Jump to content

Photo

Tequila Patron Sunrise MSRH


  • Please log in to reply
7 replies to this topic

#1
MPR22

MPR22

    Veteran Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPipPipPip
  • 2,138 posts
  • Location:Houston
  • Region:Southwest
  • Car Year:1999
  • Car Number:22
This race weekend should have been named the Hotter Than Hell 100.
To end the season the Southwest Division raced in hundred degree heat for two days. As hot as it was the track seemed to have good grip through out the qualifying sessions and both races. Tire selection was key and all of the top contenders were mixing and matching as well as they could to come up with the right combination. There was also a rash of electrical gremlins and fuel pump issues that struck some of the top racers.

Saturday's Qual: Reynolds, Rushing, Haldeman, Steyn, Bickham
Satuday's Race: Rushing, Reynolds, Steyn, Bickham, York

Sunday's Qual: Rushing, Steyn, Haldeman, Bickham, McSpadden
Sunday's Race: Rushing, Haldeman, McSpadden, Reynolds, Steyn

I tried to prove my 1.6 was up to the task of taking on some of the best in the country, including a special guest appearance from the Southeast Division leader, Danny Steyn. Alas it was not to be, my 1.6 was down on power, not sure what went wrong but tear down will commence immediately. However, a top 1.6 did win both days.

Saturday's race was a clean battle all around and everyone left the track smiling with the exception of McSpadden who was chasing the dreaded electrical gremlin until he retired at lap 11.

Sunday's qualifying had the top 6 within a few tenths of each other and a 1:49.9 for pole. 1:49s are not unusual in the winter and spring but in 90+ degree heat it is pretty spectacular, Steyn and Haldeman were right there with 1:50.0s.

The race was shaping up to be a battle royal, within the first two laps, Rushing and Haldeman started to walk away, Steyn's tires weren't up to the task and others seemed to be working each other over pretty hard until:

The big one :o. Lap 4 Bickham hit the wrong patch asphalt and upset his car exiting turn 1 exit onto front straight and headed into the wall at slight angle at about 80+ bounced off and collected York, fusing the two cars together and to the wall. 4 laps of double yellows and the SCCA called it a day.

Sad ending to a fun season. Bickham and York are both fine and York's car looks ok considering the impact.

The weekend had several ominous events and seemed destined to end badly. Sat qual group 1, a Caterham sheared a spindle on the front straight sending his wheel on a run down the hot pits. The sound of it hitting the wall about 5 feet from me was a bit unnerving. Luckily the only thing that was hurt were two fire extinguishers that fell like bowling pins at the far end of the pit lane.

Sundays saw two formula V's hooked up in group 2, right before our turn. The remains of one looked grim. As we were completing our out lap the Life Flight helicopter was touching down. I know our thoughts and prayers are with the driver and family, hope he is back soon.

A big thank you to my father for hanging out with me and having a little fun racing this season.

Also a thank you to Danny Steyn for showing me the ins and outs of using that nifty Traqmate data. I look forward to using that expensive lap timer for some real analysis.

Thank you to JP3 and the rest of the Phillips Race Prep crew for keeping me on the track and fixing that pesky toe problem.
Shattering - For those who cant drink tequila NASA Champs Winner - NASA Champs Winner Majors Winner - Novel Approach - When a paragraph simply won't do... We have a Winnah! - Won their 1st race... Congratulations! Bona fide - A bonafide Spec Miata driver Donor - Made PayPal donation

#2
suck fumes

suck fumes

    Member

  • SMembers
  • PipPipPip
  • 425 posts
  • Location:Round Rock, TX
  • Region:Lonestar
  • Car Year:1997
  • Car Number:75
Wiring harness on order. Holy cow they are pricey!
2010, 2011 SM Sowdiv points champion!
2011 National points champion!

WWW.MOTORSPORTHEAVEN.COM

#3
trimless

trimless

    Low Budget Member

  • SMembers
  • PipPipPip
  • 261 posts
  • Region:Texas
  • Car Year:1999
  • Car Number:11
Congratulation to Andy Rushing for the 1st place finishes at MSRH. Did a 1.6 really beat the 99's? Must be the driver :D

Sorry to hear about the car damage Mr. York and Bickham, that wall has collected more than a few cars and one of the reasons I do not race there much anymore. And when they run CW the speeds around turn one into that wall are flat scary.
G. Corley
Donor - Made PayPal donation Bona fide - A bonafide Spec Miata driver

#4
William Keeling

William Keeling

    Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 277 posts
  • Location:Houston Texas
  • Region:Houston Region
  • Car Year:1999
  • Car Number:11
If you ask the MSRH folks (and even if you don't) it's the drivers not the track -- I am with you Mr Corley on this one; CW is just not right at T1 (before the new pavement, with the curb and now with the dip all are not safe).

William Keeling
 

Bona fide - A bonafide Spec Miata driver

#5
suck fumes

suck fumes

    Member

  • SMembers
  • PipPipPip
  • 425 posts
  • Location:Round Rock, TX
  • Region:Lonestar
  • Car Year:1997
  • Car Number:75
That dip is scary. Way to bumpy
2010, 2011 SM Sowdiv points champion!
2011 National points champion!

WWW.MOTORSPORTHEAVEN.COM

#6
dfuser

dfuser

    Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 95 posts
  • Location:Georgetown, TX
  • Region:Southwest, Texas
  • Car Year:1999
  • Car Number:18
I lifted for it, and was willing to give up a full second. I have kissed that wall before.

Bill Agha

SM 18

Sponsored by:  raceoutfitter.com

Engine/Setup:  X-Factor racing


#7
MPR22

MPR22

    Veteran Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPipPipPip
  • 2,138 posts
  • Location:Houston
  • Region:Southwest
  • Car Year:1999
  • Car Number:22
Its one thing running by yourself where you can pick your line that doesn't upset the car. In a large pack you just hope you don't draw the short straw. In the race it was even worse because the cones were knocked everywhere taking away some of the lines.
Shattering - For those who cant drink tequila NASA Champs Winner - NASA Champs Winner Majors Winner - Novel Approach - When a paragraph simply won't do... We have a Winnah! - Won their 1st race... Congratulations! Bona fide - A bonafide Spec Miata driver Donor - Made PayPal donation

#8
suck fumes

suck fumes

    Member

  • SMembers
  • PipPipPip
  • 425 posts
  • Location:Round Rock, TX
  • Region:Lonestar
  • Car Year:1997
  • Car Number:75
Yah and it wasn't like anyone attempted to kick them out of the way when there were no cars going by!!! Usually there is a short time period where someone can grab them and move them out of the way.
2010, 2011 SM Sowdiv points champion!
2011 National points champion!

WWW.MOTORSPORTHEAVEN.COM




0 user(s) are reading this topic

0 members, 0 guests, 0 anonymous users