COTA SuperTour in one week

[rsmart]

And FC has been moved to group 6 with FF/FV/F5. We have 3 in FC and could use some help.
Register at:

https://www.motorsportreg.com/events...mericas-739689

Thanks and hope to see you there!

[rallaer]

Should be a blast! Weather looks terrific and I believe the track has been repaved since last year. A two day event as well. Perfect for my work schedule. I'm definitely looking forward to it!

Rob Allaer
FC #52

[Speed Sport Engineering]

Any information (besides SCCA's recap) on happenings over the weekend for FC at COTA?

[Bob Wright]

There were originally 4 FC's. Peter Gonzales blew up a gearbox in qualifying Saturday morning. Bill Johnson, I believe, had a coming together with (Mauro Fauza)? in the same session. Rob Allaer blew away the track record, admittedly a soft one, held by Gonzales. Saturday was dry and reasonably warm and Rob and Mauro finished 1-2, Peter and Bill DNS'd.

I was in the FX class with my MZR so I couldn't play with them. Its a great track; fun and challenging to drive.

[Speed Sport Engineering]

Thanks Bob -

I was watching the live timing and I was wondering why it seemed like only 2 cars turned laps in the race.

Mike

[Bill Johnson 42]

I will say Rob Allaer will be hard to beat this year, he really is hooked up. Not sure what happened to Rob on Sunday as we had an early exit but congrats to him.

The track was resurfaced in a few areas and was really slick in those areas, especially when it was cold. I got hit pretty hard Sat. morning on the first part of the second lap. Thought I was done but the car seemed to steer OK so I stayed out for the session but couldn't figure out why my lap times weren't where they should be. When I climbed out of the car I couldn't believe most of my right sidepod top was gone, the floor was broken and it along with the radiator and oil cooler were just dragging on the ground. The rad was crushed and how it held water I have no idea. Since it was the right side of my car my crew didn't couldn't see it from pit lane. Spare floors were left at home and without being able to repair it so everything wasn't just dragging on the ground we packed up.

FC was moved into the group with the Vs and the V guys were not happy. I don't think they had any problems with the FC cars other than having their race shortened by being lapped a couple times, I think Sunday they had a bigger problem with an erratic FF.

Long drive in bad weather both directions with a broken car, not a happy weekend for me. Overall people were very nice.

[rsmart]

Thanks to all the FC racers that made the long tow to Austin. It was a great event from most perspectives but the FCs were hit especially hard with mechanical and accidental damage.
Thirteen classes had new track records Saturday including FC, so close to ideal conditions. Sunday was mixed, mostly wet.
Congrats to Rob Allaer on his FC track record and Saturday win, and to Mauro Fauza for surviving Sunday's conditions for the win.
Hope to see more of you next year as I make another effort to get my FC program back on track.

[rallaer]

Thanks for the nice words mentioned above guys. It was a great event. Track is awesome, as most of you know.

However, I am very concerned about what is happening to our class. The 3 major races I have been to have had a grand total of 11 FCs registered. What is worse, the Sunday races for those events had a grand total of 4 cars finish... in 3 weekends.

Out west at Buttonwillow last weekend it looks like 6 cars registered and 4 raced on Sunday. That is very low for a pacific coast race.

I'm not sure what the numbers need to be to survive another year, but my guess is we aren't there.

I selected COTA in the middle of the busiest work season for me because it was a great track ,and I thought we would get a big group of FCs.

It's time to rally together now. I fear we are out of time. Pick a couple Major events and let's load up on entries. I'm willing to throw in $$ for random prizes regardless of position finish. We can have a FC dinner Friday and Saturday night. Cookout - bring a plate - whatever.

Most importantly, we need to find the guys with these cars sitting in garages and get them out to the track. My paddock is open to anyone that needs help in setting up your car. Come see me. Use our scales, our tools. Whatever you need. I will share my resources with anyone that needs help. Don't let that be the reason you don't come to the track. If we get the numbers up, I think it will lead to more people coming out anyway. It will be contagious. No one wants to drive around by themselves.


LET ME BE CLEAR - I am looking for ideas on what we can do now. Positive thoughts. We don't need your negative comments about the SCCA, FRP, Mazdas vs Zetec vs Pinto or whatever. If you don't have a constructive thought or idea, don't bother commenting. Please. We have all read the arguments back and forth.

I am calling for ideas. So, I will start by saying my plan. At this point, my next event (I hope) is the SCCA June Sprints. What better place to host a "reunion" than Road America? However, I could be persuaded to another event if we get a big group.


Ideas?




Rob Allaer
FC #52

[BeerBudgetRacing]

Out west at Buttonwillow last weekend it looks like 6 cars registered and 4 raced on Sunday.

At one point 8 cars were registered. I think in was 7 the week of.
I was taken out by a P1 on thursday. that made 6.
Saturdays race was wet and lost 2 in the first corner.

The Pacific F2000 group is not running any Majors ( except AutoClub ) this season.
I expressed my concern when they announced the schedule.

[Bill Johnson 42]

Agree with Rob that if we can get a few more to show up it will be contagious and others will want to join in.

I'm in for Hallett and Heartland Park in April, and then the Sprints. Hopefully I'll have company.

Would be great to see some other FC cars at Heartland Park I'm trying to help our race group and entice some entries and will say we will offer about whatever it takes to get people there. If you want it ask for it and I'll see what we can do.

I'm not one of those guys that thinks he can win the Runoffs, I'm not getting any younger. But I am having fun driving in a great class with a lot of good, competitive and friendly people. Everyone has been very helpful.

I know our club keeps a driver database, all of our regions and race group use it to e mail event info. Maybe if we can get that broken down for just FC we can make some effort to contact drivers for specific events.

And don't forget, Heartland Park April 18 and 19.

[Speed Sport Engineering]

Rob,

That's great of you to extend the open offer to help. I am willing to do the same - with the caveat I still am trying to figure out what I'm doing myself!

I did notice last year in my first year of FC that I came across different people at each race. There were 21 - yes, 21! different drivers that scored points in a northern conference race last year. Imagine if all of those drivers showed up on the same weekend?

I haven't checked, but I suspect the same happened across all divisions. It would be awesome to get everyone out on the same weekends, but as for SCCA's metrics, it also doesn't matter if 21 show up on one weekend or 3 show up on 7 weekends. But it would sure be a lot more fun.

Maybe you should consider coming out to Blackhawk. I'll be there, Brian Tomasi is always there, ect. Grattan last year was the most fun race I went to...so don't forget about that one too.

If we organized an FC party at an event I'd help bring some food and drinks.

Mike


Edit - I just checked - 46 different drivers ran an SCCA majors event in 2019.

[Speed Sport Engineering]

Agree with Rob that if we can get a few more to show up it will be contagious and others will want to join in.

I'm in for Hallett and Heartland Park in April, and then the Sprints. Hopefully I'll have company.

Would be great to see some other FC cars at Heartland Park I'm trying to help our race group and entice some entries and will say we will offer about whatever it takes to get people there. If you want it ask for it and I'll see what we can do.

I'm not one of those guys that thinks he can win the Runoffs, I'm not getting any younger. But I am having fun driving in a great class with a lot of good, competitive and friendly people. Everyone has been very helpful.

I know our club keeps a driver database, all of our regions and race group use it to e mail event info. Maybe if we can get that broken down for just FC we can make some effort to contact drivers for specific events.

And don't forget, Heartland Park April 18 and 19.

Bill if I had my car together I'd love to come run the event at Heartland. I just don't see anyway I'll have it ready by then. For some strange reason I miss the place. Maybe it was the BBQ place in town.

[Lotus7]

Most importantly, we need to find the guys with these cars sitting in garages and get them out to the track. My paddock is open to anyone that needs help in setting up your car. Come see me. Use our scales, our tools. Whatever you need. I will share my resources with anyone that needs help. Don't let that be the reason you don't come to the track.

Ideas?

Rob Allaer
FC #52

Well said Rob. Challenge accepted and here's my offer: my local track Roebling hosts a Majors at the end of June that no one comes to (because "its too hot"; blah blah).
To anyone who drags a dormant FC out of their garage and enters this event, I'll crew for you for free. Better, get two of you to share my time...

Further challenge: I have colleagues who live near other tracks, (you know who you are) ... throw out the same offer, it's basically saving our livelihood !!

[rallaer]

Great of you to offer Ian! For anyone that might not know Ian, this is a very good opportunity for you to have a very knowledgeable, very experienced F2000 person help you get your car together.

Hopefully a few people take you up on that offer!

Thanks for the help bud


Rob Allaer
FC #52

[problemchild]

i don't have any free services to offer, but I have an expensive rental car sitting here that goes very well at Road America, and is available for the Runoffs. Perhaps some west coasters, or other far away racers could support local Majors events with their own car and do a Runoff rental deal on the Citation. I may be able to fit in a East Coast/Great Lakes Majors or ST event too as we have no current plans for it in 2020.

If this post is inappropriate for the thread, please advise, and I will delete it.

[BrianT1]

I agree with Rob, in fact I have been saying the same thing since I came back to FC in 2017. We need to rally around certain events to make larger car counts by pooling those who are still running. That should draw interest from others either on the fence of buying or who already have a car and has not been out in a while.

The Runoffs are at Road America this year so that should increase car counts at the June Sprints. Last year we had just over 10 and drivers I know who are attending this year are Robert Armington, John Norton, Mike Varacins, Pete LeSuer, Rob Allear, Bill Johnson and Myself. So if more are planning on it we can get the car count even higher.

I plan to run these races this summer unless I hear of a better option with more cars running.

May 2-3 Blackhawk Farms
June 12-14 June Sprints Road America
July 11-12 Cat National Road America
Aug 22-23 Grattan

Also Baytos is considering a 3 race Northern F2000 championship similar to what he has in the south. That would include prize funds for entered drivers. That could help as he includes, pinto, zetec and mzr powered cars.

And as the others mentioned above I am available for any setup or car questions if needed. Always happy to help.

Brian

[BrianT1]

Most importantly, we need to find the guys with these cars sitting in garages and get them out to the track. My paddock is open to anyone that needs help in setting up your car. Come see me. Use our scales, our tools. Whatever you need. I will share my resources with anyone that needs help. Don't let that be the reason you don't come to the track. If we get the numbers up, I think it will lead to more people coming out anyway. It will be contagious. No one wants to drive around by themselves.

Rob,

I know there are a few zetec cars that run in the GLC series but most are pinto powered. Other than that I don't know of any cars in the midwest that are not already out there running. What we need to do is some how entice the regional series cars to run some majors. That is the only way to help National car counts.

I applied to be on the Ad hoc committee to help the class.

Brian