http://www.sfrscca.org/Results/20020804/
Practice did not go that well. After a lap and a half the front right axle broke. This was a used hub from somewhere, duh they don't make new ones, so I don't know the history. Probably off of the old race car since it was blued from heat. No damage just a half spin off track and I backed out of danger and waited for a tow.
They towed me off course onto the ring road. They had to drop me there since the next group was on track. So we went and picked up the tools and the spare hub/axle. Had it fixed in about 15 minutes and drove it back to the paddock. Next was qualifying in the afternoon. Pretty much nothing else to do but to wait.
I went out to qualify. The tires were pretty bad as we thought they would be. I let a couple of cars buy and tried not make any mistakes. Well that didn't last long, I spun out of turn 9. No harm done but it reminded me to take it easy on crummy tires. I managed to qualify 3 in class with a time that put me 17th overall. About 12 positions back from where I was last time I was at Laguna. I'm starting in the third row since the Spec Miatas were split for tomorrow's race. I turned a 1:53.6 next car was 1:53.5 and the first car in ITA turned a 1:50.270. I'll let you pull the full qualifying sheet down from the web when it's posted.
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On Saturday we replaced the rear tires with some used tires I had from a year ago, one of the rears had gone to cord. I tried to convince my crew, Gary, to let me install the headers that just arrived. But with the delay on getting down to the track caused by a tranny coolant hose coming undone and with the insistences of Gary not to mess up my chances for the race I held off putting in the headers on Saturday.
The race was on Sunday and I drove down early to watch the first race and get ready for my race. We dropped the car off of the jacks and I filled it up. I got in line and waited. I was gridded 6th overall and 3rd in class. There was 3 ITSs and 2 ITAs in front of me 2 ITBs (one started last but was competitive) and 9 ITAs. Yes there were the gaggle of SMs and speckling of ITCs too.
I had a good start not as good as expected but a good start none the less. I was going to play it safe and not over drive the car with the thought to catch second place towards the end of the race. I followed John (ITA 2nd) in to turn 2 and closed the door on the ITB. I stayed behind John for the next 7 laps and put some decent distance between the ITBs and me. On the 8th lap there was a full course yellow do to a Miata blowing and engine in turn 10. We had just about passed some back marker SMs when the yellow came out. So they were going to be a factor at the restart. We followed the pace car for two laps and then green flew again. I was able to catch and pass John down the straightaway only to have to hold behind a Miata. I passed one of the SMs in turn 2 or 3 and so did John. We came out of 4 three abreast I was on the inside then John and a Miata. There was also 2 SMs in front of the three of us. I was debating on whether to push the pass and decided not to. John on the other hand went for it and succeeded! I followed out of the turn up the hill to turn 6 but was not able to make a pass. The two ITBs had started to catch up with us at this point, yes Jeff Francis in the last starter had caught up, and were working on 1st and 2nd. I got a little wide out of turn 6 and dropped 2 wheels off but did not lose a position. We finally got passed the Miatas during the next lap. Now the four of us John, me, ITB 1st, and ITB Jeff 2nd were running together. I went wide again out of turn 6 which let the ITB get a chance to work on passing me in to turn 8, the cork screw. He went on the outside I stayed on the inside. John was right in front and Jeff was behind the ITB and me. I gave the ITB (mike saccone) room which he took and then some going in to turn 8. He cam over and clipped my front upsetting the car. I had slow down to get control and he was now in front and Jeff was behind. Since this had cost me a half second I decided to let Jeff by to catch and pass the SOB. This was the last lap so there was little chance I'd catch John again. I finished 3rd and Jeff did not catch Mike, to bad.
ITS David Allen Mazda 1:49.063
ITA Steve Borlik Mazda 1:49.532
ITS Philip Cloud Datsun 1:49.401
ITS Richard Apodaca 1:51.580
ITA John Schmale 1:53.062
ITB mike saconned 1:53.279
ITB Jeff Francis 1:52.349
ITA Alan Hamilton 1:52.850
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SM Ori Della Mazda 1:50.399
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ITC Adam Kennedy Datsun 1:55.926
As you can see I was running a couple of seconds off of the pace I had set at Laguna last time I was there. The tires don't make it past 6 events, which is actually pretty good. I'll have new tires for the next event at Sears and the header will be fully installed and ready by then. Did I mention that I installed the headers after the race? Well we did and boy are they loud! I'll be getting a race muffler shop to finish the installation with some flex down tube and muffler to bring in to spec. I'll have pictures as soon as the work is done. They are 24" primaries at 1 1/2 I.D. The collectors are 2 1/4 I.D. with a 2 1/2 I.D. down tube. The down tube exits out the back and dumps right in to the spot where the muffler used to sit. I'm going to try to get as much length in the muffler on pipes after the down tube as I can. It won't be much but I think it will be enough. Once this is all working and one race and dyno proven I'll probably have the whole thing ceramic coated. Of course I'll update you with the race results and dyno results with the new headers as soon as I have them.