101 replies to this topic

[James York]

That’s the point. In both testing and qualifying they both got better times with Ernie Jr behind in a cleaner draft. Give it to the kid he drove his heart out and ran a very smart race. He got out of 8 better and was able to plant the power down and exit out smoother and looser to not scrub off speed. At the end of the race instead of the other drivers congratulating him on his driving and win they decided to huddle up and go against him. He drove a great race, Perfect car setup and had his car there for full tech. Very sad and unsportsmanship behavior. Some of the other drivers there should be ashamed. This is why as soon as he can to get out of Spec Miata he will go to B-Spec in Grand Am.

Don't let us run you off SM. If he is that much of the bomb, tell us to shove it and show up at Nationals. Or run SCCA when your able and do some big events. Then we can all be set straight.

[suck fumes]

Drafting at Tx motor speedway here in Texas is similar to homestead and let me tell you, from that video you could have passed at the start and pulled a LARGE gap on te field by yourself hahaha. That last lap pass was hilarious cause it looked like a mustang passing a Miata. The 99 lost 7 car lengths after he had brake checked Ernie coming Onto the straight!!!!!! The 1.6 can be fast if built right but good God!!! I would pay money to sit and watch a full teardown of that whole car. Reducing friction does help but not 7 lengths worth accelerating up to speed!

[suck fumes]

Another thing, if you have to make up some explanation as to why your car is fast other than the driver then it's a little odd. No one goes off blabbing about how they got their car faster to the public because then you loose your advantage!

[James York]

Another thing, if you have to make up some explanation as to why your car is fast other than the driver then it's a little odd. No one goes off blabbing about how they got their car faster to the public because then you loose your advantage!

Aaron, did you sleep at Holiday Inn Express last night....

[suck fumes]

The kid can drive I'll give you that but that car has enough power to drive with one hand and a drink in the other LOL!

[MPR22]

The kid can drive I'll give you that but that car has enough power to drive with one hand and a drink in the other LOL!

That's why I am interested in buying this legal 1.6 engine, I want to be able to race with you while drinking a beer!

[BreathlessPerformance]

Lets put it to the test come down to Homestead and let me exit smoother and wider and you stay tight and get on the gas later and I will smoke you ever time. But I guess that does not mean much thats why you would stay in the back and lose. Some of you guys need to go back to drivers school..lol thats ok keep making mistakes and we will keep moving up. Stay with your 1.8 and I will keep the 1.6 like the 1.6 that won Nationals..lol Hey the so called draft guys come down to FARA for some more drafting.

[BreathlessPerformance]

Come down Sat and watch it on the dyno and then you can buy it if you want.

[Jim Drago]

I feel for Jr, seems like a great kid and I doubt he had any idea this video posting would turn into this. I will say JR did drive a very good race regardless and he is only a 14 year old, we do need to remember that.

Ernie Sr,
I suggest you ignore the comments and do your talking on the track. Your defense and explanation is doing nothing to change opinions. If the car is compliant you have no worries and no explanations are needed to anyone, you don't owe anyone advice or explanations. You might double check everything just in case to be sure, the reputation of your young son is on the line. I can assure that as fast as the car is right now( faster than any I have seen), competitors will not sit by and watch Ernie Jr pace them and drive around them on the last lap. That is not the way SM races are run or have ever been run, there is just never that much of a HP disparity. Homestead is a VERY easy track( I have held the track record there), no one( top 10 type) is out driving anyone there by much more than .5 in a SM.

Since you may be unaware, or don't know a lot of the players here. You are explaining the draft and drafting to 5-6 of best 20 drivers in the country and your not convincing them in the slightest. All are very experienced racers, some of the best in SM or any class for that matter. I can assure you they all are infinitely familiar with SM drafting techniques, rolling resistance, set up and the importance of the draft etc. All of them believe the car was out of bounds, you can try to reason with them and show them the dyno etc, but they have formed an opinion that will not change. I suggest you continue to race the car in the same trim and be prepared to defend yourself in a protest or make the necessary changes before you come back. That appears to be the way this is headed unfortunately.

I have been in similar situations before and have never slowed down after hearing such comments, others eventually even caught up and passed us for awhile. All you can do is run the best legal car you put on the track, if someone doubts you, they have the right to protest. No need to get offended and while it is very personal, try not to take it as such.

I have no dog in this fight at all, just trying to shed light from a semi educated outsider .

[BreathlessPerformance]

Your right let them talk, Funny that his lap times were still slower then the 1.8 but that does not matter. Maybe Selin's car had a hicup coming out of 8 but who knows we will be at Sebring for round 3 cant wait..lol

See you at Sebring.

[suck fumes]

If you bring that car to nationals and gorriaran shows up, I'll bet my left nut that he throws a lot of money at tech to get that whole car tore down before the race! I'll bring my popcorn and watch then study my track map to make sure I'm driving the right line LOL!

[wheel]

The last lap, by the lead car, was his sloppiest and he was dead meat coming onto the banking. If he didn't want to be passed, he should have driven that lap like he did the ones before. It was all on him.

[john mueller]

Could someone please IM or email me Scott Argow's contact info

[High Chair]

Lets put it to the test come down to Homestead and let me exit smoother and wider and you stay tight and get on the gas later and I will smoke you ever time. But I guess that does not mean much thats why you would stay in the back and lose. Some of you guys need to go back to drivers school..lol thats ok keep making mistakes and we will keep moving up. Stay with your 1.8 and I will keep the 1.6 like the 1.6 that won Nationals..lol Hey the so called draft guys come down to FARA for some more drafting.

Maybe you forgot and still have your FARA motor in! Regardless most of the drivers that are posting here know a little something about the draft and car setup. As a matter of fact I hold the track record at Daytona which was achieved drafting off of the 2010 runoffs champ while he was in a 1.6. But you continue to claim that the best drivers in Spec Miata cannot tell if a car is legal or not; which is just plain dumb. In the end Spec Miata is self policed and your car has been deemed illegal in the court of public opinion. You may not care but trust me it is your son that is going to pay the price. Why don't you just make the changes that are needed and come out and race with a legal car. You know that car will not pass tech as it was raced. Nobody is asking you to admit anything; we just want the car right before the next event. You may get away with it in NASA Florida but you won't get away with it anywhere else and anything your son achieves while driving it will only further isolate him from the Spec Miata community which I think he wants (and we want him) to be apart of.

[High Chair]

I feel for Jr, seems like a great kid and I doubt he had any idea this video posting would turn into this. I will say JR did drive a very good race regardless and he is only a 14 year old, we do need to remember that.

Ernie Sr,
I suggest you ignore the comments and do your talking on the track. Your defense and explanation is doing nothing to change opinions. If the car is compliant you have no worries and no explanations are needed to anyone, you don't owe anyone advice or explanations. You might double check everything just in case to be sure, the reputation of your young son is on the line. I can assure that as fast as the car is right now( faster than any I have seen), competitors will not sit by and watch Ernie Jr pace them and drive around them on the last lap. That is not the way SM races are run or have ever been run, there is just never that much of a HP disparity. Homestead is a VERY easy track( I have held the track record there), no one( top 10 type) is out driving anyone there by much more than .5 in a SM.

Since you may be unaware, or don't know a lot of the players here. You are explaining the draft and drafting to 5-6 of best 20 drivers in the country and your not convincing them in the slightest. All are very experienced racers, some of the best in SM or any class for that matter. I can assure you they all are infinitely familiar with SM drafting techniques, rolling resistance, set up and the importance of the draft etc. All of them believe the car was out of bounds, you can try to reason with them and show them the dyno etc, but they have formed an opinion that will not change. I suggest you continue to race the car in the same trim and be prepared to defend yourself in a protest or make the necessary changes before you come back. That appears to be the way this is headed unfortunately.

I have been in similar situations before and have never slowed down after hearing such comments, others eventually even caught up and passed us for awhile. All you can do is run the best legal car you put on the track, if someone doubts you, they have the right to protest. No need to get offended and while it is very personal, try not to take it as such.

I have no dog in this fight at all, just trying to shed light from a semi educated outsider .

Drago if I ever get elected president I am going to make you the ambassador to the Middle East. Very smooth I must say; maybe you can give me a few lessons, lord knows I need them.

[MPR22]

To speak for the community we respect talent!

Period!

Those that have it are idolized. Those that don't,worship those that do have it.

Those that pretend are shunned and persecuted!

Choose wisely for your child's sake.

To think your child doesn't know what is up is ignorance. Talent will happen, it will serve itself, get out of the way and it will happen and reward all those that have the grace to experience it.

[Ron Alan]

Oh man that hole got deep quick This was hard to read. Sr., take Jim's advise and don't look back. Be prepared and not surprised. And give some serious thought as to why people are questioning the power this 1.6 seems to show. Collectively there are 1000's of SM hours of experience giggling right now...you don't have to prove them wrong...just make sure for your son's sake you are right. From one racing dad to another

[tburas56]

As a casual reader and Ernie Sr. defending the car so vigorously; the car could truly be legitimate.

It is plausible that the new crate Mazda is producing along with a head from Rossini could be the combination that 1000+ 1.6 owners have been longing for since Jim Daniels started this class.

Just sayin…

[LarryKing]

Come on Buras - get with the program - it's guilty until proven innocent around here.

Some of the other drivers there should be ashamed. This is why as soon as he can to get out of Spec Miata he will go to B-Spec in Grand Am.

Now that's an attitude I can appreciate.

(Methinks grown men hate it when a 14 year old eats their lunch)

[svvs]

Ernie Sr: A long time ago, I was the 14 year old hot shot in a different sport. They took my rifle apart about 5 times before they realized that everything was legal, I only had one trick thing that wasn't even that trick, and they should stop taking apart my rifle.

Ernie Jr: Keep your head down and keep competing, and also remember that being humble is a virtue. It's one of the best things you can do as a young man. I don't care if you're playing chess, driving race cars, or whatever it is you want to do. Even if there is some type of glitch in this car, don't get discouraged.

-Vick