Originally Posted by
lateapex911
Nope, you've got the right model.
Nat's white one is probably what you're thinking about. Also, Paul Curren (Eric Currens father) runs one as well.
If you talk to Nat (I have, numerous times), he'll tell you he's constantly working on the car, tweak this and that. I hope he checks in here, but, I'd characterize his position as 'close, but there's more".
And, in reference to the above mentioned Eric Curren hot laps comment, the story is that we were at a test day up at lime Rock, and Eric happened to be there to help his Dad. For one session in the afternoon, Dad put Eric in the car for a few laps. Eyebrows jumped when the stopwatches were checked. Lap record stuff. Of course, it wasn't a race, it was only testing, and skeptics will suggest it was a stunt and the car was under weight or whatever. Nonetheless, it was done in front of an assembled mob of 3 people.
(For those who might not know, Eriic is an accomplished Pro driver with lots of sportscar wins and laps lead under his belt)
I was there to witness Eric's feat and know Paul very well. No stunt. I want to say he started running under the track record within 3-4 laps of hopping in the car. That's why he gets paid to race while us shmucks sit on the internet complaining about how slow our cars are. That wasn't a shot at anyone. Just a general comment.
But Paul and Nat's Volvos are some of the fastest ITB cars in the country. Top builds, top prep with great drivers.
Back when I ran at the back to middle of the pack I used to complain all the time that my car was not competitive, the other guys cheat, they have more money, blah, blah, blah. I was then lucky enough to spend a lot of time at the track with the fastest guys/cars in the country. it was eye opening........... No stone goes unturned. Hours prepping, hours on set-up, hours and hours and hours on driver developement.................... Anyone out there that thinks they are driving their car to it's maximum potential needs to "get real". There are better drivers out there that will hop into your car and demolish your times.............. Recognizing that fact will be the biggest factor in making any driver faster.
6 years ago I was lucky enough to buy inarguably a 10/10ths ITA car. It was supposed to be one of the fastest in the country. I got in it expecting to win my first race out and every time after that........ HA!! I was dreaming. I then spent the next 6 years developing me as a driver AND spending 6 years developing a 10/10ths car!!! We changed shocks, we changed sprints, alignment, sway bars. You name it, we fiddled with it. I found the harder I worked, the luckier I got..................
Hmmmmmmm. Sorry about the rant.............. I'm done now..........
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Last edited by JLawton; 02-07-2012 at 10:17 AM.
Jeff L
ITA Miata
2010 NARRC Champion
2007 NERRC Championship, 2nd place
2008 NARRC Championship, 2nd place
2009 NARRC Championship, 2nd place
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