Infineon 10/28-29-30/2011

#21

Good Old Jerry!!!

I am fine with all of the changes to 7 but running through the dirt is not acceptable to me!!! If we run through the dirt I am not going to race this weekend. I do not have a good skid plate and I will not take the chance of breaking my oil pan on a brand new motor or put my oil cooler into jeopardy. Besides possible tire and rim damage! I will just run GTS and leave spec e30 to the rest of you that want this craziness!!!

Please all of you who feel the same as me please post to this thread so we can show Jerry this dirt running is a little over the top.

Scott

#22

WTF?? Can we run all terrain tires?

#23

i am inclined to agree for the sake of our cars. this doesn’t seem like a great idea for those who don’t have skid plates nor a ton of money to fix any issues that may happen to the cars as a result of driving off pavement. The cars weren’t built for it and it could cause a lot of damage to some unlucky racers.

That being said…

Challenge Accepted!!!

#24

I understand wanting to change things around to mix it up. Especially when it is done ahead of time so people know what to expect. When it is done during a race I feel it could lead to some possible unsafe conditions if someone were to take the wrong coarse. If it is done because of oil etc. to keep the race going I can accept depending on the configuration.

I do have to let you know that if we run through the grass/dirt we will have to pull out of this weekends race. I think it would be very damaging to race cars made and set up for the street. It would also be dangerous due to the slip factor with slick tires. There could potentially be many spin outs leading to heavy contact.

Respectfully,

Team North Bay Bavarian

#25

T7 looks fun…T4? that’s a pretty big patch of soil…I feel the risk of taking out an oil pan or cooler is highly probable, not to mention the potentially slick surface with a shit load of guys dirt tracking it could get rather crazy. I feel T4 could put many cars at risk & really, who wants to blow a motor.

Why don’t we just run counter clockwise, that’ll make things interesting.

#26

i like Steve’s idea, I have always wanted to run Infineon CCW

#27

Hey All,

I understand Jerry wanting to change things up in the two most competetive and popular series and I am all aboard with that so why don’t we do the nascar 4 then go into a sharp left turn and do the extended turn 7 into the drag catch area. I think that that would meet all of Jerry’s wanting to change things up and also keep us on PAVEMENT that which our cars have been designed to race on. If I want to race on dirt I can do that in lots of places around here but I have choosen to ROAD race and that, I what I would like to stick with…
I also know that Jerry along with Will’s suggestions will heavily weigh what we all as a majority want to do so please chime in on what you all think!!!

Scott

#28

This has to be joke! If not, I would much rather race on pavement

#29

Id like to know where this info came from? I dont think its from Jerry at all.

If its a joke, people will cancel and im pretty sure Jerry will have something to say about that.

[quote=“BW Jim” post=60616]OK (big) boys hang on to your, er…hats…!

[attachment=1642]T4BandT7DeepV2.0.jpg[/attachment]

This weekend, Group A (that’s us and Spec Miata ONLY) will be running the attached configuration.

Your eyes aren’t deceiving you - the segment between NASCAR T4 and (regular) T5 really is on the GRASS - The track is working on making sure the path through the grass is smooth and rock free.

This configuration is ONLY for Group A and not other groups. My initial response was that the idea is kinda out there (on the grass?!?)…but…who knows, it may wind up being more challenging and fun than anyone would have expected. It’ll definitely be interesting. Keep an open mind and give it a run.

Jerry has said that if this course needs adjustments they will adjust it. If it’s just not working out, we will revert back to the old config(s).

There may be test sessions offered on this course tomorrow if there is enough interest. To show interest, email Dave Schwartz at Infineon Raceway, right away - dschwartz@infineonraceway.com (or call him at 800-870-7223, x 156).

Scoot picked a fine weekend for me to fill in…

As THE Shoe would say: that is all.

Jim[/quote]

#30

Shawn,

This is no joke. They are going to do a test run this afternoon at lunch break during the open test day and see how it will work.

#31

All,

I am down for mixing things up but racing on the dirt…seriously? I like my oil pan where it’s at and I really need my car to make it to the end of the season. Can we just leave that change out and let some other crazy series take it on?

Looking forward to seeing everyone on Saturday!

Jason Alexandridis

#32

why dont we ask them to keep turn 7 deep but run the nascar turn 4 instead, that hairpin left into deep turn 7 could be just as interesting and on pavement?

#33

Apparently there is a drainage ditch that runs across the top of turn 7 that could also be damaging. On the way up the hill it would be hit in 4th gear and we would probably get air born! On the way down in 3rd bottoming out the car again. This would put stress on suspension and steering parts that could fail at a catastrophic time like turn 10. Lets keep it on the designated race track.

#34

If running this configuration is truly Jerry’s intention, it is yet another blatant example of NASA’s unprofessionalism and is indicative of an egregious disregard for your equipment, and more importantly, your safety. The fact that such a configuration is even being considered as a possibility is just plain stupid, if not negligent.

#35

Hey Everyone,

I just talked to Jim Buccha and WE ARE NOT RUNNING the GOOFY CONFIGURATION that was being tossed around. WE WILL BE RUNNING the NORMAL CONFIGURATION!!!

Thank-god we have that behind us now and we can get back to racing.

Scott

#36

Hummm apparently in testing today they ran through the dirt.

#37

While we aren’t attending this weekend, there is NO WAY I would race that config. We don’t have skid plates either. While people have offs and continue through the dirt at other tracks (th), it’s their responsibility to get through safely, not force the entire field through it.

Or let’s create a BMW rally series. :slight_smile:

My $0.02

#38

  1. First congrats to Loren and Tommy for their Wins. Congrats to Timmy and the TFB crew for building and supporting great cars.

  2. Jerry’s idea to try some other track configs was creative and I applaud his out of the box thinking and desire to include us in the process. He had us run it on Friday and after input he chose not to execute it. But with some track work it could work.

  3. Seperately I am sorry to see much of the mutual respect gone from among the drivers in our series. Maybe we grew too fast this year, not sure why but it is dramatically different. Following a meeting of drivers on sunday to discuss rules, contact and race craft issues, I heard mocking of the meeting and comments, from some drivers. I personally do not come to the track on the weekend to witness fellow racers theaten to beat up other drivers, swearing and assaulting their charactor. Our sport is clearly dangerous, but following the departure of a medivac helicopter carrying away another racer I would have thought drivers would be a little more sober. It did not appear that the meeting or seriousness of an ambulance had any impact at all. Our local Santa Maria Dirt track has a place for that surly dis-respectful behaviour.

Some will flame or mock this I am sure, maybe I am painfully naive, Just this old mans opinion.

#39

While i cannot speak for the entire group, as i have yet to have the skills to race alongside the faster guys, i just want to say that i witnessed some spectacular racing in the back of the pack on sunday. All the passes were thought out and methodical and all three cars that i got to watch duke it out, finished the race without any damage. Just wanted that to be clear that although i am not disagreeing that there is a certain “Bumper car” attitude floating around, i still witnessed some great racing this weekend! Lets all just keep in mind that we are racing for a plastic trophy. i know i am still just a rookie, but i plan on racing for as long as i can afford to drive my car and would really like to not see this series die due to reckless attitudes and driving!

#40

Here’s Laura’s vido from the testing.

http://vimeo.com/31286066