FB at the sprints

[Wren]

The Citation team got here early Wednesday after an all night 15 hour tow to get up here for the Wednesday test day. We didn't find out about the Wednesday test day until about 3:00 on Monday, so there was a bit of a thrash to get everything loaded. It was more track time and a little bit cheaper than the Thursday test day even.
Phoenix and Citation were running the Wed. test day. Without timing them the Phoenix car looked quite fast all day and I only expect them to get faster as Mark isn't slated to arrive until today (Wed.). Very good looking car also. They were trying some trick aero bits by the end of the day.
We are still chasing some different issues around but were able to make some good progress all day and we are glad we did what it would take to make the test day (no sleep from monday morning through wed. night). We finally saw a 2:20 in the last session on 3 weekend old tires and an exhausted driver. We are still chasing some small oiling issues, but the threat to the car has been severely reduced.
Several other competitors have already arrived, Niki ran the Tuesday test day and spent all day Wed. putting a new motor in his Firman, I haven't really had a chance to get by there to talk to him yet. Citation is in paved paddock space 3, right at start finish, so please come by if you get a chance.

[Wren]

Some pictures I took yesterday.

Also, the forecast is calling for us to get some rain, so we will see how that goes.

[jjstecher]

Nice looking stuff guys. Leaving here in 30 minutes to tow over. See you soon.

[Mike B]

Just pulling out now. See everyone there!

[carnut169]

PLEASE keep the updates comming! Pics are fantastic also.

I'd love to see a Glen, Mike, Mark podium...

who will win.....?

[rickjohnson356]

Nice to see the early reports rather than waiting until after the event is over. Almost as good as being there for us who are stuck at home.

Another SEDIV guy for COOP on the top podium.

Go COOP Go

[RussMcB]

I agree. The reports are greatly appreciated by us not there.

I saw a Sprints Live Timing link yesterday. I don't have it in front of me, but I think it is on the event's web page. I'll be watching it as much as possible, cheering for everyone.

Was there really three seperate test days immediately before the event starts?! Wow.

[VehDyn]

This it?

http://www.livetiming.net/SCCA/club/livetiming.asp

[carnut169]

yep, or for FB:

http://www.livetiming.net/SCCA/club/...=1024&Class=FB

[PCalhoun]

Was there really three seperate test days immediately before the event starts?! Wow.

Two actually, it is a three day event F/S/S.

[RussMcB]

Two actually, it is a three day event F/S/S.

Wren mentioned Niki/Firman tested Tuesday.

[Wren]

Just got back to the hotel. We only made the first session today. We lost an oil pressure sender on false grid and thought we had smoked the motor. It sucks to miss the session, but when the oil pressure reads zero while the engine is running, the best thing it can be is a dead sensor. We are still dropping pressure braking into 5, so we integrated some baffles and the pickup from the Rinntech kit into our car and we are hopeful for that. Pressure is great everywhere else on the track. We also disabled the slipper clutch as it got out of whack and was upsetting the car.

We were head down in the car most of the day, but McLaughlin is running two RFR cars and Niki was back out in his and I had him very fast. I saw some Stohr's out, but never got a chance to watch them. Coop was running, and things seemed to be going well. Sessions were a little crowded and almost all ended early to pull cars out. There was a pretty serious incident with a FC at the kink, but I don't know any more than that.

We are just going to try to keep ironing out the car tomorrow and see how things go. Practice is at 0930 with just us and the FE's.

I'm posting from my BB, so it is time for shower and bed.

[Mike B]

I think most everyone is now at the track. I haven't seen several of the guys but talked to Sean Maisey, Glenn Cooper, John Stecher, George Dean, and Lee Williams. More fun tomorrow.
FC driver John Greist hit the wall in the kink and was airlifted from the track. Word is that he was conscious in the helicopter, knew that he was in a crash, but thought it was a Skip Barber race. The car looks like a write-off. Keep him in your thoughts.

Here's some eye candy from the guys that were testing in the PM:

[Wren]

Also, George Dean has been more helpful than we could have even hoped for. Great guy.

[jjstecher]

I'll post as much as I can with pics and what not from the limited crew I have while here as well. Crowd looks great and the paddock is full of racers. The beer was flowing at Siebkins tonight already and I am looking forward to a great day tomorrow. Some nasty storms in the area as I write this and raining at the track but should all be gone by 3-4am and then hopefully everything dry's out before practice.

Didnt get to meet to many folks tonight due to a pure crap parking space and spending an hour trying to maneuver the rig into place but all is good in the world now and this weekend should be a blast.

[Mike B]

Also, George Dean has been more helpful than we could have even hoped for. Great guy.

We told you so!

I haven't heard the total # of cars this weekend but I did hear that this is the most at the June Sprints since the 1970s. There are cars paddocked everywhere.
The storms have moved out and the skies are fairly clear. Weather.com shows no bad stuff until late afternoon. Hopefully it will hold out until after Q1.
No more updates from me until tonight. Good luck to everyone!

[Wren]

First session is over. Severely shortened by two FEs in the wall. Ambulance was out, that is all I know, keep them in your thoughts. All of the FB cars seemed ok.

Very successful session for us. Low oil pressure was 41 psi and temps were 230 out of the engine. I am currently considering naming my first child after the Rilltech guy.

Now we can actually work on the car instead of panicing over oil pressure.

[RussMcB]

Pretty neat seeing you folks at to top of the charts, Wren. Glad it is going well your you and others.

No session 1 time posted for Coop. He must be dialed in already. :-).

What chassis is James Michael driving?

I see there is a FB/FE drivers meeting in a few minutes. I wonder if anything interesting will be discussed.

[Wren]

Not sure who James Micheal is, but if he is #51, he is driving what looked like a VD conversion that is very slick. I didn't print an entry list, so I am having trouble knowing the guys I don't already know.

I will try to find Coop in a minute and see what his status is.

I don't know if anyone got a good lap in as the carnage started pretty early. All those lap times were tooling around under yellow and waiting for the black to come out.

I may try to get Brandon's laptop out in a few minutes and look at times and upload some pictures. The timing page doesn't display right on my blackberry.

[Scotty Segers]

James Michael is in a Stohr

[dc]

First session is over. Severely shortened by two FEs in the wall. Ambulance was out, that is all I know, keep them in your thoughts. All of the FB cars seemed ok.

Anyone know anything about the FEs? Who was it, are they ok?

[thewarehouse]

I heard that it all happened in 12. Maybe somebody cleared the tire baarrier/fence but he couldn't confirm.

Also heard they helicoptered somebody out yesterday?

As it was described to me "Everybody is trying to qualify like it's the $#%&^ run-offs!"

[carnut169]

Not sure who James Micheal is, but if he is #51, he is driving what looked like a VD conversion that is very slick.

That is a slick VD conversion... and would be Chris Mcnitt in my old car. Go Chris!!

Keep those updates/ pics comming. Damn, I wish I was there.



Whats up with turn 12? Lots of carnage, it seems.

[Wren]

I heard that it all happened in 12. Maybe somebody cleared the tire baarrier/fence but he couldn't confirm.

Also heard they helicoptered somebody out yesterday?

As it was described to me "Everybody is trying to qualify like it's the $#%&^ run-offs!"

I am not sure where it happened, but some guys left in an ambulance and it took a while to clean up. There may have been multiple incidents. Yes, there are some people treating the out lap for practice like it is the last lap of the race, but it's always been like that for some classes.

An FC driver left in a helicopter yesterday after someone drove him off the track after the kink. Car was obliterated and he ended up upside down. I overheard that he broke some vertebrae in his neck and his thumb but was fully aware of what happened and would be ok.

We may get some rain before Q1 at 3:35. We'll see.

[Wren]

Some pictures from earlier
McLaughlin car

[carnut169]

Formula Super just sent me an email showing that FB is the fastest class there so far- faster than DSR/ CSR/ FA!

[cooleyjb]

Formula Super just sent me an email showing that FB is the fastest class there so far- faster than DSR/ CSR/ FA!

That has to include test days since FB wasn't even the fastest in it's own group today.

[racerjb]

That has to include test days since FB wasn't even the fastest in it's own group today.

Yeah, it looks like it was the slowest class. DSR was in the 2:09's, CSR 2:08's, FC 2:15's, FB 2:22's. Have a look at the live timing link and click on the different classes.

Anyone, know what was the fastest lap from the test days and by who?

[TimW]

From Live Timing:
Pos Num Driver Last Speed(?) Best
6| 77| Brandon Dixon | 4|8:17.726| 29.279| 3|2:22.588|
10| 8| Mark Jaremko | 3|2:42.195| 89.847| 2|2:23.853|
12| 37| James Michael | 4|3:39.262| 66.463| 2|2:24.350|
13| 25| Mike Beauchamp| 3|2:56.375| 82.624| 2|2:24.408|
19| 07| John Stecher | 3|2:41.051| 90.486| 2|2:29.445|
25| 99| Sean Maisey | 3|2:53.934| 83.784| 2|2:35.072|
30| 51| Chris McNitt | 3|3:55.257| 61.944| 2|2:45.901|
31| 2| Kyle Oberndorf | 3|7:22.100| 32.963| 1|2:47.914|
32| 56| Bill McLaughlin | 2|3:28.962| 18.014| 1|2:49.163|
35| 81| Niki Coello | 2|2:53.932| 83.784| 2|2:53.932|

As pointed out, FC was in the 2:15s

[Mike Holland]

Too bad there isn't sound also.

[Wren]

Got an update from Coop and he and the car are fine. He just had to run into town this morning and couldn't make the session.

As for who was fast on the test day, there were some times around 2:12 I know. I think Justin ran a 2:11.xxx last year, so that sounds about right.

It has already sprinkled some, but the weather may hold out for qualifying. Tonight will be nasty according to the forecast.

[Misterkris]

anyone elso watching? its pretty good ,even though its just numbers. Anyone know what happend to Bill jr?


wow .010 deciding pole after qual.

[Darren Brown]

What is even more impressive is the first four cars are all different makes and all with in 3 tenths on a four mile track.

Darren

[RussMcB]

anyone elso watching? its pretty good ,even though its just numbers. Anyone know what happend to Bill jr?


wow .010 deciding pole after qual.

Yes, that's impressive. Top 4 very close.

Just provisional pole, with another qualifying session tomorrow AM.

[TimW]

Any clue with Brandon & Mike B didn't get laps after the FCY?

[Nicholas Belling]

| |DRIVER |LST| LAP| LAST|BST| BEST|
POS|NO |NAME |LAP| TIME| SPEED|LAP| TIME|
1| 81| Niki Coello| 9|2:36.988| 92.827| 8|2:12.613|
2| 2| Kyle Oberndorf| 12|2:40.120| 91.012| 10|2:12.623|
3| 8| Mark Jaremko| 11|2:24.822|100.626| 10|2:12.902|
4| 43| Glenn Cooper| 9|2:42.788| 89.520| 8|2:12.909|
5| 07| John Stecher| 10|2:15.492|107.555| 10|2:15.492|
12| 25| Mike Beauchamp| 6|2:40.089| 91.029| 4|2:18.293|
13| 37| James Michael| 10|2:19.008|104.834| 9|2:18.444|
15| 77| Brandon Dixon| 8|2:22.560|102.222| 5|2:18.521|
20| 17| Chris Waterman| 3|2:20.085|104.028| 3|2:20.085|
28| 99| Sean Maisey| 3|2:24.044|101.169| 3|2:24.044|
34| 56| Bill McLaughlin| 1|2:49.496| 85.977| 1|2:49.496|

[Wren]

Brandon turned laps after the black flag. Sean bent a corner on his car in 5. It looked fixable.

Brandon came in one lap early with a busted shifter. Should be a minor reweld and fix. We are just hanging out and watching some other qualifying.

I doubt anyone is getting a clean lap with all the FE's out there.

It was great that the rain held off to get in a clean session. It has started coming down during the SRFs.

[rickb99]

Told you guys not to count Oberndorf out of that race when all the hoopla started over who would be there

It's gonna be a good one.

[Richard Dziak]

The FB race should be fantastic as of the 1st Q heat. The top 5 FB's will be at the front of the pack and will set the pace for the race. It should be great to watch via live at the track or via live timing.

If the other FB's can have a good 2nd Q tomorrow it will add more FB's at the front of the pack and potentially the top 7 or 8 cars as FB. That will give them a clear track to really battle it out for at least half the race until they run into traffic.

Likes like it will come down to the quality of the drivers as the times for the top 5 are sooooooo close. Wow!!!!

Now the question comes to........ Who gets the bragging rights for the top driver going into the ARRC?

Ok whats your bet for tomorrows Sprint Race?

I have to stick with MJ/Phoenix, but NC/Firman looks impressive with the times, but MJ had a higher top speed. Coop could be the long shot.

This is EXCITING.....go FB racers.

[Lee Stohr]

How do you know the top speeds ?
I wouldn't say Coop is a long shot, he has the most well-sorted F1000 of the bunch and is as quick as anyone. Any of the top 4 could win, it's pretty hard to pick one !
Should be a great race.