Roebling Road Race Report & Video

#1

Still trying to decompress from the weekend down in Savannah. Had a great time (learning the track) and some good racing. I have downloaded what I considered the more exiting of the two races (Sunday’s) and it is available:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=8773019029968590679

The Spec E30’s was scattered throughout the grid but qualifying order was Robert first (again… he really was too fast all weekend). Dameon was second (again) followed by Laura Patton, Chuck Taylor, Myself, Mark Nichols and Gasman (Steve Foushee). Since Laura got by me and left me during Saturday’s race I was determined to get by her Sunday, so Chuck and I made an agreement to work together to get by the Miata’s if we couldn’t after the start.

The start was a bit unorthodox with the leader flooring it as soon as the pace car got off track. Chuck and I were side by side for the first couple of corners so eventually I decided to tuck in behind him and we would work together, but a miata got by also. Good clean side by side action at the beginning.

After a while we started working together to get by the miatas, but eventually I thought (Chuck Disagrees) that I was faster and decided that he could draft behind me for a while. So I draft him and cut to the inside to take the position, but leave him room on the outside. About the same time a couple cars ahead of us Laura has a good run on Dameon to pull a rim shot around the outside of 2. Laura drops a wheel in causing her to come around, everyone checks up and waited to see where she ends up. Luckly for me she rolled back off the outside and I got through first ahead of Chuck and a Miata that had been causing us fits.

Dameon was having some tire issues and to my suprise I caught up to him in a couple of laps. I got a great run on him onto the front straight away. He pulled to defend the inside as we went by the white flag. I though about a rim shot but after what happened to Laura thought turn four might be a better place to catch him. Tucked back behind went for it around the outside of three into 4. Dameon slammed the door on that move right as I dropped two wheels off on the exit of 3 into the braking zone for 4. Unfortunately, I lost control after the cart twitched under braking. I avoided collecting Dameon and was actually able to continue pretty quickly. I lost three spots due to the spin, but kept Chuck at bay to save 3rd.

Others feel free to chime in, had a great time and look forward to next time. I’ll get the Saturday Race at some point in time…

#2

<strike>Know your Taylors:</strike>

NEVERMIND…

I thought that you were referring to Al, who was, in fact, racing in the vintage race at VIR. Whereas, I was the one who was unaware that there’s a Chuck Taylor who’s racing in NASA SE.

:blush: :blush: :blush:

#3

You mean this guy?

#4

Roebling was fun except for my tire issues. As Kelly mentioned Robert was untouchable this weekend so I was tyring to play catch up all weekend. Sat. I qualified 2nd with a couple of Miatas in between Robert and myself. I was pushing really hard to try and catch Robert while fighting the Miatas but in the process I blistered my left front tire very badly. This happened on about the 6th or seventh lap of a 14 lap race. The tire was vibrating badly thorught every corner but I kept driving. By this point Robert was walking away and I hel on to 2nd. After getting a good look at the tire after the race its amazing that the thing didn’t explode.

On sunday I was forced to put one of my full depth rain tires on the right rear to replace the blistered shaved tire. I put it on the right rear as that is the tir that see the the least load, or at least I thought so. Turns 3 and 5 at robeling load the right side pretty good at times so needless to say the car was a handful on sunday as the shaved tires gripped well but the full depth tire didn’t perform as well. I still manged to qualify 2nd but never got close to Robert. I spent all my time trying to fight off his daughter Laura who did a great job. With about three laps to go she tried a gutsy pass (I can’t say ballsy since she doesn’t have any) around the outside in turn 1 that didn’t quite work causing her to spin. This gave me a little breathing room but with a lap go Kelly was reeled me in. He put forth a good effort but I refuse to be passed on the last lap with only half the track to go. After his quick spin I had enough gap to to back off and pedal my car home with another 1st loser spot.

This was my last race of the season and I’m really glad I picked Spec e30 as my new home. The cars are fun, the racing is close and the people are great. '07 is gonna be good.

#5

Nice write-up’s Guys.Glad you are digging the class.

#6

Did anyone else have fuel starvation problems this weekend? My car would sputter bad coming out of any of the 180 turns. Laura, I would have beat you Sunday had it not been for this issue. :wink:

#7

so far every E30 I know of that has not been modified will Starve on the right handers if the tank is too low. Brain got a NEW fuel pump and believe his issue is diminished but there is no way in the rules to eliminate this.

#8

here is what I finshed Sat. race on:woohoo:

#9

i’d definately consider that ^^^^^^a tire issue :woohoo:

#10

nasaregistrar wrote:

3/4 of a tank shouldn’t be too low. The rules say you can use any fuel pump. An electric fuel pump with three pickups should solve this problem. Are you suggesting the additional pickups would be illegal?

#11

A fuel cell is legal and that should solve the problem. Just make sure you read the rules very carefully prior to installing it.

Also, I had some fuel starvation problems and replaced the in-tank pump on my '89. I’ve never had a fuel problem since and have run it down to about 1/4 tank in practice.

Carter

#12

Damion:

You’re a lot more brave than I…

Whew!

Carter

#13

Carter wrote:

[quote]Also, I had some fuel starvation problems and replaced the in-tank pump on my '89. I’ve never had a fuel problem since and have run it down to about 1/4 tank in practice.
Carter[/quote]

Replaced it with what type? Stock?

#14

nasaregistrar wrote:

I finished a practice session with less than 1/4 tank and no starvation. Like Gasman, I have a later-style car. I used to run an '85 body car at RRR and never felt starvation with that one either.

Is the starvation a design issue, or do some cars suffer from partial blockage of the pickup or some similar type of malady that leads to their problem? It certainly doesn’t seem to affect all of us equally.

#15

Gasman wrote:

[quote]nasaregistrar wrote:

3/4 of a tank shouldn’t be too low. The rules say you can use any fuel pump. An electric fuel pump with three pickups should solve this problem. Are you suggesting the additional pickups would be illegal?[/quote] The rules do say &quot;any &quot; fuel pump (singular). I have seen the starvation issue solved by adding a second pump to the other side of the tank and I think that is against the rules.
I would have to believe that a single pump with multiple pick-ups would be legal.

My 89 starved bad at Shenandoah coming out of the turn that led up the hill to the bridge. All fuel pump tests were within spec too.
Cobetto’s car starves in the carosel at Summit Main if too much below 1/2 tank
It could be a function of the different tracks as well.

#16

So how do we solve this problem and stay consistent with the rules? IMO, this is a safety issue that needs to be addressed. I’d rather stay away from a fuel cell. The weight distribution is perfect with the tank where it is.

edit: The rules say any pump can be used, they do not say you can’t have more than one.

#17

Gasman wrote:

[quote]So how do we solve this problem and stay consistent with the rules? IMO, this is a safety issue that needs to be addressed. I’d rather stay away from a fuel cell. The weight distribution is perfect with the tank where it is.

edit: The rules say any pump can be used, they do not say you can’t have more than one.[/quote] Then the big rule applies that if it doesn’t say you CAN, then you CAN’T

#18

My car starves badly with anything less than half a tank. My off season project is to come up with a solution. I had the bimmerworld dual pump setup in my e36 and it would suck the last drop of gas out of the car.

#19

Damion, Bimmerworld has a kit especially designed to eliminate fuel starvation in racing applications for the e36’s making right hand turns.

#20

Regarding fuel pumps:

The rule clearly states: Any fuel pump may be fitted.

If your fuel pump has two pickups, and two impellers (i.e. a dual pump system) then you are still legal. To re-iterate, the rule says: ANY fuel pump. It does NOT make restrictions on using OEM-style fuel pumps, or 1-impeller fuel pumps.

In addition, the fuel pumps on these cars should be considered wear items. In my experience, they last about a year, and then start to give you trouble.

-Vic
SO #325