263 replies to this topic

[BreathlessPerformance]

This thread is entertaining. Our friends at World Challenge and Grand Am have collected valuable data for use to go over. We will review the data soon and make any necessary changes.

The one observation I have is the Mazda 2 and Fiesta have the same size brakes, but the Mazda 2 is 275 pounds lighter. It is all part of the balancing act. PK

Watch our brake point as we close in everytime. Either they did not practice enough to find the max they can go or the rain really bothered them.

Watch our line on turn in and exit and see us make up time again. We were able to exit and on the gas sooner then most.

Ernie Francis

[Caveman-kwebb99]

Seems to be a stretch, that you simply outdrove 2, what are considered top drivers, both have experience in many type cars, and lots of rain experience...

That is why I want to see the full race video, you can save the closed captions, that is only serving to stir more bad blood. Your Vid should reinforce the fact that you had one hell of a drive, and beat Buras straight up, if I am hearing you right? If all that is true, it should be an awesome vid, and I am looking forward to it...

It really doesnt matter what Buras said to you, it is still your choice in your response to him. If you are the straight up dude you say you are, the proper response to that is, can you please meet me over at my trailer where you can use your tools or mine to take a look at whatever you would like with the rules in hand. I respect you as a competitor and I want you to know that my shit is LEGIT!

It does seem to me also that you like to stir the pot, it is becoming more common place that you make inflamitory remarks about other drivers that 99% of us on here respect, do you think that the 99% are wrong? I am not condoning unsportmanlike conduct, but it goes both ways, you have give respect to recieve it back...

[BreathlessPerformance]

Seems to be a stretch, that you simply outdrove 2, what are considered top drivers, both have experience in many type cars, and lots of rain experience...

That is why I want to see the full race video, you can save the closed captions, that is only serving to stir more bad blood. Your Vid should reinforce the fact that you had one hell of a drive, and beat Buras straight up, if I am hearing you right? If all that is true, it should be an awesome vid, and I am looking forward to it...

It really doesnt matter what Buras said to you, it is still your choice in your response to him. If you are the straight up dude you say you are, the proper response to that is, can you please meet me over at my trailer where you can use your tools or mine to take a look at whatever you would like with the rules in hand. I respect you as a competitor and I want you to know that my shit is LEGIT!

It does seem to me also that you like to stir the pot, it is becoming more common place that you make inflamitory remarks about other drivers that 99% of us on here respect, do you think that the 99% are wrong? I am not condoning unsportmanlike conduct, but it goes both ways, you have give respect to recieve it back...

I understand but like you said you have to give respect to earn respect. We did twice reach out and then with his remark that was the last straw. He then lost my respect.

The car went to impound with Grand Am officials all over the car with no issues. They can take the car all I care, its 100% stock other than the Mazda air cleaner and their exhaust. Let’s get to the other point I have been racing longer then Todd in everything from International Sedans with Mitsubishi, Corvettes in SPO and ST1, Formula Atlantics, SSC in SCCA and many more and I do feel I can drive. We are at the race track racing or testing almost every weekend. I now hop between Corvette- Spec Miata- MS3 ST- and the B-Spec to keep sharp. The point is we have been at this game for over 25 years.

The Video is 47 min long and tried uploading it to youtube all in one shot but it did not work. So I am uploading the first 22 min then the second half.

Ernie francis

[JRHille]

A little modesty can go a long way...

[trimless]

A little modesty can go a long way...

I think that says it all Justin

[LarryKing]

Mr. Francis, please stop giving us your side of the story - it's very distracting while we are nailing you to a cross.

[dstevens]

[BreathlessPerformance]

Mr. Francis, please stop giving us your side of the story - it's very distracting while we are nailing you to a cross.

Thats ok you cant nail me to a cross. Why dont you come race in Grand Am? That is the racing of the future. See you on the track

Ernie Francis

[dstevens]

Don't you mean support class in Grand Am?

For starters, 14 year olds can't legally be bound by contracts of their own accord and I doubt the kid came up with the cash on his own to build it. It's your car, he's just the owner of record. It's that sort of hype and bullshit like that tanks your cred here. You won, that's great but let's not pretend it's a prototype or GT win. When you get to the pointy end of those, let us know. You're just being overblown and pompous about the whole thing. If you were really that good, you'd be getting paid to drive instead of paying to drive "your son's car".

[KentCarter]

oh, man.... i need more popcorn!

[LarryKing]

Man, some of y'all are missing out on a career in politics.

If you can't dispute what somebody is saying - then dispute HOW he is saying it.

[BreathlessPerformance]

Don't you mean support class in Grand Am?

For starters, 14 year olds can't legally be bound by contracts of their own accord and I doubt the kid came up with the cash on his own to build it. It's your car, he's just the owner of record. It's that sort of hype and bullshit like that tanks your cred here. You won, that's great but let's not pretend it's a prototype or GT win. When you get to the pointy end of those, let us know. You're just being overblown and pompous about the whole thing. If you were really that good, you'd be getting paid to drive instead of paying to drive "your son's car".

yes I did get paid by Joe Gibbs oil MazdaSpeed and Grand Am and not to forget Jrs Sponsor paid me to drive his car. What have you won and got paid for?

So now you are putting down Grand Am?

Ernie Francis

[William Keeling]

WOW – I’m no longer the biggest douche on here!

[Todd Tagget]

Pass the salt,,,, I'm just getting comfy in my easy chair and don't want to get up and miss anything ..

[dstevens]

yes I did get paid by Joe Gibbs oil MazdaSpeed and Grand Am and not to forget Jrs Sponsor paid me to drive his car. What have you won and got paid for?

So now you are putting down Grand Am?

Ernie Francis

Not contingencies dude, paid by a team. Not one you own. If that was the case, I could say I got paid by NASCAR, Coca-Cola, and VP. But it was sticker and points money. When you get a ride with someone like TRG or MSR as a paid driver come on back and let us know. I like Grand Am. I'm putting you down for making a mountain out of a molehill.

[Glenn]

WOW – I’m no longer the biggest douche on here!

Who says..............

[Caveman-kwebb99]

WOW – I’m no longer the biggest douche on here!

Says who? LOL now come on, there is no reason to be calling ecah others names, just let the Video speak for itself. I dont know Ernie but I have raced against him once, luckily for me it was not at his home track I guess. But really this is a chat room, and we are doing this shit for fun, even the whole forum is for fun!!!!! I am still waiting on the Vid, but in the mean time I have nothing negative to say either way, I wasn't there, and neither were most of you. The only person I want to nail to a cross is Denny the Moose! and of course I am kidding when I say that

[BreathlessPerformance]

I guess watching the video with us out braking and cornering doesn't matter. Thats ok you must be blind and cannot really see what happened. Watch the video if you can open your eyes. Wow these guys are braking at 200 ft you got to be kidding. If I suck then they must really suck...lol These guys are hitting concrete patches in corners thats a no no.

Lets not forget Matt who started this by calling the car illegal. Video shows we were just handling the track conditions better. The car was at tech ready for a full protest.

By the way Jrs Sponsor Joe Heck Racing is a real sponsor not from Contingency
By the way Joe Gibbs oil is a real sponsor not from contingency


Ernie Francis

[TheStig]

Hi new to the form, but my 2 cents:

Just watch the video, you will see the the camera car pulls in only under braking.

[Alex Bolanos]

This thread is entertaining. Our friends at World Challenge and Grand Am have collected valuable data for use to go over. We will review the data soon and make any necessary changes.

The one observation I have is the Mazda 2 and Fiesta have the same size brakes, but the Mazda 2 is 275 pounds lighter. It is all part of the balancing act. PK

Will be interesting to see the competition adjustments resulting from this, I think it'd be quite a blow to the Mazda2 program if this car is used to evaluate the car's relative performance. If the Mazda is almost THREE seconds a lap faster (in qualifying) than two Fiestas built by a reputable shop driven by two very well known hot shoes then there's certainly some balancing to do!