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Road Atlanta
5300 Winder Highway
Braselton, Georgia 30517
High Performance Driving Event
Racing
SpecE30, SpecMiata, 944Spec, American Iron/CMC, Honda Challenge, GTS Challenge, Performance Touring, Super Touring, Super Unlimited
Thunder and Lightning Sprint race Championship Saturday
"All in one" 50 min fun race on Sunday
Friday
9 hr Enduro
For details:
http://www.nasa-se.com/
Sign up today as groups are filling fast!
Well, this event will be my first NASA event. Popping my NASA cherry. I look forward to finally meeting a lot of you and putting faces to names. I will find out exacly how I stand with fellow compedators and hopefully pick up a few hints since I have only done Road Atlanta twice and both times were in diffrent cars. I just hope you guys don’t laugh my beater out of the paddock. lol I am also interested in doing the enduro if anyone wants a co-driver. Your car or mine all depends on what we can arrange. If anyone is interested just drop me a line and I look forward to seeing everyone their. ALLEN
I would LOVE to make this event, especially the enduro; however,there is no way I am going to make this event if the enduro exceeds 7 hours. I’ve done enough of these things to know the toll on the car. The brake pads can’t possibly make it beyond 6 hours and the LF tire cannot make it beyond 7 hours. I hope Jim decides to rethink this; last year the event was 8 hours and I don’t know anyone that got out of the car wishing we could run another hour.
Don’t run the whole thing. Last year Fred and I did 5hrs and packed it in because we were getting tired. It’s supposed to be fun, not an endurance contest.
I’m finally making it to a South East event. I look forward to meeting you all and putting names to faces. Try not to wreck all the cars at CMP 
Gasman wrote:
Isn’t that the point of an enduro? “24 hrs” of Le Mans? I don’t believe any of those cars can go 24 straight hours on one set of tires…
Changing the front tires after 5 hours would not be such a huge deal. Brake pads would take a little longer and probably affect finishing position, but it could be doable.
Gasman wrote:
Actually we had quite a few requests to extend it to 12 or 24 hrs - but the track management told us that the 4 legged mammals that take up residence in the area have a tendency to use the track during the night that time of year for their mating rituals - which could get messy if we were racing in the dark… :blink:
Gasman wrote:
I’m impressed! I usually can only guess how many more weekends I can get out of a set of tires or pads not down to the exact hour! B)
FWIW: Pete Urbanski and I are building a 1993 Camaro to race in the 9hr - it is bone stock, never been raced and we don’t know if it’ll last 1 hr let alone 9 hrs… and we are planning on driving it and seeing how long it’ll last… and if it dies… C’est La Vie!
I’m indifferent to the length, obviously it can impact our cars ability to finish well the longer it goes though. As Steve pointed out we also had to do a tire change - which we planned on, what cost us the ultimate class victory were the front pads (not to mention a B_ll Sh!t drive through penalty that they meant to give to Travis and Al - cheaters). We didn’t see that coming (the pads or the wrong penalty). This year will be better prepared but still seems like some other heavy hitters are coming for E2 in civics, etc. So not sure how those cars will hold up compared to SE30s.
Last year, our car started on new rotors/pads (not even bedded in) which I think was a mistake. The front rotors started grooving like it was 1966 all over again, and the cheese grater effect took the pads out too by the 3rd hour.
My conclusion was that I shoulda bedded the front pads in a bit before jumping right into the race. Even gentle early braking didn’t prevent this problem.
Anyway, worse than changing pads was changing the freaking rotor during a hot pit stop. That was definitely no fun. And, if you have ATE front calipers, might want to source some Girlings for the enduro…Much faster pad changes.
I’m pretty sure we made the PFC 06s on Travis’ car last the distance. Of course, his Dukes of Hazard oil pan redesign kept the car off the track for a little while. With tire changes…check the rules. I think it’s rotation or one tire change at a time for E2. I think you could last the distance with one tire change (we didn’t change any, but the LF was badly corded at the end) and no brake swap if you aren’t trying to run sprint pace. Definitely have the spares in case you need them though.
Yeah we did the LF, but then when we did the brake change we did the other Front “while we were in there”.
I think the hour or so you guys were out made the difference. We may have been able to limp the car around but it would have backing plate dust at the end
Mike, we ran the PFC-06 on my car with new rotors. When we ran out of pad, the caliper over extended and pushed the fluid out. Damn near lost the car going into 10a with no brakes. Busted the oil pan going over the gators into the gravel trap. If we hadn’t lost the brakes, then we would have blown out the LF with one more lap. There was no visable rubber left on the completely corded outside edge. Franklin was running 44’s when this happened. Would it have happened backing it down to mid 50’s? I dunno.
Anyone considering this race should plan on a front pad change somewhere after the fourth hour and before the sixth hour. I’m certain that anyone taking the time to do this would also choose a new LF tire before going back out there.
The problem with a 9 hour race on Friday is this, the car will need a total going over before the sprint races Saturday and Sunday and there isn’t time to do it.
Gasman, I was watching your car…I think your co-drivers enduro driving style was a big part of the difference. But I agree that with a 9 hour, you had better count on a left front change and possible pad change.
Chuck’s advice on the brakes should be heeded, Get a set of rotors and run them on the street or get a set of used rotors.
Al
mskeen wrote:
The rules as written only allow one tire to be changed per pit stop. But all this season the rule has been change as may as you like in one pit stop. Whether that will continue to be in force for the 9 hour Enduro is a question for the organizers. The rules also place a limit on the amount of fuel that can be added in a pit stop, but we’ve run all season with that rule not in affect (put as much gas in as you want).
I personally think that neither of those rules are a good idea. You should be able to change as many tires as desired in a pit stop and add as much fuel as you want. The only fuel rule that makes sense to me is a requirement for at least 5 gallons during the race.
PFC06’s will probably go the distance at RA in a 9 hour race, though it will be close on the front pads. I don’t see a set of tires making it the whole race safely. The left side tires will probably need to be changed, at the least.
Ok. So who is actually planning on showing up for this one? And I mean the sprints, not the enduro.
I’m currently signed up for the sprints although I’ve had a couple things pop up that may change that. (How’s that for decisive?)
I wish there was a way to get more running on Sunday. As of now, we only have the “toy race” with no other sessions that day. If it stays that way I may only run Sat and skip the fun run on Sunday.
Gasman wrote:
That is true – if you are using a sprint compound. Since the Chariot of Victory is out, the recipe for (and possibly a ‘bottle’ of) my secret sauce is for sale. 
Why on earth would you try to make it on one set of tires? 9 hours = 250-275 laps depending on cautions. If you can harvest 1 sec per lap by running 2 sets of 4/32 tires and change those tires in under 4 minutes, you are saving time.
At the 13 hour I was bummed that I didn’t get one more stint. But that was split between 4 drivers. A 9 hour race in our cars is perfect for 3 drivers - 2 stints each.
PS - If you change pads and/or rotors, don’t do it on plastic Croc-o-tile paddock flooring. The pads get a little melty.
PPS - IndyJim - The Hondas will be even worse on brakes than the E30s. I bet they will require pad/rotor changes. The Miatas won’t though.
Simon, looking forward to racing with you. Anyone else from other regions comming to the event? How about SE regulars?
L Patton
R Patton
C Taylor
S Hunter
Fill in the roll call…
RP