Hmm
now Im tempted. Im sure I could get 4 people, which means Id be looking for a team discount. The Radicals are brilliant, the atom is much the same. They had one at spring mtn, but they are selling it, apparently not too popular with the members. Id do a Radical trip, part deux if anyone wants to go. During the summer, they cut costs by 50% and your run from 6am to 1pm....

 

What I really want to get out to is Miller and run that track...

 

Well, Brammo has Atom runs at Miller. Although it's hard to get a drink in SLC (you have to join a club) the Mormon girls are among the world's best teasers (as long as you don't expect a payoff).

I'd consider flying in if we had a van or limo or something to take us to the track and a place to stay nearby.

Keep me informed.

 

Confirmed for NASA group 3 on May 5 and 6 at Infineon. Anyone else going to be there?
Looks like a wet Saturday at TH tomorrow. To bad I'll be working.
Should be fun, wet on sat. and dry on sun.

 

I'll be running TT at Sears on those days.

I usually go over the night before and set up, so look for Sad Arthur when you get there.

Cheers,
Sid

 

Raining right now at Thunderhill. Should be clearing soon. kmickey is running Group 4 today. I'm waiting for a somewhat drier track to start my TT experience since my worn ADVANs are like wearing ice cubes in the wet.

Here's the new setup



It won't help me go any faster, but it will keep me safer when I go walkabout.

 

Yesterday was a washout. I did a 2:58 in the wet. I don't think I've done a 2:58 since I started doing this thing. Still, it was good for a fifth place finish, which carries points. But I've done parade laps faster. But I didn't go off or spin, although it got a little squirrelly coming over the Turn 5 bypass. Gotta stay on the throttle there . . .

Today should be dry. We'll see if I can keep it shiny side up and post a little better time.

 

Much better in the dry. I saw kmickey briefly at the drivers' meeting Saturday and then through the rain on track with Group 4, but he was gone by Sunday.

The first session, the car was really loose and hard to handle so I brought it in and backed the bar up to neutral. That solved the problem. I could still induce oversteer with a little feathering of the throttle and correct it by putting the boot in so I could get it up on its toes and slide it around at will. Turned pretty consistent 2:13s, but I need to drop 4 seconds to be competititve in TTD. I think tires and improved driving will get me close. I did take third and won a medal, though. Not too bad for first time out.

 

So it's just Vince and me at Sears May 5-6? No one else? Who died?

 

Raced Sunday at Infineon Kart track. I race in 80cc shifter Grand Masters class (old fat guys). I qualified 7th out 18. track was really green after the rains on Sat. Chasing setup all morning trying to get grip and heat into the tires.

Good start on the pre-final moved up to 4th. Got lucky and the 2nd and 3rd place finishers were move back for ruff driving.

Started the final in 2nd and took the lead on the start. I was still slower than several others so they eventually got past and I held on to 3rd place.

Next up is NASA with the Mini at Infineon May 5-6. Anyone else besides Sid.

Has there been a replacement for the FMOTD hat?

 

Hey! Pretty good for an OFG - excuse me, I mean Grand Master! Nice report. So far it looks like you and me at Infineon May 5-6.

I hope it'll stay clear for a couple of weeks so the bad boys can put some rubber down for us. I'm looking for 4 seconds, so I think I'll try some Hankook slicks next time.

I wrote to Minnie Driver's agent and asked for a photo autographed to the FMOTD, suitable for framing, but I haven't heard back. I think I'll call her today.

 

Tell her I said hi...

Car issues, keeping me away. I think I have a leak in the exhaust somewhere. I sound very fart-can Honda like, and loosing mpg during normal driving, and oh yeah, brake pedal goes to the floor....time for some maintenance...

Buddy and I are headed to Miller for ALMS, so I doubt Ill be on track till end of May....

damn...

 

NCRC @ T-Hill this weekend to try out my new Hankook 215/615/17 slix. I'm looking for a 2-3 second improvement in time. I'll let you know.

 

apriorism and I are here, duking it out with John in his Exige as usual. Clive impressed his check rider enough to move up to the Advanced Group with me. So here we are, running down Loti, Corvettes and Porsches - in the Advanced Group, mind you!

Anyway, as I said, I was hoping for 2 seconds improvement over my consistent laptimes of 2:13 last time. My eventual goal is to break into the 0's, which is where the competition (944 and 350Z) are running in NASA TTD. Jason Liu posted a new record time of 2:07.1 in his fat ugly 350 Z to lead the TTD last time.

Today I turned a 2:06.8. NO FECES! That's a 7 second increase. Wowza! It's partly due to the new slicks and partly due to the Dumbo's feather syndrome. (with my new tires, I believe I can fly!).

Now all I have to do is repeat this performance next weekend at Sears and I'm back on top, where I belong. Suck my exhaust, Porsche and Nissan! MINI ROOLZ!

 

Congrads Jerry go get'em. Keep up the good work. Congrads to Clive also, nice driving.
I'm still looking for a little more HP and then I'll try my luck again.

 

Sticky tire + big brakes = fast times.
Of course so does lots of practice.
Go, Go, Go
Go, Go Sid Racer
He's a demon on wheels.

 

Well done Sid...well done.

New exhaust was installed on Liam Friday, brakes were bleed too, Im ready to get back out...

 

NASA at Sears Point this weekend - 5, 6 May

NCRC at Reno Fernley next weekend - 12, 13 May

Leaving for Gran Prix de Monaco 20 May! Woo!

After that I'm going to be WAY broke and will probably never be able to afford another track day!

Well, except for Thunderhill with NASA June 2-3.

 

Sears Point, May 5th and 6th

Wow! What gorgeous weather! It was a typical big NASA weekend, the paddock full and overflowing with all kinds of go-fast goodies: classics, exotics, race machines (including an ex-NASCAR Mercury Marauder), as well as 6 MINIs! We wrangled 4 of them into a MINI compound: Vince's Blue S (HPDE Group 3), Maneesh's Pepper White S (HPDE Group 3), my Chili Red JCW S (HPDE TTD), and Canyon Bob's custom silver race car (USTCC Group A).

Maneesh brought Hana the Czech with him and by the way she was working her Canon, I think we can expect some amazing photos of the cars (and, of course, the handsome, windblown drivers!)

In Saturday's qualifying, Bob suffered another malfunction - those race cars are so tempermental. It went into limp mode and he had to take a DNF on Saturday. He and his mechanic, Dan, called everyone in SoCal and worked well into the night looking for the gremlin, finally finding it.

Sunday morning he rolled out for qualifying, only to have it happen again. So they packed up and headed home after passing the FMOD cap back to me. Total bummer.

Meanwhile, Vince and Maneesh, who is still on MINI Lites and runflats, were flyin' around the track. I timed a session and they were turning 2:10's - not bad at all! They were both pumped and grinning so hard their mouths hurt.

I was trying to break into the fifties, but the closest I could get was a 2:00. To get the 2:00 I was flat out from 7 through the esses and down to the entrance to 10. There's another second there somewhere, probably through 10 past the green wall o' death. I'll find it.

My first TT was April 14-15 at Thunderhill and I placed fifth on Saturday (rain) and third on Sunday. My second TT was this weekend and I placed second both days. So I have a bronze and two silver medals to show for my trouble.

My goal is to help all the MINIs who come out for NASA events in NorCal to get up into Time Trials, which is the top HPDE Group. Qualifying for HPDE Group 4 automatically qualifies you for TT. We all carry AMB transponders and get official timing results. Medals are given for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd, and points are accumulated for the yearly championship. It's still not racing since everyone is looking for a clear track to get in that fast lap, but it's the next step down. All kinds of fun!

Right now, I'm the only MINI here, carrying the flag. And it gets a little heavy. I could use some help, Matt, Mickey, Clive, Vince, Willum, Maneesh . . .

Cheers,
Sid

 

Wow, youre really showing them whose boss, thats brilliant.

do I have to prep the car different for TT? (cage/fire ext/etc)

 

Nope. Not unless you want to. Here's the description of NASA TT.

You do need a TT License, but I'm pretty sure you already qualify, Matt, so all you have to do is show up, talk to Kevin Smith and run a session under scrutiny. After that you're either in or counseled on how to qualify. Here's the link to the 2007 TT rules.

 

damn. off to read the regulations...

I thought I had a valid reason not to run TT, but if I can run the dry cleaning retriever without any special changes, I do not...

Is my JCW kit going to put me up against you race prepped guys? I wont be in the top 100 with the stock brakes....

 

You'll be in TTD. There are usually 8-10 cars running in our class. I guarantee you won't be the slowest. You'll be reeling in some TTC guys as well.

All the TT guys run at the same time so there is a wide diversity of speed. But since we are gridded according to our previous lap time, there is usually open track to lay down some fast laps. If someone is close to you in lap times, there's the potential for some good dicing as well. No paint swapping, no racing, just going for that fast lap with maybe 30 other guys doing the same thing.

 

Raced sunday at Infineon Kart track. 80 Grand Masters Shifter Karts for old fat guys/gals. Great wheather 80's with light breeze. I thought I was doing well my times were 4 tenths under the track record during practices.
Only qualified 3rd, pole went to mike lowater who was 4 tenths quiker than me and off pole went to steve peterson who was 1 tenth quicker. As it turned out the track was really good with lots of rubber down and perfect temps. mike set a new track record by 7 tenths.
In the pre-final I started 3rd and bogged the start and dropped r places and was stuck in a train of slower karts as the leader steped away. I was passed as I went wide trying to set up a pass and ended up 7th at the end. The track had continued to heat up and the setup way off, to much grip and the kart was hopping all over.
Changed the setup for the final to losen up the kart to get rid off grip. Started 7th and passed one on the start and another on the 3rd lap then was stuck in 5th and not able to advance. Finished 5th out of 16.
Overall a good day. Stayed on track. Did'nt break anyting and did'nt hurt myself or anybody else!

vince

 

How was Reno Fernley raceway this last weekend?