Laguna, Long Haul from BC Options

[rmackintosh]

One thing we DO HAVE A LOT OF is Miatas......YIKES (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/ph34r.gif) .....you will need to practice AVOIDING them in the Group 1 race.....they are quite aggressive, and don't move over for nobody....you gotta take 'em strong! (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/2thumbs.gif)

My last year racing was the first year SM had its own run group, I saw the beginning of the phaseout of RX-7s in favor of the Miata as budget racer. You won't outbrake a good SM, so set up for a good drive out and get them on exit. In group1 you'll start lapping the backmarkers in a couple of laps - hopefully by midseason the new batch of rookies have it figured out, but they are usually more focused on other SMs than a fast car that's closing quickly. Watch out for a line of them spreading out 2-3 wide abruptly as you approach.

Watch out for a line of them spreading out 2-3 wide abruptly as you approach. YIKES!! Now I just can't get that thought out of my head of taking out a whole gaggle of those little buggers all at once! Don't talk like that around my wife when we meet, PLEASE! (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/banghead.gif)

It is true...Miatas running for position 20-30 IN THERE OWN CLASS will be running like they were on the last lap of the 24 Hours of LeMans and it was all on the line! It is a point of "pride" with them that they can find a "race" anywhere in the field...no matter what your "skill" level may be. So just be VERY cautious/aware around them. They will think NOTHING of running 3 wide up the straight and make you either A. wait or B. make a risky move at times.

I am not trying to scare you (and I will not discuss this with your wife....trust me I know this feeling) but I think you would be better served to get the heads up. If you drive a clean/heads up race you will be fine. I am just trying to prevent you from getting in a session and having a "WTF IS THAT IDIOT DOING" moment and putting the car in the wall in session number one (Miatas drive like crazed fools on the out lap of the first session of the weekend--couldn't tell ya how many I see get balled up on the test day BEFORE the weekend!). Sorta like warning you about the sound thing there....hate to have you tow all that way and have a problem right off. Keep your head and you will have a blast! (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/cool2.gif)

[ReEntryRacer]

One thing we DO HAVE A LOT OF is Miatas......YIKES (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/ph34r.gif) .....you will need to practice AVOIDING them in the Group 1 race.....they are quite aggressive, and don't move over for nobody....you gotta take 'em strong! (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/2thumbs.gif)

My last year racing was the first year SM had its own run group, I saw the beginning of the phaseout of RX-7s in favor of the Miata as budget racer. You won't outbrake a good SM, so set up for a good drive out and get them on exit. In group1 you'll start lapping the backmarkers in a couple of laps - hopefully by midseason the new batch of rookies have it figured out, but they are usually more focused on other SMs than a fast car that's closing quickly. Watch out for a line of them spreading out 2-3 wide abruptly as you approach.

Watch out for a line of them spreading out 2-3 wide abruptly as you approach. YIKES!! Now I just can't get that thought out of my head of taking out a whole gaggle of those little buggers all at once! Don't talk like that around my wife when we meet, PLEASE! (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/banghead.gif)

It is true...Miatas running for position 20-30 IN THERE OWN CLASS will be running like they were on the last lap of the 24 Hours of LeMans and it was all on the line! It is a point of "pride" with them that they can find a "race" anywhere in the field...no matter what your "skill" level may be. So just be VERY cautious/aware around them. They will think NOTHING of running 3 wide up the straight and make you either A. wait or B. make a risky move at times.

I am not trying to scare you (and I will not discuss this with your wife....trust me I know this feeling) but I think you would be better served to get the heads up. If you drive a clean/heads up race you will be fine. I am just trying to prevent you from getting in a session and having a "WTF IS THAT IDIOT DOING" moment and putting the car in the wall in session number one (Miatas drive like crazed fools on the out lap of the first session of the weekend--couldn't tell ya how many I see get balled up on the test day BEFORE the weekend!). Sorta like warning you about the sound thing there....hate to have you tow all that way and have a problem right off. Keep your head and you will have a blast! (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/cool2.gif)

Up here, blocking of faster cars is a black flag issue, and nobody wins a race while parked. Don't these guys get told to respect the blue flag? Or do the Stewards not bother to enforce the rules? Seems a little like anarchy has taken over down there!

[rmackintosh]

It is "the Power of the Miata" down here. The region sports 80 car Miata fields! They can double and even TRIPLE enter the cars if different groups and many do.....therefore the region caters to them VERY, VERY much. Big money makers for the region they are...and after all it is a club, and if the majority want to race Sorority Girl cars....so be it!

That being said, I don't know so much as it is a black flag issue or not....it is a judgement call....if you come up on a pack of Miatas and they are stupid enough to race 3 wide....all the while not realizing they are knocking 3-4 seconds a lap off their times by being idiots...is that a flagging offense? Probably not. They have a "right" to their race too, most "old school" racers would be courteous and race sanely and move over to allow much faster cars by, it is just funny but the entire field of Miata drivers missed this day in the training of a good race car driver and drive like THEY are the ones that must be watched out for. If you watch the races of just SM cars, talk to the drivers, and even see them in our group it really is a group mentality....dunno what to say.

They do, for the most part, obey the passing flag. At least when they are alone. In a group....it is anyones guess....they can be unpredictable. It is just the way they are...it is really weird. I don't know what to say other than they are a culture of drivers who got into the sport because the racing is "cheap" and most don't seem to have a racing background in their blood like "old school" racers. They seem to be guys who "always thought racing a car would be cool" but never thought about it until an inexpensive option for them to do it came up....they haven't spent their formative years learning the sport...it just seems that way.....JMHO

Anyway, don't worry about them! Just be aware of them and keep your head on straight and you will be fine! HAVE SOME BIG FUN! Laguna is one of a kind!!!!!!! (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/cool2.gif)

[ReEntryRacer]

It is "the Power of the Miata" down here. The region sports 80 car Miata fields! They can double and even TRIPLE enter the cars if different groups and many do.....therefore the region caters to them VERY, VERY much. Big money makers for the region they are...and after all it is a club, and if the majority want to race Sorority Girl cars....so be it!

That being said, I don't know so much as it is a black flag issue or not....it is a judgement call....if you come up on a pack of Miatas and they are stupid enough to race 3 wide....all the while not realizing they are knocking 3-4 seconds a lap off their times by being idiots...is that a flagging offense? Probably not. They have a "right" to their race too, most "old school" racers would be courteous and race sanely and move over to allow much faster cars by, it is just funny but the entire field of Miata drivers missed this day in the training of a good race car driver and drive like THEY are the ones that must be watched out for. If you watch the races of just SM cars, talk to the drivers, and even see them in our group it really is a group mentality....dunno what to say.

They do, for the most part, obey the passing flag. At least when they are alone. In a group....it is anyones guess....they can be unpredictable. It is just the way they are...it is really weird. I don't know what to say other than they are a culture of drivers who got into the sport because the racing is "cheap" and most don't seem to have a racing background in their blood like "old school" racers. They seem to be guys who "always thought racing a car would be cool" but never thought about it until an inexpensive option for them to do it came up....they haven't spent their formative years learning the sport...it just seems that way.....JMHO

Anyway, don't worry about them! Just be aware of them and keep your head on straight and you will be fine! HAVE SOME BIG FUN! Laguna is one of a kind!!!!!!! (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/cool2.gif)

Thanks for the thoughtful reply Randy. I hope we can find each other on Friday. (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)
Larry

[rmackintosh]

It is "the Power of the Miata" down here. The region sports 80 car Miata fields! They can double and even TRIPLE enter the cars if different groups and many do.....therefore the region caters to them VERY, VERY much. Big money makers for the region they are...and after all it is a club, and if the majority want to race Sorority Girl cars....so be it!

That being said, I don't know so much as it is a black flag issue or not....it is a judgement call....if you come up on a pack of Miatas and they are stupid enough to race 3 wide....all the while not realizing they are knocking 3-4 seconds a lap off their times by being idiots...is that a flagging offense? Probably not. They have a "right" to their race too, most "old school" racers would be courteous and race sanely and move over to allow much faster cars by, it is just funny but the entire field of Miata drivers missed this day in the training of a good race car driver and drive like THEY are the ones that must be watched out for. If you watch the races of just SM cars, talk to the drivers, and even see them in our group it really is a group mentality....dunno what to say.

They do, for the most part, obey the passing flag. At least when they are alone. In a group....it is anyones guess....they can be unpredictable. It is just the way they are...it is really weird. I don't know what to say other than they are a culture of drivers who got into the sport because the racing is "cheap" and most don't seem to have a racing background in their blood like "old school" racers. They seem to be guys who "always thought racing a car would be cool" but never thought about it until an inexpensive option for them to do it came up....they haven't spent their formative years learning the sport...it just seems that way.....JMHO

Anyway, don't worry about them! Just be aware of them and keep your head on straight and you will be fine! HAVE SOME BIG FUN! Laguna is one of a kind!!!!!!! (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/cool2.gif)

Thanks for the thoughtful reply Randy. I hope we can find each other on Friday. (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)
Larry

My wife just told me I am relieved of kid duty in the afternoon on Thursday....therefore I should be down there by late morning/early afternoon. (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/drink.gif) We should be able to hook up while waiting in line Thursday. I have a white crew cab Chevy Duramax truck and towing a triple axle TPD enclosed trailer....either right in front of me or right behind me in line should be my dad's big 38" Brown with Maroon stripes Monaco Windsor Diesel Pusher motorhome. If you don't see me in line, I try to pit VERY close to the entry gate of the paddock....usually right against the fence in turn 4 so we can watch the races between sessions. I hear that is occupied by temporary bleachers now, so we may not be against the fence but close most likely....

[ReEntryRacer]

My wife just told me I am relieved of kid duty in the afternoon on Thursday....therefore I should be down there by late morning/early afternoon. (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/drink.gif) We should be able to hook up while waiting in line Thursday. I have a white crew cab Chevy Duramax truck and towing a triple axle TPD enclosed trailer....either right in front of me or right behind me in line should be my dad's big 38" Brown with Maroon stripes Monaco Windsor Diesel Pusher motorhome. If you don't see me in line, I try to pit VERY close to the entry gate of the paddock....usually right against the fence in turn 4 so we can watch the races between sessions. I hear that is occupied by temporary bleachers now, so we may not be against the fence but close most likely....

We'll have our dark blue Avalanche and a 20' grey Haulmark, with BC plates of course. I'm still not certain of our arrival time Thursday, too many variables when traveling with 2 women! (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/rotf.gif) I hope to be there in mid afternoon, but who knows? If all else fails, I'll have my cel phone of course. See PM. We're staying at the Quality Inn in Monterey, but I assume you're staying at the track. I hope the weather remains cool, as I've been watching the very high temps in LA. I removed my oil cooler today because it would be illegal as it was mounted inside in the passenger footwell, with a scoop and duct that SCCA would fail me for. I have been running 1-hour mini-enduro races for the last 3 years and it worked great. Half-hour races shouldn't be a big deal as long as the weekend temps are reasonable.

This post has been edited by ReEntryRacer: Jun 24 2008, 07:26 AM

[rmackintosh]

OK. We will likely be close in line then. I will keep an eye out.

Yes, we stay at the track in the motorhome.

The temps I am LOOKING FORWARD TO!!!! (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/blink.gif) It has been as hot as 107 at my house this week! I have been living in the pool! I HATE HEAT! We went to the ocean at Santa Cruz yesterday and it was 100 degrees there.....AND RAINING!!! WTF???? This is not Hawaii is it? (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/ph34r.gif) Supposed to be in the 90's at my house all week this week....sigh....but MID 60's in Monterey for the race weekend! Will be VERY NICE.....will seem like AC to me!

Should be perfect weather for Laguna!

My cell is in a PM to you now.... but seems to be crapping out lately, so it may, or may not work. I need a new phone.

See you there!

This post has been edited by rmackintosh: Jun 22 2008, 07:48 PM

[slowcamaro]

I'm SO spamming both of those phone numbers....

[Blainefab]

Up here, blocking of faster cars is a black flag issue, and nobody wins a race while parked. Don't these guys get told to respect the blue flag? Or do the Stewards not bother to enforce the rules? Seems a little like anarchy has taken over down there!

Blue flag is advisory. It's the responsibility of the overtaking car to make a safe pass. Not trying to be an alarmist, it's just a reality with the SM's mixed into Group 1. It's also true that it's in the best interest of a SM driver to not get parked on by a Camaro.

Mebbe make a up a big windshield banner: !SEKARB YTTIHS

[rmackintosh]

Mebbe make a up a big windshield banner: !SEKARB YTTIHS

...perfect!....
(IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/2thumbs.gif)

[ReEntryRacer]

Well, thanks again you two. The trailer is packed, the trusty Chevy is gassed and ready to go. We're getting some shut eye for a few hours, then leaving at first light to avoid the line up at the border crossing that builds up quickly these days. See you on Thursday! (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[ReEntryRacer]

That's half the battle! We arrived in Monterey an hour ago without incident (not counting that WA state trooper on his Harley...) and I'll be able to join that line up at the track entrance after lunch tomorrow. I'm happy with the very cool weather, especially after two days at 90 degrees plus getting down here! Randy, if you see this, I'll watch for you and see if we can set up camp nearby. Now, just to get that tech sticker... (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif)

[ReEntryRacer]

Things went about as I had hoped and expected at Tech, with my car's Canadian CACC Annual being accepted at face value. Then things started to get interesting.
I suited up for the first Group 1 ITE practice session on Friday morning and prepared to learn as much as I could by finding someone with a similar car and abilities, and was fortunate to find a 4th gen Camaro to follow, driven by Gary Hascall of Fresno who seemed to know his way around the track, which was very handy for me as I had no clue! It didn't help that there were 45 cars registered, in all, out there!

I just wanted to play tag but we were black-flagged after about 3 laps, and I retired without much track time in my first session because I was scrubbing in a set of new front tires and figured they were hot enough and pulled in to remove them. Then my crewchief/daughter informs me that we have an oil drip under the car...location not known yet. I have had problems with the dipstick weeping if the level is a bit too high, so we cleaned everything up and prepared for the Group 3 GT1 practice. Only 26 cars here, but most are missiles going by me at warp factor 5 or so... a little unnerving but expected. I finish the practice with 10 laps and some learning taking place, as my lap times are getting better by a few seconds, but still the slowest of the group. As I exit I get called into Tech for oil smoke visible on certain corners. A small seep has now turned into a constant drool, spraying oil all over the accessory area and driver's side inner fender.

We can't go out for the Group 1 ITE qualifier with a leak, so we clean it all off and add a cloth cuff around the PS reservior lid, and try to get it to leak while we watch with the hood off. It won't do anything! Dry as a bone, so we're ready to try it again. Out I go, 8 laps and I'm satisfied with my improvement as I'm 7 seconds faster than the earlier sessions, and I'm on my good tires, and I'm starting to get comfortable with the track. Still sucks to be the slowest in class, even if I am the newbie... BUT, we again get cited for smoke at cetain corners of the track. This is getting old now...

The best bet is the power steering gear, as the worst oil spillage was around the top where the pressure line enters the case, and the level was down a bit. I borrow an 18mm wrench from Randy Mackintosh's dad, Doug, and find only the remnents of an O ring on that fitting. A trip to a recommended speed shop in Salinas results in a replacement that looks like it will fit. Back to the track, install and tighten, and we clean everything up again and test it as best we can, all looks good! The Friday afternoon Group 3 GT1 qualifier was next, and I just looked at that session as a chance to learn some lines, as I was going to be creamed by the real GT1 cars in any event. I played with different lines and braking points, all of which were just slowing me down. Oh well, nothing ventured...

Oil drooling again! We've eliminated 3 possible causes, and its getting worse! I'm prepared to change the steering box as it might be cracked, as it still appears to be pouring out of the area around the pressure fitting that we are sure is OK, as we have now visited the Salinas auto mall and have the correct GM P/N O rings for that pipe, courtesy of the Cadillac/Honda dealer, as the Chevy dealer's parts dept. was closed. The next morning the Group 1 ITE race was a frustrating challenge, with all those cars, and being passed by cars that I should be able to leave behind, IF I only knew the track better. I was smelling smoke from the first lap and was watching for a black flag with my number each time past the starter stand. A call to my CC/daughter to confirm the race was at least half time, and I pulled off the track to head back to the paddock with smoke eminating from all over the place! I'm not a happy guy at this point.

We call Alan Blaine in Santa Cruz to see if we can get a new steering gear, but as it turned out, he was at Sears Point for the weekend. I call a couple of wrecking yards near Salinas and prepare to hunt for what I need. Then as I make a final attempt to find the source of this disastrous leak, I take the serpentine belt off the pump, and find the pulley all but falling off with the bearing absolutely shot, along with the seal of course! It had been spraying out from behind the pulley onto the top of the steering box, which is right in line with the pressure line fitting, fooling us the whole time.

Its late Saturday afternoon by now, and a replacement pump is the ticket. Calls to the wreckers North and South on Highway 101 and they think they have the correct version, if I just want to come and find it myself... Into the truck, back towards Salinas while I wonder if we can find something closer and sooner. I'll need the tools to remove and install the pulley as well. I drive past the speed shop we visited the day before, only to find the lights out and the door locked . A desperate bang on the door is met with a friendly smile from the owner Joe Williams and a welcome into the closed Dotseth Speed Shop. He quickly provides the tools we need and also pulls a pump from his shelf that appears to be rebuilt and looks right. Joe makes me a deal I can't refuse, and off we go back down Route 68, which we are getting very familiar with by now.

I work till way too late getting the pump installed because the #%#& thing is not metric, as the original was. Randy and Doug have allowed me to rifle through their supplies while they are away in town, and I find the correct SAE bolts to mount it with, but the two rear bolt/stud threads are still a problem. I gingerly force the first one in succesfully with my impact wrench, and then try the second... with it snapping off clean at the case! A quick fit of temper and blue air, then a mix of JB Weld to seal any possible leak from the reservior. The pump gets filled and tested with a drive around the paddock at 9:30 PM which I'm sure was annoying someone, then the fluids are chacked and the hood goes on. We get to eat if we can find something open in Monterey. We like r.g Burgers now. It really does stand for Really Good, and they are.
I sleep well, thinking how much fun it will be to race the next day without worrying about the damn oil leaking from the power steering.

We roll in to Laguna the next morning with a few minutes to spare, confident that I'll finally be able to enter and finish a race, but first comes the Group 1 ITE Qualifier. I head out and pound around for 4 laps, finally not the slowest car in my class, and with a dozen cars or so behind me in the group when the race line-up is printed. That's better!

My first race on this last day would be Group 3 GT1, and we get an additional race scheduled later in the day as well. I know I can't possibly end up anywhere but last in GT1, but I'm no longer the slowest car in the group, so there will be someone to race with, despite the fact that I failed to qualify the previous day due to the repair sessions. I'm looking forward to this! We wander down to buy some souveniers at the big tent, sure that we have all in readiness. Once my wallet was empty, we wandered back up to the car to get raedy for the race, only to find that my out time was misread (no names here!) by the crew, and the race would start in 4 minutes! I smoked through the clothing change and all the pre-race stuff, a quick radio check and blast off to pre-grid, to find it EMPTY! I hoped it wasn't as bad as it looked, and maybe I was going out on the pace lap... but no such luck! I later found that I was 4 laps down. I was all alone on the track for a while, then the missiles started going past me, with some of them ending in the gravel with huge clouds of dust. I gave it my best shot and had a good time, while staying on the hard stuff and trying to make way for the local hot shoes who occasionally needed the part of the track I was on. I got 10 laps in, with the winner doing 15, which means he should have lapped me only once if I had been out there at the start as I should have been. The car was finally working well, with no distractions (like oil smoke) and it was a good feeling to have that much fun.

They weighed me and held the class for quite some time due to various issues, including 2 cars passing me on a standing yellow. Once finally released, I drove back to the paddock space ready for the next race. But that's where this long tale ends...as I was parking the Trans Am, the power steering simply stopped working! I was stunned! The hood came off, and for once there was no oil anywhere. I removed the drive belt, and spun the pulley: no connection to the pump rotor whatsoever! The so-called rebuilt pump had sheared the drive and that meant I was now officially at the end of my adventure to Laguna Seca. After winning my class at every one-hour race this car started (14 total) in the last 2 years at my home track, a system I had thought bulletproof had done me in. Murphy is alive and well. The long 14 hour tow back to BC gave me time to consider if it was all worth the effort, time and money. I have to say the best parts of the trip were not related directly to the on-track sessions, but to the nice people we met everywhere we stopped, especially the Mackintosh family. Will I do it again? I'll wait for the fuel and hotel bills to arrive before I'll say for sure, but I want to.

Thanks again to all who helped this old, fat, slow amateur have an experience of a lifetime! I'll post some pics later perhaps.
Larry Bell

[z28tt]

Larry - Thanks for sharing! I've been there with the leaks. One took two years to find - turns out it was a pourous weld on the aftermarket oilpan's dipstick bung. JB Weld to the rescue... Very frustrating to tow 1300 miles, only to spend the whole "vacation" wrenching (like there isn't any in the thrash preceding the event!)

A.

[rmackintosh]

Laguna can be a cold hearted mistress I can tell you THAT from experience! (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/blink.gif)

I just feel bad for Larry and family that they had to experience that in such an intense way! The racing Gods can be cruel, and it REALLY sucks when they decide to come down on you so hard....at the same time! You would think that with the luck he had at the speed shop right in town, his luck would have been golden.....not to be unfortunately.

Larry, I feel so bad for you guys that you struggled with a "bulletproof" part of the car the whole weekend. I have been there trust me....sometimes trouble comes from the most UNLIKELY of sources.

I hope you had SOME fun, and get the chance to come down and have a FUN filled weekend someday! You deserve it!

Randy