Results from LRP

[CRallo]

any updates? it's killing me not being there, but I work Saturdays. Usually I'd play hooky, but I have a race car to pay for...

Miss you guys! :(

[67ITB]

I only know the results for ITB (Pro IT)

Ken Hubbard
Stephen Blethen
Tim Mullen

A great day,

Matt Bal

[dazzlesa]

for the itb regional
stephen
rick

[RSTPerformance]

Just got home after a long day of racing!!! For me it was great being back behind the wheel in the Team DI ProIT even though the race ended rather quickly for me... I was happy to qualify 3rd with very old tires and a car that hasn't been worked on in almost a year. I knew something would break since I feally didn't do anything to prep the car other than put the head back on it and hope the "spuder" was gone.

The start was good and I passed several cars going into big bend, we all ran out of track and Ed and I had a bump... Not enough track and noplace for Ed to go, I hope his car didn't suffer to much. After that I was off into the left hander and as I applied the gas it didn't go... I spent the rest of my 1/4 lap trying desperatly to get out of the way as I coasted with a broken cv joint. It was actually fun watching from the uphill and the workers were kind enough to suplly me with some needed water... Thank you!!!

Other things of the weekend:

Ken Payson had a head on impact with another car that had spun and was sitting in the track. He was transported to the hospital, any word on what happened and what his condition is? We are all thinking of you Ken, it's never a good feeling seeing the ambulace take someone away.

The only other negative was no victory laps throughout the day and no checkard flags to take home... For those that have won a race you know how special those moments are, and for those that will win in the future I hope you get to enjoy those moments and the flag for years to come. I was told the region couldn't aford the flags, and to me that's just one more reason regioms should be combined, if a region is in that much trouble... Nevermind not the place or the thread but I will say that I would be glad to pay an extra 2 dollers so my class winner could get a flag.

Raymond

[tdw6974]

We decided not to run. In view of the Change of format to qualify and possible unable to qualify. Anyhow how did the Split qualify go? How long was the actual Race? Hope Ken is ok and someone will update us on his condition. T Weaver

[BruceG]

Chris

No official results yet but we(In the 45 car? Group7 ITA,SM,ITB,blah,blah, Regional behaved ourselves. With the exception of a few flying spec pinatas in the start of the race, everything went well. The National group that ran after us got RED FLAGGED!! A Lotus spun and was turned around between 3 and no name and a spec pinata driver hit him broadside. also, I heard that there were 7 or 8 cars off by the end of the IT PRO race. When I wasn't driving, I was in the flatbed with my buddy, Mike George pickin' up the pieces. IN one of the National races, A driver in an EP Healy 3000 broke an axle coming up the hill, pulled off to the infield side, was out of his car and the car was hit in the rear by a flying 914 that lost it coming over the jump!!

Wild parts flying all over.

BruceG

[wdether]

Ken and a Lotus Elise hit head on, both drivers were transported to the hospital. As bad as it looked, the Lotus may be repairable. Everything forward of the bulkhead would need to be replaced. The car's structure and the roll cage did it's part.

The track cleanup and waiting for the ambulances to return from the hospital caused a pretty lengthy delay and ate into the length of the Pro-IT race. I think the race was between 25 and 30 minutes long.

Before leaving the track, I did hear the other driver was being released from the hospital. I did not hear an update on Ken.

[BruceG]

BTW...Kudos for all in the MOHUD Region for putting on one hell of an event!! A Regional plus and IT PRO imbedded in a National....wow. Just getting all of us in the Regional on the false grid required bending the law of physics. What a great job by all involved(expecially after the deluge on Friday. My hats off to all you folks.

[dickita15]

I was told Kenny was transfered to Springfield (Probably Baystate Medical). I will try to follow up the first of the week.

[CRallo]

Wow! thanks guys! Sounds like I missed a heck of a weekend :(

no one to blame but myself though... :blink:

[vwzx7]

Congrats to S Hawthorne for the overall/ITA win in the regional and ITA win/4th overall in the Pro-IT...Henderson took the overall IT win.

[BruceG]

Dick....I experienced some(seems to me)strange RX7 behavior yesterday during our Regional race. Granted it was only my 2nd race, in a new car with some teething problems and trying to be a clean driver and stay out of other's way when at all possible! Watching the blue flags and giving track room.

I passed under the bridge into the apex in Big Bend, hit my apex with no one on my butt and hit track out to the left at the start of the straight. I was hit in my rear bumper and broke my right tail light by the #6 RX7 that came up behind me. Since the whole point of hitting trackout on the left there is to give faster cars room to pass on the straight, I thought it very odd that someone would hit me there...unless they were trying to push me off the track!! Perhaps that was their intent since I'm not the fastest fish in the barrel but this wasn't a case of no racing room. I couldn't have been any further over to the left and one could drive a Sherman tank past me on the right.

Oh well...Live and learn, I guess.

[StephenB]

WOW what a day :eek:

The $200 regional:
went very well for me as I pushed as hard as I could to get past 10 or so miatas (refered to as piniatas for the rest of this thread :shrug: ) I wanted desperatly to catch up to the lead ITB car of Rick B. I could see him trying to avoid contact with the piniatas and doing his best to run a clean race. I don't even know if he saw me coming and as I finally caught and passed him entering big bend. We both almost parked in big bend and watch an awesome slide/spin from the ITA RX7 Very cool to watch :eek: . Anyway after I passed him he stayed with me but didn't have enough time to get me back. I think I pulled a 3 wide squeeze lapping 2 cars entering the uphill that he got caught behind putting him a second or so back. I had a great time pushing 11 tenths (except when near a spec piniata then I was 3 tenths trying to avoid contact!) Thanks Rick for pushing me to a near 1:03 timein that blistering heat!

Team DI Pro-IT:
It was some great racing and I had a BLAST racing Ken pushing my limits and his limits as we lifted slightly through the uphill, a lift and tap for west bend and flat in the downhill!! Sadly, for me, about 1/3 in I was hit under the bridge going down the downhill by the #96 Miata Andrezej Brezinski which unfourtunatly ruined my momentum and allowed Ken to pass me going down the straight. Ultimatly this is what allowed ken ahead of me and we are so evenly matched I couldn't get back ahead of him. Again his margin of victory was less than 1 foot at the finish making this the 3rd race in a row that we have finished 1 and 2 with less than 1 second between us! He is know a mere 5 points ahead of me in the championship... Last year it came down to the last race of the championship and I assure you this will be the same this year! The TeamDi Pro-ITB championship is literaly going to be decided by seconds up to the end!

For those that missed it this was a spectator dream race! This race was kinda like going to the amusement park, have you ever riden on the bumper cars? I witnessed conact every lap and I think a car was retired in every turn except the downhill. 10 cars retired in all! yup 25% of the field that started didn't finish!

Stephen Blethen
2008 TeamDI Pro-ITB Champion
www.RSTPerformance.com
www.VHoldR.com The words FIRST HD wearable Camcorder!

[BruceG]

Stephen...Perhaps that was the RX7(#6) that hit my RX7(#10) in the rear coming thru big bend..that would explain it!

[RSTPerformance]

Bruce-

Just as an FYI, the easier place for a lapping car to pass exiting Big Bend is on the left or inside heading into the "left" hander. I always go for that spot unless I see a point by at or around the second apex telling me to go to the right.

If you do get bumped you can almoast always drop a wheel or two off at the exit and keep it together... Just don't turn back onto the track or you might end up in the tire wall on drivers right!

Stephen-

I like the idea of "PRO-SM", otherwise have the miatas run in ITA if it is going to stay as the "PRO-IT" series. Overall though I like the idea of a split start , combined PRO race series with a regional feel. I will post my thoughts on the pro IT sight later :)

[BruceG]

Thanks for the great info,Stephen!

[BruceG]

My humble apology to Dave , the driver of RX7 #6 yesterday, Very difficult to hit someone during a race when your car craps out during qualifying. I guess the car that wacked me had a 6 as part of the number. I was trying to control my car in Big Bend and see who hit me at the same time.

I've PM'd Dave and told him he has a free pass to wack me in the next race!

Anyway....so sorry,Dave for the mistake. You're a good guy and a good driver!!

[kjh6576]

I would like to appologise to Matt.Baldoni. I was trying very hard to hard to slip by you into west bend and my car became very lose when I pinched the apex. I looked for you after I loaded up but you had already left. Please IM me. Thanks

I wanted to thank Stephen for his indept comentary, but most importiantly for providing more fun that one could ever imagine possible. Its 10/10ths-11/10ths the whole race every race.
PS
Where the heck did all those parts "flying all over the place" come from at the begining of the race. LOL
Ken

[67ITB]

Ken,
Your PM is not turned on or something.

Apology accepted.

I saw you guys coming and was trying to stay out of the way of your race. I appreciate your explanation of the event, I was thinking I left plenty of room for you guys, and couldn't figure out how I still got out in the marbles...... Again, Apology accepted.

I destroyed my car in that same turn 7 years ago and was starting to have flash backs for a second. glad I was able to gather it back up.

Congrats on the win.

Thanks again
Matt

[StephenB]

As we went up the uphill I started to think... Ken is going to catch matt at the entrance to west bend... this will be good! I may be able to time this right and get a run on him. As we approached west bend ken started to make a move to your inside and I thought he wont, na he can't, noway, that will never work, holy shit he is going for it! I guess I will follow him! As he passed you went way wide and I as I followed him and I was passing you got way sideways and I remembered your last accident and thought to myself please no, no please, catch it and by goly you sure did! Great save and thanks for letting us through... we finished about a foot apart! Unfortunatly no video from the race :(

Video from the Regional:
Here is my pass for the lead and the spin I mentioned above! Great entertainment value!

http://www.vholdr.com/node/38238

Here is some strategic moves as I lap traffic and seperate myself to secure the win!

http://www.vholdr.com/video/200-lrp-race-hood-view-slicing-through-traffic-win

Stephen Blethen
2008 TeamDI Pro-ITB Champion
www.RSTPerformance.com
www.VHoldR.com The words FIRST HD wearable Camcorder!

[gran racing]

"and by goly" Did you really just say that? LOL

How happy are you that I convinced ya into doing the regional race now? Congrats on the win Stephen in the regional and Ken with your Pro IT win. Too bad you had those issues Ray. :(

[mossaidis]

Results have been posted:

http://www.mohud-scca.org/Race/2009/Race.html#results

Congrats everyone that raced! Do we know why #66 was penalized? (I am guessing for contact)

[Terry Hanushek]

Do we know why #66 was penalized? (I am guessing for contact)

PUY ... When I informed T&S I did not have the specific GCR reference ( 6.11.2.B ) at my finger tips.

Terry

[mossaidis]

PUY ... When I informed T&S I did not have the specific GCR reference (6.11.2.B) at my finger tips.

Terry

6.11.2.B - passing under yellow - thanks.

[Greg Amy]

Ken Payson had a head on impact with another car that had spun and was sitting in the track.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NlHfGGgTVsc

Holy F**K!

[lateapex911]

As I said over on RRAX, Kenny is twice the driver that most of us punks are, and he clearly couldn't/never saw it coming. Hope he's back plucking trout or whatever from the Salmon Kill soon.

[dazzlesa]

excuse the relgious terminology, but jesus christ, that was a surprise and that was a hit

[BruceG]

excuse the relgious terminology, but jesus christ, that was a surprise and that was a hit

From all I spoke to after the fact, he never saw it coming! Launched the spec pinata about 50 ft in the air. He was completely caved in when the EMT's got there.

Any news on his condition, now?

[StephenB]

The Lotus also had video...:eek: if anyone sees that posted online can you post the link.

Stephen

[Marcus Miller]

There is quite a bit of info over on sccaforums.com, in the T1-3 section.

[StephenB]

The Lotus also had video...:eek: if anyone sees that posted online can you post the link.

Stephen

Here is the video from one of the cars following the lotus that shows the Lotus spin. Looks like it was sitting in that spot for what to him probably seems like a long time. Must have been very scary from his point of view facing up track :eek:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=So6Gwfd5STM

Another video of a car that shows why all those cars where going to slow...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ysJl6BaFO0


Glad to hear everyone is doing well

Stephen

[BruceG]

There is quite a bit of info over on sccaforums.com, in the T1-3 section.

Looks like from one of the videos that Ken missed the yellow flag from 5 that was clearly displayed!

[lateapex911]

Watching videos from our computers, replaying them and freeze framing them over and over armchair quarterback style isn't the same as being there. It's an odd angle to the flag, and there was a lot of traffic. And there was some slow moving car off to the right just before the right. Heck, the car in front of Ken JUST missed the Lotus. Looks like they all weren't as aware as they'd have liked to be.

Hey, it happens. If it happens to Ken, it can happen to any of us punks. ;)

[JLawton]

Looks like from one of the videos that Ken missed the yellow flag from 5 that was clearly displayed!

He was staying on line at that point. Unfortunately his view was obstructed by the car in front of him, which at the last second pulled to the left. I'm sure he saw the yellow. Same thing any of use would have done in that situation.



What kind of car was the second video from Stephen?

[gran racing]

Jeff, you're clue is the 350 in the movie banner. :p It's a Nissan 350Z.

[CRallo]

my ears say 350z and if you watched the first vid you saw the car...



The only comment I'll make about shoulda woulda coulda is what Bruce Macinnes at Skip Barber told me once... "If the guy in front of you swerves, swerve. If he locks up his brakes for no good reason, do the same... He just might see something you can't!"
I've been there myself and the same holds true on the street, don't just swerve around them and say "what an idiot!"

[dominojd]

The only comment I'll make about shoulda woulda coulda is what Bruce Macinnes at Skip Barber told me once... "If the guy in front of you swerves, swerve. If he locks up his brakes for no good reason, do the same... He just might see something you can't!"
I've been there myself and the same holds true on the street, don't just swerve around them and say "what an idiot!"

So what did he say about hitting concrete walls? :happy204:
You know you'll hear about that one forever.

[wdether]

my ears say 350z and if you watched the first vid you saw the car...

dunno who drives it, but he is either good or LRP is his hometrack... He sure knows his way around that place.

The car does sound pretty good, I had the sound cranked up on the computer when I played the video. The driver is Brian Kleeman, a member of the DC Region. It does look like he has been around the track a few times.

[BruceG]

So what did he say about hitting concrete walls? :happy204:
You know you'll hear about that one forever.

That quote coming from the same guy(Bruce) who landed his plane on the front straight at LRP last summer and also dive bombed us during the 6/20 LRP race this year....LOL

[CRallo]

That quote coming from the same guy(Bruce) who landed his plane on the front straight at LRP last summer and also dive bombed us during the 6/20 LRP race this year....LOL

LOL is right :D

Bruce alone is worth the price of admission to skippy! He is so known for his way with words they even made a T-shirt "25 years of Bruceisms" In my two years working at skip and driving the cars I got to hear many of them first hand, lol.

[BruceG]

LOL is right :D

Bruce alone is worth the price of admission to skippy! He is so known for his way with words they even made a T-shirt "25 years of Bruceisms" In my two years working at skip and driving the cars I got to hear many of them first hand, lol.

BruceM ran 1/2 of our 3 day racing school at Skippy LRP and did a great, safe job. I wish a few of our competitors in ITA had taken the course,too. Just spent $100 plus dollars for a pair of tailights(to replace the right one smashed on Sat) off of Ebay. Guess it's getting hard to find taillights for 30 year old RX7's!!
20+ people bid the price up.

I found out from Flagging, who hit me on Sat. They recorded the incident at station 11. I was at trackout on the left after hitting my apex in West bend. Could have driven a Sherman tank past me to the right but the driver used my rear bumper and taillight as his braking point. And the winner is...The #3 silver Z3 Bimmer from Darien, CT. I could see it happening in a corner fighting for racing room but not where I was. No biggy but the driver never came over to expain...Live and learn and I guess payback can be a bitch:eclipsee_steering:

[gran racing]

Bruce, you're making a lot of assumptions (true or untrue). One never knows until a discussion is held. Maybe something broke on his car or there's another reason. Sometimes finding another driver isn't all that easy or other circumstances lead to not being able to locate you. Who knows right now.

[Doc Bro]

BruceM ran 1/2 of our 3 day racing school at Skippy LRP and did a great, safe job. I wish a few of our competitors in ITA had taken the course,too. Just spent $100 plus dollars for a pair of tailights(to replace the right one smashed on Sat) off of Ebay. Guess it's getting hard to find taillights for 30 year old RX7's!!
20+ people bid the price up.

I found out from Flagging, who hit me on Sat. They recorded the incident at station 11. I was at trackout on the left after hitting my apex in West bend. Could have driven a Sherman tank past me to the right but the driver used my rear bumper and taillight as his braking point. And the winner is...The #3 silver Z3 Bimmer from Darien, CT. I could see it happening in a corner fighting for racing room but not where I was. No biggy but the driver never came over to expain...Live and learn and I guess payback can be a bitch:eclipsee_steering:


I agree with Dave. After racing a Z3 for years I can tell you no one who races one ever wants contact. It is probably the most expensive car to repair in ITA. The hood is about 1200 new if you can find one, headlights about 300ea. Welcome to racing Bruce. It's my contention your 100 taillights will be a fraction of your racing budget.

R

[BruceG]

Bruce, you're making a lot of assumptions (true or untrue). One never knows until a discussion is held. Maybe something broke on his car or there's another reason. Sometimes finding another driver isn't all that easy or other circumstances lead to not being able to locate you. Who knows right now.

Hi Dave

The only assumption I'm making is that my car was hit and that I'm replacing the damaged part. I was hit from behind(not the other way around) and that Flagging recorded the incident. Since no one has come to me any said otherwise, the only thing I can make is an assumption!

[BruceG]

Hi Rob

I agree that no one wants to hit anyone else. The shoe could have been on hte other foot abd I would just have found the other driver and explained what happened. I was the only bright yellow RX7 out of 2 RX'7s on the track.Live and learn!!...LOL

[gran racing]

the only thing I can make is an assumption!

That's where you're wrong. The next race you attend you can walk up to him/her, nicely introduce yourself, and politely ask what happened. Yeah, it's a PITA you needed to make those repairs and too bad the driver didn't appologize. (I have no idea who it is so it's not like I'm trying to defend anyone.) It's also a mater of circumstances and perspective. Maybe the driver didn't even think any damage was done to your car. The way things are for me now at many races, I'd try to find the driver but also know that depending on things I may have my wife and 18 month old son anxious to get going. The point is you just don't know right now.

[mossaidis]

I believe the driver's name is Gary Hutchinson - an nice english fellow I met at WGI the prior weekend. I know Gary was having some tire issues (mainly too many heat cycles if I recall correctly on both sets of his R6's). Again, he may have NOT even known that he made contact or just been too embarassed to approach you. either way, one should be looking for the other - no two ways about it.

On a similar yet lesser note, I was quite eager to talk to the owner of the gold ITS Porsche 944 at the WGI. I am NOT sure if just didn't know how to make room for overtaking cars or was just simply blocking. Either way, I approached him after the race, we chatted and he played it like he didn't realize it, which I gave him the benfit of the doubt - the sad part was that his car had made contact with a barrier later in the race. The impact wrecked at least 50% of his body panels - he *thought* a yellow car hit him from behind. If I were him, I would go looking for the driver of the *yellow* mystery car to get their presecptive.

[BruceG]

I believe the driver's name is Gary Hutchinson - an nice english fellow I met at WGI the prior weekend. I know Gary was having some tire issues (mainly too many heat cycles if I recall correctly on both sets of his R6's). Again, he may have NOT even known that he made contact or just been too embarassed to approach you. either way, one should be looking for the other - no two ways about it.

On a similar yet lesser note, I was quite eager to talk to the owner of the gold ITS Porsche 944 at the WGI. I am NOT sure if just didn't know how to make room for overtaking cars or was just simply blocking. Either way, I approached him after the race, we chatted and he played it like he didn't realize it, which I gave him the benfit of the doubt - the sad part was that his car had made contact with a barrier later in the race. The impact wrecked at least 50% of his body panels - he *thought* a yellow car hit him from behind. If I were him, I would go looking for the driver of the *yellow* mystery car to get their presecptive.

Thanks for that info and your perspective. I'm not upset, just perplexed as a new racer thinking that I was doing everything I could do to give racing room to others. Perhaps he was unaware of the hit and old tires would certainly explain late braking.

On another note, I was on brand new Hoosier R6's for the first time(had Toyo RA1's last month at LRP) and was really impressed with my new found grip. Even though they are only 205/60/13's they went really well

[BruceG]

Thanks for that info and your perspective. I'm not upset, just perplexed as a new racer thinking that I was doing everything I could do to give racing room to others. Perhaps he was unaware of the hit and old tires would certainly explain late braking.

On another note, I was on brand new Hoosier R6's for the first time(had Toyo RA1's last month at LRP) and was really impressed with my new found grip. Even though they are only 205/60/13's they went really well

Luckily for him(gold 944), I was way too slow to hit anyone from behind...LOL

[Andy Bettencourt]

Luckily for him(gold 944), I was way too slow to hit anyone from behind...LOL

Not the same one that oiled the track at WGI?

[mossaidis]

Not the same one that oiled the track at WGI?

I don't think so... I think "Steve Mancini (Victor, NY)" was the driver I was speaking about.

[StephenB]

FYI,

I had a metal to metal contact with another vehicle on track during the LRP event. I was quite upset and extremely frustrated with the situation. I actually stopped in pit lane and asked the driver to come find me after the event. The driver never found me. (He had others things going on that I didn't know about that prevented him from searching for me) I went all over the paddock asking others if they knew him or where he could be. In the end I didn't find him but I posted here if anyone had his info because I still wanted to talk about it. someone sent me his e-mail... I e-mailed him and he called me back. I was very impressed that he called instead of e-mailing me back. We played phone tag and finally talked today. In the end we went three wide under the bridge in the downhill and this was probably a racing incident with simply not enough room. He assureed me it was unintential and he even thinks that I may have squeezed him out a bit. To keep it short we talked about a variety of things and in the end we are on great terms and I think we may be able to be drafting buddies on track!

The point of sharing this experience is that their is always multiple sides to a story on track. A video, a corner worker, a driver, and the other driver all have a story or view of what happened. Talk and learn from it.

Bruce, Maybe just maybe the Z3 expected you to brake less, or excelerate more. Plenty of times I have had close calls lapping cars that braked way more than I needed or lifted at exit when I wasn't expecting it. The other driver may be frustrated with you as you are with him. I have no idea... just playing devils advocate!

Have Fun and see you in Jersey!
Stephen

[JohnRW]

Stephen -
You did exactly the right thing...you made contact, connected on a personal level, and resolved it. You are an example of what Club Racing should be.

There are always many sides to the story. That you took the time to root it out, rather than just rant, is a testament to the sportsmanship that we all should be displaying.

We're not doing this professionally. We're just schmoes, trying to have fun in our cars. Sometimes, $#!+ happens.

I've raced with Andrej, sometimes closer than a coat-of-paint, and know him to be a clean competitor (in multiple sanctioning bodies....more than just SCCA). I'm still amazed that he didn't drill me, when I got stupid at Summit Point (I still have the photo sequence, taped to the wall of my shop).

I've also been in the position of whacking somebody, and upon trying to find him in a crowded paddock, didn't make the connection until he was (literally) loaded up and driving out. Glad I did, since (a decade later) he is one of my most trusted "drafting buddies" in SRF, and a competitor that I will gladly stay within inches of. I celebrate his wins, almost as much as my own.

None of us are in this for the profits. Your friend are closer than you think.

[benspeed]

So I had an awesome time at the LRP TeamDI Pro IT race. I haven't been to LRP in two years but it was like riding a bike - must have 500 laps at the place.

Qualified 3rd and grabbed the lead at turn 1 - Doc Bro missed a shift and made it easy. Had a lot of friends there and they said that Doc was running through the field like a man possesed and if the race was full length they said he would have reached the leaders.

Jeff Henderson gives me a friendly rough up on turn one but he looked more damaged than the hole in my Porsche and gouged wheel so I'm cool with it :-) Shit, he won.

I led until my exhaust fell off - micky mouse POS has been the worst problem so far - this will be completely re-done before the next race. The header is awesome - the rest of it...

Gotta give some major props to the TeamDI folks, Bob, Darrell and Steve - awesome job on the winner circle and recognition to the drivers. Buy all your driving stuff from Driving Impressions - they earn and deserve your business.

Lightweight wheels are in - unsprung weight/rotating mass reduced now by 30 pounds. More development planned :-) I'm going to have an anchor, piano and anvil in my passenger footwell to make weight!

Here's some in car video - sorta boring - I'll get a mirror for the camera. Thanks to all the guys who race and the workers who make it happen!!!!

http://video.yahoo.com/watch/5681372/14889953

[JLawton]

Hi Bruce, sorry one of your early races had an incident. But I can assure you, the IT drivers in NE, as a whole are one of the best groups to run with. I've been running IT (ITS, ITB and ITA) for 10 years here in NE and have enjoyed it all the more because of the drivers. You'll discover that too.

Now, the RX7 guys are some of the dirtiest bastards I know!!



Kidding, KIDDING!!!!

(they too are some really good guys!!)


Hang in there, have fun!!


.

[BruceG]

So I had an awesome time at the LRP TeamDI Pro IT race. I haven't been to LRP in two years but it was like riding a bike - must have 500 laps at the place.

Qualified 3rd and grabbed the lead at turn 1 - Doc Bro missed a shift and made it easy. Had a lot of friends there and they said that Doc was running through the field like a man possesed and if the race was full length they said he would have reached the leaders.

Jeff Henderson gives me a friendly rough up on turn one but he looked more damaged than the hole in my Porsche and gouged wheel so I'm cool with it :-) Shit, he won.

I led until my exhaust fell off - micky mouse POS has been the worst problem so far - this will be completely re-done before the next race. The header is awesome - the rest of it...

Gotta give some major props to the TeamDI folks, Bob, Darrell and Steve - awesome job on the winner circle and recognition to the drivers. Buy all your driving stuff from Driving Impressions - they earn and deserve your business.

Lightweight wheels are in - unsprung weight/rotating mass reduced now by 30 pounds. More development planned :-) I'm going to have an anchor, piano and anvil in my passenger footwell to make weight!

Here's some in car video - sorta boring - I'll get a mirror for the camera. Thanks to all the guys who race and the workers who make it happen!!!!

http://video.yahoo.com/watch/5681372/14889953

Hi Jeff

Don't get me wrong.....I'm having a blast(literally, when I downshift from 4th to 3rd coming into big bend and flames come out the exhaust!!). I know that these things happen all the time and also that we have a great group of drivers in NER and MOHUD....Color me hooked on racing....LOL:eclipsee_steering:

[BruceG]

Definately, I could have contributed to the problem, Stephen....It's a learning process for me, for sure.

[benspeed]

I was looking over the posts and realized that the Gold 944 S2 at Watkins Glen got beat up. Does anybody know what happened and have any info for the owner?

[benspeed]

PS - Bruce G - love the enthusiasm - you work at it - get the right stuff - make those boys chase you!

[BruceG]

PS - Bruce G - love the enthusiasm - you work at it - get the right stuff - make those boys chase you!

Hi Ben...Thanks!!......I love racing, cars, the competiton and the friends. Look forward to meeting you in the future at the track.:happy204:

[lateapex911]

I was looking over the posts and realized that the Gold 944 S2 at Watkins Glen got beat up. Does anybody know what parts are available and have any info for the owner so I can vulture another smokin' deal??

Fixxored! ;)

[mossaidis]

^^ Zing!

[cchandler]

I was looking over the posts and realized that the Gold 944 S2 at Watkins Glen got beat up. Does anybody know what happened and have any info for the owner?

During the regional qualifier, he went by me prior to the chicane. I followed him into the boot where he went off at the toe of the boot with both fronts locked up. Looked like he just overcooked the corner and the thing wouldn't turn.

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I had engine problems so ended up not racing but was watching the regional from the front straight grandstands. Near the end of the race, I saw him spin entering the front straight and hook into the right wall. Looks like he TTO'd after realizing he was too fast for the corner. I think the outside wall might have been kinder to him!! Lots of damage all over the car.

[mossaidis]

ouch... so I guess all the stuff he told his wife about the "yellow" car tapping him was crap. wow. eek!