World Challenge On Sunday!, tune in for the next dramatic episode Options

[prockbp]

who is your favorite?

[GlennCMC70]

number 28 all the way!

[rmackintosh]

...if I was a betting man.....I'ld go with Caddy....the "chosen one".... (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/dry.gif)

[PF Flyer]

being a part of the team, but unable to travel to the 'left' coast, I hoping that #99 will be up in the top 5 or 6.

[NataSS Inc]

Considering that I will be on LG's pit crew in Portland, I had better go with him.

[GlennCMC70]

http://leaderboard.vfx.com/SCCA/GT/LiveTiming_800.asp

nice practice for Lou.

[rmackintosh]

WOW!

I played hooky today and went to the track to walk the pits....will be at the races to watch on Sunday... (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

Spent some time in Lou's pits....he took the time to show us his cars up close, and show my ITE Corvette buddy all the parts he needs to kick my ass... (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif) ...thanks Lou! I told him to get moving on our crossmember! (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) Missed Anthony....went by several times, but missed you each time there buddy!

The GT cars ALL LOOK awesome! I have been following these guys for a while, and it is cool to see so many GT cars that are SO WELL prepared.

That being said, the Caddys ARE on another planet...went by to look and see the intake at the front of the hood like most cars, but the intake proceeds STRAIGHT DOWN INTO THE ENGINE BAY AT LIKE A 45 DEGREE ANGLE....CAN'T EVEN SEE THE MOTOR TILL YOU GET UP CLOSE AND LOOK DOWN INTO THE MOTOR BAY... (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/ohmy.gif) The steering wheel is IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FRONT DOOR....THE SEAT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE REAR DOOR... (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/blink.gif) And the cars look like they just drove off the showroom floor....FLAWLESS paint, prep...they even had a P.R. lady there in nice shorts and tan legs answering all the "fluff" questions you could throw her way...nice touch! (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)

Well as for practice....I didn't have a stopwatch, but will throw out some general observations that seem bore out by the practice times. I was sitting in turn 11, which for those that don't know Sears Point is a 30ish MPH hairpin after woaing down from WOT 4th gear and accelerating onto the main straight. The Caddys OWN THE CORNER UPON ENTRY.....they fly right in there harder and slow quicker than ANY car out there--PRETTY DAMN IMPRESSIVE. The Vettes seemed to OWN the accelleration off the corner...Phil, Leighton and Lou were MOVIN' off the corner better than any I could see. The Caddy's looked sluggish in comparison...I KNOW, I KNOW.....THEY WERE SANDBAGGING (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif) . The Porsche of Wolf Henzler was ON A MISSION!!!!! He was FLYING! He was SO FREAKING SMOOTH...not the best in braking or accelaration, but FAST IN, FAST THROUGHOUT, AND FAST EXIT......VERY NICE DRIVER! (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/cool.gif) I am no Porsche fan, but he was fun to watch......

As for the Audis....WHO'S SANDBAGGING NOW????? Been watching Caddy and learning I see.... (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

Oh, and I got to "bump into" and meet Little E....now I know WHY they call him "little".....he is a little shit.... (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) He was the BIG celebrity....with two cops with him at all times..... (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)

Hope to see some Vettes up front....GO LOU!

[PF Flyer]

in the 2nd practice session, Wolf finished 1st with a fast lap of 1:41.4, with Phil behind him at a 1:41.7. Lou ran a fast lap of 1:43.2, right behind Max and Tom ran a 1:44.8, just ahead of Groom in another Porsche.

Good luck to all the competitors today in qualifying, especially the Corvette teams.

[prockbp]

it's a race! looks like the SCCA may have a clue about what they are doing

[CMC #37]

I got to see part of the race, what happened to Tom Oates? Saw some great in car footage of Lou "moving" someone out of his way! (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/wink.gif) Also saw some video of Dale Jr.'s crash, looked horrific, glad he only received minor injuries. Makes you think twice about having your visor up, that is the way I always run.

[PF Flyer]

two cars slid in the turn, probably due to debris, and when the other car came around, it tagged Tom's car in the right front suspension.

[rmackintosh]

...just back from the track...

NOT a good day for our boys in Vettes..... (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif)

Phil was drivin' the WHEELS OFF OF his car to get up under the Porsche under BRAKING AND CORNERING (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/ohmy.gif) while the Porsche just PULLED him hard on the straights.... (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/blink.gif) ....I would have thought the opposite would be the result, but oh well it WAS a race...

Lou got into Angelleli at the start....back of Caddy stoved in pretty well...was running up front around 6-8 but dropped into the pits repeatedly for what they thought was a head gasket.....Anthony told me they had planned to drop in a new motor after the race anyway...oh well bad timing...Lou's other car, Chambers, sustained rear end damage...and Videtto's car had a left rear wheel turning in all sorts of BAD directions when the wrecker dropped it at Lou's pits....whew....told Anthony to GET TO WORK! (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)

Saw Oates go off in a cloud of dust never to return....car was towed in with a REAL dirty "paint job" (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif)

Tony Gaples was driving the heck out of the thing, but was smokin the tires under breaking almost every lap towards the end....

Oh, and the Caddy....Angelelli's car was TRASHED! Came by with the hood over the windsheild, and he missed turn 7 because of it (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) In the pits after the race, they had the hole front of the car off of the thing, and the radiator support was pushed back a good 8-10 inches....they had the car stripped to the "unibody" in front....and as I sat watching.....I STILL COULD NOT SEE THE MOTOR! (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif) It is so far back down and in there, you WOULD NOT BELIEVE!

Was a good race, and so was the touring race...the ALMS seemed light on cars from what I have seen in the past....but a GREAT day at the track!

[rmackintosh]

Also saw some video of Dale Jr.'s crash, looked horrific, glad he only received minor injuries. Makes you think twice about having your visor up, that is the way I always run.

...yeah....just caught the Dale Jr. thing on Speed News.....man that SUCKED! (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/ohmy.gif) He seemed dazed, as the fire EXPLODED around him, and he didn't even move! (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/ph34r.gif)

I also drive with the visor flipped up....I am a "heavy breather" and fog the shield if I don't....hmmmmm......makes me wonder after my FIRE problems of my own the last weekend.... (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

[mitchntx]

I saw the video as well. That was scarey to watch.

And Randy, I thought about your deal with gasoline as well.

[rmackintosh]

I saw the video as well. That was scarey to watch.

And Randy, I thought about your deal with gasoline as well.

...YOU AND ME BOTH.....

I saw the gas dumping under the rear of the car....and thought of all those descriptions of what my car was looking like on that day....pretty similar....and SHUDDERED! (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/ph34r.gif)

New fuel lines are on the way... (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/dry.gif)

[94bird]

Randy, I missed your description of what happened at your last weekend. Got a link to your post?

Also, on Dale Jr's fire - wouldn't he have an on-board fire system in that car? Just a pull of a knob and it should engulf the car in fire suppressant shouldn't it? Presently I just have an extinguisher in my car, but have a fire system sitting on the shelf. I'll put it in this winter after seeing Dale's crash. What's worse is my wife saw the footage on TV and had a genuine look of worry on her face. I'd feel really guilty if I didn't fit the system and something happened next year.

[rmackintosh]

Randy, I missed your description of what happened at your last weekend. Got a link to your post?

Also, on Dale Jr's fire - wouldn't he have an on-board fire system in that car? Just a pull of a knob and it should engulf the car in fire suppressant shouldn't it? Presently I just have an extinguisher in my car, but have a fire system sitting on the shelf. I'll put it in this winter after seeing Dale's crash. What's worse is my wife saw the footage on TV and had a genuine look of worry on her face. I'd feel really guilty if I didn't fit the system and something happened next year.

Here you go Mike...

http://frrax.com/rrforum/index.php?act=ST&...f=5&t=1708&st=0

....yeah, after my deal, I HAVE A NEWFOUND RESPECT FOR FIRE...truly the ONLY thing I worry about when racing....and I have seen a guy killed once right in front of me....but when my dad yelled "FIRE!" on the radio.....

I FREAKED! (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/ph34r.gif)

TWICE!

(IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[CMC #37]

Can't be too safe in any aspect of racing...I have always put my $ there first and foremost. I have a three nozzle halon system and a handheld fire extinguisher!

I was at the NASA event at Buttonwillow where we lost a racer due to a head and neck injury. I have always worn a collar, this fellow was not wearing ANY. Can't believe anyone would race without one. After that I decided I had to upgrade that, finally settled on the HANS device. Will be getting one fitted soon.