August RA Smack Talk

#41

Since there is apparently going to be a wedding at the track Sat night, ought we bring a change of clothes somewhat less scruffy then our usual stained t-shirt exclaiming something like “Be my bitch!”?

#42

Better late than never:

The 6th Place Trophy of Caution… appropriate for Road Atlanta, which traditionally tends to claim some cars. To those already at the track, tonight’s trophy will be an awesome surprise. Jones loves surprises…

(Note: Trophy does not include lift elements)

Remember, BimmerWorld stickers on each side of the car for a free set of PFC front brake pads. We all should keep tabs on how the BW crew does this weekend at Mid-Ohio.

#43

If I was there that hunk of junk would be mine. Try to pass me and…
:huh: wow… It’s a lot easier to talk smack when you don’t have to back it up.

Y’all have fun, be safe and clean.

#44

Since I won the 6th place trophy of caution I guess it’s only fitting I make this post. It was a clean race (although VERY hot) and then on the last lap another miata/bmw confrontation ended ugly for the e30 side. Road Atlanta claimed another victim… luckily Jim Levie was unhurt, but the same can’t be said for his car…

#45

I THINK these are the results from today:

  1. Schwartz
  2. Moses
  3. R. Patton
  4. Walsh
  5. Zawrotney
  6. Thornton
  7. Reznikov

That’s as far as I know, and I’m guessing on the top 3.

#46

That sucks for Jim, but I am glad he is okay. Jim we can use lots of parts off your car for lemons B) just a thought

Greg

#47

Ouch… Not a good day to be a Jim. Glad he’s alright. Sad to see the amount of damage.

Has there ever been a weekend where a miata hasn’t hit an e30. WTF is wrong with those guys (exMiata driver feel free to weigh in). Have they not figured out by now that we’re not quite as fast in the turns as them?

I hope someone can figure a way to address this miata/e30 issue before one of these contact situations ends poorly.

have fun. wish i was there

#48

Don’t forget the miata that took out Jim/racerx/ bad attutude/glass is empty in fridays enduro!

Sorry to see Jim Lieves car like that!!

#49

I was near Jim when the Miata guy came to apologize. Apparently he was out of region and renting a ride. Jim and Tom didn’t let him race Sunday.

The guy seemed nice enough, but he just didn’t “get it”. He was apologetic and he did seem to recognize that it was his fault, but he was really focused on the idea that he tried hard to back out once contact was imminent. The point he missed was that he should never have been there. The Miata guys seem to have problems understanding what the criteria is for having the “right to be there”. They seem to think that “wanting room” equals “getting room”.

Obviously if you can’t get your wheel up to the other driver, then you’ve no right to be there. It is your obligation to get your car into that position before there is any contention for apexes and what-not.

I tried to get the issue addressed in the driver’s meeting, but I failed.

I had a close call with a Miata on Saturday, but I read his mind and I didn’t get hosed by his bonehead move. They get “the talk” twice/yr and we’ve seen how effective that approach is.

Mention was made of decal we can put on our rear that says “don’t bump draft me”, or some such. I’m not sure where that idea came from. I know of no one bitching about that. Our problem isn’t bump drafing, it’s Miatas darting in where they shouldn’t and “hoping for the best”.

Is there a clash of cultures here? How many E30s in the SE have been punted into a wall by other E30’s?

The Bob Chrystler crash exactly a year ago made a big impression on me. When the day comes that some Miata pulls some bonehead move and puts kind-hearted Ranger into the wall, get him into the ambulance and whisk him away before I…

Never mind.

Later edit: The Miatas need to have numbers in their rear. Right now when one of them pulls some stunt all you remember is “the red one”.

#50

I’m not convinced that the guy ever though he was responsible, but I might be biased. He kept harping on “I though you saw me”. Well I did and I knew he was behind, which is the operative part of this. He was behind me and had no overlap at all until well past turn in and the extent of car overlap at the point of contact looks to be measured in inches. Basically he executed a Pitt maneuver.

Pretty much the same think happened to Jim Robinson in the enduro. It was at turn 3 and Jim did nothing wrong. The Miata just drove in the right rear quarter of Jim’s car. I know this to be true because I was right behind the two of them desperately looking for a piece of track that wasn’t full of spinning car.

That same Miata almost got punted to the inside of T1 on that lap. Robinson had worked his way up to the front after an earlier incident and was clearly going to to get past me. I pointed him by at T1 and almost took out that same Miata who followed Jim through T1. I could not see him at all until it was almost too late as I was moving to the right to tuck in behind Jim at the apex. Jim had a valid overlap and was entitled to racing room in the corner. The Miata didn’t.

Do I detect a pattern here???

#51

Jim(s),

Sorry to hear about the incidents, glad to hear no one was hurt. (for the record, I was no where near RA this weekend;) ) This has been a familiar story and doesnt seem to be getting any better. I think our series director(s) may need to have a serious discussion with the two main culprits, 944’s and Miata’s to discuss the differences in passing rules as well as as the “right to be there.” As Patton says “Know who you are racing.” I think we should all have a basic understanding of each others rules when it comes to establishing position. In theory this may help reduce the number of metal to metal incidents between classes.

#52

Guys, I sure am sorry to hear about the accidents at RA this weekend. Let me know if there is anything I can do to help get you back on track.

#53

Regarding racing spec miatas, I think part of the problem is that we run very similiar lap times but the miatas brake and corner better but we have slightly more straighway talent. This puts the miata in a mind set that he has to force a move to make the pass because he won’t be able to pass on the straights. I think this combo causes a lot of problems. Not defending the driver in this situation just pointing out that the differences in cars inherently is going to cause problems. Especially when the avg spec miata driver is probably used to driving pretty agressively.

#54

scottmc wrote:

scottmc wrote:

I suppose I am the “exMiata driver” even though I am racing both cars these days. Kind of like having two wives, I get to be wrong twice as often.:laugh:

On a serious note, I think part of the problem stems from unfamiliarity with each other. IMHO, it is much harder to take silly chances next to a friend than some nameless, faceless helmet in the other car.

Here are some thoughts on Miata/944/E30 incidents I have seen. NONE of this should be read to be addressing this weekend’s events.

Video - Get it. Set up your camera(s) so that the picture includes front and rear traffic. Most of these incidents are the culmination of a few laps of frustration between 2 cars OR a faster car surprising a slower car. Seeing the actual incident and the corners leading to it will help “out” an aggressive driver better than anything. It is also damn helpful in filing a protest (or clearing up a faulty memory - like the 944 at CMP who thought he hit me after Jones hit him into me - exact opposite actually happened).

Take a defensive line AT THE APPROPRIATE TIME - Most times when out of class traffic catches you, it is faster for you to let them by at a good place (e.g. point by and brake a little earlier and a little lighter going into 10a or 1 - you will apex at almost the same speed you would have and you don’t risk them having to force the issue). HOWEVER, if you are NOT going to let them by, take a defensive line a car width in so you telegraph that you do NOT intend for them to get by. Then when you get to a good place, point them by. If you are back and forth with a Miata at RA, point them by going up the hill into 3, re-pass them on the back straight, rinse, lather, repeat.

Unless you are slingshotting in a straight line, physics dictates that you have a better chance making a clean pass with some room between cars. I don’t know why some drivers choose to stick a nose in at a place on the track where you will never make a pass stick (like going into the esses).

As a gesture of goodwill from the Miata community, I have offered Levie a straight, clean rolling chassis (84 318) for his rebuild for free.

I suggested to Chuck (SE30 series director) and Jason Holland (SM series director) and Jim Pantas that we should have a separate break-out driver’s meeting to introduce the two groups. As someone who is part of both groups, I can tell you that the overwhelming majority in both camps wants good clean close racing. There are guys in both groups that get red mist. There are guys in both groups that are racing newbies. I have the luxury of knowing almost everyone in the two groups at a typical SE race, so I know who I can race close to and who I need to give wide berth.

I am happy to help in shuttle diplomacy between the groups in any way that Chuck, Jason and Jim deem appropriate.

Steve D.

#55

Simon, I think you nailed it.

#56

Jones wrote:

[quote]Jim(s),

Sorry to hear about the incidents, glad to hear no one was hurt. (for the record, I was no where near RA this weekend;) ) [/quote]

It was good of you to send your girlfriend in your absence tho. That way we were able to hit on her without having to bother with distracting you first.

#57

Ranger wrote:

[quote]Jones wrote:

[quote]Jim(s),

Sorry to hear about the incidents, glad to hear no one was hurt. (for the record, I was no where near RA this weekend;) ) [/quote]

It was good of you to send your girlfriend in your absence tho. That way we were able to hit on her without having to bother with distracting you first.[/quote]

Haha, I expected nothing less from you animals. She had a fantastic time BTW and said that everyone was very nice to her. Thanks for taking good care! I now have a list of who not to wreck. Too bad the list of who to wreck is much longer. :wink:

#58

Hate to add another one but I watched Steve L get tagged by a Miata going through 12 this weekend. Luckily Steve handled it great but it could have been ugly.

#59

Just to add fuel to the flames: Recall that I was bumped off track by a Mazda on a restart at CMP in Feb. There were two Mazda’s dueling it out, got sloppy, and one ran into me from behind going into a turn.
Jims: sorry about the car damage. Let us know what parts you may be needing.

#60

Guys -

Frankly, none of this “…one time, I was…and then a Miata…” helps. This is a Spec E30 board. Only those who were wronged by a Miata are going to post here, resulting in a lopsided picture of what really goes on out there.

To be fair, you would have to go to the miata boards to see incidents when an E30 driver pulled an a$$hat maneuver.

Unless we separate E30s, Miatas and 944s in 3 run groups, we need to figure out how to get along. Or we could move to Thunder, where there is a whole different level of lack-of-talent. :laugh: :stuck_out_tongue:

Steve D.