June Sprints Road America June 12-14

[problemchild]

Optimistic that our real race season will start on the June 14th weekend.
They had a non-spectator Pro bike race the past weekend.

I just entered a 3rd car, so FF entry is up to 21.
https://www.motorsportreg.com/index....E4124668D2224D


http://www.riceraceprep.com/2020/06/...qvZ_f-ZXCcMg0U

[Lotus7]

I'm driving 1100 miles up to crew at the Sprints; hope I don't find the gates locked LOL

[B Reid]

According to the track website, this is a spectator event and they are selling tickets. But then the track website listed schedule is completely different from the one contained in the entry packet. I'm looking forward to it. Been a while since there have been 500 cars entered for a SCCA event.

[Peter Olivola]

According to the track website, this is a spectator event and they are selling tickets. But then the track website listed schedule is completely different from the one contained in the entry packet. I'm looking forward to it. Been a while since there have been 500 cars entered for a SCCA event.

Eleven years to be precise.

[Purple Frog]

Folks will probably be paddocked way over by the Hurry-downs. One of the greatest race tracks, in one of the best towns to visit. Glad to see the numbers! Wish i was going.

[Messenger Racing]

Sheltering in place (or just working for a living). Looking for news from the Sprints.

Weather/gossip/predictions?

Good times to all!

JM

[Michael Rand]

No Race Monitor from Rd America June Sprints ?

[Bill Johnson 42]

Apparently not working this morning but the SCCA live timing is working

[Michael Rand]

Thanks Bill....

[Messenger Racing]

Race hero was working. Race Monitor has a Denial of Service attack notice
One camera is now working on the SCCA live

[E1pix]

Live link provided for websearch dinosaurs such as I:
https://www.scca.com/events/1995479-...essions/latest

My first attendance was when 35 months old in 1963. I find this event now as inspiring, nostalgic, and perhaps a skosh frightening all at once.

Someone please airlift us a couple double brats and some buttered cob. Omission of the kraut will not be tolerated.

Best to All.

[Bob Wright]

Race monitor is up and running

[Joefisherff]

What happened to the results and live feed for FF/FV?

[Garey Guzman]

What happened to the results and live feed for FF/FV?

Just ended for me.

Quite the top speed disparity! Anyone know where they record that?

[E1pix]

Historically anyway, shortly before braking into 5.

I believe it’s known as Station 4, a “corner station” late in the backstretch.

(off-topic, I was standing there as a kid when they announced Mark Donohue had just set a new top speed of 190, 1973. I think it held until IndyCars in the ‘90s, if even then).

[Joefisherff]

Anyone have a breakdown on Ford versus Honda?

[wil013]

Would be interesting comparison

[Garey Guzman]

Top 4 finishing within 0.166?!?! I'd love to see THAT last lap! (5th was less than 0.6 behind the winner)

[problemchild]

Bob Perona was a popular winner in the Saturday race. The blue dew was not far behind. Final race tomorrow afternoon, probably about 3 pm central time. Congratulations Bob!

[stonebridge20]

Bob Perona was a popular winner in the Saturday race. The blue dew was not far behind. Final race tomorrow afternoon, probably about 3 pm central time. Congratulations Bob!

Times are up quite a bit. Was the track off Greg ?

[problemchild]

Times are up quite a bit. Was the track off Greg ?

Compared to what? 10 or 5 years ago? For the spec tire?

There are 65 cars on track, equally split among FV, FF, and F500 so very few clean laps. Tim continues to be the benchmark, and his car appeared the best we have seen it on radials. I expect the pace would pick up with fewer cars in the lead pack but I think it was strong.

Last lap video is up on the Jackson Lee Racing FB page. They were pace lap formation through 12 and 13.

[-pru-]

Last lap video is up on the Jackson Lee Racing FB page. They were pace lap formation through 12 and 13.

Wow, that was a fantastic finish! Direct link to video: 2020 June Sprints FF last lap - Jackson Lee

[stonebridge20]

Compared to what? 10 or 5 years ago? For the spec tire?

There are 65 cars on track, equally split among FV, FF, and F500 so very few clean laps. Tim continues to be the benchmark, and his car appeared the best we have seen it on radials. I expect the pace would pick up with fewer cars in the lead pack but I think it was strong.

Last lap video is up on the Jackson Lee Racing FB page. They were pace lap formation through 12 and 13.

I have no experience with the spec tire. Is it really 4-5 seconds slower than a 160 or Hoosier "skinny" setup at RA?

[E1pix]

I’d love to read the recollections of Mr. Weitzenhof here (or anyone from the day), but my memory is that a competitive “Ford” time at RA was a mid-2:28... in 1976!

Anyone have such records? (mine are in storage)

[Garey Guzman]

I have no experience with the spec tire. Is it really 4-5 seconds slower than a 160 or Hoosier "skinny" setup at RA?

I found 2015 results, looks like Kautz was less than 2 seconds faster than yesterday. The spec tire has certainly been slower for me, both in learning setup and driving. Probably easier for the more talented.

[Peter Olivola]

Dave's qualifying time for the 1978 Labor Day weekend Pro FF race at RA was 2:32.937.

I’d love to read the recollections of Mr. Weitzenhof here (or anyone from the day), but my memory is that a competitive “Ford” time at RA was a mid-2:28... in 1976!

Anyone have such records? (mine are in storage)

[E1pix]

Hey Thanks, happy to hear (despite my being wrong...!).

That was the first event I took my (now) wife to. My longtime friend Eddie Miller won that race (over Tony Kester).

[stonebridge20]

I’d love to read the recollections of Mr. Weitzenhof here (or anyone from the day), but my memory is that a competitive “Ford” time at RA was a mid-2:28... in 1976!

Anyone have such records? (mine are in storage)

Reid has the lap record in the 21's on Hoosier skinnys
Treadway qualified in the 20's in 2009 on Goodyear 160's

[E1pix]

Thanks... *that* makes more sense in lap time lost over 45 years!

It’s still a bit curious though, that FFs have only dropped about ten seconds in 40 years at RA (can a Kent run 21s?) — a quarter-second quicker each year on average. Says a lot for proper class structure as designed, though.

Probably for the class and chassis and motor tricks still being developed then, in the ‘70s it was extremely hard to be competitive with last year’s chassis. Seems like a second or more was gained every year back then. I remember well my (late) friend John Barker claiming 115 hp from his (Kent) motors which I still see claimed today, so chassis and tire gains likely outpaced motor tricks then.

I suspect part of the equation is back then only the top four qualified for the Runoffs — with two alternates down to 6th place should any in the top 4 fail to go or choose not to — so one needed every tenth to even go to Flowery Branch.

[Peter Olivola]

Thanks... *that* makes more sense in lap time lost over 45 years!

It’s still a bit curious though, that FFs have only dropped about ten seconds in 40 years at RA (can a Kent run 21s?) — a quarter-second quicker each year on average. Says a lot for proper class structure as designed, though.

Probably for the class and chassis and motor tricks still being developed then, in the ‘70s it was extremely hard to be competitive with last year’s chassis. Seems like a second or more was gained every year back then. I remember well my (late) friend John Barker claiming 115 hp from his (Kent) motors which I still see claimed today, so chassis and tire gains likely outpaced motor tricks then.

I suspect part of the equation is back then only the top four qualified for the Runoffs — with two alternates down to 6th place should any in the top 4 fail to go or choose not to — so one needed every tenth to even go to Flowery Branch.

Reid's record was with a Kent. A good bit of the development has been cleaning up the aero. Tires are much improved from 1978 which is probably as big a factor as any.

[E1pix]

Go, Reid!

Yep, tires makes sense no matter what the class. Much of this quantifies my shock when I see 1990s’ cars still being competitive these days. Mssr. Bruns almost did too well for his own good... (not that he still wanted to build FFs once doing Atlantics and IndyCars).

[Peter Olivola]

Go, Reid!

Yep, tires makes sense no matter what the class. Much of this quantifies my shock when I see 1990s’ cars still being competitive these days. Mssr. Bruns almost did too well for his own good... (not that he still wanted to build FFs once doing Atlantics and IndyCars).

That was a Pandora's Box situation. Yes, it raised the bar. It also contributed to the eventual decline of the class, along with Spec Racer.

[R. Pare]

Go, Reid!

Yep, tires makes sense no matter what the class. Much of this quantifies my shock when I see 1990s’ cars still being competitive these days. Mssr. Bruns almost did too well for his own good... (not that he still wanted to build FFs once doing Atlantics and IndyCars).

Another manufacturer at the time said to him "Nice car. So what are you going to sell to them next year?"

[John Nesbitt]

I have to think that some large fraction of this stasis comes from reaching an evolutionary dead end with a highly-restricted class. The DB1 was a leap forward in aero. The Kent engine has some limit on development. Tires keep evolving. Otherwise, there is just not much 'more' to be had without rules creep.

Firman and the other builders had it figured out by advancing just a little each year, leaving room for the next year's model. Bruns leapfrogged them with the DB1/DB6, straight to near the endpoint of development.

[E1pix]

Thanks Guys.

I suppose one good thing about this is manufacturer’s aren’t taxed by selling and racing this year’s car while rushing to improve on it next year. It certainly can’t be good for participant numbers when anyone buys a new car, only to wish they had kept the previous one.

One example from the cobwebs was Lola furthering the ‘74 T340 into the T342 — both very good cars — then launching the T440 for ‘76. I was just a teenaged reporter kid then, but knew pretty much all the open-wheel guys and can’t recall a one that was happy with that “upgrade.”

Wandering a few liters, this parallels to Lola introducing the T400 F5000 car in ‘75, when all but one front-runner quickly went back to searching for a T332 like they had in ‘74.

The only one who didn’t, because he couldn’t, was Eppie Wietzes. He was stuck with it and did with it what he could, but never returned to the Series after 1975 (unsure if that bad expenditure was why...).

An aside... Eppie died this week. RIP to the best independent in F5000.

[Peter Olivola]

Thanks Guys.

I suppose one good thing about this is manufacturer’s aren’t taxed by selling and racing this year’s car while rushing to improve on it next year. It certainly can’t be good for participant numbers when anyone buys a new car, only to wish they had kept the previous one.

One example from the cobwebs was Lola furthering the ‘74 T340 into the T342 — both very good cars — then launching the T440 for ‘76. I was just a teenaged reporter kid then, but knew pretty much all the open-wheel guys and can’t recall a one that was happy with that “upgrade.”

Wandering a few liters, this parallels to Lola introducing the T400 F5000 car in ‘75, when all but one front-runner quickly went back to searching for a T332 like they had in ‘74.

The only one who didn’t, because he couldn’t, was Eppie Wietzes. He was stuck with it and did with it what he could, but never returned to the Series after 1975 (unsure if that bad expenditure was why...).

An aside... Eppie died this week. RIP to the best independent in F5000.

One of the other benefits of incremental improvement is the movement of relatively good cars into the used market at lower prices. This is how the retail automobile industry works. What you pay for a car, when you can trade one in, isn't the selling price, but the differential. The sudden drop in the value of used race cars because they aren't "close" to the new car has a dampening effect on attracting new blood. One of the things that built FF was the availability of cars at virtually any price point. It was possible for a new driver to start at the bottom and trade up without spending the full cost of a car every year.

[Messenger Racing]

Looked like strong racing throughout the field. Rice cars were impresive. How about JB making it an all blue car podium. Where do I get that fast paint?

Any comments on bad luck for Kautz and Perona?

Keith Hall got the Crossle down to a 2:35 - first time there and ran every lap - can't knock that at all.

Look forward to videos and more great racing. Might even join in down the road.

JM

[swiftdrivr]

Anybody have the top five? I don't recognize all the players

[bob darcey]

https://www.scca.com/events/1995479-...v-ff-f5-race-2

[swiftdrivr]

Thanks