St Pete's

[Steve Bamford]

I thought the Zetec's were supposed to be more competitive with the Mazda's to entice Zetec drivers to come out and play. I never expected parity but did believe it would be closer then the results show.

Maybe they will adjust the map going forward? I was considering running Toronto but not based on this weekends results.

[provamo]

parity LOL

anyway new cars next year right so Anderson does not care

[RSS]

But then you might beat one of the children on the road to nowhere and just imagine all the damage to their self esteem !!

[provamo]

But then you might beat one of the children on the road to nowhere and just imagine all the damage to their self esteem !!

you might call it the road to nowhere but it works because of Anderson's involvement

no matter how much money or power you have no SCCA club racer will get there without being on that path these days.......

no more Weldon or Hornish tales of success i think....sadly

[RSS]

The road to nowhere is more of a comment on the state of the IRL rather than the anderson ladder.

[car7316]

The IRL is gone, and Indycar is pretty strong right now. If you don't like it, don't watch it.

Steve, this is the most competitive group in USF2K in a long time. Lots of track knowledge, great engineering, and great driving. The ZTech cars are not far off on the straights, less than a tenth in the front straight split.

[Steve Bamford]

Steve, this is the most competitive group in USF2K in a long time. Lots of track knowledge, great engineering, and great driving. The ZTech cars are not far off on the straights, less than a tenth in the front straight split.

Nice to see people actually discussing USF on here as I haven't seen any posts in a long time.

I agree that the level of competition is incredibly high in USF2K and also great teams make a difference.

The Zetec cars from the split times I saw ran best of 3.99 while the USF cars were in the low 3.8's, maybe less as I did not look at every USF car during practice, in the race there was an even bigger difference as Zetec's were 4.0 & USF cars were low 3.8's & even 3.79.

I also saw a 5-6 mph difference in this sector. I used Eric Filgueiras data as he had the fastest Zetec laps.

Allaer was a long way back in times from Yufeng Luo, multiple seconds, where at Daytona he was within 5 tenths.

I realize the teams & drivers make big difference & comparing on track data between different drivers is very difficult to do however a 5-6 mph difference down the front straight is pretty significant. VD verses VD with similar wing package should be closer in my small mind.

[DFR Dave Freitas]

In response to RSS-
The Pacific F2000 Series is part of the Road to Indy. If you are the champion, you are invited to a year end shootout where the winner gets a free USF2000 ride.

Win USF2000 and you get a free Pro Mazda ride. Win that and you get a free Indy Lights ride. The winner of that gets to race at the Indy 500.

My point is, if you are a one of a kind driver, someone who cleans house in the lower ranks, you can make it to indy for basically nothing. No rich dad, just raw talent.

If you aren't super gifted, and don't possess the tools needed to become a world class champion driver, you won't make it, but the opportunity is there for the taking.

[John LaRue]

Rob was in a lease car that looked to have Mazda power from the photo posted.

[Steve Bamford]

Rob was in a lease car that looked to have Mazda power from the photo posted.

The results have * beside his, Eric, Brendan & Charles's names. I can't say for sure but I would guess that is for Zetec's based on who is running those cars.

[Beartrax]

The results have * beside his, Eric, Brendan & Charles's names. I can't say for sure but I would guess that is for Zetec's based on who is running those cars.

Yes, Brendan and Charles were running Zetec engines, but had the Mazda decal because it is USF2000. The "*" next to there name = National Class. I'm pretty sure Eric is running the Zetec as well, but I don't know firsthand.

Do the USF2000 cars also have the benefit of sequential gearboxes?

[Steve Bamford]

Yes, Brendan and Charles were running Zetec engines, but had the Mazda decal because it is USF2000. The "*" next to there name = National Class. I'm pretty sure Eric is running the Zetec as well, but I don't know firsthand.

Do the USF2000 cars also have the benefit of sequential gearboxes?

All USF cars have the sequential gearbox but many have said in other threads that it is not a speed advantage. It does have reliability advantages.

[marshall9]

I think it's awesome that F2K is running those venues with IndyCar

Go for it Bam Bam !

[John LaRue]

New alternate intake Zetec

[BrianT1]

Rob ran a JDC Mazda car with the Oval restrictor. Knapp said that would equate to the zetec powered cars. I think there was also a weight penalty if you ran the mazda since it had the 5 speed sequential box vs the zetec 4 speed.

[HazelNut]

We FatBoys had a GREAT time at St. Pete with USF! They run a very tight ship.

I will say we were VERY surprised to not see more nat class cars. It's absolutely worth checking out and doing if you enjoy big events.

The costs are fairly comparable, licensing wasn't too bad. Getting the cars fully compliant was a bit of an issue but that was mainly my fault due to the tight timeline I was on. We only decided to run st Pete a couple weeks ago. The series did work with us to help get the issues resolved though.

As for parity. Allear and I didn't run together all that much but from the little bit we did he didn't seem to have much of a power advantage in the oval restricted Mazda.

I love the big events so Charles and I will be at Barber and then most likely the run the whole USF season. We're are planning on doing some CS races too.

If anyone has any questions about running with USF in national feel free to PM or email me for details and a first person perspective.

[Steve Bamford]

Thanks Brendan. They run some very fun events and being part of it is something I think all racers should try out if they can.

What is the approx hp difference between the oval restrictor and the road course out of curiosity?

[Purple Frog]

Congrats on getting out of St. Pete without having to post bond.

As the official photo chronicler of Charles colorful racing history, I was disappointed that I did not know you were in the Sunshine State.

You do have to know that I blew margarita out through my nose when first told the Fat Boys would be running with USF. I have close up pictures of Dan watching the Cleveland grid party. I have to believe you guys had the "paddock party" launch control switch turned over to the "mild" setting. (OBTW, a setting I myself have never experienced.)

Now... I am already visioning the concept of Charles in the State of Alabama, and the stories to develop.

[Peter Olivola]

Something, something, something, "My Cousin Vinny."

Now... I am already visioning the concept of Charles in the State of Alabama, and the stories to develop.

[rallaer]

Hey guys - Just to clarify for everyone, yes I was in a rented, Mazda powered car. The reason for the asterisk next to my name was that I registered in the National class. You can run Mazda, however, they come over and put in a new map and restrictor that definitely slows the car down compared to the Championship class (understandably). But - they also mess with the zetecs to improve them and I believe the goal is to try to find a common ground close to even, staying within the national class.

As for the reasons (excuses) for my slow times- It wasn't my car and I didn't have my seat, so I was very uncomfortable the whole weekend. I didn't test at Barber so this was literally the first time ever in this sort of car. I have never driven a street course before. I was trying to remember how to use a sequential again. AND - Without going into details, we were definitely having issues with the car all weekend.

That being said, the Championship cars are faster than the zetecs and the national Mazdas. So, if you want to race with the Championship kids, get a championship car and do it. Otherwise, in my opinion, the USF2000 people have set this up so you enjoy similar speeds in another, very fast, very competitive class with the cars we already have.

I believe if I had my own car last weekend, I would have been much faster. But, Eric is a great driver. Yufeng is a great driver. You can't compare our times and data without considering all of the other extraneous variables - which is impossible. The cars are slower, for sure, but I had a great time and being around that event was really a great experience.

I love all the speculation and talk, it's entertaining... almost as entertaining as the different ways my last name is pronounced and spelled.


Rob Allaer
FC #52

[Purple Frog]

Somehow I expect the USF paddock has different rules....

[HazelNut]

I love all the speculation and talk, it's entertaining... almost as entertaining as the different ways my last name is pronounced and spelled.


Rob Allaer
FC #52

Maybe last name mangling is a national class thing? "Puderbach" but oddly enough it was my first name they misspelled on the Jumbotron running order scroller!

[HazelNut]

Somehow I expect the USF paddock has different rules....

Yes. We all need matching crew uniforms. So nobody is wearing shirts anymore and we're getting series sponsor tattoos.

[Beartrax]

Somehow I expect the USF paddock has different rules....

C'mon Frog, some people may be eating while scrolling through Apexspeed. Yes, I am on the team, but still not accustomed to that view. The good news is that Charles has shed a few lbs since that photo.

I recall one year when the F2000CS ran with Indycar at the Glen. I received a questionable glance from The Captain as he walked by our cars on the grid, me in my Fat Boy racing t-shirt.

[Purple Frog]

Charles is my hero!

OBTW, that was one of the more "PC" photos in Mrs Frog's collection. Of course for the cover of the book coming out we will use the view of our favorite purple boxers.

[pcssv]

where to go for more pictures of st.pete?

[Purple Frog]

Try the USF website. I don't know any of us independent photogs that went. I was shooting at the Amelia Island Concours.

[stonebridge20]

The scary thing about this thread is that as of right now, 76 people needed a larger view of man tits.

No, I didn't click on the pic!

[Purple Frog]

I'm very sure Rand did.

For 7 years I truly enjoyed the "color" Fat Boys brought to the scene. Were there days Rand and I pulled our hair out? Yes. Were there evenings we laughed at the odyssey? Yes.
What other team in the history of the Series took out their whole team by themselves in an early practice session? What other team rents a high end bar on Saturday night to celebrate getting half way through the weekend. What other team has a really good time just being there? Can we ever forget Hazelnut bringing Charles to the paddock in the Mercedes limo? Hired bands playing in the paddock. What other team has such concern for the quality of the lawn chairs in their paddock? The quality of the cigars? The quality of the Scotch? Racing needs more Fat Boys!

[HazelNut]

Thank you frog it warms my heart to know our antics haven't gone unappreciated

[HazelNut]

I will also ad in, Charles has podiumed a few times in masters and I did lead a few laps outright in that monsoon rain race at VIR in 2007 or 2008 so it hasn't been all pure jackassery!

[Purple Frog]

There is no doubt Charles has talent. Many an early evening I would sit in one of his paddock chairs and give him the old man lecture that if only he would focus more on racing he would always be top ten and even top 5. And many weekends you would see it all click and he'd be right up there, especially at WGI. He just wasn't so interested as to invest in the top engineering and prep that level of racing required.

Give him due credit though for working hard to get in better physical shape.

That said, the Fat Boys always seemed to be having more fun than other teams. The team you wanted to out to dinner with.

He also readily came forward gratis if the Series owners needed legal advice on some issue.

[Beartrax]

I will also ad in, Charles has podiumed a few times in masters and I did lead a few laps outright in that monsoon rain race at VIR in 2007 or 2008 so it hasn't been all pure jackassery!

Did someone say "podium"?