Lightning Results

[erlrich]

Andy - sounds like a great race weekend, and if you were able to run down Marc & Brian from that far back you must have been hauling the mail...congrats on a good finish. I'm hoping to get up there for the Aug race at Thunderbolt; I hope to see some you guys there.

The whole qualifying deal brings up a question though; is that format - Sat morning qual session, Sat afternoon race, with the race results setting the grid for Sun - what you guys use in the NARRC series? The reason I ask is that I was under the impression they were using the MARRS format for the races at NJMP, which uses the best time from both Sat sessions to set the grid for Sun.

Also curious; were guys getting black flagged for bump drafting? I think that may be something to fuss at drivers about after the race, but if I got pulled off track during a race for that I would highly pissed.

[Andy Bettencourt]

The whole qualifying deal brings up a question though; is that format - Sat morning qual session, Sat afternoon race, with the race results setting the grid for Sun - what you guys use in the NARRC series? The reason I ask is that I was under the impression they were using the MARRS format for the races at NJMP, which uses the best time from both Sat sessions to set the grid for Sun.

Also curious; were guys getting black flagged for bump drafting? I think that may be something to fuss at drivers about after the race, but if I got pulled off track during a race for that I would highly pissed.

In the NARRC, we seldom have a two day single. It's either Sat AM qual, Sat PM race and then Sun AM qual, Sun PM race for a double. We do have a triple that is Sat AM qual, Sat PM race, Sun AM qual race based on fast time and Sun PM race based on finishing position. So because it's a 'triple' and not a double, we use both methods. At the end of the day, I BELIEVE NARRC drivers prefer to race vs. qualify...meaning the format this weekend at NJMP was preferrable. If you are racing, finishing positions are what matter I would think...

Nobody got black flagged for BD but they were calling it in and it was a topic with some drivers.

[JLawton]

The whole qualifying deal brings up a question though; is that format - Sat morning qual session, Sat afternoon race, with the race results setting the grid for Sun - what you guys use in the NARRC series? The reason I ask is that I was under the impression they were using the MARRS format for the races at NJMP, which uses the best time from both Sat sessions to set the grid for Sun.

Also curious; were guys getting black flagged for bump drafting? I think that may be something to fuss at drivers about after the race, but if I got pulled off track during a race for that I would highly pissed.

No, that's not how we "normally" do it in the NARRC series gor qualifying but we have a few times. I was told by a MARRS guy that is how they do it at Summit???? But hell, I'll take two races over a regular qualifying and race any day!!


They weren't getting black flagged. They were shown the furled black, then talked to after. A great way to do it. They also showed the furled black and talked to guys who kept putting four off......... and there were a LOT of them!!

As far as the track and the region officials, I think it was the "friendliest" weekend I've been to. Yes, they pulled a lot of people in but it wasn't intrusive to the racing.

[erlrich]

No, that's not how we "normally" do it in the NARRC series gor qualifying but we have a few times. I was told by a MARRS guy that is how they do it at Summit????

Jeff - yes, that's how they're doing it at Summit (starting this year), with the one difference that the best lap time from either Saturday session is used to set the grid for Sunday. The reason I brought it up was that Andy mentioned he had to start at the back because of a DNF in the Saturday race. But if they had been using the MARRS format he would have still been gridded according to his Saturday morning time, which I'm assuming would have put him much closer to the front. I think most of the MARRS drivers have found the new format to be much more interesting than the old one, which was 2 qualifying sessions on Saturday and a Sunday sprint race.

[Doc Bro]

The ITR race was exciting with Thiele q1 Powell Q2 and me in Q3. Going into 1 Powell came in a bit hot and hit Thiele in the RR. Thiele did a great job (in fact I didn't even know he'd been hit) and drove through smoothly. Powell had a mulitiple tank slapper going after the contact, ultimately sending him off course. I had to check up big time to avoid him. At that point Thiele had a large lead on the field because he was the only car to avoid the incident. I tried my hardest to reel him in with some sucess. We both had good and bad traffic, and I ultimately closed to about 2 car lengths. when I caught up to Thiele I also caught the ITB race for 1st and so I was stuck. Rob Thiele drove a great race and I threw everything I had at him, he deserved the win for sure.

On another note;

The only complaint I had from the weekend was some of the lack of hospitality in the paddock from some of the MARRS guys....a Miata crew (sorry but it was). NJMP doesn't allow reserving spots guys. Summit is Summit, NJ is NJ get over it and represent your region with some class; especially when you're running a "race business". Nuff said.

R

[John Nesbitt]

...

They weren't getting black flagged. They were shown the furled black, then talked to after. A great way to do it. They also showed the furled black and talked to guys who kept putting four off......... and there were a LOT of them!!

As far as the track and the region officials, I think it was the "friendliest" weekend I've been to. Yes, they pulled a lot of people in but it wasn't intrusive to the racing.

The closed black is a way of giving a warning to someone while they are still on track: "We saw what you did. Stop it." It is typically followed up with at least a conversation with a steward at the end of the session.

Remember that, unlike an open black flag, a closed black does not require you to come into the pits right away. You just have to mend your ways.

I thought that folks generally behaved very well over the weekend. I was Chairman of the SOM, and the court had very few 'customers', compared to many MARRS races.

[steve b]

I had a great time even running dead last. Can't wait to come up to Thunderbolt and start the learning curve (which was painfully slow) all over again.

Hopefully I got everyone around me okay.

[Andy Bettencourt]

I had a great time even running dead last. Can't wait to come up to Thunderbolt and start the learning curve (which was painfully slow) all over again.

Hopefully I got everyone around me okay.

Steve, I watched your MKI and the other one with great interest. Very cool and well turned out cars. Good luck!

[steve b]

Steve, I watched your MKI and the other one with great interest. Very cool and well turned out cars. Good luck!

Thanks. That was the very first time to the track for the black car. So as you can imagine he found a few bugs that need worked out. He will be fast once he gets everything sorted out.

[JLawton]

Here's video from Saturday's qualifying race. Some good action for the first 2/3rds of the race.

http://video.yahoo.com/watch/5595518/14687280

[Doc Bro]

I had a great time even running dead last. Can't wait to come up to Thunderbolt and start the learning curve (which was painfully slow) all over again.

Hopefully I got everyone around me okay.

I was in your race group ( the Black e36 in ITR). You were great. Good job.

R

[rthiele]

Thanks for the update Rob. Now I know why I had this sudden boost into turn 1 - maybe I should stop using ear plugs
Good driving Rob - I saw you catching up and counted laps down. Saturday the three of us were within 2 tenths, Sunday within five or six tenths - and I was the slowest. So I guess I can call myself lucky.

Anyway - here's an interesting onboard: lap traffic and three ITB cars in front of us getting together in turn 3/4 (0:44+). The rabbit in the middle of the sandwich went up on one wheel!
I leave detailed analysis & comments to other people, but when you see the entire scene, it was pretty obvious that s*** would happen. Not good

YouTube Video

[benspeed]

What kind of times were folks running?

[Robert Zecca]

Andy B For President!

See you guys at the Glen, we may break 50 cars and possibly 42 at LRP the week after. I am happy to hear that this event went off very well. We knew NJMP was going to be a great destination and finally the number are proving it. Thanks to everyone who supported this event.

LAST PLEASE RAISE MONEY FOR OUR EVENT AT LRP VETERAN HOMESTEAD!!!

[dazzlesa]

i was part of this battle for part of the race. in my opipion the 33 car is fast. i was surprised at how aggresive he was throughout the race. i followed waiting for the 2 of them to end up in the weeds. i was right on one car. michael reece drove a great race. at one point i was shocked at how far back he,#33, initiated a pass goin into turn 1 on me and the 69. i backed out and let the pass happen. i was in no mood to have a wrecked car. he also dropped wheels endlessly. i count 4 stars in my windshield from the race. we had a great race at summit. i think he will get farther with a little patience.