SVRA Brickyard invitational

[s800racer]

Any "eyes on the ground" at Indy?

I'm watching on Race Monitor and both FF races had yellow flags today. Anyone able to shed further light on the cause of said flags?

[bassracer]

Anyone have a spot or two available on their crew list? Thinking of attending for Sunday races

[TimH]

Any "eyes on the ground" at Indy?
I'm watching on Race Monitor and both FF races had yellow flags today. Anyone able to shed further light on the cause of said flags?

That many cars on track at once there's bound to be at least one incident and if he can't get going again or is off anywhere near some sort of runout area they go double-yellow until the wrecker clears the problem. We had black-flag-all pretty commonly during practice. Just part of the SVRA Indy experience.

Of course cars hitting one another trying to scrub tires during the double yellow pace car laps is a little embarrassing...

[s800racer]

That many cars on track at once there's bound to be at least one incident and if he can't get going again or is off anywhere near some sort of runout area they go double-yellow until the wrecker clears the problem. We had black-flag-all pretty commonly during practice. Just part of the SVRA Indy experience.

Of course cars hitting one another trying to scrub tires during the double yellow pace car laps is a little embarrassing...

I know it's more likely with that many cars but it is not necessary or inevitable.

under full-course caution? - (facepalm)

[scott fairchild]

This used to be a very rare occurrence in vintage racing, especially open wheel. Car to car contact seems to have grown exponentially in the last 2-3 years. Possibly a result of experienced drivers coming into vintage without the traditional vintage etiquette? Maybe a public list of incidents and the names would help entrants evaluate the level of risk that they are comfortable accepting when they enter a race. No system is perfect and accidents do happen, but most vintage racers aren't looking for Bowman-Grey style contact.

[mdwracer]

In 2A Race:
Lap 1 contact between Ray Stephens and Kim Madrid, Stephens continues , Kim out with damaged left tie rod. (No full course yellow at this point). Leader is Andy Pilgrim with Stephens in second, Stephens drops tires running close to leader, spins, backs into wall, suspension and exhaust damage, full course yellow, one lap or two? under green to checker.
After various DQ's... Results : 1st Andy Pilgrim-Crossle 2nd Wes Allen -Eagle 3rd John Gaither -PRS

[mdwracer]

In 2B Race:
I am unsure who spun or cause, but a car stopped in an area requiring tow causing full course yellow. Field picks up pace car, two cars touched while warming tires? The result was one car in wall on front straight and continued full course yellow. This was a very short race-maybe one lap more under green.

[TimH]

In 2B Race:
I am unsure who spun or cause, but a car stopped in an area requiring tow causing full course yellow. Field picks up pace car, two cars touched while warming tires? The result was one car in wall on front straight and continued full course yellow. This was a very short race-maybe one lap more under green.

Report from someone who was just a little behind the incident behind the pace car is that the field slowed abruptly and it was all he could do to avoid collecting someone himself.

As for why they had the pace car at all, Indianapolis brings out the wrecker for just about anything vaguely near the race. Black-all and double yellows here happen for the sorts of things that COTA would put out a local yellow for two laps and then go back to green once everyone had seen what the problem was. I'll never forget seeing the fire burning outside the carousel on one lap, then just smoke, then back to green.

[TimH]

No system is perfect and accidents do happen, but most vintage racers aren't looking for Bowman-Grey style contact.

We'll see what the consequences are this week but SVRA has been pretty good about putting folks on 18-month suspension without public shaming.

[scott fairchild]

We'll see what the consequences are this week but SVRA has been pretty good about putting folks on 18-month suspension without public shaming.

That's good news. They do publicly post with underweight cars though. I'm much more concerned with on track safety than minimum weight requirements. YMMV

[stonebridge20]

Any video out there ?

[ric baribeault]

Any video out there ?

I only have some from practice, since I never made it to Q. No doubt it’s pretty ugly as I was working on braking deeper and missed about half the corners. But that’s normal for me anyway.

[TimH]

Any video out there ?

Too embarrassing....

[stonebridge20]

My one weekend old Gopro locked up on the second lap of the first session out so I got no video for this event. Sucks because between dodging spinning cars directly in front of me three times while hanging onto a car with variable RR toe in/out of an inch due to a cracked uprite, the footage would have been epic.

[scorp997]

I was able to pull off a 3rd in 2FF in Race 2a after another driver was dq’d. Don’t know the reason. :trophy bronze:
I had no real expectations of this weekend except to finish and an ultimate goal of getting in the ‘fast’ group on Sunday (which I did).

In that race I was running 3rd in class (even after a full spin) but developed a shift linkage problem that dropped me to 6th in class. I was still running at the end and the car rolled in the trailer - all is good!!

it is a really fun track, a bit intimidating at first though.

[Earley Motorsports]

Great job John and good to meet you. I too ended on the podium in second for FF in the less quick group. Pity it went yellow so early but with the carnage at both ends of the track I guess they had to do something. Garey Guzman was on a flier in our race and had passed 16 cars by the time the yellow came out. You guys going to Monterey better watch out for him. My car was way down on power but what a blast to run at Indy. Thanks to SVRA for such a great weekend. They really went way above and beyond for us guys.

[Ralph Z.]

Any video out there ?

I've got a boatload coming in group 2a but needs processing first. Stay tuned.

[marshall9]

Great job Guzman

[TimH]

I was still running at the end and the car rolled in the trailer - all is good!!

[scorp997]

I've got a boatload coming in group 2a but needs processing first. Stay tuned.

Probably a bit showing me I. Saturday’s race. We had a good run. At least I think that may have been you (#71)

[Ralph Z.]

Blue Alexis #71A.

[scorp997]

Blue Alexis #71A.

Wrong car, there was another 71 Crossle that I had a good run with

[stonebridge20]

Anybody know why Andy Pilgrim didn't race in the top 50% race?

[Wes Allen]

So anybody that hasn’t raced with the SVRA is missing out! This was a great event! They make it so easy. Tony Parella has a great business plan! We had good racing and lots of track time. We raced the Eagle, only it’s second time out and we were fortunate to get P2 in group 2A in Saturday’s race. Thanks to my crew at Drivers Services Jim, Jeremy, Ed and my son Alex. I saw lots of old friends, made new friends and saw great Formula Fords from days gone by.

[Kim291]

In 2A Race:
Lap 1 contact between Ray Stephens and Kim Madrid, Stephens continues , Kim out with damaged left tie rod. (No full course yellow at this point). Leader is Andy Pilgrim with Stephens in second, Stephens drops tires running close to leader, spins, backs into wall, suspension and exhaust damage, full course yellow, one lap or two? under green to checker.
After various DQ's... Results : 1st Andy Pilgrim-Crossle 2nd Wes Allen -Eagle 3rd John Gaither -PRS

What a bummer. I was having a great run until this happened, then it was a domino effect after that. Had to start 35th of 39 cars in the Sunday race. Only got 3 green flag laps in before another full course caution. Made it up to 12th over all but (8th outta the FF’s)
Ray Stephans got tangled with a green ford #27 (i think) that spun coming out of turn 11.
My race weekend consisted of very few laps but testing and Qualifying went pretty awesome.
Now lots of work to do to the Crossle and off to Watkins Glen. Hopefully I will see some of you all out there.

Kim Madrid

[Earley Motorsports]

Kim, I was behind you (black and gold Lotus 61 #9) and during the caution in Sundays race you started smoking real bad. Nothing too severe I hope. All the best for the next one.

[Kim291]

Yeah the car overheated due to damage from the Saturday impact. May have hurt my new head.
Tore the engine apart at the track after the race and mailed the head to Ivey to check it out. Should get it back in time to get it together and make Watkins Glen.

[stonebridge20]

Yeah the car overheated due to damage from the Saturday impact. May have hurt my new head.
Tore the engine apart at the track after the race and mailed the head to Ivey to check it out. Should get it back in time to get it together and make Watkins Glen.

Kim, If you're coming all the way to this coast for the Glen, why don't you do Limerock the week before?

BTW: great meeting you last week.

[Daryl DeArman]

Kim, If you're coming all the way to this coast for the Glen, why don't you do Limerock the week before?

BTW: great meeting you last week.

I'm not sure she's on Apex very often. Last I heard her plans were to do RA after the Glen.

[Dee]

unless something has changed SVRA is about a profit line and not about the racer, Tim H i am sure you remember about the Ariz Dr. whos neck was broken never to race again the guy that hit him didnt miss a race$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

[marshall9]

unless something has changed SVRA is about a profit line and not about the racer, Tim H i am sure you remember about the Ariz Dr. whos neck was broken never to race again the guy that hit him didnt miss a race$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

Pls elaborate. I missed that too.

[Earley Motorsports]

unless something has changed SVRA is about a profit line and not about the racer, Tim H i am sure you remember about the Ariz Dr. whos neck was broken never to race again the guy that hit him didnt miss a race$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

If that is the case on the profit only, do you think SVRA would let 80 odd ffs race for free and give garages at a heavily discounted rate? Seems to me to be a lot of money they could have made but gave it back to the racers.

[helipilot04]

Start of Sundays 50th Reunion Race 2 from P11.

Boy oh boy i just missed that!

-Bob

https://www.facebook.com/rdetrick04/...57486292226064

[Dee]

giving stuff away is good pr, my comment is in regards to poor driving and someone being hurt to the point he will never race again and no 18 month rule was ever applied ,that person brings alot of money to svra go figure.

[Kim291]

Kim, If you're coming all the way to this coast for the Glen, why don't you do Limerock the week before?

BTW: great meeting you last week.

Hi Mike.

I can not get that much much time off work. I will already be on the road a little over 3 weeks just with driving and these too Races.

And it was great to meet meet you and Jeremy at the track. See you guys at RA.

[Ralph Z.]

unless something has changed SVRA is about a profit line and not about the racer, Tim H i am sure you remember about the Ariz Dr. whos neck was broken never to race again the guy that hit him didnt miss a race$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

I really hope SVRA makes a profit. It insures that the organization will be around for awhile. It provides opportunities for racers to enjoy well-run events because the funds are available to hire good people and race at top notch tracks like Indy. SVRA just paid for all FF entries which would equal about $68,000 in fees. I'm in the business of helping companies improve profitability and I can tell you that firms that are more profitable contribute more to their customers, employees and communities.

I hope SVRA makes a profit.

[TimH]

giving stuff away is good pr, my comment is in regards to poor driving and someone being hurt to the point he will never race again and no 18 month rule was ever applied ,that person brings alot of money to svra go figure.

I'm not aware of this incident. Before my time? More importantly, was it before Tony's time?

[marshall9]

Tim,
Might have been Philipe. His vintage FA rolled and he had spinal injuries that ended his racing. Car is restored and for sale. Ex Jacques V car.
Stefan Dwornik was listing it for him.

[s800racer]

I really hope SVRA makes a profit. It insures that the organization will be around for awhile. It provides opportunities for racers to enjoy well-run events because the funds are available to hire good people and race at top notch tracks like Indy. SVRA just paid for all FF entries which would equal about $68,000 in fees. I'm in the business of helping companies improve profitability and I can tell you that firms that are more profitable contribute more to their customers, employees and communities.

I hope SVRA makes a profit.

As I understand it, SVRA has a different business model than most vintage groups. The racer is not the customer. The sponsors are the customers and the racers are part of the product. Free entries for the FF racers as a Feature of the weekend is an investment in the product.

The above business model has pluses and minuses for vintage racers generally and I could get way off into the weeds about how SVRA has been managed under it's current ownership but for now Tony and his staff deserve a lot of credit for making the event happen and doing it right. Kudos.

[Dee]

In 2017 Tony was warned at Coronado that he needed to reign in the guys that were driving over their heads or someone will get hurt 2018 a Dr. got his neck fractured at an SVRA event the perpetrator was never parked, I rest my case.