Can teach you a whole bunch.

1. Not even CMP can kill a good brake setup on an ITC car. The front pads (Cobalt Spec Bs) have now seen about 140 miles at VIR and 275 at CMP and are only 1/2 worn. The rear shoes aren't showing enough wear to even mention. Performance was incredible as we never saw a single brake fade the entire weekend. We didn't even need to run ducts.
Compare this to my old Integra, which could kill a brand new set of pads and rotors (double ducted) in about 1/2 that mileage at CMP.
Thats a *slight* improvement in my brake component budget.

2. The surface of CMP has changed a whole bunch since it opened in 1999. That track used to be super easy on tires, now it chews them up unmercifully. We started the weekend with 4 really good Hoosiers and 4 decent ones, I think we might have 2 usuable tires left out of the 8 we started with. I was very surprised and disappointed by this, especially given how easy on tires my car has proven to be.

3. The kink is just as much a ball scruncher in an ITC car as it is in an ITS (H3) car.

4. Lee Grimes and the Koni boys really, seriously, know how to build a damper. My car just plain owned some really stiff in class competition in critical places like the Carousel, turn 8, and the Kink. Such an improvement over the old Tokicos that its hard to put into words.

5. I'm tired.

6. Winning is always fun, but sometimes a 2nd or 3rd place finish can actually be more fun and more rewarding. I qualified terribly for Sundays sprint (see #7), and sat on the grid 14 spots behind the #1 ITC qualifier and 4th in class. When the checkered flew, I had picked up 13 of those spots and was challenging for the win. Turned the fastest lap in class in the process. Easily my best race performance to date.

7. I'm a verified chaser. If I don't have something to go after, I'm slow. I can't qualify well to save my *** (and the more I think about it and try to fix it the worse it gets), but when the race starts...
I continue to consistently turn race laps about 1.5 seconds faster than my qualifying laps. This is just plain *** backwards. I'm not going to try to fix it anymore, I'm just going to drive dammit.

and Finally...

8. We've discovered the cure for the common cold. Its apparently racing.
Let me explain.
Renee felt terrible all weekend. Flu like symptoms in 90+ degree weather, at the race track, is pretty miserable. The enduro wasn't until today, so she spent the weekend dropping drugs and taking vitamins with no success at all. She woke up Monday morning feeling worse than ever. I tried to talk her out of running the ECR, but she wouldn't hear it.
FF to the race... I'm standing there ready for her to bring the car in and just fall out of it at any moment. 10 minutes, 20, 30, 40... I finally bring her in at the 1/2 way point (45 minutes) and she has the car in P1, 50 seconds in front of P2. As shes buckling me in I say "How do you feel?" Her response... "Never better."
And she still feels fine 9 hours later. Has her appetite back and everything.
Who woulda thunk it?

Scott, who had a wonderful weekend at the track, and now needs to sleep at least 12 hours before unloading the truck.

 

Regarding Renee's health - nothing like a healthy shot of adrenaline to make you feel better. Any kind of physical activity is welcome when I am sick.

 

Congrats Giles, you guys kicked much *** this weekend, and looked great on track doing it. Get that whole qualifying thing down and I don't think Bob can be touched, not from what I witnessed Sunday.

Here's an idea, since you do so much better in the race than in qualifying: before the qualifying session starts, make sure you grid up behind whoever the "hot shoe" is, be it Vesa, Will, or whom ever, and race them during the whole session, as opposed to trying to find clean track to qualify on (if that was even a possibility with all them damned wreck miaters out there). Worst case scenerio you qualify and start right behind those guys if you can hang onto them, instead of with 15 miaters between ya. Novel idea huh?

Oh yeh, and with all your connections down there in Hotlanta and amongst your ITC brethren, be on the lookout for someone who wants to sell a ITC CRX or 3g Civic, ready to race condition preferred - Between watchin' y'all out there having so much fun, and being brow-beaten by Phatty and Walt for even mentioning IT7, I think I want to go back to my original "ITC plan" that I started and then gave up on in 2000 before the Teg came along. You guys could use another ITC regular to race against, couldn't you?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 1gTeg90 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">You guys could use another ITC regular to race against, couldn't you?

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

Oh, now we can find you a good ITC car. Probably not one like mine thats already built because there aren't very many of them. But as you saw with Vesa's car, the '84 to '87 cars are still some serious competition.
Actually, its not a Honda, but you can steal Tom Srs. Rabbit right now. That car is immaculate, and has only been a couple of seconds off the pace with a 70+ year old driver behind the wheel. Its something to consider. Mr. Puckett could certainly help you get it set up to your liking as I've heard that guy is OK with VWs .

 

<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, now we can find you a good ITC car. Probably not one like mine thats already built because there aren't very many of them. But as you saw with Vesa's car, the '84 to '87 cars are still some serious competition.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Oh, I'm kinda partial to the '84-'87 cars anyway. I like the idea of being in the lighter car for a change!

Seriously. If you know somebody who has a CRX or Civic that is decent, let me know. I think I might be a buyer soon. Seriously.

 

Great report, Scott. Always enjoy your post-race journal entries.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Catch 22 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
6. Winning is always fun, but sometimes a 2nd or 3rd place finish can actually be more fun and more rewarding. I qualified terribly for Sundays sprint (see #7), and sat on the grid 14 spots behind the #1 ITC qualifier and 4th in class. When the checkered flew, I had picked up 13 of those spots and was challenging for the win. Turned the fastest lap in class in the process. Easily my best race performance to date.
</TD></TR></TABLE>

This is an subtle and important change from the guy who said "racing is fun, being competitive is funner, and winning is the funnerer" or something like that. Not trying to bust your ballz at all, because I understand and agree with your statement. Just wondering if I have understood some of your previous comments.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Catch 22 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
7. I'm a verified chaser. If I don't have something to go after, I'm slow. I can't qualify well to save my *** (and the more I think about it and try to fix it the worse it gets), but when the race starts...
I continue to consistently turn race laps about 1.5 seconds faster than my qualifying laps. This is just plain *** backwards. I'm not going to try to fix it anymore, I'm just going to drive dammit.
</TD></TR></TABLE>

Very likely that your adrenal glands go into high gear and the "game on" competitiveness is the result when you're trying to reel someone in. Just out of curiousity, how do you drive once you're in the lead? Any harder to stay focused or any loss of competitiveness once you're there?

 

We'll help ya find one. SEHC needs H5 cars (and H3 cars).

 

Congrats on a great weekend. If you can learn to qualify better maybe it is out front and stay out front.
Barry H.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Catch 22 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">7. I'm a verified chaser. If I don't have something to go after, I'm slow. I can't qualify well to save my *** (and the more I think about it and try to fix it the worse it gets), but when the race starts...
I continue to consistently turn race laps about 1.5 seconds faster than my qualifying laps. This is just plain *** backwards. I'm not going to try to fix it anymore, I'm just going to drive dammit.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Preach on preacher! My largest qualifying to race gap to date is 4 seconds/lap at Daytona. I'm certainly in the &gt;1 second range at Summit. It ends up hurting me in the long run because I spend more laps trying to get around someone and less catching the person in front of them.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Neo &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">This is an subtle and important change from the guy who said "racing is fun, being competitive is funner, and winning is the funnerer" or something like that. Not trying to bust your ballz at all, because I understand and agree with your statement. Just wondering if I have understood some of your previous comments.
</TD></TR></TABLE>

I actually had very good races on Saturday and Sunday, but even though I won Saturday and finished 2nd on Sunday, I drove the better race on Sunday. Vesa's mechanical DNF on Saturday made that one kind of empty, even though I was in P1 at the time and there were a couple of other very fast C cars there.
But yes, I still very much enjoy winning.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Neo &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Just out of curiousity, how do you drive once you're in the lead? Any harder to stay focused or any loss of competitiveness once you're there?</TD></TR></TABLE>

I drive like *** with a lead. I think too much.
When I'm chasing I tend to just "go." Its rare that I can even remember details about the race, who I passed, who went off, etc. Its just a blur. Sunday's race was like that for me.
But I do remember my cr3w up at the fence near pit-in cheering and waving every time I went by. That was pretty cool.
Passing that many cars in an ITC car, at CMP, is some hard work. If I could do that every time I suited up I'd be dangerous.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Catch 22 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
I drive like *** with a lead.</TD></TR></TABLE>

LOL .. yea. It is much easier to chase then be chased. I always end up making some bone head mistake.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Catch 22 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">If I could do that every time I suited up I'd be dangerous.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Thats right, ice... man. I am dangerous!

 

I had one of those "Think About it too Much and it Will Happen" moments on Saturday. I was being chased by a very quick 510, but pretty much had him covered by 10 to 20 seconds with 4 or 5 SMs and ITB cars between us.

Then my brain did it to me with 3 laps to go...

Exiting turn 9 I looked in my mirrors and saw nothing behind me. My brain said "All I have to do is keep it on the track and I'll win this thing." Great. Thanks brain.
Less than 10 seconds later I was off in the dirt on the outside of turn 11 trying to avoid 2 SMs that got together and sideways in front of me. I also managed to lock up my front brakes and flat spot both tires during this little dance.
When I got back on track I looked in my mirrors and whattayaknow... A yellow 510. Excellent, just excellent. At least my front tires are now almost flatspotted to the cords and I'm "whump whump whumping" down the straights.
But I held him off mostly because he'd already burned up his brakes trying to stay as close as he was.

I need a sticker for my dash that says "Don't Think. Drive"

 

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

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

RJs wallpaper.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Catch 22 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">RJs wallpaper.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Nah, my wallpaper is a record. It spins right round baby right round.

 

Wow Scott .. sounds like you executed the "How to drive like SPiFF" technique perfectly.

 

<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, now we can find you a good ITC car. Probably not one like mine thats already built because there aren't very many of them.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Which is a good thing for you Floyd, because Scott's doing his best to get it bumped to ITB

 

Good stuff, Scott. Thanks for taking the time to answer my n00b questions. Sounds like racing in ITC-ville and with your wife as a co-driver is agreeing with you. And, what, you've been at this just over a year now? Boy, some guys have all the luck, eh?

 

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

Which is a good thing for you Floyd, because Scott's doing his best to get it bumped to ITB </TD></TR></TABLE>

Very funny.
But the reality is that its more likely that some of ITB will be coming down to ITC instead of the other way around.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Neo &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Sounds like racing in ITC-ville and with your wife as a co-driver is agreeing with you. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Yeah. Its going well and we're having alot of fun. There's actually another couple doing the same thing in ITC. Pretty cool.
Now we're having to readjust some schedules and plans because we are actually in the points chase for both SARRC and ECR and we need to do more events to stay there. There isn't any extra money growing in the garden, so we're just cancelling some other stuff. We didn't expect to be doing this well, and its pretty exciting right now.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Ross R &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Regarding Renee's health - nothing like a healthy shot of adrenaline to make you feel better. Any kind of physical activity is welcome when I am sick.</TD></TR></TABLE>
thats my trick. all my friends think im crazy when I go for a run or play some b-ball when im sick.

 

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

Yeah that's right, I can polish it either right or left handed!

 

Quote, originally posted by Catch 22 »
Oh, now we can find you a good ITC car. Probably not one like mine thats already built because there aren't very many of them. But as you saw with Vesa's car, the '84 to '87 cars are still some serious competition.

Quote, originally posted by 1gTeg90 »
Oh, I'm kinda partial to the '84-'87 cars anyway. I like the idea of being in the lighter car for a change!

Seriously. If you know somebody who has a CRX or Civic that is decent, let me know. I think I might be a buyer soon. Seriously.

-----------------------------------

There is a pretty good sounding CRX for sale in the Boston area on my board. It's got the parts for a same year teg swap with turbo parts, I'm sure you could part out what you don't want/need and make some cash back. He's asking 1500 for everything, that includes KONI's all around, 24mm t-bars, GC rear coil overs with springs, OPM camber plates, etc.

Here is the thread: http://www.redpepperracing.com...=9512

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by rpr &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
There is a pretty good sounding CRX for sale in the Boston area on my board. It's got the parts for a same year teg swap with turbo parts, I'm sure you could part out what you don't want/need and make some cash back. He's asking 1500 for everything, that includes KONI's all around, 24mm t-bars, GC rear coil overs with springs, OPM camber plates, etc.

Here is the thread: http://www.redpepperracing.com...=9512</TD></TR></TABLE>

Hmmm... that's lots of goodies for not much money. Unfortunately what I have less of than money is time, so when I do buy it will need to be a ready to race unit, or pretty darned close to it, even if it isn't terribly competitive or developed to the nth degree. I can always improve on the car once I get it, but I just don't think I can take on another build up. Did that once, I think I'll skip this time.

 

could you explain your brake set-up por favor?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Mike D &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">could you explain your brake set-up por favor?</TD></TR></TABLE>

Me?

Take notes now, 'cause its complicated.

Front rotors - Stock
Rear drums - Stock
Lines - Stock
Master - Stock
Front pads - Cobalt ITR Spec B
Rear Shoes - I dunno. Something Andie gave me. They're blue.
Ducting - Nope
Fluid - ATE Blue. Probably overkill, but I had 3 cans leftover from the Integra days.