VIR Thread-East rounds 3 & 4

[Mike B]

The Hoosier Tire US Formula 1000 Championship East resumes action this at Virginia International Raceway in Alton, Virginia! Road Atlanta double winner and series point leader Glenn Cooper is hoping to continue his winning streak. Alex Mayer returns from his crash at Road Atlanta with plans to take over the lead.

The entry list so far:
Jason Bell-Stohr-Tampa, FL
Dore Chaponick-Stohr-Lutz, FL
Glenn Cooper-Firman-Roswell, GA
Richard Franklin-Stohr-Wilmington, NC
Doug Hertz-Elan-Mount Kisco, NY
Jeremy Hill-Photon-Toronto, ON
Alex Mayer-JDR-Harleysville, PA
Tim Pierce-Firman-Leland, NC
Alastair McEwan-Phoenix-Cary, NC


VIR Schedule
Friday April 18th
10:30am = 20 minutes Qualify for Saturday race
3:30pm = 20 minutes Qualify for Saturday race
Saturday April 19th
9:30am = 20 minutes warm-up
2:25pm = 25 minute Sprint Race
Sunday April 20th
1:50pm = 16 lap Race

Follow the action via live timing online: http://www.sccahost.com/sccalive/

[Purple Frog]

This first qualifier is very important because the rain has not gotten there yet. 46 and clear. New pavement is fast.

[Mike B]

Cooper and Mayer are below the track record, Mayer with a 1:48.867.

[Mike B]

Some Replay XD video from qualifying has been posted to the US Formula 1000 Youtube channel.

Alex Mayer's track record lap: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=udFNbMYrFgA

Glenn Cooper's fast lap: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C0Un5_k7GYE

[Mike Devins]

Looks strange with out the Oak Tree!

[Mike B]

Qualifying is complete for Round 3 of the Hoosier Tire US Formula 1000 Championship East. After a back and forth battle between Glenn Cooper and Alex Mayer, Cooper ends the day on pole with a new track record. Mayer was also below the existing track record and joins Cooper on the front row. Final grid:
1. Glenn Cooper-1:48.162
2. Alex Mayer-1:48.741
3. Dore Chaponick-1:50.787
4. Jeremy Hill-1:51.759
5. Jason Bell-1:51.950
6. Alastair McEwan-1:52.329
7. Tim Pierce-1:54.016
8. Richard Franklin-1:58.449
9. Doug Hertz-2:01.532

The race is tomorrow at 2:25 pm eastern time.

[scanworks1]

very cool - new pavement to boot - alex and glenn - how is the grip on the new pavement?? also curious as to what the top speed is on the back straight. Finally this new camera everyone is running seems sweet - thoughts on it compared to the go pro?

chris

[ghickman]

VIR looks like my kind of track. Nice to see Cooper back in form.

Don't want this to be a bag on GoPro thread but there really is no comparison. the RePlay camera works, PERIOD. I've had many GoPro cameras and they are simply unreliable.

[scanworks1]

watching glenns video it looks like he had mid 47 going if that sports racer did not try and take him at the end of the straight - maybe a 47 during the race if the weather holds up??

[Richard Dziak]

The Replay XD cameras are incredible in quality. No distortion and no vibration, and they keep running. Both videos (Cooper and Mayer) are awesome.

Looking forward to seeing Replay XD footage of both weekend races. Hopefully we can see some footage from those drivers in the middle of the FB field. Love to see the action with cars in field.

Guys like Cooper and Mayer drive so fast, we can only see an empty track in front of them. But, I am sure that is what they like to see.

[sprocketmensch]

Coop is got the smoothest line - just incredible. Alex in the JDR is unbelievably fast in a straight line. The car has no drag, its like a rocket sled. Me, I'm learning the new car and trying to stay on the track.
Today looks to be a damp race for the afternoon so don't look for fast times. That should be Sunday with slightly warmer temps and everyone having smoothed out their lines.
Also just a quick plug for geartronics. We just got the paddle shifters installed and this is weekend one for the shakedown. Nicholas Belling from Geartronics is here, also as the F1000 race organizer. The system is awesome! pedal to the metal on upshifts and they are rocket fast. Seamless downshifts without worry of over-revvving. Can't say too much about it.
Doug

[Mike B]

Don't want this to be a bag on GoPro thread but there really is no comparison. the RePlay camera works, PERIOD. I've had many GoPro cameras and they are simply unreliable.

Personally, I've never had a problem with my GoPro but now that I've tried the simple and compact Replay XD, there's no going back to the GoPro brick. The size and mounting of the Replay XD permits it to be mounted in so many more places. Youtube doesn't do the picture justice, you really have to see it on a good HD screen.

Nicholas Belling from Geartronics is here, also as the F1000 race organizer.

Nicholas has been working his tail off to get results and video uploaded right away. There are two more videos from Q2 uploaded:
Jeremy Hill: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-h96TT7GigY

Dore Chaponick: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mqERr0Kvvh4

[Richard Dziak]

It would be great to see a video on how the F1000 drivers are setting up the Replay cameras and what mounts they are using on the cars. This might help the sponsors sell some additonal cameras.

The videos are AWESOME, and this is a big plus for the F1000 Series. Great job to whomever secured this sponsorship.

[Mike Devins]

There are two more videos from Q2 uploaded:
Jeremy Hill: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-h96TT7GigY

Dore Chaponick: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mqERr0Kvvh4

Nice driving - all the asphalt and a little bit of the curbs!

[Wren]

Good job Coop!!!

[Mike B]

Cooper wins again!
2nd-Bell
3rd-Chaponick
4th-Hill
5th- Mayer
6th-McEwan
7th-Hertz
8th-Pierce
9th-Franklin

[Richard Dziak]

Watching the Race-Monitor SCCA Live Timing it looked like Cooper and Mayer were dueling it out back and forth for position 1 & 2 in FB Class until lap 11.....when Mayer suddenly fell back.

What happened to Alex?

[Zcurves]

Watching the Race-Monitor SCCA Live Timing it looked like Cooper and Mayer were dueling it out back and forth for position 1 & 2 in FB Class until lap 11.....when Mayer suddenly fell back.

What happened to Alex?

He spun. Don't know the details.

[Mike B]

He spun. Don't know the details.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v...type=2&theater

[Richard Dziak]

The interviews and short race clips are AWESOME......it adds a whole new dimension to the F1000 Championship Series.

Thanks to those that are taking the extra effort to provide and post the videos.

[crowe motorsports]

Great show guys at VIR!

It is a Bummer not being there with new paving and increased track out at the Oak Tree turn. Many times there was a ditch on exit in Oak Tree from others dropping wheels that have more ground clearance. Track records were sure to fall.

Unfortunately my Diff cannibalized itself in Race 2 at Road Atlanta and I could not get everything back together in time. But maybe it saved me from the T1 pileup. But then again I would have preferred to be in T1 to hopefully capitalize. Road Atlanta was a challenge for us with various odd things happening all weekend let alone the crazy officiating that scored me wrong.

Best of luck!

The F1000 Series Rocks

[ghickman]

Nice touch Nicholas, F1000 reporter at large. Keep those interviews coming in.

Now all you need is a British accent and how about some live audio from the drivers...."Leave me alone I know what I'm Doing"

[Northwind]

SCCA Majors announcement looks to have different results. A pass under a yellow seems to have changed things up at the front of the field.

[Richard Dziak]

From the SCCA website:

Formula 1000 raged between Glenn Cooper and Alex Mayer.
Mayer, of Harleysville, Penn., would come away with the win in the No. 77 Mayer Motorsports JDR, even though Cooper crossed the line first. Mayer was the proverbial shadow to each move made by Cooper while under green-flag conditions. Following the race, it was determined Cooper had committed a pass while a local yellow was being displayed. As a result, Mayer was promoted to the win and Cooper lost two class positions.

[Mike B]

From the SCCA website:

Formula 1000 raged between Glenn Cooper and Alex Mayer.
Mayer, of Harleysville, Penn., would come away with the win in the No. 77 Mayer Motorsports JDR, even though Cooper crossed the line first. Mayer was the proverbial shadow to each move made by Cooper while under green-flag conditions. Following the race, it was determined Cooper had committed a pass while a local yellow was being displayed. As a result, Mayer was promoted to the win and Cooper lost two class positions.

Not sure who wrote that but it's not even close. Here are the official results:
http://scca.cdn.racersites.com/prod/...oup5race11.pdf

[Mike B]

Round 3 of the Hoosier Tire US Formula 1000 Championship East took place at newly-repaved Virginia International Raceway this past weekend. Road Atlanta double winner and series point leader Glenn Cooper was hoping to continue his winning streak while Alex Mayer returned from his crash at Road Atlanta with plans to take over the lead. With fresh pavement and cool temperatures for qualifying, teams expected the existing track record of 1:50.107 to fall and the drivers didn’t disappoint. In Q1, Glenn Cooper was the first to dip below the track record but by the end of the session, Alex Mayer had the best time and the provisional pole. Everyone got even faster in Q2 with Mayer and Cooper swapping the top spot throughout the session. Mayer bettered his earlier time but Cooper smashed the track record with a fast lap of 1:48.162.


Final Qualifying grid for Round 3
1. Glenn Cooper-1:48.162
2. Alex Mayer-1:48.741
3. Dore Chaponick-1:50.787
4. Jeremy Hill-1:51.759
5. Jason Bell-1:51.950
6. Alastair McEwan-1:52.329
7. Tim Pierce-1:54.016
8. Richard Franklin-1:58.449
9. Doug Hertz-2:01.532

When the green flag flew for round 3, Mayer immediately jumped out to the lead with Cooper glued to his rear wing. Hill also made a great start to move into the 3rd spot, followed by Chaponick and Bell. Mayer led for several laps before Cooper made a pass in turn 1. Now it was Mayer’s turn to chase Cooper. A short distance behind them, Hill started to fade and allowed Chaponick and Bell to get around him. Bell then set his sights on Chaponick and one lap later made a move, taking over the 3rd position. Meanwhile, a little further back, Hertz had gotten a great start and passed both Franklin and Pierce. Franklin then spun on the second lap and was unable to rejoin the race, leaving Pierce and Hertz to wage a battle throughout the race.
Back at the front, Mayer made his move in turn 1 and retook the lead from Cooper. However, it was short-lived as his car got loose in turn 18 and looped. He gave up several spots but was able to rejoin the race in 5th. Cooper went on to win the race unchallenged, followed by the teammates of Bell and Chaponick.
After the podium celebration, it was determined that Cooper passed under a local yellow and was penalized two positions, promoting Bell to first place and Chaponick to second.

Round 3 Race results:
1. Jason Bell
2. Dore Chaponick
3. Glenn Cooper
4. Jeremy Hill
5. Alex Mayer
6. Alastair McEwan
7. Doug Hertz
8. Tim Pierce
9. Richard Franklin


Prize payout- round 3
1st Place – Jason Bell - 2 Hoosier Tires, 1 pair Hyperco Springs
2nd Place – Dore Chaponick -1 Hoosier Tire, $50 Hyperco Certificate
3rd Place – Glenn Cooper - $25 Hyperco Certificate, $25 Sprocket Specialist Certificate
5th Place – Alex Mayer - $15 Sprocket Specialist Certificate

Pole – Glenn Cooper (1:48.162) - 1 Hoosier tire
Fastest Lap- Alex Mayer (1:48.852) – 50% off Sprocket Specialists
Sunoco Hard Charger Award – Jason Bell - $150.00 cash (moved up 4 positions)
Random drawing – Jeremy Hill - 1 Hoosier tire
Random drawing – Richard Franklin - 1 Hoosier tire
Random drawing- Doug Hertz - free sprocket from Sprocket Specialists

[Mike B]

A few more Replay XD videos have been posted on the US Formula 1000 Youtube channel:

The other half of the Cooper/Mayer battle. Great action! http://youtu.be/jbGDN_dtvmg

Opening laps from a little further back. Chaponick's onboard: http://youtu.be/HhVDoKHi56I

Jason Bell's onboard: http://youtu.be/Azbgnaxzj4I

Thanks to Nicholas Belling for getting the videos up so quickly!

[Mike B]

Cooper wins round 4 at VIR!
Provisional results:

1. Glenn Cooper
2. Alex Mayer
3. Jeremy Hill
4. Jason Bell
5. Alastair McEwan
6. Doug Hertz
7. Tim Pierce
8. Richard Franklin
9. Dore Chaponick

[Mike Devins]

are the official results for Sunday posted - for some reason the Sunday link is giving me the saturday results?

[GT1Vette]

Apparently there were technical issues with the website over the weekend. The correct results should be posted sometime today (Monday).

[Wren]

They are posted:

http://scca.cdn.racersites.com/prod/...roup5race2.pdf

[Jnovak]

They are posted:

http://scca.cdn.racersites.com/prod/...roup5race2.pdf

Pretty impressive. 4 cars in the 49s all within a few tenths of each other.

[Mike B]

Rounds 3 and 4 of the Hoosier Tire US Formula 1000 Championship East took place at newly-repaved Virginia International Raceway this past weekend. Road Atlanta double winner and series point leader Glenn Cooper was hoping to continue his winning streak while Alex Mayer returned from his crash at Road Atlanta with plans to take over the lead. With fresh pavement and cool temperatures for qualifying, teams expected the existing track record of 1:50.107 to fall and the drivers didn’t disappoint. In Q1, Glenn Cooper was the first to dip below the track record but by the end of the session, Alex Mayer had the best time and the provisional pole. Everyone got even faster in Q2 with Mayer and Cooper swapping the top spot throughout the session. Mayer bettered his earlier time but Cooper smashed the track record with a fast lap of 1:48.162.

Final Qualifying grid for Round 3
1. Glenn Cooper-1:48.162
2. Alex Mayer-1:48.741
3. Dore Chaponick-1:50.787
4. Jeremy Hill-1:51.759
5. Jason Bell-1:51.950
6. Alastair McEwan-1:52.329
7. Tim Pierce-1:54.016
8. Richard Franklin-1:58.449
9. Doug Hertz-2:01.532

When the green flag flew for round 3, Mayer immediately jumped out to the lead with Cooper glued to his rear wing. Hill also made a great start to move into the 3rd spot, followed by Chaponick and Bell. Mayer led for several laps before Cooper made a pass in turn 1. Now it was Mayer’s turn to chase Cooper. A short distance behind them, Hill started to fade and allowed Chaponick and Bell to get around him. Bell then set his sights on Chaponick and one lap later made a move, taking over the 3rd position. Meanwhile, a little further back, Hertz had gotten a great start and passed both Franklin and Pierce. Franklin then spun on the second lap and was unable to rejoin the race, leaving Pierce and Hertz to wage a battle throughout the race.
Back at the front, Mayer made his move in turn 1 and retook the lead from Cooper. However, it was short-lived as his car got loose in turn 18 and looped. He gave up several spots but was able to rejoin the race in 5th. Cooper went on to win the race unchallenged, followed by the teammates of Bell and Chaponick.
After the podium celebration, it was determined that Cooper passed under a local yellow and was penalized two positions, promoting Bell to first place and Chaponick to second.

Round 3 Race results:
1. Jason Bell
2. Dore Chaponick
3. Glenn Cooper
4. Jeremy Hill
5. Alex Mayer
6. Alastair McEwan
7. Doug Hertz
8. Tim Pierce
9. Richard Franklin

Prize payout- round 3
1st Place – Jason Bell - 2 Hoosier Tires, 1 pair Hyperco Springs
2nd Place – Dore Chaponick -1 Hoosier Tire, $50 Hyperco Certificate
3rd Place – Glenn Cooper - $25 Hyperco Certificate, $25 Sprocket Specialist Certificate
5th Place – Alex Mayer - $15 Sprocket Specialist Certificate

Pole – Glenn Cooper (1:48.162) - 1 Hoosier tire
Fastest Lap- Alex Mayer (1:48.852) – 50% off Sprocket Specialists
Sunoco Hard Charger Award – Jason Bell - $150.00 cash (moved up 4 positions)
Random drawing – Jeremy Hill - 1 Hoosier tire
Random drawing – Richard Franklin - 1 Hoosier tire
Random drawing- Doug Hertz - free sprocket from Sprocket Specialists

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Like the previous rounds, the grid for round 4 was set using the fastest lap between qualifying and race 1. Most race lap times were slightly slower than qualifying but Jason Bell found some additional speed in the race and shuffled Hill back one spot to 5th. Hertz also went faster in the race and bumped Franklin back to 9th.

Final grid for Round 4
1. Glenn Cooper 1:48.162
2. Alex Mayer 1:48.741
3. Dore Chaponick 1:50.787
4. Jason Bell 1:50.890
5. Jeremy Hill 1:51.759
6. Alastair McEwan 1:52.329
7. Tim Pierce 1:54.016
8. Doug Hertz 1:57.237
9. Richard Franklin 1:58.449

From the very start of round 4, Cooper and Mayer resumed their battle right where they left off the day before. This time, they weren’t nose to tail for the whole race but were actually side by side for the entire race. While they diced with each other, the teammates of Chaponick and Bell had their own battle with Chaponick holding off Bell for a few laps until giving in to the pressure and handing the 3rd spot to Bell. Behind that battle, Jeremy Hill was running a solid race but unable to mount a challenge. While Cooper and Mayer continued their wheel to wheel duel, Bell slid a little wide and gave up two positions to Chaponick and Hill, rejoining in 6th. This allowed Chaponick to close up on Cooper and Mayer and make it a three-way battle. However, just a lap later Chaponick was forced to park on the main street with engine troubles. The Cooper/Mayer fight continued to the final lap with Cooper taking the checkered flag by a half-car length over Mayer. Hill took the third step on the podium and Bell was able to get around McEwan on the last lap to take 4th.

Round 4 Race results:
1. Glenn Cooper
2. Alex Mayer
3. Jeremy Hill
4. Jason Bell
5. Alastair McEwan
6. Doug Hertz
7. Tim Pierce
8. Richard Franklin
9. Dore Chaponick

Prize payout- round 4
1st Place – Glenn Cooper - 2 Hoosier Tires, 1 pair Hyperco Springs
2nd Place – Alex Mayer -1 Hoosier Tire, $50 Hyperco Certificate
3rd Place – Jeremy Hill - $25 Hyperco Certificate, $25 Sprocket Specialist Certificate
5th Place – Alastair McEwan - $15 Sprocket Specialist Certificate

Pole – Glenn Cooper (1:48.162) - 1 Hoosier tire
Fastest Lap- Alex Mayer (1:49.459) – 50% off Sprocket Specialists
Sunoco Hard Charger Award – Jeremy Hill - $150.00 cash (moved up 4 positions)
Random drawing – Doug Hertz - 1 Hoosier tire
Random drawing – Doug Hertz - 1 Hoosier tire
Random drawing- Richard Franklin - free sprocket from Sprocket Specialists

[Mike B]

Replay XD footage onboard Alex Mayer's car from round 4. Race-long battle with Glenn Cooper.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6MXHtBiiqMo

[Richard Dziak]

Some good video during the last 9 to 10 minutes. The mounting of the camera makes a real difference in the end result of the video. It is nice to see from the drivers perspective, the shifting and the wide FOV when the cameras are mounted behind the driver. It makes for a much more dramatic effect and feel of the race cars.

This was an intense battle between Cooper and Mayer and could have been trouble when around 26:16 we could clearly see, the 2 cars hitting wheel to wheel. I am sure the pressure on Cooper was enormous to keep that lead. Great racing guys.

[Jnovak]

man, that was some serious championship racing from both drivers.

[Brett Lane]

There was a bug, not sure what kind as he was smashed on the upper right corner of Glenn's diffuser. I could see it plain as day!

[Mike B]

Cooper's onboard is live: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pytRGHkxN5w


Cooper's rear view: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P6K4ogY_PT0

Mayer's rear view: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DkWiVswg55c

Thanks to Replay XD for the video!

[JRO183]

Awesome battle guys!!! One of the best ever in F1000. Way to keep attacking each other without major drama, especially at such a high speed track.

Great fun to watch. Thanks Mike and Nicholas for taking the time to do the race reports and post all the vids. It really puts our class a step up from normal SCCA obscurity.

JRO

[Richard Dziak]

Both AWESOME video footage, especially if viewing with dual monitors, putting Cooper's front view camera on the left monitor and his rear camera on the right side monitor.

That was some SERIOUS racing and the top 4 cars looked great on the track.

The addition of the cameras makes a dramatic impact to the racing, and I am sure will prove very helpful should any events between drivers occur. Simply awesome!

I just received my Replay XD camera and can't wait to put it into use. For $75.00 it is hard to beat! Every racer needs a few of these mounted front and rear on the cars.