Hoosier FST - Rounds 3 & 4 - Nelson Ledges

[Bill Bonow]

Entry is now open for Rounds 3 & 4 of The 2013 Hoosier Tire Formula First Championship Series. Our second meeting of the year will take place at Nelson Ledges and our host region is Finger Lakes.

Here is the direct link to entry:

http://www.motorsportreg.com/index.c...E#.UaOtPVYo6Ul

Nelson Ledges is one of our favorite tracks and is always well attended. It's fast, bumpy and very competitive.

Remember that your entry at Nelson gets you a 10% discount on the Fun One at WGI in September (Rounds 9 & 10).

[SamF]

I have entered! See you all at Nelson

[fezzic181]

I'll be on a corner. Can't wait.

[Doug FST 5]

Just entered - bring it on!

Doug FST 5

[teamclark]

With a couple of weeks to go the entries are a little slow coming in, so its time to declare your intentions and get entered or at least post here to confirm your coming. I know I am missing some names from this list

Yes
Rob Clark (entered)
Doug Seim (entered)
Sam Farmiga (entered)
Matt Gordon (entered)
Gary Grubb (entered)
Doug Sharp (entered)
Bill Wolfe

Maybe?
George Podgorski
Dave Dawson
Doug Sontag
Randy Shinn
Dave Blevins

Definate No
Jared Smith
Jim Nash
Bill Bonow
Butch Deer

[rgu]

Butch and Barbara Deer will be coming to Nelson. Unfortunately, Butch cannot bring the #11 Evolution because he is revamping his trailer equipment. He has sold his 40 foot trailer and is picking up a Toy Hauler in New Jersey.



On the way back they are coming right by Nelson Friday morning and will run up to the track and will be available to help out anyone who needs assistance. If you have extra crew passes let Butch know.



Even more reasons to get that new car out to our best venue for car development.

[rgu]

Please check the forum at Formula-First.org for an important announcement if yo want to run the practice day

[Chris Elwell]

Right now there are 6 FST, 2 FV, 1 F5 and 1 DSR registered. Any chance we will all be combined into one group? I'm planning on entering in FV, just haven't registered yet.

[Amon]

Chris,

I may show up if I get my tranny swapped out in time for next weekend.


Mark

[sracing]

I also have another available FST for rent at Nelson. If interested contact me about fitment etc.

[teamclark]

We are closing in on 10 cars, but current entries are a little low, so if you going to enter now is the time. Don't forget Jim @ SR has a car for lease so don't delay.

Yes
Rob Clark (entered)
Doug Seim (entered)
Sam Farmiga (entered)
Matt Gordon (entered)
Gary Grubb (entered)
Doug Sharp (entered)
Bill Wolfe (entered)
Dave Dawson (entered)

Maybe?
George Podgorski
Doug Sontag
Randy Shinn
Dave Blevins

Definate No
Jared Smith
Jim Nash
Bill Bonow
Butch Deer

[rightturntiger]

Any hotel recommendations for Nelson? I realized today that having a hotel would probably be useful. :-)

Matt Gordon

[SamF]

I booked:

Americas Best Value Inn
9420 Sr 14 Streetsboro Oh Us 44241
Streetsboro, OH 44240

We stayed there last year. It falls into the just ok category

[sracing]

Any hotel recommendations for Nelson? I realized today that having a hotel would probably be useful. :-)

Real men tent at Nelson.

[teamclark]

By "Tent" Jim's means stay in my big RV complete with TV and Beer Fridge

We stay in Streetsboro, 20mins or so from the track, all the usual suspects in the way of accommodation...

[dd46637]

I stayed in a tent at Nelson 3-4 years ago. Primitive very much so. Bring mosquito repellent.
D

[Doug FST 5]

The RGU crew will be in Streetsboro too.

My advice is to find a motel West of the track instead of East. Warren has taken a beating over the years.....

Doug FST 5

[rgu]

Behind the scenes there are many other things happening at one of our series races. I'll be dropping off two new VMS transmissions for new FST's which will be debuting in 2014. That's another story.

[jsteeb]

man - I miss you guys.

Have fun this weekend.

[rgu]

Jason

Next month, in your back yard we'll reserve the former champion paddock space for you--well?

[teamclark]

Qualifying Results for Race 1

Attachment 39832

[teamclark]

Race 1 ResultsAttachment 39837

[teamclark]

Podium Photos
2012 US Hoosier Tires 2012 Championship

Doug Sharp - Rookie of the Year 2012 accepts his trophy
Attachment 39841

Bill Bonow (may not be actually person) 3rd 2012 US Hoosier Tires 2012 Championship
Attachment 39842

Rob Clark - 2nd 2012 US Hoosier Tires 2012 Championship
Attachment 39843

2012 Champion - Doug Seim
Attachment 39844

2013 US Hoosier Tires Championship - Race 4 Nelson Ledges Podium
Attachment 39845

Attachment 39846

[teamclark]

Race 2 - Grid
Attachment 39857

[planbracing]

Some good racing, congrats to all.

[teamclark]

Race 2 Results

Attachment 39869

[teamclark]

Race 4 - Nelson Ledges

Winner Doug Seim, 2nd Doug Sharp 3rd Sam (Doug) Farmiga

Attachment 39870

Attachment 39871

[Bill Bonow]

Rob,

Thanks for the quick posting of the results. Makes it easy for the points keeper. Points are updated and set to Jim for posting on the FST website. Overall entry numbers are down, but the battle for this years championship has many new players involved.

Grattan will be very interesting.

[rgu]

I can't do anything comprehensive but just have these initial thoughts.

Two great races this weekend at the point with Doug Seim and Rob Clark. Rob deserved not to have a mechanical issue at the end of Sunday's race.

Maybe more important for the future. Dr Doug, Sam (Doug) Farmiga, Bill Wolfe, and Gary Grubb were really going toe to toe with some wheel banging on occasion. Everyone on the McGill tower was enthralled. Thanks to Matt Seim and Brody Hensler who cared for the cars and provided great re-alignments after the fun.

Matt Gorden had a great shot at a podium shot down with a mechanical gremlin not fixable at the track. This car is fast and Matt is starting a great comeback in FST racing.

Good News is a friend has some great photos I'll get posted.

Lastly, congrats to Mark Kelly for a great drive to the vee win.

Good night

[rightturntiger]

Yes, the Jaygo Racing bunch was gutted to have our weekend cut so short. We were pretty frustrated (and not particularly quick) at Milwaukee but after the first session Saturday at Nelson we felt like we had an excellent chance to be in the mix for a podium finish and then it went up in smoke.

We would have loved to stay and hang out and watch the battle Saturday afternoon but once I learned I could cancel the hotel for Saturday night we figured that was a better move because we'll need the money to fix the car!

Grattan is 50/50 for us at this point, but we'll see everybody soon.

Matt Gordon
Jaygo Racing #57

[John Walsh]

Race Chairman Lew Giesy and I, on behalf of the Finger Lakes Region SCCA, want to thank all the Hoosier Tire Formula First Series competitors who attended Rounds 3 & 4 at Nelson Ledges this last weekend. In spite of the heat, some great racing !

Hope to see you all next year,

John Walsh
Chief Steward - Finger Lakes Region "Westward Ho" Regional Race

[Doug FST 5]

John, Lew,

Thanks for a smooth running and enjoyable weekend. Each official I encountered was helpful and pleasant. I was proud of being a former FLR member! I'm looking forward too seeing you all again at WGI in the Fall.

Doug FST 5

[Doug FST 5]

Rounds 3 and 4 are behind us, those were rounds 1 and 2 for the RGU crew. The car tested fine on Friday and had no issues. Saturday went really well. Q2 then I had a better trip through the carousel than Rob on the opening lap. Rob worked me hard for the rest of the race but we held on to the lead.

On Sunday we had the ackerman bracket on the left side break in half near the weld on the riser. Of course that happened in the carousel but early enough that the car was catchable. The riser is pretty tall putting a big moment on the bracket during cornering. I'm thinking a design change is needed for our situation. Nobody else is having trouble with the part.

While working on getting the part welded we had the car on charge. What I didn't know at the time is the dash switch for the ignition had mechanically broken and left the ignition turned on. Of course the points were closed. By the time we got the suspension in one piece the coil had a big crack in it and hot plastic had poured out of it. The points were hosed too. More scrambling and the ignition was in one piece. Sent Matt and Brodie off with the car to check the toe while I dressed for the second session.

I pull out on the track maybe a minute after the session started. Suspension is fine but the motor won't rev past 4300 without breaking up. Back into the paddock. The points we grabbed out of the trailer were not the Bosch high RPM part (oops). New set of points, all is running well again.

Q2 for the race again. Rob has a great start and a quick opening lap - no way to get anything done there at all. After a couple of laps I'm getting oil on my visor but no smoke from #37. Following close becomes an issue for visibility and grip and I fall back. I do what I can and hope that traffic helps me out later in the race. 3 laps to go and we catch some FV's. I get close to Rob in 13 and drag race him on the exit then Rob's off the pace! On the next time by Rob is trackside at Oak Tree. We had a substantial advantage to the next car so its a cruise to the checker.

Many thanks to Robert Guhde for working out a terrific race weekend with FLR and putting an awesome race car on the track. Also to Robert and Randy Hensler, Brodie Hensler and Matt Seim for keeping the car running in top shape and working through the problems on Sunday.

Also congrats to guys that are starting to figure all this stuff out. Sam picked up some 4 seconds from last year. Dr. Doug is looking quick. Matt Gordon was looking very good until a mechanical problem sidelined him. Dave Dawson nearly made it to the track. His reworked car may have the answer to make him a frequent visitor to the podium. The season looks to be very interesting as we go along.

Doug FST 5

[fezzic181]

Very good show. Much enjoyed from my perch at 10 on Saturday and 4 on Sunday. Thanks for the show

[rgu]

After pondering the results at Nelson for a few days I’m really impressed with how well the event went and how friendly everyone was. I was privy to the budget for the event and was told that FL Region probably broke even on the entry they had. That’s very good news because in my opinion the whole Majors thing will fundamentally change the grass roots and I don’t think for the better--- because money will rule. When you get twenty Atlantics and ten Vees at the June Sprints at Road America it doesn’t take a genius to note the changes. The fact that a Nelson Ledges can be rented for a third of Road America or Watkins Glen keeps cheap racing viable.


Thanks FLR! Racing in the summer is great.
Off to Grattan

[Doug FST 5]

Hey Rob!

I know last week was preparing for a Camaro show. Have time to put the race videos up this week?

Doug FST 5

[teamclark]

Doug

Nope no time...but turns out it is immaterial anyway, these new GoPros have been giving me some issues....have some nice video of my engine smoking after the event, but no race videos


Hopefully I will get a few minutes (unlikely) to play with them and sort out the issues for Grattan

[Doug FST 5]

I have video of the Satuday race from my low res GoPro I'll get posted this week. We forgot to replace the battery before the Sunday race and didn't get much of the race.

Doug FST 5