June 30 (Sat) PDX & Track Trial @ Reno Fernley Raceway

[Dean]

Who's going this Sat.?

There is still plenty of space left to sign up. Only $175 for the day and over 2 hours of track time.

I'll be there as the pseudo Chief Instructor.

Run groups are very small right now, so you should get a ton of open track if you come out.

Event info and registration on MyAutoEvents.com

Course is course D:



Hope to see you there.

[sperry]

I'm there.

Config D is new to me, though the only thing that will be different is the left turn after 9 through to the slide.

I wish there was a configuration that joined 9C to 13, then ran over to the 15A bypass.

[tysonK]

Originally Posted by sperry

I'm there.

Config D is new to me, though the only thing that will be different is the left turn after 9 through to the slide.

I wish there was a configuration that joined 9C to 13, then ran over to the 15A bypass.

that would be sweet.

[zpeed]

I wanna go... I have meeting and training to atten

[MikeK]

How was it?

[Dean]

It was pretty good. Not the same as last weekend without the rest of yous mugs...

Scott was wicked fast qualifying behind the 3 "formula" cars. I think he ended up winning for fendered cars. I'll let Scott comment on the condition of his car.

I was having a blast on my Z211s again... Almost got the new one scuffed down to the level of the others by running it right front. Definitely had to change my shift patterns with the 235/40s vs. the 255/40s.

I think the classroom and download for the novices went well. Need to get enough instructor manpower to do more. I didn't get as much track time as other events, but that is OK for now... Didn't even have time to setup my cameras for the sessions I did go out in.

Course D is fairly fun, but not my favorite. The blind straight but offset entry into the slide is weird at first, and the rumble strips aren't right for it, so we got a lot of gravel thrown on course right at the top...

[MattR]

Yeah, you go thru the gears way quicker with teh 235's huh? Me too. I'm glad to hear the new Z211 worked out...

[Dean]

Originally Posted by MattR

Yeah, you go thru the gears way quicker with teh 235's huh? Me too. I'm glad to hear the new Z211 worked out...

Yeah, you do. I was so used to downshifting to rotate the car between 2 & 3, but with the 235s I am in it for so short of a time and have plenty of torque in 4th, so I spent the day trying both ways and don't like either.

With the 255s, I could carry 3rd all the way from 3 to after 9C, with the 235s if I downshift at 3, it is back up at 4, down at 5, up at 6.5, down at 8.

[ivanko]

Scott,

I'm amazed with your lap times considering you were just barely behind the formula cars.

How much do you attribute to the car versus your driving ability?

If you were to run a bone stock WRX STI under the same conditions, how much roughly do you think your lap times would drop off?

Do you notice any benefit from the wing, how much time do you think it shaves off your lap times? I'd assume in the higher speed turns you benefit the most obviously and you probably have the horsepower to overcome the drag imposed by the wing.

On the road course, besides the driver what stands out the most on your car? Acceleration? Braking? Cornering, Aerodynamics?

I normally wouldn't be asking these questions, but I'm astounded by your sheer speed in a "sedan" versus very specialized open wheel race cars.

Edit:

I finally had a chance to review some digital video footage and I saw the section where you passed me. Your corner entry speed is fast, but your exit and straightaway speed is very fast.

[sperry]

I think the only reason I'm so close to the formula cars is simply their drivers. Donna was 10 seconds faster than me, which shows how fast those cars should be... I just think the other drivers aren't getting all they can out of those cars.

As far as my car vs. a stock STi... when Dean and I are both on street tires, he's faster than me even with like 30 hp less power than I've got (though his car certainly isn't "bone stock"). So I have to think my car makes up for my driving ability with horsepower. I'm sure someone with more experience than me would be able to drive my car 2 or 3 seconds per lap faster.

With regards to the event... the first session was a nightmare. I was perpetually behind 7 or 8 cars. I got zero clean laps, and spent all but 1 lap on pit lane asking for space. Someone needs to get a chart or something to show those working the flag stand what space means. What is does not mean is letting me out just as a car is passing the S/F line... because now I'm right behind that car by the end of the esses. What it means is letting me sit on pit lane for a minute in order to put me out just in front of the cars I pulled off to avoid. With the crappy passing rules, it's impossible to pass more than 1 or 2 cars per lap... when there's 7 in front of you, you have to have a competent crew that knows what's going on out there.

Anyway, with all the launches off pit lane and me pissed off behind the wheel, I put the hurt on my clutch during the 1st session. The rest of the day the pedal needed to be pressed all the way to the floor to disengage making shifting difficult, and the clutch was slipping in 5th gear under boost. Then later during the last session (that I never should have even bothered running in since everyone slowed down) I blew a 4-5 shift and put the car into 3rd. Telemetry shows I revved up to 8300 rpm. The motor was down on power after that, and at idle there seems to be exhaust coming out the breather. I may have blown a ring land on the motor. Hopefully it's not season ending...

But either way, I'm super pissed at myself for letting my temper get the most of me and blowing my clutch that eventually contributed to my missed-shift. I need a damn Honda with a $500 motor. Racing the WRX is awesome, but leaving the event worrying about the condition of the car, and the cost of fixing it takes all the fun out of the class win.

And speaking of possibly broken motors, Jim Payne was out for the event this weekend too. He also missed a shift and over-revved the motor. But his sounds worse than mine... there's a definite slap in the idle and it sounds pretty broken when he revs it... likely a broken valve.

[tysonK]

Scott, sounds like you were having an up and down day. Nice job on the times you did get.

Have we yet to see a ringer in a formula car at Fernley?

[ivanko]

I feel the same way. I'v put so much money and custom work attempting to convert my truck along with the aerodynamics of a condominum, chuck wagon ladder frame, front weight bias, high CG, etc., into a Corvette that it's just too nice to wreck so I always try and leave room for error. After watching those Honda's go w/ a minimum amount invested I'd consider building one and drive the piss out of it w/o worrying about submarining it in a runoff. The downside to them is no TORQUE.

Originally Posted by sperry

I think the only reason I'm so close to the formula cars is simply their drivers. Donna was 10 seconds faster than me, which shows how fast those cars should be... I just think the other drivers aren't getting all they can out of those cars.

As far as my car vs. a stock STi... when Dean and I are both on street tires, he's faster than me even with like 30 hp less power than I've got (though his car certainly isn't "bone stock"). So I have to think my car makes up for my driving ability with horsepower. I'm sure someone with more experience than me would be able to drive my car 2 or 3 seconds per lap faster.

With regards to the event... the first session was a nightmare. I was perpetually behind 7 or 8 cars. I got zero clean laps, and spent all but 1 lap on pit lane asking for space. Someone needs to get a chart or something to show those working the flag stand what space means. What is does not mean is letting me out just as a car is passing the S/F line... because now I'm right behind that car by the end of the esses. What it means is letting me sit on pit lane for a minute in order to put me out just in front of the cars I pulled off to avoid. With the crappy passing rules, it's impossible to pass more than 1 or 2 cars per lap... when there's 7 in front of you, you have to have a competent crew that knows what's going on out there.

Anyway, with all the launches off pit lane and me pissed off behind the wheel, I put the hurt on my clutch during the 1st session. The rest of the day the pedal needed to be pressed all the way to the floor to disengage making shifting difficult, and the clutch was slipping in 5th gear under boost. Then later during the last session (that I never should have even bothered running in since everyone slowed down) I blew a 4-5 shift and put the car into 3rd. Telemetry shows I revved up to 8300 rpm. The motor was down on power after that, and at idle there seems to be exhaust coming out the breather. I may have blown a ring land on the motor. Hopefully it's not season ending...

But either way, I'm super pissed at myself for letting my temper get the most of me and blowing my clutch that eventually contributed to my missed-shift. I need a damn Honda with a $500 motor. Racing the WRX is awesome, but leaving the event worrying about the condition of the car, and the cost of fixing it takes all the fun out of the class win.

And speaking of possibly broken motors, Jim Payne was out for the event this weekend too. He also missed a shift and over-revved the motor. But his sounds worse than mine... there's a definite slap in the idle and it sounds pretty broken when he revs it... likely a broken valve.

[Dean]

Austin, Mr. American Iron, may disagree, but I just don't think there is such a thing as a CHEAP, Low maintenance, high HP/Torque, good handling fendered car out there. You can pick any 3 and we can probably make it happen, but not all 4.

Even Karts while cheap, Relatively speaking, are quite expensive to maintain. Rebuild engine every 10 hours is not my idea of fun.

[sperry]

Originally Posted by Dean

Austin, Mr. American Iron, may disagree, but I just don't think there is such a thing as a CHEAP, Low maintenance, high HP/Torque, good handling fendered car out there. You can pick any 3 and we can probably make it happen, but not all 4.

Even Karts while cheap, Relatively speaking, are quite expensive to maintain. Rebuild engine every 10 hours is not my idea of fun.

I don't think anyone was claiming there's something out there that is powerful, good handling, and cheap to race.

But you mention fenders... I keep thinking a little open wheel car might be the ticket to going fast without the high cost of racing a 400+ hp motor. Everything's cheaper (motors, tires, brakes, etc) when the car weighs 1/3 less... assuming you're not running carbon fiber suspension.

[Dean]

Originally Posted by sperry

I don't think anyone was claiming there's something out there that is powerful, good handling, and cheap to race.

But you mention fenders... I keep thinking a little open wheel car might be the ticket to going fast without the high cost of racing a 400+ hp motor. Everything's cheaper (motors, tires, brakes, etc) when the car weighs 1/3 less... assuming you're not running carbon fiber suspension.

Might be right, did you talk to any of them Sat.? I'm not sure the fast ones are actually significantly cheaper and I'd bet they have their own set of issues.

Looking at SportsCar...

SRF = $15-20K
Formula Fords: $12,500-15,500 and beyond depending on 500,1600,2000
Formula Vee: $6000+
but I'm not sure any of those are particularly fast.

Formula Atlantic... $30K+
I think this is more of what you are talking about.

And are parts actually cheaper? Supply and demand unless they use off the shelf fendered car parts / consumables, they might be more expensive than fendered.