A few of you have refernced the event entries. Is there some place on the Internet where that is posted? Where?
Thanks in advance.
Russ
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A few of you have refernced the event entries. Is there some place on the Internet where that is posted? Where?
Thanks in advance.
Russ
It’s official. Top will not be at RA as the newbie to take BS notes at the drivers meeting for you guys. I found a few miles of runways that we can use for a couple of hours on the 27th so that we can play with Marshall and Richards former Swift. My lovely wife is flying in from NYC so she can drive the car for the first time. She halfheartedly claims she’s taking the weekend off because it’s our 17 anniversary but I know the car is the real reason. My wife is excited about spending her anniversary driving a CFC. Did I get the perfect wife or what?
Runway's???
That almost sounds like more fun!!
Hmmm. No entry fees, no stewards, make up your own course, sessions as long as you like, grid/ paddock/pits all in the same place.
We could make it an all CFC field and run our own event :D :D
Where do we sign up?? ;)
Enjoy the time with your wife and the car. I'm sure we will see you in the future.
(whew..... one less CFC I have to worry about)
Ooops! Did I type that out loud??? ;)
Peace
Russ,
I don't know of a place where one can view who has entered a given race. We deal only with "insider information". The "big guy" leaks entry info out as he gathers it from his "sources".
My guess is that after lunch on Thursday we will be getting a new count.
Jon,
I thought it was you that was spotted in the Hoosier pile after the Saturday evening social at Roebling. I thought you had all the takeoffs. By the time I got to it there weren't any FC tires. Although the Gelles paddock compound did look like an AVON tire dealership.
It's good to have you on board. And this is meant to be a compliment... you are just strange enough to qualify for CFC. Don't you need to keep the cast on until August 1st? OBTW, Don't believe everything Chuck says. [img]smile.gif[/img] ;) T1 is not flat in fourth... unless your 4th is a 22/29. [img]smile.gif[/img]
Justin,
We are a non-restrictive party group. FCs are especially welcome (afterall, they have parts we can "borrow"). I think Dobson is even coming down I-85 with his FC. And you being a newbie, we can tell you all kinds of lies. e.g. T1 is flat in fourth, never lift.
There was a rumor that if CFC got any bigger I would switch to FC just to get a top 5 finish. Not true. That rumor was about Montfort. [img]smile.gif[/img] I'm going to the DSR site to see if I can find bodywork to switch my car to S2...
[size="1"][ July 17, 2002, 10:26 AM: Message edited by: Purple Frog ][/size]
There is a plan to enhance the on-line registration system to provide reporting capabilities, but that has not be implemented as yet. As your trusty Atlanta Region SARRC Representative, Treasurer and Crew Chief for Purple Frog Racing, however, I DO have inside information.
Current Group 7 entries as of 0800 this morning (by member # within class):
FA - McBride
FC - Poma, Dobson, Smith
FM - Garner, Arnold
CSR - Klebeck (NOT a Blunder Roadster)
DSR - Rosmanitz, Stafford
S2 - Doles, Scott
CFC - Jewett, Dowis, Krolewicz, Reidler, Eakin, Eichler, Matthews, Monfort, Hatheway
Almost half the group made up of CFC.
Damned amazing!!!
BTW - Group 1 (the wingless guys) have 10 entries (4 CF, 1 FF, 5 FV, 0 F500), so it's marginal whether or not the two groups will be combined.
Eichler? We suspected Jon was sneaking in at the last minute... but Eichler? Is he that undercover IRS investigator trying to uncover the underground market on old Reynard parts?
You know... 30 cars on Road Atlanta would not be too crowded. And think how much less damage to the track facilities if they let us leave Saturday night. [img]smile.gif[/img] We will promise not to hit any Vees. I still vote that they merge Groups one and seven into Group 1. (I bet Joe has a different view. [img]smile.gif[/img] )
They could do a split start. Only problem is that the CFs would come up and mess up our race by about lap 10. [img]smile.gif[/img]
Any Ducks entered? Or is he monoposting with Brian Redman?
Nine CFCs in one event may be a SE Div record. (And we have Ritter and Top waiting in the wings.)
Have that many 9 cycle tires ever been out on any one given session? Another possible record.
[size="1"][ July 17, 2002, 11:03 AM: Message edited by: Purple Frog ][/size]
And just think, two years ago they were talking about shutting down the CFC's in the southeast.
Hey,
Where is everyone staying??? Frog told me about this little place in Connecticut, but I'm thinkin' that may be just a little bit out of the way [img]tongue.gif[/img]
I hope to be near the track sometime late Thursday afternoon, early evening. If anyone else is making reservations, let me know where. Maybe we can take over a hotel/motel or something too!!
Peace
Eichler (Oran) could well be a mis-key - doesn't he usually run CF or FV?
No Ducks in sight as yet.
Combining the groups is definitely a discussion for the Stewards. Race chairman is Ken Irwin with assistance from Toni Creighton and Rick Mitchell. SOM's are Al Malone, Bob Kirkland and Vern Jared. I'm not sure how it all works, but I know it is NOT the decision of the hosting region once the Supps have been published.
I agree that 30 cars are not too many for one race group. The biggest complaint from the Vees in the past has been the closing rate with National level FA's. No offense, Russ, but that is not the case here.
See ya...
Yes, i was digging through the pile on Saturday, although i had already got a set on Friday, there wasn't much there on Sat.
Oran runs FF in a Blue mid 80s Vand Diemen.
The cast..nope all out of that one (sorry) I wont be sitting on any 4 Wheelers anymore.
Flat through turn 1...done it. Ok it was in a FF not exactly known for its straight line speed, but i still did it. will I try it again...#$%& NO!
I turned in a little early to compensate for the Push the car had, then as it started to push Ioing that, i will talk to him tonight, unwound the wheel just a hair and the back end started to take a look outside of me...so i gently corrected and as it came back i rememberd Randy Pobst telling me "make sure you yank that wheel back when it gets sideways or else you shoot off in the other direction. (yes Randy was giving me a little coaching that day) So i jerked the wheel back and held my breath (and all kinds of other stuff i wont mention here) and the car finished up its slide somewhere on the exit rumble strips. How did i not crash, i dont know.
Jon K
www.racerjon.com
The guy with the great big loud car wrote:
"I agree that 30 cars are not too many for one race group. The biggest complaint from the Vees in the past has been the closing rate with National level FA's. No offense, Russ, but that is not the case here."
Agreed. Larry Conner's got nothing to worry about. It'll be the first race for me and the car in a year. I'll be leaving lots of room between me and others, just trying to have fun and stay out of trouble.
It is now reality! Team SuperTech will be Back in Black. We finished up shooting paint way too late last night (my wife said I got home from Mark's at 1:30 but she says that a lot) and I can't remember how it turned out. Overspray from either the gun or opening beer cans must have got in my eyes.
I've been putting the hard sell on some potential sponsors but they keep mentioning something about a winning record. I got to come up with a good spin for that one. That reminds me, Mark, don't spin anything, OK?
Plus, there's a new canopy to keep us as cool as we're gonna look. Just kidding! I don't think there will be anything keeping cool on the asphalt at RA in late July. Maybe I'll bring a baby pool to sit in ;)
Is anybody else going to Practice Day? We'll be there testing the newly designed aero package. By using the latest in BFPM technology we hope for improved results compared to that produced with the gov't surplus JATO/Michelob rocket unveiled at Lowe's. In hindsight, maybe Cuevo would have been a better choice.
Justin, I don't think any of Team SuperTech will be camping at RA. Of course, that will depend on whether we get bumped into Group 2 or not. It's almost an hour from where we all live to the track, so Mark may want to camp. Camping can be very enjoyable and relaxing experience if done right with at least some of the creature comforts we have all grown accustomed to. My idea of camping is staying at my friend's house on Lake Lanier, 10 mins. from the track.
I think we should try to pit together in a show of force and certifiable commitment to this money pit we call a sport. We should show SEDiv that open wheel racing is back in strength and nothing short of police dogs and stun guns will cause us to stray our course. Add free beer to that list as well.
On behalf of myself and Team SuperTech we are looking forward seeing all you guys at RA and as always there will be plenty of free, cold refreshments in our pit*.
Tom
* - Availability may be limited, does not include all applicable fees and taxes, batteries not included.
Changes/additions to the entry list:
- Eichler has been moved to FF (from CFC) as suspected
- Frost has been added to DSR
- Cecil has been added to FC (looking for the overall, Chuck?)
- Garner & Abbott added in FM
- Dole moved from S2 to ??
Current counts:
Group 7: 8 CFC, 1 CSR, 3 DSR, 1 FA, 3 FC, 4 FM, 1 S2 = 21 on my calculator
Group 2: 3 CF, 2 FF, 5 FV = still stuck at 10
See ya...
Marietta GA, now the unofficial amatuer open wheel capitol in the US!
Hey Ritter, How was the operation? I heard you had the classic CFC surgery.....removal of the "chicken bone." Amazing how we swallow one and it moves down to the right foot! Hurry and get the car ready, I can't wait to hear how it goes......only beef and pork for two weeks prior to the first weekend, okay? lol!
your friend in AZ
I think Marietta, GA is the base for a lot of CFC teams because it is close to the Lockheed Martin wind tunnels. I tried to book time there recently, but Team SuperTech has been monopolizing it lately. Maybe I can find another airport to test.
I will share with yall only that our SF-84 had more lift than the F-22 we were using the wind tunnel with! ;)
Mark H
Questions re: Road Atlanta this weekend:
Is it safe for me to assume that the track gas passes SCCA's fuel tests easily?
Team Supertech, when does your big rig plan to pull out of Marietta for the test day?
The leaded Sunoco at the track should pass.
But... we have not had a fuel test in a year. Of course, the SOMs are reading this thread, so this time we will have one. [img]smile.gif[/img]
Russ,
The track is open from 7 - 5 on Friday. We will leave Mark's house at about 6 or shortly thereafter. I called RA and they are scheduled for 3 groups, each given four 30 min sessions. If you get there later and run less than four sessions they knock of $50 per session. I will call today to clarify and find out when the first session starts. I'll keep you posted.
Russ,
I have a copy of the schedule for Practice Day on Friday. Give me your fax # and I'll send you a copy. That goes for anyone else planing to go.
Tom,
Would you send me a copy of the friday test day Schedule?
Fax #: 803/765-0409
Thanks,
Jon K
racerjon1,
You should have received the fax. They changed from four 30min sessions to five 20min sessions. I don't know if the $50 deal I mentioned is still valid.
When do plan to get there? We should try to pit together as it helps when unloading cars, setting up canopies, etc.
I thought it was in the CFC rules that you couldn't test at a track where you were going to race. ;)
Testing? I thought that was what we did the first two laps of the qualifying session.
You guys are driving up the cost of CFC. Next thing you know enclosed trailers will be allowed, then spare motors, spare wheels, and even, heaven forbid, new tires. Then there will be sponsors needed to afford the escalating costs... then young pro drivers will follow the sponsors in.
Careful with all that testing. If you run 4 test sessions on Friday, there won't be anything left on Sunday... and I'm just talking about the drivers. Those old CFC cars will be worn out by mid-day Saturday. A good CFC car will last the whole season if you only do 3 laps in qualifying and then the race. Any more than that and you are running the danger of wearing everything out.
Tom,
I would like to see the Friday Schedule as well. Please fax it to : 954.331.4794
Tx
Peace
GR
i will be leaving Columbia SC early friday morning. As far as pitting together, i like th idea, but i will be attempting to get a spot for Chuck Cecil (67 feet tip to tip)And will be runing out of his trailor this weekend. (after all it is his car)
No test day at the track we will race at in CFC rules, i guess i will have to go rent Roebling Road. <grin> (actually I heard Formula Cars East has it rented this week, which i did think about begging a few sessions out of)
Sponsors: I already got one (Insurall 1-800 ITSmart)
Wel, time to go install a fuel tap and transponder.
Jon K
Russ,
Judging by the schedule for Friday we will be leaving for the track about 7 instead of 6. We still have to string the car and will be out there tonight so call or stop by.
Tom,
Got the schedule tx.
Boy that G.R. person is really nice ;)
Peace
Yes sportsfans, it's the Wednesday before another CFC race in the SARRC Championship series!
Time for the Purple Frog prerace comments...
Road Atlanta is welcoming the CFC contingent with open arms this coming weekend and only a few rules added to keep down the riotous behavior. You can't enter the facilities with dogs, or alcohol. Guns are another matter.
Who will the throngs of CFC groupies be leaning over the rails to catch a glance of this weekend?
First off, not Marshall Aiken, he has taken his 2001 Championship and bankrolled it into a Zetec pro ride. And not his famous red Swift that his father has scored so many points with this season, they sold that ride. Thus putting Richard Aiken out of the hunt this season. Rumor is that Richard is going to try to make it to the SIC in the FC class, driving Marshall's "old" '01 VD started next week at Daytona. So... the two drivers the female fans most want to see will not be there. To offset this development and help ticket sales, it is rumored Don P. is asking Paul N. to do a one time CFC gig this weekend in car number 77, rumored to be a rare '90 VD.
Points leader Richard Matthews will be there with his top notch team. Just when Richard turns 21, Road Atlanta rules you can't bring in booze. Is there no justice in life? Matthews should be the odds on favorite. Great car, fast driver, hardest worker, most focused. I think Chip or Roger would notice him quicker though if he did the spiked bleach blonde hair deal, a la Tracy.
We are in the second half of the season. Those that have been tuning in the last two years already know that Court Dowis is "Mr. 4th Quarter". The 2000 CFC champ has his sights set on a strong run to the SIC. One more win, makes him a contender. And he has plans on doing 4 races before the SIC in his red Reynard. He is counting points seriously.
The new ringer in the mix has ventured down from his LMP900 ride to pilot none other than Chuck Cecils '88 VD... Jon Kski. RacerJon1 can drive. How soon can the mothballed VD be ready? I think by the end of the Friday test day you will see people going to the betting windows to change their bets. Jon is being backed up by Chuck's complete luxurious paddock assemblage, quite impressive.
Glennon Riedler, our very own G.R. is bringing the Hard Rock Motorsports Team all the way from South Florida. With a map of the course taped on his Reynard dash, he will be doing the test day. He hopes to be really competitive "between the Jersey barriers" by the double weekend on Labor day. The boy must be serious to make a 14 hour haul. His team reports their plan is to use this year to learn the SEDIV courses and next year to make a serious assault at the title.
Michael Montfort has been laying low, staying quite. We all thought it was because he was one of the pilots arrested for FUI, and that was the reason for the silence. Ahhh, but he was not caught, he was only out shopping for sticker tires for his Reynard. Michael plans on doing Road Atlanta this weekend, and the "Big D" next weekend. He is comfortable now that he has a lot more laps on his home track. What other secrets does he have in store? It's doesn't bode well when he is quite.
Mark Hatheway and the Supertech Team have been real busy during the mid-term break. The ex-Frog's '84 Reynard has been put on a serious diet, and is coming back in black, paint that is. New paint, better wings, real tires... Mark is even doing the test day to adjust to all the changes. And sportfans, if it rains... change your bets, that Reynard is a mudder. The Supertech Team has started applying the Matthews work ethic to their regime, they should be moving up.
Doug Jewett is looking to turn his 2002 bad luck streak around at Atlanta. In the March "Noah's Ark Regional" Doug almost drown. Then a broke upright ruined his day at Roebling Road in April. Repairs have been made and he is back having never lost that infectous smile. His yellow Swift should be right in the mix of things this weekend.
Latest reports say that Mike Eakin is also coming to the party, mainly for the party. That makes 8 CFCs. He reported that he was just starting to feel comfortable in the new (to him) '88 Reynard at the Memorial Day double at CMP. We wouldn't find out how comfortable, because his cam shaft snapped just as he was scrubbing in his 9 session tires. But repairs have been made, and he should sneak into the track late friday night. He has yet to drive this world famous course in the new ride, so he opted to skip the test day, so as to not scare himself before qualifying.
That's the field. You all know the fame of the track. And the weather could be favorable, with an strong emphasis on "could". There are a couple of FCs in the field to show the way, and a couple of FMs to get in the way. It should be a real barnburner, at least Saturday night when all these guys go into downtown Oakwood to party it up.
Stay tuned to this site for the best in CFC coverage. It's worldwide, it's F2000.com!
While the Frog is certainly entertaining, his rantings about Road Atlanta outlawing adult beverages only demonstrate that he's finally had someone read the Supps to him. The track has "officially" not allowed beer for the past two years (Hall County ordinance), but as anyone who had been there can tell you, that rule is enforced even less than the 55 mph speed limit on I-285.
The car count for Group 2 is now 12 (4 CF's, 2 FF's, 6 FV's), so I doubt the Stewards will combine the two groups. We've also added 3 more CSR's (don't know if any are Blunder Roadsters), 1 more DSR and (I think) another FM. But then these are only pre-registration numbers anyway. Who actually shows up is the real story.
Let the party begin...
[size="1"][ July 24, 2002, 12:46 PM: Message edited by: GT1Vette ][/size]
It is going to be a close one for the rookie out of Chatlotte. A broken bearing carrier case has had me scrambling the last couple days. Taylor should finish up today and overnight everything to me today. The car should be ready to roll by Friday. Good luck to all on test day and hope to be there Friday night.
Justin
Damn, foiled again!
I was trying to get everyone to leave their beer at home, so I could sell $3 beers out of my trailer to fund the weekend. See what I get for not letting GT1Vette have a piece of the action?
:eek: ! There's a speed limit on 285!???Quote:
Originally posted by GT1Vette:
that rule is enforced even less than the 55 mph speed limit on I-285.
I wish I lived down there......
Have fun guys!
The dirty F500 driver.
BC,
You probably could afford to live down here. We all drive Expeditions. You could fund a F-500 program just keeping our Expeditions running.
Oh, I forgot, you don't charge for Expedition help... nevermind.
More news from Atlanta:
42 cars in Group 7, 13 cars in Group 2. Not too shabby. Of course they have 79 cars in Group 3, on a track legal for only 64. And, OMG, 61 ground pounders in Group 5 (GT1 - ITS)!
I guess there is no stopping this over-hyped event now. The Palm Beach TV news traffic helicopter just spotted GR northbound on I-95. It's almost like the O.J. chase. CFC fans are lining the overpasses cheering him on, or is that celebration that he leaving the state?
We are calling in an anonimous warning to the Georgia Agriculture Inspection folks to make sure they request he empty his trailer at the state line, because he may be hauling un-inspected tropical plants into their fair state. [img]smile.gif[/img]
It's getting down to the time to "walk the walk", not "talk the talk."
Godspeed.
Did I win the race for first one Home?
(i have to make fun of this situation somehow)
Jon K
Sorry, you couldn't have won the first one home race,because I was home Friday evening! So much for repaired Swift uprights......
Doug Jewett
Come on guys, after all the build up to the race I want to hear the details.
News at 1:00 p.m. EDST
Stay tuned.
[size="1"][ July 29, 2002, 11:00 AM: Message edited by: Purple Frog ][/size]
There is a reason they call it HOTlanta. The Atlanta Region heard that everyone was remarking about how hot it had been at VIR last August, and how unbearable it had been at the Roebling Road National July 5th, so… they turned up the heat. And the CFC gang responded by throwing even more beer in the coolers. Fight fire with beer.
Sportsfans, if you follow CFC in the SouthEast, then you already know it is a great breeding ground for up and coming pro racers. And no one is more up and coming than Richard Matthews. This season he has put it all together. He has progressed through the early growing pains of last season and the beginning of this year, and matured into one hell of a racer. His domination in CFC this year is based on a formula of great skill mixed in with tons of hard work, and a solid maturity.
So yes, he whipped all our butts again last weekend. Richard out qualified the rest of us by 2.8 seconds. That basically says it all. Then he went out in the race and showed off that coming of age maturity that will pay dividends in years to come. He knew when to charge, and when to concede to faster cars in the group. Months ago he would have tried to race for an overall win against FAs. Now he is wise enough to take what’s there and not throw it all away chasing a faster class car. Our field reporter (none other than last years Champion, Marshall Aiken) said he drove a cool race. And now we have lost track of how many wins he has. For certain he is taking the maximum six allowed into the SIC, and we still have 5 regular season races left.
Still there were the colorful stories of the also rans… and also didn’t runs.
Do not let Doug Jewett select the lotto numbers in your office pool. As they say, if Doug didn’t have bad luck, he would have no luck at all. At Friday’s test day the newly repaired front upright broke again. Damn. Sending Doug and his Swift back to Morrow GA, before it got way too hot.
We had reported last week that Jon Krolewicz was working hard to put together an assault plan to give chase to Mr. Matthews. Jon had scrambled to assemble a late 80s VD out of Chuck Cecil’s racing empire. Jon was hoping to put his experience from driving a LMP900 at this years Daytona 24 Hour to good use in possibly grabbing the SARRC CFC crown in a late season campaign. His hard work took a serious turn for the worse when a series of water pump related issues ended his weekend during Friday’s test day. He hung around Saturday morning to cheer the others on, but was soon heading back to Columbia SC to get out of the Atlanta heat.
No doubt the most serious DNS was claimed by none other than our famous jet jockey Michael Montfort. Saturday morning had dawned bright on his arrival to the track. Michael was sporting a new tow vehicle that actually had a V8 engine. The boy was styling. And on the track, with decent tires he was getting faster. Then in the qualifying session he decided to take flight. Coming under the bridge under full power he had liftoff. The rear of the car lifted off, but soon there after Montfort was back on terra firma, only going backwards across the gator teeth at the bottom of the hill. Sadly for Michael the Reynard custom gearbox shattered into multiple pieces. It was not a pretty sight. Needless to say, Montfort skipped the Saturday night bash and headed home.
Court Dowis won the whole burrito in 2000. He wants to win it again in 2002. To help the effort, Court is now the first CFC driver in the SE using data acquistion. Mathematically he is still in the hunt. And he is known for hard late season campaigns that place him on top of his form for the SIC. Court mounted up stickers and went out and qualified second behind Matthews.
Mark Hatheway brought out the Supertech team in new livery. With a new black paint scheme, a new aero package, and a new canopy to park a much lighter 84 Reynard under, Mark is really improving each event of his rookie season. And most importantly getting faster. He was even sporting sticker GYs on the Friday test day. His program is coming together, and he is having fun. Always the biggest smile in the paddock. He was 5th after qualifying.
Hard Rock Motorsports pulled the biggest surprise of the weekend. Glennon Reidler unloaded a new Reynard to debut at Atlanta. He bought a “T” car just for the event, when his primary car could not be fixed in time. Not a shabby backup. This 88 Reynard was showcar quality with a one hour old Butler engine. GR went out on the track for the first time ever on Friday, and got faster every lap, except for the one where the map taped to his dash blew up on his visor. GR lived up to his farmer reputation at T3 on Friday. That resulted in a failed clutch for Saturday’s practice session. Most would have packed it up. But in 100 degree heat, GR’s crew from 10/10ths Motorsports performed a clutch change before qualifying, and had time for lunch. These guys are serious racers. GR qualified 4th while using only 3 plug wires.
Mike Eakin was the last to show up Saturday morning. Seems that he and the Ms. heard about a margarita party Friday night and altered their schedule accordingly and took an 80 mile detour into North Georgia to party with GT1Vette. Eakin, hung over, decided to roll his Reynard under Dowis’s famous blue canopy, and skip the effort of setting up in the hugely crowed paddock. Using the tires that Defer ran on in the 2001 Runoffs, now in their 7th cycle, Eakin qualified 3rd.
So the field was set. Five entries still in it. It was time to party. Let’s just say the Texas Roadhouse Grill in Gainesville GA knew they had been visited by the time the moon rose.
The race on Sunday was around 4:00 in the afternoon. So most hangovers were clear by then. On the grid it was 100 degrees. From the start Matthews was cool and motored away from the rest of the CFC group. Most of the CFCers were in a pack of 10 cars all qualified within the same second or so. The start in that part of the field was going to be busy. Dowis was trying to keep Matthews in sight and for his effort was turning laps a second faster than he had qualified. Meanwhile GR and Eakin had a fantastic start. With GR tucked under Eakin’s rear wing, they sped on an off line tactic past five or six cars by turn six. Going into 7, the only front marker left between Dowis and Eakin chopped Eakin off. Eakin smoked the tires threshold braking, and GR almost missed Eakin. The key word being…almost. One should avoid touching his front tire against another’s rear tyre. GR rivaled the Wright Brother’s first flight, and again went farming outside T7. Eakin who had been left foot braking couldn’t get to his clutch before stalling, so the whole field including Hatheway streamed by. So much for the great start. The flag station at T8 reported that they could see Hatheway grinning from ear to ear as his black Reynard sped by.
And that was basically the race. Matthews stayed safely ahead of Dowis. Dowis turned his fastest laps of the weekend in pursuit. Eakin gathered it all up and chased down Hatheway for third. GR, realizing soon after touchdown that the only thing hurt was his front wing and any chance of catching Dowis… motored on, but out of touch. The grass in his radiators causing an already hot day to get hotter.
This reporter believes GR is probably showing the most rapid improvement of the gang, and if GR had not touched Eakin’s tire, GR may well have hounded Dowis the whole race. Dowis while having his sights fixed on Matthews for the series championship, is going to have to check his mirrors once in a while to see where Glennon Reidler might be lurking.
Unless someone else can get 4 wins before the SIC, Richard Matthews has it just about sewn up. And with Matthews planning to run all the events, it will be hard for anyone else to get those needed wins. Court Dowis is now the closest with 3 wins. He has five more regular season chances to get the fourth.
Now the CFC circus moves on to the “Big D” next weekend for a double on the high banks… and remember… Hooters is just across the street, and you have to leave the track by six.
Stay tuned…. You know where… the best forum in the world….F2000.com.
Congrats to Richard!
Frog, thanks for the report. Really makes me wish I could have been there.
Whew!!!
We finally made it home. I'm talking to Florida and Georgia state officials to see what we can do to move these darn tracks closer together!!!
Young Mr. Mathews....WAY...TO…GO!!!! Congrates man!!
First, I just want to thank all the CFCr's in our group for once again putting together a weekend I will remember! Also a HUGE TX!!! to SUPERTECH Team and Frog for their assistance tackling what could have been a weekend ending (although turns out minor) technical glitch with my clutch. Just seems that Georgia clay and clutches do not mix well. With the muscle (actual) that SUPERTECH lent and the technical monitoring of clutch surgery by Frog, 10/TENTHS MOTORSPORT and Team Hard Rock flew into action and were successful getting me out for qualifying. A special thanks also goes here to my brother Anthony and his partner Roger for also jumping in to tackle this project. I invited them out as guests. (little did they know what a race weekend with me was like) They both had grease, dirt and oil up to their eyeballs. Thanks guys!!
This exercise was caused, as Frog has already informed everyone, by a quick Georgia three-step at T3. Just to maintain my "Farmer" image (and so we would have something to talk about here) and because I knew the workers were getting hot and losing interest, I decided to take off on driver's left at turn three for a triple 360 at the end of the last test session on Friday. It was beautiful!! 2 full 360's in the grass (and sand) :eek: , where I waved at the workers as I saw them....twice....., finishing up with a final single 360 on track, facing in the RIGHT direction, popping it into first and continuing like nothing happened :D But of course something DID (To give Frog more ammo, I had enough dirt and grass in the cockpit and engine compartment to plant several rows of soybean :D :D )
But that was the end of that day!
The next morning we tried to clean up the clutch first by spraying enough brake clean into the area to clean up every car in the paddock next to us. I went out in the first practice session and found that that wasn't going to hack it :( and came in after only one lap.
With me thinking the clutch was fried, the 10/TENTHS crew was quickly scouring the paddock for a clutch. We found one on the Frog's lily pad and quickly set out on a task to change the clutch. That's when the fun began. There were arms and wrenches flying, liquids pouring out of the car (and of course sand falling everywhere), but we got to the belly of the beast in about the same amount of time as the Audi's take to change a whole back end. After we had the back end off the car, and as we pulled the clutch apart, we all got quite a smile as we noticed the volume of sand that came out. Everyone just looked at me. AT ME!!, Like it was MY FAULT (oh yeah, it was) After a few moments of discussion we determined that if we could get all of the sand out, I just might be good to go. We realized qualifying was up next on the schedule. We thrashed on it hard and completed our task with time for lunch and time to spare!!
We made qualifying and everything went fine until an engine miss developed on lap 5. (Here's where I'm thinking...... What else!!!) Not wanting to push my luck, I accepted the times I had and went to the paddock....To rest!! With the race not until Sunday, I knew we had plenty of time to figure that problem out.
I know I've been jabbering here for a while, but, I haven't even gotten to the good stuff yet!
If you have never seen this group together for a supper, you have not lived. I will tell you that you cannot drink alcohol outside of an eating establishment while waiting for your table for 20!! Although after they ushered us back into the building, I bet they wish they hadn't.
While most of us sat and watched some drag racing qualifying on Speed in the waiting area, and LOUDLY, expressed our enjoyment, GT1Vette kept disappearing, with libations in hand. It seems he was making visits to the table we were supposed to get, and staring at the group that had OUR TABLES, asking them if they were finished yet because we were hungry. Now……., if you have never met or seen GT1Vette, all I can tell you is that you would not want to meet this man for the first time in a dark alley ;) . He is about 9 feet tall and a sturdy 3 feet wide! Needless to say, once he started his little visits, our tables were soon available.
That’s when the fun really began, not only did we provide unabashed entertainment for those sitting near our group, we had entertainment from the restaurant wait staff with what seemed like a 15 minute cheer, in which members of the CFC fraternity were seen joining in, both vocally and physically. Man then the stories started flying!!!!!!! After about 40 beers and other alcoholic entitlements, we were all sharing our track moments and pointers. Not to many were interested however in my commentary on how quick your footwork must be…… just to maintain a spin!!
During supper, Frog let me in on his strategy for the start and I was all for it. He thought that turn three would be the most interesting point of the start. Boy was HE wrong!
When the race began, I followed his lead and by the time we were through T1 and climbing the hill to T2 we had a full head of steam going! I followed him over the curb on drivers right at three and with both of us airborne we sailed on the outside by a gaggle of cars down into the esses. I didn’t take my foot off the throttle until T5 and that left hander. I was determined not to let that Frog out of my sight!! We continued our push through six holding our ground all the way. All was fine until T7, when a Frog’s butt suddenly appeared through a bank of tire smoke. I yanked the car to the left and planted both feet hard on the clutch and brake pedals,.....aannnnd.......almost made it. I guess I hopped when I should have hipped. I’ve enjoyed one of my favorite southern rock bands singin’ about the blue sky’s in Alabama, but I can tell you for sure that they got ‘em in Georgia too!!
After landing, and watching the pavement end and the beautiful Georgia farmland begin, I found myself about 10-15 feet off track facing where I just came from and watching the driver in the last car in the field gleefully wave bye-bye as he now knew he wasn’t last anymore. I was ecstatic that both front wheels were facing the right direction and that noting seemed to be missing on the front end so I managed to restart the car spin around and start heading in the right direction. Once on track I noticed I had about a 30-degree aero change to the right front wing, but other than that the car was handling ok. The trip up to the bridge and down that famous Road Atlanta hill was most interesting. It seems my car doesn’t handle as well with lift instead of down force on the right front. I kept my foot in it and after about two laps I was able to catch and get by the two Thunder Roadsters in our group. It was about that time I noticed the gauge temps getting higher and the sides of my thighs warming up as the heat started to climbed. I was able to catch and pass one more car before I decided there was no way I was going to catch the field, and that finishing the race was more important that making toast of my brand new motor. The lead cars started appearing in my mirrors after a half dozen more laps and I moved over to make sure I didn’t screw with their race, but kept up at about 80%. Richard flew by, then Court. But I kept my eyes peeled for the white front end of #48. If Frog showed up, I wasn’t gonna happen!! ;)
I know, I know.. Three pages and still going.
But wait there’s more!
With huge construction delays South on I-85 from the track, we decided to follow Frog through some of the Georgia back roads to get south and pick up 75 near Macon. Man, we were flying through the forest. He was dropping two off here, jumping railroad tracks there, barely missing mail boxes, scooting past dead turkeys on bridges, etc….. Bill (10/TENTHS MOTORSPORT) showed him a nose every once in a while too, just to keep him going. Once we made it (safely) to the interstate, we had a quick bite to eat w/Frog and Mrs. Frog before sayin’ see ya’. It was almost as much fun as the race!!
Well, now we are off to Daytona. Stay tuned. Our year is not yet over.
Peace
OK,this track is very FAST!But seems to be the most fun? Well Ive maby learned that sliding & rotating can be good.
But the key seems to be the launch onto the back stright #%???? :eek: HELP!
Mark H