Who will FF @ Runoffs - Vegas Line 2008

[Drivers Services]

We're not in Kansas anymore......

Frank C, Cen20, John, Tim....

Regarding fuel questions, like I said earlier. They (Tech) and for that matter we (The SCCA) were and are really in over our heads with fuel testing. The Tech tech's really looked tired and beaten up by mid week. I'm sure they did over 1000 fuel tests. I assumed (but didn't agree with the idea) that they would be reuseing bottles, what surprised me was the bottles weren't at least kept seperate. All bottles were mixed after each use. I suggested 2 things to them. 1. Keep the bottles seperate, ie: 1 basket for 100 unleaded, 1 for 110 leaded, 1 for 112 leaded and a fourth for Oil mix ect. Secondly any bottle used for a failed sample should be discarded. I wasn't thrilled with the idea of getting a bottle that hadn't had anything but "good" 110 in it previously. When I made these suggestions the answer I was given was "That may have been a good idea, but it's to late now."

I, like Mike A, have no energy and have to rejoin the real world right now. I'll try to get back to everyone else soon. Thanks.

Jim Little

[stonebridge20]

I am not sure how any crew member can look at the flag and the cars at the same time unless you are Marty Feldman.M.Sauce

Mike, ONE crew member won't see the field AND the green at the same time unless that crew member is up stream of the starters stand. When you have 8 eyes in pit lane with 2 eyes on the starter and 6 on the field all with radios things get quite clear. When 8 ears (now the driver is involved) hear GREEN,GREEN,GREEN and the front row is split already I would call that a "jump". Yes, Chris was a little sleepy but Tonis was a little early. Taking NOTHING away from Tonis as he is one hell of a racecar driver as he should be as a paid professional and SHOULD be on that ragged edge 100% of the time. That said, the start had nothing to do with the outcome of the race and I don't have ANY problem with it. There were MUCH bigger problems last week that I will get into later. It will probably start in the "Runoffs fuel question" thread and I'm sure will pi$$ some people off.

Mike

[M.Sauce]

Mike- No argument about the fuel issues.But I do think that by race time everything was mostly under control.The fuel issues will always create a challenge for enforcement.

Mike Sauce

[Neil Porter]

[FONT=Arial]Well after two days and about 28 hours driving, I am back home in California. What an exciting and stressful 10 days it was at the runoffs. Chris Keller did a great job during the runoffs and I could not ask for anything more from a driver. He took care of his tires and drove a great race. We had a few problems with our engine during the race, like our distributor pumping oil into the distributor cap causing a miss. In addition, we gave Chris inaccurate information on the remaining laps. Chris figured out on his own he was on the final lap by the lines Tonis was taking through the corners and he put the car where it need to be to win.

I do not want to bore you but some of you might like to know a little more about Chris Keller. Chris is from New Jersey and came to drive with our team through Ron Sutton’s Winner Circle Racing Team program. Ron created the program to train and develop young drivers to have the tools necessary to hopefully make it into professional racing. Besides at the track training, this program includes intensive classroom training in all facets of racing such as interviews, communicating with sponsors, analyzing car set-ups, etc. I have been working with Ron as a "satellite race team" for about 5 years and typically work with two or three of this drivers each year to give them some experience in road racing formula cars. He also has other satellite teams that run stock car and sprint car programs. Ron Sutton runs an in-house four-car Focus Midget team. He receives approximately 500 resumes each year, the majority of which come from young go karters. Most of Chris Keller’s previous racing experience is in karts.

Chris’s first event with us was in the middle of the summer of 2007 at a SCCA regional race held at Thunderhill Park in California. Even though he had never driven Formula Ford in SCCA competition or had been to this track, he qualified 2nd in the normally very competitive SF Region FF class. Unfortunately because of a miscue on my part, Chris was black flagged after the start for a rules infraction and rejoined the field in last place. He went from last place to being on the gearbox of the second place car at the checked flag and on that last lap he broke the track record. In fact, Chris has broken the race record at every race we have run 2008. In Phoenix he broke the track record even though the track had been oiled down coming onto the long front straight and we had been fighting an engine miss since the beginning of the weekend. At the Thunderhill national he broke his own track record again. Then he broke the track and qualifying records at the Topeka Double National last month. And of course he broke the track and race record this weekend at the Runoffs. He has run a total of 7 races in a FF. He does not have a lot of experience other than in karts - but he is extremely fast anyway!

My main reason for posting today was to thank the people who make our racing program so successful this year. The following companies and individuals are:

Goodyear Tire Company
Loynings Engine Service
Fast Forward Racing Components
Racemirrors.com
Panasport Wheels
Ron Sutton Winners Circle Racing
Peter Nosler
Kevin Keller
Chris Keller
Porter Racing Staff

All their help made this year's racing program so successful. Thank you.

Lastly I do not want to get into "Sunday Morning Quarterbacking" on what did or did not happen during this runoffs. Everyone has his or her own opinion on what happen in this corner or on that lap. If the start was jumped or not, it did not matter in the end. I would like to say that the tech people went out of their way to make what is at times a stressful part of the runoffs as painless as possible. I thought they were very friendly and professional. This applies especially to the fuel people doing the fuel tests. They had a thankless job that was handed to them by the stewards and they were doing their best to implement it. We had our fuel tested twice before qualifying. Once on Saturday and once on Sunday. We had run "good" SCCA legal fuel for the double National the month before and were well aware that the fuel cell had to be rinsed out several times in order to pass the fuel test with the track fuel - Sunoco 110 leaded Purple.

The one bad moment came for us when the stewards decided to add a fourth test which was not done earlier in the week and they did not announce this to any of the competitors so they could have their fuel re-tested before qualifying. My car as well as one other FF initially tested bad on this new test which to say the least had me a bit upset as we had just set a new qualifying record. We knew that Wednesday’s morning qualifying session was going to be the best day to set a fast qualifying time and getting our time thrown out was not a happy prospect. We took another sample after removing our 5-foot hose that we connect to the fuel port on the car and we passed. The tech people knew they had a problem and all the next morning there were announcements over the P.A. system - many times - that there were now new fuel rules and to have your fuel tested (or re-tested) before qualifying that day. The stewards would have saved them selves a lot of grief if they would have done this before qualifying even started. Archie Hodge had told me many months ago that he had to run 25 gallons of track fuel through his fuel cell to make his car pass for the 2006 Runoffs. We took this to heart and I brought a new fuel cell with us to the runoffs just in case we could not clean out ours to pass the fuel tests. After the near miss in tech we went back and installed the new cell as well as replacing all the fuel lines and the fuel filter. Then we tested the fuel two more times, once Wednesday afternoon and again Thursday morning before the final qualifying. We had no more problems. It was easy to for people to blame the people doing the work performing the fuel tests but they were just doing what they were told by the people that run the show. I blame the stewards who made the decision to change the test and I commend them for fixing the problem. There was the possibility that the fourth test was supposed to be performed all along and in that case the blame would fall on the head fuel tech crew but I do not think that was the case. Anyway that’s my opinion.

I want to thank everyone for making this trip to the Runoffs so memorable.

Neil Porter





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[Bill Johnson 42]

I would like to thank my engine builder, Charlie Williams and my brother Cliff for all thier help. Sunday test day a valve spring broke in my just freshened Runoffs engine.

Drove back to KC Sunday evening to pick up Cliffs spare motor and returned to the track about 8:00 PM. After some discussion we figured it was just easier to swap heads so Charlie worked until midnight to get everything done. He didn't just swap heads, he put in the extra effort and completely dissasembled Cliffs head, cleaned it and lapped the valves before reassembling on my car. Finished up Monday morning setting the valves.

Ran the Monday session in the rain really just to get a little time on the motor so we could check everything out and really didn't put much effort into it so it was nice to end up 2nd fastest in that session after all the work.

After the Wednesday session we were pretty dissapointed in our lap times. For Thursday we went to make a shock change and discovered no nitrogen in both right side shocks. Filled the shocks, went faster but still not very happy with the lap times. Turns out our right rear shock wouldn't hold pressure for even 30 minutes. Joe Stimola came by and fixed it in about 10 minutes while it was still on the car before the race, just a leaky O ring on the cannister - thanks Joe.

We thought we had all our little issues covered and were really looking forward to the race. Somehow our right rear tow link got bent on the first lap and we were done. Pretty dissapointing. Normally I'm a pretty lucky person but I think I've inherited Mike Sauces Runoffs luck, I'm going to have to quit hanging around him .

Personally I was glad to see the extra scrutiny on the fuel testing. The first of the week there were all kinds of rumors on who was runing what "blended" fuel and how to beat the test. Yes, they should have tested more strictly from the very start so the people that had the great qualifying runs the first of the week could actually get credit for thier efforts instead of being accused of cheating. In the end it made no difference in the outcome of the race which is really what counts.

It was a great to see such a strong and deep FF field this year, probably more so than any other class and of course the race for the win, drag race to the finish from the last turn on the last lap was a thrill to watch. It was a pretty good year for FF and next year with the 40th anniversary it should be even better.

See everyone soon

[M.Sauce]

Bill- Maybe your good luck rubbed off on me.I really appreciated all your help with my motor change.I could not have done it without you,Scotty Segers and Bob Henson.Maybe my luck is changing.I really am sorry about your bad luck this year.Next year will better for you.Thanks again

[Drivers Services]

OK, Let's try to wrap this up.....

Thanks for all the questions. I'll try to answer them now.

Rest of the last lap.


Keller wins, Keller wins by .1 of a second, JT and Mike Sauce will finish uncontested in 3rd and 4th respectively. 5th place on the other hand...... Well, gate keepers and the last lap have had no luck the last 2 years, this year would prove to be no different.
TC has had a tough race. The left side of the field got the jump on the start which allowed TC to go from 4th to 2nd on the start. He's had various FF's attached to the back of his gearbox ever since. Starting the last lap it would be Steven Oseth. In short order however Mr Schwietz will get by Steve and onto the back of TC's gearbox. Last corner, Last chance...................... Thinking, Thinking how to write this.........
Hmmm. How about this. A disclaimer: I didn't see it as a big deal either way and didn't see anybody do anything wrong. I'll let you watch for yourselves in Janauary and decide for yourselves then. I'll just state the facts.
The point of a Pipers nose finds the back of a Vandiemen's gearbox, a small cheer goes up from the crowd standing on top of the dragster tower seats as the Vandiemen spins.
Mr Schwietz will finish 5th followed in close order by Steve Oseth in 6th. TC will get it pointed in the right direction and cross the line in 11th.

I did not see either Schutte incident so I can't comment on them.

Alex Schutte and Chris Keller pushed each other this year. I think it was good for both their programs. It certainly didn't hurt. Alex has a lot of raw speed and excellent car control. I don't know what happened in his off in the morning hardship lap, It may have just been a rookie mistake or perhaps mechanical failure. Again like his race incident I didn't see it and didn't ask. Perhaps he can answer. I believe he's a forum member. Alex?

In any event his crew seemed to do an excellent job turning the car around for the race.

Hardship system

Yes the Hardship lap system was unique. You lined up in pit lane where you were held for 20 or so seconds to allow the car in front of you a gap. You then drove around the track to turn 12 where you exited the track to pitlane, coming down pitlane you were directed over to the near wall (pit box wall) where you drove through all the pit boxes and off the track. This takes you out by the tech center. At this point if you wanted too you could drive back through the north paddock and back in line to do another lap. Sessions were 15 minutes.
I suppose if you have a ton of cars and only 15 minutes it could make sense to do it this way. But we didn't have a ton of cars in fact for Sundays S/R - Open wheel group we had exactly 9. More than enough room to line up everyone in pit lane after each lap. Nope. Still gotta drive up the ramp, back thru the paddock, back thru the false grid,back onto pitlane, be held for a gap.....
I believe the "Hardship around the track, past tech, thru the paddock and back thru the false grid lap" record was set by one of the team Swan cars, not sure which, As all three of their FA's seemed to be trying to scrub in a set of stickers. With only 9 cars in the group 3 or 4 "laps" were doable.
You can always have fun at the Runoffs, you just have to know where to look.

I was going to leave this question for team Treadway to answer but as I understand it Mike A. is still curled up in a fetal position somewhere in Conn. recovering.
Arnie Loyning of Loynings Engine Services was the engine builder who was asked and stepped in to help team Treadway with some of their motor issues. Arnie is the classiest of a class bunch of engine builders involved in FF. Congratulations go out to him on winning another national championship in FF. Those Chrysler blue lumps can be found in many of the cars we run here at Drivers Services.

Chris Kellers "Flyers"
I haven't seen anyone turn a qualifying lap in a FF like Chris since probably John Hill one year back in Mid-Ohio. When you're timing the best FF drivers in the country in a 14 second split section and 1 guy is 1.1 seconds clear of the FIELD that's flying.

Lastly, thanks for all the thank yous, it's always nice to know your efforts are appreciated.

Yours for the Sport,
Jim Little

[M.Sauce]

Jim- I had the best view of the Shutte-Treadway incident.I only have the perspective of a couple of feet from the action.I can't hardly wait till we see it on Speed.Some will be surprised.Mike Sauce

[Drivers Services]

Mike,

Just saw the rebroadcast, you did a great job of not getting caught up in the accordian effect. Nice drive. It's too bad with Speed using live to tape that everybody doesn't get to see your pass on Tony.

Jim

[Jon Jeffords]

Saw the race for the first time this morning. What a show; what a finish. Congrats to all who participated.

Side note: Speed should invest in a half dozen in-car cameras, and place them strategically (at no charge) in cars making up the front third of the field.

On to Road America.....

[PaulT]

I just finished watching the race. It was great to put cars and faces to the names from Apexspeed! Not to mention it was a great race to watch.

Paul