production race and with only 30 minutes until the HC race, I wanted you to take a break and get cooled down. Changing your tires for you was the least I could do to help.

I'm pretty sure I grabbed the final edited time sheet. Fast race raps are as follows:

H1 Andre Hartanto, 2:12.268
H1 Jim Hill, 2:14.684

H4 Keith Carter, 2:14.376
H4 Greg Marshall, 2:15.107
H4 Brian Lock, 2:16.417

H5 James Ayotte, 2:18.031
H5 Chris Lock, 2:19.079
H5 Duane Starr, 2:23.903