Hoosier Tire US Formula First Rounds 1 & 2 - Nelson Ledges

[rgu]

The Season Starts!!!


Well its starting and there is less than two months to go. I got this from the Nelson Race Chair. “The supps/schedule are up on the MVR website - www.mvrscca.org for our double regional the end of May. Online registration should be available next week at www.motorsportreg.com. Register early”.


Remember Nelson has a convenient and well priced practice day perfect for blowing out the cobwebs on the car and driver.

More info in FFDA e-mail.

[Doug FST 5]

The sounds, the smells, the racing, the friends. Bring on the season!

Doug FST 5

[dd46637]

Registration is now working.
I will be using #8 this year.
Dave

[Bill Bonow]

Registration for the opening 2 rounds of the 2011 US Formula First Championship Series is now open.

Rounds 1 & 2 will be held at Nelson Ledges in Warren Ohio on the weekend of May 28th & 29th. The host region will be MVR of the NE division, SCCA.

Here is a link to registration: http://www.motorsportreg.com/index.c...EFB515A99AF156

At this early date, Dave Dawson has already entered

Like voting in a Chicago election, enter early and often.

[dd46637]

I'm looking forward to doing all the races this year.

Man it's been a long time since I've been able to say that.

Dave

[teamclark]

Ok

So time to ante up! Who's going to be at Nelson for the opening round

Current entry list is a slightly anemic 4 cars....

Doug Seim
Dave Dawson
Robert Stack
Rob Clark

But I know there are others so who are a yes (but are just hiding under the radar and haven't registered) and who won't be there ??

Rob

[lawyerbob]

Your right Rob - we need more cars! I think Sam F. will be registering now that he's an official SCCA Licensed Racecar Driver!

There was a post by Robert Ghude (or maybe an e-amil?) that sounded like we had about ten cars committed for Nelson and a couple more on the fence?

I'm planning to get there Thursday night and be at the track as soon as the gates open on Friday for the test day - it will be the first time the "new" Citation will be on track.

It's go time!

[SamF]

My car suffered a little bit of fatigue at the Nelson driving school, as soon as know I have that resolved I will be signing up.

Sam

[lawyerbob]

My car suffered a little bit of fatigue at the Nelson driving school, as soon as know I have that resolved I will be signing up.

Sam

Ah show up anyway, there will be several of us trying to finish our cars on Friday join the crowd! Seriously, you'll find the FST community to be really helpful when it comes to trackside repairs and advice.

[dblevins]

I will not be able to attend,as I will be in Canada.i will be at Waterford Hills,though.Any one care to recommend a decent motel around the area ? thanks in advance Dave B.

[lawyerbob]

so how many to we need to keep our own run group? I'm sure at some point they will just put is in with another group.

[Amon]

With so few Vee's expected to show, don't be surprised if we're thrown
into your group. Not that it's a bad idea since you'll motor away from us
as the race progresses.

Mark

[lawyerbob]

With so few Vee's expected to show, don't be surprised if we're thrown
into your group. Not that it's a bad idea since you'll motor away from us
as the race progresses.

Mark

One of the reasons I'm asking is that apparently on Saturday all the groups EXCEPT FST have a 10 min qual sesseion and an 8 lap qulaifying race. For whatever reason, FST only gets a 15 minute qualifying session and no qualifying race. So if we are combined with another group/class will that change?

[teamclark]

Ok

So we are making some progress - confirmed entries

Doug Seim
Dave Dawson
Robert Stack
Rob Clark
Reece Everard

Also Jason Steeb is a definate yes.... so that makes 6

Maybe's

George Podgorski
Randy Shin
Sam Farmiga

Anyone else........

SR Racing has a couple of cars for lease - so there is a real opportunity to get on track even if your cars not ready.

Even if its a small group lets make ourselves look bigger - and I don't just mean the action on the track - lets try and pit close together, and everyone can help in making sure everyone has a great weekend!!

Rob

[Jim Nash]

I'm not going to be making the trek to NL this year. I will be at Waterford Hills and hopefully the rest of the schedule as well.

Looking forward to seeing eveyone and some new cars ar Waterford.

Jim

[lawyerbob]

I'm not going to be making the trek to NL this year. I will be at Waterford Hills and hopefully the rest of the schedule as well.

Looking forward to seeing eveyone and some new cars ar Waterford.

Jim

Jim - will you be running the CenDiv race at Brainerd July 9/10? My wife is out of town that weekend and I'm giving some thought to driving up there - get some CenDiv points since I'm missing the first two events of the season in that series.

Rob - I agree - I like the idea of the FST paddocks being close together. I thought the location last year was great (near tech, the main straight foot bridge, the food stand!) I'll be getting there as soon as the gates open on Friday. Is that the area we want to claim?

[ADR]

I will not be able to attend,as I will be in Canada.i will be at Waterford Hills,though.Any one care to recommend a decent motel around the area ? thanks in advance Dave B.

http://www.hiexpress.com/hotels/us/e...mi/hoteldetail

http://www.comfortinn.com/hotel-wate...michigan-MI080

I wouldn't recommend any of the hotels at Dixie and Telegraph, while they are quite close to the track, you can rent them by the hour.

[Doug FST 5]

Bob - please get a foot hold in that area of paddock when you arrive. I agree - lets stick together and make sure everyone has a successful weekend.

Doug FST 5

[lawyerbob]

Bob - please get a foot hold in that area of paddock when you arrive. I agree - lets stick together and make sure everyone has a successful weekend.

Doug FST 5

I'll do my best! Who all is coming in on Friday?

[Doug FST 5]

A the moment RGU Racing is looking like two trailers. I get there around 9:30 or so. I'm not sure about George.

Doug FST 5

[jsteeb]

I am planning to be there Friday. Can't wait!

[steve everard]

Reece and I will be there Friday.
Looking foward to seeing everyone
Steve

[teamclark]

I will be there Friday evening for documentation, not sure what time Jim will be arriving but save space for his big rig!!

[SamF]

Work has got in the way and I will have to miss the Nelson weekend.

Sam

[lawyerbob]

Work has got in the way and I will have to miss the Nelson weekend.

Sam

Booo! Come on Sam, get your priorities straight

Waterford Hills then?

[SamF]

Bob,

Patagonia next week, and then Waterfors Hills in June

Sam

[Doug FST 5]

That's way too bad Sam! See you at Waterford.

Doug FST 5

[lawyerbob]

Well as of Saturday the extra braces the SCCA asked for have been done

As of yesterday the wiring and electrical is done

As of this afternoon the new and improved steering rack mount will be done.

By the time I get to the track on Friday I'm hoping that all that will be left to do bleed the brakes and clutch, set ride height and alignment, and and possibly finish the seat - it's been giving me grief. Should be good to race on Saturday.

Oh - and according the the 10 day weather forecast, bring the rains - 30-40% chance of rain both days!

FINALLY!!!!! It's almost time!

[Doug FST 5]

All packed up and ready for a great weekend! See you there!

Doug FST 5

[teamclark]

Truck is loaded with Australian Beer to share and enjoy after Saturdays events (commiserate or celebrate)

See you all there

Rob

[lawyerbob]

Ditto - trailer and truck mostly packed. Should be on the road before noon on Thursday!

[Bill Bonow]

Here is the entry list as posted on motorsportreg.com. Looks to be a very low OA entry at 57 cars, so even with only 7 cars entered, FST is still the second largest class of the event (SM has 8 entries).

Here is your line up for today and tomorrows event.

[FONT=Verdana]# 5 – Doug Seim – Mysterian M5.1 – AutoWerks/P&NP Computing – Okeana, OH [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana]# 6 – Reece Everard – ‘05 Jacer V2K2 – Rochester, MI [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana]# 8 – Dave Dawson – ‘06 Campbell Evolution – South Bend, IN [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana]# 13 – Robert Stack – 1995 Citation FST – Stack Law Office / Trailer Leasing LLC – Hartland, WI [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana]# 19 – Jason Steeb – ‘79 Lynks FST – Steve Steeb Service / AutoWerks – Novi, MI [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana]# 31 – Randy Shinn – ‘92 Adams Aero – Gibsonburg, OH [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana]# 37 – Robert Clark – ‘06 Evolution CM-1 200 – TeamClark Motorsport, SR Racing – Rochester, MI[/FONT]

I'll try to get reports on the event and post the later today and tomorrow. My bet is that even with a smaller turn out, the fight for the point will still be just as tough.

[Doug FST 5]

Top three today were Steeb, Seim and Clark.

[lawyerbob]

few pics from today



















I'm sure others will post more

[Bill Bonow]

Here are the grid positions for Sundays race:

Seim 1:14.1
Clark 1:14.2
Steeb 1:14.5
Dawson 1:15.1
Everard 1:15.3
Shinn 1:31.0
Stack ?

With 1.2 seconds covering 80% of the grid, it will be another great reace.

[Bill Bonow]

Jim Schings emailed this brief report of race 2:

1 Seim
2 Steeb
3 Dawson
4 Reece
5 Shinn
[FONT=Times New Roman][FONT=Verdana]6 Clark [/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman][FONT=Verdana]7 Stack[/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana]It was Seim, Steeb and Clark for several laps. Then Clark came in when thought something was wrong. Just a broke header. He went back out but down a couple laps. Steeb spun and lost positions to Dawson and Reece. That was a 3 way fight for awhile. Then Dawson spun and got back on. Then Reece spun and couldn't get[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana]back on. [/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman][FONT=Verdana]A super show with 5 cars for a few laps.[/FONT] [/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana]I'm sure photos will follow shortly[/FONT].




[/FONT]

[fezzic181]

Watched the show from turn 4 corner station on Saturday and Turn 10 on Sunday. As always the best race going.

[dd46637]

The racing was tremendous.
Reece and I went back ad forth for 13 laps. Jason spun under braking for T12 while battling with Doug early, got himself back on and gave chase, finally catching up with about 5 to go.
Thats when things got really wild. With 2 to go Reece fell of the road in the carousel. Jason and I nearly went 3 wide with a Vee through the kink. I backed out being the one the outside. Last lap and slower traffic reared it's ugly head again. Trying a desperate move to the inside of 13 didn't pay off and I looped it, got back on and ended 3rd.
After Jason spun early Doug had it all his own way but there were plenty of fireworks in the war for the rest of the podium.
Doug got fastest lap by .003 seconds.

I'm hoping Jason can post his video. It will be very entertaining.
Dave

[Doug FST 5]

Rob Clark had fastest lap today with a 1:13.8 - he seemed to be in the mood to drive the wheels off the thing!


Doug FST 5

[dd46637]

My bad I thought it was you Doug. To bad Robert had a header crack.