Thunderhill Roll Call

#21

My weekend was a disappointment in many ways. Not the company though. Great guys to hang out with even when your car is taken out by another driver in an RX7 with far more money than talent.

As Derek said the BBQ was great! Everyone stepped up. Andy I owe you for the wine.

Congrats to Gary for both poles and wins! Wish I had the skills to run up front, looks like you all had fun.

This is such a mental sport, like golf I think, in that it can be hard to keep your head straight after adversity hits. I need to be mentally stronger.

Congrats to all the guys who made huge steps forward: Jim B., Bennett, Ron H. Congrats to Sean for the fast lap in Saturdays race.

Sorry for dusting you guys several times on Saturday, once I lost my rear tires I could not get them back. My bad. (if you guys following me have any video of how stupid I look I would love to try and laugh at my self)

The fight to get cars ready for Nationals will be hectic as 3 STR cars are heavily damaged and Little Red, Steve’s car needs a motor also. So at least 4 of the cars going to Nationals are seriously damaged. From what I understand Bennett, Jim, Ron, Midnight Oil, and Mikes cars all came through the weekend ready to Compete! The lights will be on late at STR every night and weekend so if you are in the neighborhood bring by a beer and a wrench!

#22

Gorman Motorsports had a great weekend. But it wouldn’t have been so great without some help of a couple of fellow e30 folks. We broke a rocker arm saturday in the race. Dan qualified 10th, and was having a ball when the motor went to 5 cylinders and he pulled off. With some help we were able to get the car back on track to finish the 2nd half of the enduro as well as Dan to race on Sunday with a great 8th result.

A huge thank you to Rick at North Bay Bavarian who was patient, helpful, and essentially fixed the rocker arm for us. He is a complete pro and a super nice guy. We can’t say enough about his level of integrity. What a pro.

Also a huge thank you to Tony Zwain who loaned us the spare rocker arm. We thank you so much for your generosity.

All in all a great weekend, we are looking forward to the next event and stepping up our program. These cars are so much fun! Great job everyone hope to see you at the next event.

#23

the Shoe wrote:

[quote] Several new players in the field and a SoCal spy has stepped in to test himself. He is headed to Nationals so probably a smart call.

Looks like alot of fun to be had in the morning.

Let the games begin![/quote]

SPY???
Naw, not us. We felt like kintergardners showing up for college classes. Were so far behind the learning curve, we have much to catch up on with the car before were anywhere near competitive. We still had a great time this weekend, learned so much and we were able to get in 2 SE30 races and ran the enduro solo which got us some much needed hours on the new motor/car. We still seem to be down on power ect but its a new car. Were glad to know it now than later at Miller!

I want to thank everyone for making us feel welcome to your group. We definately want to come back and with any luck, build a group of SE30 drivers in SoCal so we can have some good fun rivalry racing between us. (Buttonwillow in October!!)

I really had a fun time racing, my best work was the starts. Thats the only place I could seem to get by anyone, only to get repassed in the race, LOL!! The rest of my driving rather lacked. I got a few dings in the car but thats just good racing. I got hit harder by the Spec Miata car in sundays morning warmup than I got all weekend from you guys. Good clean hard racing, so thanks for letting and welcoming us to be a part of your group. Ill post up some video that we were able to collect. Sundays race start was alot of fun, uber busy.

My only regrets are I wish I knew about the SE30 BBQ and didnt eat the NASA BBQ. Im still paying for that…

So, thanks again everyone! I hope to see you guys at Miller and with any luck, we will be back to play again another day. We had a 13hr tow home so we didnt stay long after the race so we dont even know how far back we finished? Our goal was to not finish DFL the whole weekend. Yes, we had high expectations of ourselves! :laugh:

Bravo guys!

Shawn Meze
Driver #3 Midnight Oil Motors

#24

Thanks Scott Neville for showing me around. Helping you help another driver change break pads was cool. Let me know when you post the video of the rocks taking out your windshield. Thanks for arranging the ride along it was GREAT! I’ll start looking for a donor car!
Jason

#25

YourRD wrote:

[quote]the Shoe wrote:

[quote] Several new players in the field and a SoCal spy has stepped in to test himself. He is headed to Nationals so probably a smart call.

Looks like alot of fun to be had in the morning.

Let the games begin![/quote]

SPY???
Naw, not us. We felt like kintergardners showing up for college classes. Were so far behind the learning curve, we have much to catch up on with the car before were anywhere near competitive. We still had a great time this weekend, learned so much and we were able to get in 2 SE30 races and ran the enduro solo which got us some much needed hours on the new motor/car. We still seem to be down on power ect but its a new car. Were glad to know it now than later at Miller!

I want to thank everyone for making us feel welcome to your group. We definately want to come back and with any luck, build a group of SE30 drivers in SoCal so we can have some good fun rivalry racing between us. (Buttonwillow in October!!)

I really had a fun time racing, my best work was the starts. Thats the only place I could seem to get by anyone, only to get repassed in the race, LOL!! The rest of my driving rather lacked. I got a few dings in the car but thats just good racing. I got hit harder by the Spec Miata car in sundays morning warmup than I got all weekend from you guys. Good clean hard racing, so thanks for letting and welcoming us to be a part of your group. Ill post up some video that we were able to collect. Sundays race start was alot of fun, uber busy.

My only regrets are I wish I knew about the SE30 BBQ and didnt eat the NASA BBQ. Im still paying for that…

So, thanks again everyone! I hope to see you guys at Miller and with any luck, we will be back to play again another day. We had a 13hr tow home so we didnt stay long after the race so we dont even know how far back we finished? Our goal was to not finish DFL the whole weekend. Yes, we had high expectations of ourselves! :laugh:

Bravo guys!

Shawn Meze
Driver #3 Midnight Oil Motors[/quote]

Shawn,
Nice getting to know you in more than one way, my video did not start in Sundays race so I have no proof just nightmares of you streaking across by bow in turn 10 as if it were a straight not a corner, hope you got the video. The one bonus of the 13 hour drive is that the wind had a good chance to blow the dust off your car. See you at Miller! Bennett

The Q was top notch, all the home made dishes made it well worth while, sorry Mike for over cooking the chicken but it was great anyway! Thanks to the STR crew for all the prep work and best of luck putting the cars back together, keep us posted…

Great Weekend!!!

FYI Willows Forcast–105 deg

#26

Man,

I leave you guys alone for one race weekend and look what happens. I heard Kevin got hit, Tony Parked his car on the Flagger station, Steve ventilated his engine, and is almost everyone spin off the track? Oh and Gary paid off the official to stay on Pole position (JK). :laugh: LOL.
I was on a real nice 70’ Houseboat with unlimited cold bear, warm glassy water, and good food, but ya know, I really wish I was out there racing with you guys, some times I thought that, maybe once.

Good Job everyone!

Let me know if anyone needs help preparing for the next big event.

Brad

#27

[quote]poppy wrote:Shawn,
Nice getting to know you in more than one way, my video did not start in Sundays race so I have no proof just nightmares of you streaking across by bow in turn 10 as if it were a straight not a corner, hope you got the video. The one bonus of the 13 hour drive is that the wind had a good chance to blow the dust off your car. See you at Miller! Bennett[/quote]

Yeah, I still feel like a d*ck for that failed last lap attempt. But like I said, I wont take a position that way. Ill pass you clean or I dont pass. And when I do, I wont let you have the spot back. :slight_smile:

My incar video battery died just after the 09 put the doughnut on my passenger side door in 14.

I still have lots of grass in the car from the morning punting from the miata in turn 7.

#28

JasonDrivesFast wrote:

[quote]Thanks Scott Neville for showing me around. Helping you help another driver change break pads was cool. Let me know when you post the video of the rocks taking out your windshield. Thanks for arranging the ride along it was GREAT! I’ll start looking for a donor car!
Jason[/quote]
Jason, Good to meet you too! I’m really beginning to feel like a drug pusher these days :wink: I knew the ride-a-long with Glenn Kent in TT would either thrill you to death or scare the s**t out of you. You came back pretty pumped up so it looked to me I made another sale!

Let Walter and I help you pick a donor car so you start with a good base.

This was a great weekend despite the bad breaks that Kevin, Tony, Steve and Sean had. But the thing I love about racers is thier “can do” attitude. Two great examples are Steve Ferrario getting a replacement #93 car built to run in the Nationals. The other is Rick Row helping out the Gormans R&R a rocker arm without removing the head. What a magician (and great guy). Everyone hasn’t called it quits and are going to work like hell to make it to Utah. What a great group of people we have in our organization!

Donny and I awarded Ron Harness the Evil Genius Hard Charger award this weeekend. Ron showed huge improvement over his previous trips to Thunderhill. He qualified 5th on Sunday at least 3 seconds faster than what he has done before. Ron is one of NorCal Spec E30’s charter members and I am proud to have him as a friend and fellow racer. I am so stoked that he has improved so much this last race. Looks like we’re going to have even more competetion for Toyo Bucks. Same goes for Jim Bucha…Jim finished 4th on Sunday…his best placing to date. He caught me and Scott Clough sleeping at the wheel for the restart (a spotter and a radio does come in handy sometimes) but he held me off for the last few laps to take 4th. Good job Jimmy (and no more advice tips…as Kevin knows…once you beat me the well goes dry!)

Shawn, it was great for you to make a long tow to come up and race with us. I’m glad you had a good experience. I would like to lobby NASA for another north-south crossover event at Buttonwillow…that was fun last year.

If I can be of help getting some of these cars ready for Miller let me know. I’ll be helping Steve but I can maybe find some time if needed for other cars.

Sean thanks for organizing the Q…it was great! Thanks to Gorman Motorsports for the T-Shirt awards, Nichols Wealth Management for the wine (both go to Gary Rieger…but I’m not sure if he’ll know what to do with them since they aren’t in a paper bag :wink: Thanks also to Berkeley Motorworks for the cash prizes and to Gary Rieger for the great race until I spun trying to keep up with you.

Cheers,
Scott

#29

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJVa_VLHUHU

Sundays race start from WAY back there!
Battery died just before the FCY. Enjoy, I know I did!
Sorry for the watermark, I used a free editor since I dont have one for Quicktime files…

#30

JasonDrivesFast wrote:

[quote]Thanks Scott Neville for showing me around. Helping you help another driver change break pads was cool. Let me know when you post the video of the rocks taking out your windshield. Thanks for arranging the ride along it was GREAT! I’ll start looking for a donor car!
Jason[/quote]

Here are a few to start looking at…:cheer:

This looks like a nice starter car:
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sby/cto/1906281914.html

I wish people would list the basics, like if it has a 5-speed:
http://modesto.craigslist.org/cto/1835675566.html

5-speed 325i for $1050 broken timing belt?
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/nby/cto/1911352534.html

5-Speed 325i low miles, new clutch / brakes $1800
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/cto/1908282195.html

#31

Good choice on the hard charger award, Ron has improved quite a bit. He deserves it 100%.

#32

sneville44 wrote:

[quote]JasonDrivesFast wrote:

[quote]Thanks Scott Neville for showing me around. Helping you help another driver change break pads was cool. Let me know when you post the video of the rocks taking out your windshield. Thanks for arranging the ride along it was GREAT! I’ll start looking for a donor car!
Jason[/quote]

Thanks Scott! I will send off some emails asking more questions, like if that one has a 5 speed! I think it was funny that you guys wanted to see if I got sick on the ride along. It takes more than a trip around the track at 75% to make my head spin.
I want to thank Glenn Kent for the ride in his Green #6. The safety talk was classic “In case something happens, here is how to activate the fire extinguisher, DON’T TOUCH IT!” I was only sorry I was slowing him down. I wanted to go faster. Seeing that M3 in front of us with no track suspension going in to #2 was an eye opener.

#33

Here is our incar video from Saturdays race. Its in 2 parts and the footage is from the race in its entirety. The start and first few couple-three laps are probably all thats really interesting.

Notice how the Honda and E36 desire to start the race WITH US and not behind us as instructed. So much for being accomidating to fellow racers. Their instructions were quite simple. yet…

Enjoy!

Part1:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1AvQ2tzqRR8

part 2:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ISRLQIooEdc

#34

+1 on Ron

A lot of guys stepped up and turned it up a notch, Jim B, Gorman bros., Mike, but I agree Ron pushed hard and stretched his comfort zone and made leaps in his laptimes. Congrats Ron!

Good timing with Nationals coming as well.

If you guys get a chance give the Speed Trapp boys a call or text and give them some words of encouragement! They have a lot to do in a short time and they will be burning the wick at both ends trying to prepare/repair their cars for Nationals. They are always there to lend a hand to others so if you can’t stop by just give them a shout out and a verbal pat on the back. Thanks

Cheers to all!

PS Nice job on the videos guys.

#35

Here is the 1st part of the video. We’ve trimmed out the many yellow laps after Tony Z’s contact with T6 corner worker station. Will post 2nd part shortly.

http://www.vimeo.com/14533214

#36

Dan…nice job on the video…the picture quality is awesome.

The below text is a repeat of my email last week to the NorCal group…but I thought it would be good to add to the forums.

Thunderhill August 21-22, 2010 Download
We had a field of 18 cars this weekend…not quite the 20-car field breakthrough number I was hoping for but darn close. The weather cooperated and stayed in the low 90s which is downright chilly this time of year in Willows (I was surprised I had dew on my sleeping bag Saturday morning…but not surprised with the headache from the Casa Ramos margaritas I had the night before :blink: ).

Overall this was a great weekend of racing despite the bad breaks that Kevin, Tony, Steve and Sean had with their cars. But the thing I love about racers is their “can do” attitude. Two great examples are Steve Ferrario getting a replacement #93 car built in time after his Infineon crash to run in the Nationals. The other is Rick Row helping out the Gormans R&R a rocker arm without removing the head. What a magician (and great guy). Also, I can’t forget how impressed I was when I asked Sean Trapp about the banged up Red Baron car he looked me straight in the eye flashing his swashbuckler’s smile and said “we’re going to get to Miller”. Everyone hasn’t called it quits and are going to work like hell to make it to Utah. What a great group of people we have in our organization!

Donny Edwards and I were in complete agreement about who should be awarded the Evil Genius Hard Charger Award and awarded it to Ron Harness. Ron showed huge improvement over his previous trips to Thunderhill. He qualified 5th on Sunday at least 3 seconds faster than what he has done before. Ron is one of NorCal Spec E30’s charter members and I am proud to have him as a friend and fellow racer. I am so stoked that he has improved so much this last race. Honorable mention goes to Jim Bucha who, like Ron, showed big improvement this weekend…he finally got to beat me, both in position and lap times on Sunday. It was fun racing with you Jim…especially the bump drafting we were doing trying to catch Greg. Like I said earlier…once you beat me the helpful hint pool goes dry…yours just turned to dust buddy!

The AIM Tire Random Draw $100 Gift Certificate went to the 15th finishing position in Saturday’s race…Team Midnight Oil (Shawn Meze) who made the long tow from San Diego to race with us. Good luck in the Nationals Shawn and I hope this little gift from AIM Tires helps you out. A big thanks to Ron Cortez at AIM for supporting our group.

Gorman Motorsports T-Shirts went to Ron Harness for finishing ahead of Dan in Saturday’s race and because Dan’s car broke and he finished last…the other T-Shirt goes to Gary Rieger who finished first. Thanks to Gorman Motorsports for their continued support of NorCal SE30.

Berkeley Motorworks put up two $50 cash awards for the weekend. Mike Schwartzbart wanted the cash to go to the last place finishers in Saturday’s and Sunday’s races. Dan Gorman gets the $50 for Saturday and Tony Zwain gets the $50 for Sunday. I think it will take at least $50 in rubbing compound to get the white tire paint off of the Red Baron. Thanks to Mike and Berkeley Motorworks for helping out NorCal SE30.

Nichols Wealth Management supplied the two bottles of wine for the winner of each race…so Gary Rieger gets the wine but I’m not sure if he’ll know what to do with them since they aren’t in a paper bag and have corks in them :wink: And try not spill any of the Nichols wine on your new Gorman Motorsports T-shirt! Thanks again for the wine Kevin…it’s been a nice touch for the group.

This was the weekend that would determine the winner of the 986 Pro-Ice Driver cooling system. Gary Rieger with Team Berkeley Motorworks took the top spot in points with a total of 755 points and brings home a complete 986 Pro-Ice Driver cooling system just in time to use at Miller. Greg Peterson in second place (695 points) takes home a gift certificate worth $200 off the purchase of a 986 Pro-Ice Driver Cooling System. Team BTM Motorwerks finished in 3rd spot with 610 points and takes home a $175 gift certificate also good towards the purchase of the 986 Pro-Ice Cooling System. Winners of the $75 gift certificate or a 986 Passive Cooling Shirt in a random draw of 4th place or lower were 7th place Team B&W Racing, 12th place Mike Sekhon and 18th place Rick Row. A big thanks goes to Walter Ford and the folks at 986 Racing for hosting this fun side event and their generous payouts to NorCal SE30 racers.

Thanks is in order to Sean Trapp and Tony and Sarah Zwain for organizing the BBQ…it was great! Bennett’s wild boar/jalapeno/cheese sausage appetizers were especially tasty as was the Indian chicken from Mike Sekhon’s buddy and the SpeedTrapp/Ferrario Tri-Tip. I’m getting hungry just typing this email!

Lastly, best of luck to all the California SE30 racers headed to Miller for the Nationals next month; Bennett McMicking, Kevin Nichols, Steve Ferrario, Sean Trapp, Tony Zwain, Ron Harness, Gary Rieger, Mike Schwarztbart, Jim Bucha and Shawn Meze.

It’s about time a west coaster knocked King Cobetto off his throne! All I can say is “Get’um Boys”! B)

Cheers,
Scott

Here are my videos:
Saturday:
http://vimeo.com/14536519

Sunday:
http://vimeo.com/14497333

#37

dgorman wrote:

[quote]Here is the 1st part of the video. We’ve trimmed out the many yellow laps after Tony Z’s contact with T6 corner worker station. Will post 2nd part shortly.

http://www.vimeo.com/14533214[/quote]

That bump on the start is me as you chopped across my nose. I couldnt get out of it fast enough to avoid contact with you. :slight_smile:

You can see it in the start of the race on my video.

#38

Ah. I was wondering where that came from. I thought I had fully passed you in my mirrors.

Sorry bout that - contact wasn’t intentional :blink:

Regards
Dan

#39

dgorman wrote:

[quote]Ah. I was wondering where that came from. I thought I had fully passed you in my mirrors.

Sorry bout that - contact wasn’t intentional :blink:

Regards
Dan[/quote]

Sokay man, it was racing. it sounded worse in your video than it felt to me. I was actually gridded where I could kinda SEE the flagman for the start. Loved how you ran around the right side of the cars and I went left on the start. Looked like someone stalled in front of us and Mike had a bad start too. Made us look good! LOL!!

On saturday I just waited to hear cars move. Meh. We were slow but we still had alot of fun racng for last! :laugh: