RA thread

#41

Mixed bag for me this weekend.

Saturday I qualified decent in 5th but knew I had some more time in me. They throw the green flag for the race, I step on the gas and I am off. Only problem was that when I took my foot off the gas the revs didn’t drop. The pedal linkage had gotten bound up from a bent tab! I pulled it back up with my left foot. I tried to keep doing that for a lap and decided that killing my myself probably wouldn’t make my wife and kids very happy. DNF on Saturday

Sunday i found that time I knew I had and qualified 3rd. I was okay for the first couple of laps of the race but then the tires gave up the ghost. It was their 9th session so I think I got my money out of them! I wanted to save some pennies so I could buy a couple of new sets for nationals. I lost 1 spot and finished a comfortable fourth as no one was close enough to threaten for the spot.

#42

At Sunday’s start I decided to be tricky and give the guy behind me problems by brake checking him. I was going to touch my brake pedal to illum my brake lights just as I was giving it some gas in anticipation of the green flag.

The first part of it went perfectly. I got a great start and surged forward with my gas pedal planted down and my left foot having just backed off after touching the brakes. A couple seconds later into my really terrific start, with a big smile I clutched in to shift to 4th. But my left foot was still over the brake pedal. It had never moved over to the clutch. So I braked-checked myself and everyone flew by me. Shit. That’s what I get for trying to be clever.

#43

[quote=“Ranger” post=77877]So I braked-checked myself and everyone flew by me. Shit. That’s what I get for trying to be clever.[/quote] Oh man! If it weren’t for Sandro’s hilariously childish “if you weren’t there, you can’t comment on the forums” mandate… :woohoo: :evil:

#44

I was watching from T5 on Sunday, so does that qualify as “being there”? If so Ranger, that’s gotta be one of the funniest things you’ve ever admitted to.

#45

Sandro, we met at Barber earlier this year. I don’t run NASA any more and just sold my e30 ITA car last labor day. I now race an ITS RX7 in SCCA and am helping with a build on a ITS e30.

#46

Ah yeah, I remember… you were building a Chump E30 right? very cool. Well, hopefully we’ll see you at Barber next year, I hear we might be going back there.

#47

First of all, thank you guys for your hospitality and for creating a fun environment, as well as some clean, hard racing! You guys have quite the personalities :slight_smile:

For the record, it’s not that I won’t drink tequila. I’m just not drinking this month. Personal decision :slight_smile: It was great that everyone got together Saturday night. Good fun, just watching everyone astounded by the disaster which was Sharknado2 on the TV! LOL

Having never raced at RA, I came to learn. And boy is there some learning to do! While I got up to speed and was pleased to run near the front, there is still a solid second that I need to find if I’m going to give Sandro and Ryan a real run for their money. Not to mention the other fast guys who will show up in a few weeks! I will be studying and hope to bring more speed to the Championships :slight_smile:

So, I found out that there are some great places to do some sweet jumps at Road Atlanta!

Saturday, I qualified P3 and finished P3. I had some good dicing with Ryan W as he showed me how to RACE there. I got a hair wide on exit of T5 once and the rear end caught a gravel ramp, launching the back of the car. Rob Eskew got it from the rear view! He have chase but he had a big moment on the last lap that kept my position secure. He’ll tell you I brake checked him, of overslowed. Don’t buy into his bull :wink:

Sunday, I didn’t improve as I was hoping and Damion qualified in front of my 4th position. There was some good racing and more learning on my part. I got ahead of him, but later gave it back up as I found the dirt outside of T7 and another sweet jump! D’oh. AR Hoshmandy… Who is that?? I don’t recall meeting him, but he was GREAT to race with. He and Damion got by me and I made a mistake while we were all 3 going into 10a, giving them a huge gap. Then Rob was after me again, making moves in places I wasn’t expecting to have to defend, forcing me to watch my mirrors. Finally, a move in T1 put us side-by-side and my rear tires just gave up the closer they got to the edge, sliding over the curb, which impacted something under the car.

I have some inspection and prep to do before coming back, but I hope to bring more to the table. Thanks for the training, guys :slight_smile:

#48

Great having you Anthony! it looks like we are going to have a blast in a few weeks. And also good to hear that you do drink tequila, it’s become a requirement in SE30, hahaha! specially upside down, right Al?!

And guys, don’t forget we have the spare tic tac car, if anybody wants to rent it, it’s not a business for us, but just an opportunity for anybody that wants to either get in the class and don’t want to jump in w/o having to drive one, or if your car brakes and don’t want to loose the weekend :slight_smile:

#49

[quote=“Z3SpdDmn” post=77885]
Sunday, I didn’t improve as I was hoping and Damion qualified in front of my 4th position. There was some good racing and more learning on my part. I got ahead of him, but later gave it back up as I found the dirt outside of T7 and another sweet jump! D’oh. AR Hoshmandy… Who is that?? I don’t recall meeting him, but he was GREAT to race with. He and Damion got by me and I made a mistake while we were all 3 going into 10a, giving them a huge gap.[/quote]
Just wait until AR has a real engine. He cracked his head at CMP last month and they put in a donor engine while the good one gets well. Donor engine turned out to be kinda weak.

#50

Sandro, said chump car pulled just over 130mph going into the braking zone, T1, at RR last April. Driver could not keep throttle down in 9 (we were on Dunlops) so probably could go faster with race rubber. I’ll visit again at Barber.

#51

Dang, you need to build me an engine. I don’t even have to go into 5th gear on the front straight at Rd Atlanta, lol. Here we go Nationals, maybe build Ryan W. One As well :slight_smile:

#52

Remember, Chump car!!!
Stroker long rod motor with 292 cam and MegaSquirt. 205/195 at the wheels…damn funnnnn car with a 410 rear gear. I’m over building motors after I finish this ITS motor.

#53

definitely unofficial “podium” picture

#54

Here’s my Sunday video. I think I worked harder on this video than any other to date. It’s absolutely packed with commentary, to include me raging at an E36 rookie that wouldn’t pass me until it was as damaging as possible to us both.

944s were over-slowing before all turns, E30’s were leaping up in the air at 3 and spinning at 7. I had great fights with Aaron Whitinger and Mark Issa. Early on I goddamn near tboned Robert Patton at 10a. I was figuring he’d give me a little room on the inside and instead he metaphorically rapped me on the nose and said “no you don’t.”

It all started with my sorry-ass brake checking stunt. My start looked to be fabulous as I got a good jump, but then I attempted to use the brake pedal to clutch in to 4th.

https://vimeo.com/102768008

#55

Thanks. Looks like a trip to Balanced Performance might be necessary, after all that engine has been around since 2006. However, it was good at our January test, not so much at the dyno we had at RA in March.

RP

#56

As usual Ranger, another GREAT video! LMAO!

#57

Robert, probably just freshen the head.

#58

Chuck, since I know what I’m doing, but never know what I’m doing, I’ll try some lead down #s and compression #s and (if time and $ permit) compare them to the dyno.

That kind of data would be a first for me. I have been tracking this engine…wait where did I put the notes? Wait, is the gauge the same as 4 years ago?

Can you say amateur?

RP

#59

You two should get a room. As far as I know you’ve never hung out together, but I know you both pretty well. You’d be immediate buddies.

#60

Knowing how much time you have on the motor, if it were me, I would pull the head and lap the valves and replace the valve seals. (assuming, of course, it’t not using oil) Amateur!!! I’ll show you amateur!!!