FB Track Record at Miller Motorsports Park

[rcrockett69]

We just finished the National Race weekend at the Miller Motorsports Park. This was the first test of the new Evolution Racing, www.evolutionracing.com, F1000 undertray for our Speads RM02's. Unfortunately we were unable to compete against the new Stohr's since it caught on fire during practice before the race weekend.

John Vanderpool and I competed during the Saturday race with John coming out on top. Great Race John!!! He had set a lap time of 3:04:207 during the race to set the first bar and track record for the FB class at the MMP track.






Unfortunately John was not able to stay to race on Sunday. Our only goal was to have a competitive race and post a decent time. We had struggled with oil temperature problems during the Saturday race. We had a great battle with Ed Chojin from Colorado throughout the race. We ended the race with consistent times and also set the new track record for FB with a 3:03:446. It was a great way to end the weekend at the best racing facility in the USA. Thank you to my friends, Pauli, Jason and Chad, for helping throughout the weekend with a lot of early mornings and long nights. So much for a relaxing vacation.

[Matt Conrad]

I don't know much about MMP yet....but I do hope to go up there and race one of these days...so where do these times compare with the FA's, FC's etc. that raced?

Matt Conrad
Phoenix Race Works, LLC

[RussMcB]

I don't know much about MMP yet....but I do hope to go up there and race one of these days...so where do these times compare with the FA's, FC's etc. that raced?

Matt Conrad
Phoenix Race Works, LLC

Here is a list of lap records:
http://www.scca-cdr.org/Race/mmpf.htm

[Wren]

Unfortunately we were unable to compete against the new Stohr's since it caught on fire during practice before the race weekend.

isn't that the second one?
What happened to this one?

[VehDyn]

Nice, Wren....

Who was there in the Stohr? I only saw Vanderpool on the entry list.

[Wren]

Nice, Wren....

no offense meant, I just get creeped out by the thought of a car burning.

[Richard Dziak]

Matt:

Here's the link to MyLaps .com for comparisons for the FB vs. the FA, and FC's, at Miller Motorsports Track. Looks like the FA's were much faster. However this was the first time it appears that a Class FB ran the track.

Congradulations to the FB drivers for a great showing. BTW, Richard's car looks awesome.

http://www.mylaps.com/results/showev...st=3&org=25600

Just look at the Great Salt Lake events times.

[glenn cooper]

Good on you guys for getting out there and doing it!
The cars look quite nice. I hope ya'll can make it to the ARRC in November at Rd Atl for the FB Championship race.
As an aside:
I noticed the (Marlboro) livery and was wondering just what type sponsorship deal you wrangled w/ Phillip Morris USA? As much as I hate cigarettes, I too would probably whore out if the price was right!!

Cheerz, GC

[MJM]

hmmm...almost 20 seconds slower than DSR? And slower than FE (FSCCA)?

So is there some time that can be made up with more experience and development or is that the natural pecking order of the classes?

[RussMcB]

Sounds a bit harsh. DSR has lots of miles under it, more HP and perhaps better aerodynamics. MMP is extremely long - equal to about 3 laps at Lime Rock Park. Plus, I'm not sure I would have rounded 17.5 up to 20 seconds.

Regarding pecking order, in my early opinion of the class, I think SCCA has done a pretty good job of slotting FB between FA & FC in terms of lap times.

[VehDyn]

I agree with Russ. I have never been to MMP but have watched it on TV and with 24 turns and 4+ miles, I would imagine it would be tough to get your hands around the first time. I think many of those quicker drivers have been there before. I think at most tracks Russ is right that it is slotting in between FC and FA.

Now, having said that, I expect to be following some FE and FC cars for a bit until I come up to speed. At least when i get my engine to finally fire.

[rcrockett69]

I expect with more seat time at MMP we should be below the 2:57 times that the FC's were running. We were running a stock Suzuki 04' engine. I know the newer Suzuki's are putting out better horsepower and torque. This was also our first time testing the new undertray. We are already planning some modifications to the undertray throughout the year.

MMP is definetly a long course with a lot of lines to figure out. Unfortunately I think that is the biggest factor with putting together better lap times. Since the Stohr wasn't able to race, we were not able to get a better feel for lap times from someone that is local to the track.

[rcrockett69]

Good on you guys for getting out there and doing it!
The cars look quite nice. I hope ya'll can make it to the ARRC in November at Rd Atl for the FB Championship race.
As an aside:
I noticed the (Marlboro) livery and was wondering just what type sponsorship deal you wrangled w/ Phillip Morris USA? As much as I hate cigarettes, I too would probably whore out if the price was right!!

Cheerz, GC

Even though I don't smoke either, we just liked the look of the Ferrari. Maybe Ferrari will convert over to Coca Cola in the next few years. Unfortunately we're not getting paid the same amount for spornship, which is none, like Ferrari.

Did anyone else race in the FB class this weekend elsewhere in the US? How did you do?

[rcrockett69]

no offense meant, I just get creeped out by the thought of a car burning.

The fuel hose came loose from the engine. Also, the fire system didn't work either. Bad luck all the way around.

[Matt Conrad]

MMP results from Mylaps:

Fast times.....

FA 2:35
FB 3:03
FC 2:55
FE 2:59

That's like 3 laps at Firebird! We need a bigger track here....

I have also noted three cars recently which have burned fairly badly. I did get pictures of the Stohr FB from MMP and it was very ugly....and not anything any of us want to see on any race car.

I think the thing that bothers me the most is that in at least two of these cases the fire system did not work. I heard in one case that the safety pin was left in the fire bottle.... Obviously, the system will not work in that case.

I have also once forgotten to take the pin out of the bottle during a race weekend and I just cringed when I saw it still in. We now place flourescent tape around the pin so it is easily noticed.

I don't know which system the Stohr guys are installing in the car, but we are installing a Halon "Firebottle" system which is charged with Halon 1211. I know it works because I had (as previously mentioned) a major oil fire a few years back and it was extinguished solely by the on-board system. The corner workers never even pulled a pin.....even though they wanted to.

Matt Conrad
Phoenix Race Works, LLC

[HastyHorn]

I also noticed the recent posts about fires (and I've had one in the past, not fun) and the on-board fire systems failing to work. This is a stupid question but I honestly don't know the answers...can you test these systems? Can the bottle be shut off after just a brief squirt? Do the Halon systems produce debris?

After I've pulled all the safety pins before going out on the track I must admit to still having a question as to whether the system is ACTUALLY functionable.

Hasty Horn

[RussMcB]

I also noticed the recent posts about fires (and I've had one in the past, not fun) and the on-board fire systems failing to work. This is a stupid question but I honestly don't know the answers...can you test these systems? Can the bottle be shut off after just a brief squirt? Do the Halon systems produce debris?

After I've pulled all the safety pins before going out on the track I must admit to still having a question as to whether the system is ACTUALLY functionable.

Hasty Horn

Hasty, you are not alone. It sure would be nice to know it's working, but I'm 99.9% sure that it's not fully testable, because to shoot it off you have to break a seal, then there's nothing you can do except wait until it's all done unloading.

I wonder if it's different for the newer systems with separate CO2 cannisters for propellants ...

[sidney]

I noticed that Dan Selznick was driving the FA. He is super fast, and has loads of cash to have the best of everything. If you look at the next FA entry it was 12 seconds slower than Dan. I think this may be a more true representative af the time, and give the guy a break -- MMP is like a mini Neurenberger Ring with all those turns!

[MJM]

I also noticed the recent posts about fires (and I've had one in the past, not fun) and the on-board fire systems failing to work. This is a stupid question but I honestly don't know the answers...can you test these systems? Can the bottle be shut off after just a brief squirt? Do the Halon systems produce debris?

Hasty Horn

There is no way to test the bottle itself without setting it off. However I think a properly charged bottle is the least likely point of failure.

The only thing I can think of to test is to disconnect the cable from the bottle and then pull the handle, observing the end of the cable to see if it moves enough to move the lever to actuate the bottle, etc. I've heard of cables seizing up after a few years.

If it moves enough then push it back in and reconnect to the bottle, if not replace the cable.

[RussMcB]

There is no way to test the bottle itself without setting it off. However I think a properly charged bottle is the least likely point of failure.

The only thing I can think of to test is to disconnect the cable from the bottle and then pull the handle, observing the end of the cable to see if it moves enough to move the lever to actuate the bottle, etc. I've heard of cables seizing up after a few years.

If it moves enough then push it back in and reconnect to the bottle, if not replace the cable.

Good advice.

And if you have an electrically activated head, the control box usually has a test position. At least my old Spa Lifeline did. It was to insure the 9v battery had enough charge to trigger the system.

I was usually pretty nervous pushing the button to see if the test light lit, though. :-).

[Daryl DeArman]

The CO2 cartridge fed systems (like my AFFF) are the same type of deal--once the burst panel has been punctured the system will continue to fire until it no longer under pressure.

As part of routine pre-race prep I disconnect the actuator cable and confirm it's proper operation and also disconnect the AN fitting at the head and blow high pressure compressed air to make certain all nozzles are free of obstruction and debris.

[bryancohnracing]

My advice on safety pins for fire systems:
Take the stoopid thing out, throw it as far as you can and never have to worry about not being able to set off your fire system again.

Why do I say this? Well, count me as a fire survivor ('99 FC Citation, mmmm crispy) that t might not have been as bad as it was had I not left the F***ing safety pin in the bottle. Snapped the "T" pull handle right off when I tried to pull it.

Mistakenly setting off your system is cheap compared to any burn you will get by not being able to set it off. Trust me I know. Wanna see the scars? I though not.....

Pull the pin. Throw it away, far away. Don't look for it. EVER.