263 replies to this topic

[Caveman-kwebb99]

Ok, Thanks you for having the balls to post this video! I can say I might not be able to do any better in that amount of laps but I cannot imagine I would have done any worse, and I am not a top rain driver. I am also not interested in calling you names or arguing with you, but I will leave my critic of the Vid thus far...

I count 5 times you go off track, once you dont even make an attempt to get back on the track, you just take the bank all the way around when all other competitors are driving the infield, not sure that is legal but maybe it is...

Further, you punt a competitor, not sure if he goes off but willing to bet that contact put him off.

Lastly, you have repeatedly called someone out for going off 4 times, claiming that you are the superior driver, I guess going off 5 times would give you that crown? Your window drefroster was working well till you decided to become a landscaper, each time you go off your windshield gets worse.

At the speed that the Pace Car is going, I would estimate that you were probably 1/2-3/4 of a lap down when the FCY comes out, FCY is just part of racing but it sure saved your superior driving BACON from being lapped IMO.

I will give it to you that you can out brake the rest of the field when you keep it on track. there are a few times it seems your car has more straight line speed but from this part of the video I cannot form an opinion as to if it is illegal or not.

The video is very intertaining and I look forward to watching the rest.

[Glenn]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=awU2lc5dWvo&list=PLD0BBB00DD635C8AE&index=5&feature=plpp_video

Here is part 1 first half of the race which was a mess. We could not see a thing since the windshield fogged up. Part 2 will have the best racing which is after the caution with 5 laps left.

Next time try putting some soap on the inside of the windshield.....I thought every racer knew that trick?

[BreathlessPerformance]

AMC hasn't been on the air since Sept. 2011. Young and the Restless and Bold and the Beautiful are the only remaining daytime dramas, not counting Mazdaracers.

Mr. Francis, nice drive in very difficult conditions.

Thank you. It was the worst that I have ever driven in. I could not see the brake markers or the apex becouse the windshield was so fogged up. I was lucky when we got the full coarse yellow for bad conditions. I was able to loosen my belts reach forward and wipe the windshield and see.

We did have the antifog but it did not work this time.

Ernie Francis

[Jim Drago]

This is going to get very interesting... I brought in an entire new box of microwave popcorn..

I only watched the first few laps..

First, what a mess, kudos to anyone who got through that race in one piece, I have never driven in rain that bad.

I'll watch the rest later when I have time.

[BreathlessPerformance]

This is going to get very interesting... I brought in an entire new box of microwave popcorn..

I only watched the first few laps..

First, what a mess, kudos to anyone who got through that race in one piece, I have never driven in rain that bad.

I'll watch the rest later when I have time.

First half we go from 1st to 5th then to 4th. Also if you watch when you do go off the grass turns to mud and there is no traction, we are lucky to go 1 mph just to keep it rolling. If you stop its over. It does get better in the second half of the race. Turns into a great battle 1 to 4th.

Ernie Francis

[Waterboy]

Observations

• there was some pretty good driving in the video
• definitely braking deeper-which you should weighing 275 lbs less
• lot's of offs-not sure why you have bashed others for the same
• pretty "good" hit on the 2 car-I think you might have mentioned getting hit on the pace lap?
• not sure why, after watching the video, you have continually condemned the driving of others - I know "mommy johnny threws rocks at me"

[BreathlessPerformance]

Observations

• there was some pretty good driving in the video
• definitely braking deeper-which you should weighing 275 lbs less
• lot's of offs-not sure why you have bashed others for the same
• pretty "good" hit on the 2 car-I think you might have mentioned getting hit on the pace lap?
• not sure why, after watching the video, you have continually condemned the driving of others - I know "mommy johnny threws rocks at me"

The other Mazda 2 was also braking early and was the same weight as us. We also run a differant line coming into 3,8,10,12 where we made up time.

We all had lots of offs in the beginning of the race because the weather was so bad and track flooded. As you see in the qualifying video it was raining but we stayed on and never went off.

The hit on number 2 the car hydroplaned and we hit. racing incident. Getting hit on a pace lap is in tensional

Actually while I was driving I was complaining about the windshield and not being able to see anything.
The last part of the race was great. The battle starts between 1 to 4 wet track but we can see now.

[Rob Burgoon]

The hit on number 2 the car hydroplaned and we hit. racing incident. Getting hit on a pace lap is in tensional

You drove up the inside knowing there was a lake waiting for you. Of course you hydroplaned.

That aside, everyone who was was willing to brave those conditions and race in that deserves a medal, you included.

[dstevens]

Mr. Francis, though I've never tried to judge people by my first impression, when it is the same after the 10th it will be hard to change. Keep up the good work conductor...choo! choo!

Old middle aged guys rule.... Had to go download the live version from the Filmore for the iTunes. You know times have changed when a "casey jones" search in iTunes suggests just about everything BUT Jerry and the boys.



officespaceThreadjack by Dave Stevens, on Flickr

[dstevens]

First, what a mess, kudos to anyone who got through that race in one piece, I have never driven in rain that bad.

You need to go up and race the early or late season up in the Northwest. We even had a name for it. We called it "going to the track". The only time I remember a race called was at Pacific outside Seattle when it was snowing in March. And we ran a couple of sessions in it. Rain, the great equalizer.

Bruce and the SEA/PDX crowd might not want me sharing this little secret, but from early/mid July to late Sept it's some of the nicest weather and prettiest scenery anywhere on the planet. If I didn't have such a good gig here in the asshole of the universe I'd be back in West Seattle or Capitol Hill or down PDX way in a heartbeat.

[Jim Drago]

You need to go up and race the early or late season up in the Northwest. We even had a name for it. We called it "going to the track". The only time I remember a race called was at Pacific outside Seattle when it was snowing in March. And we ran a couple of sessions in it. Rain, the great equalizer.

Bruce and the SEA/PDX crowd might not want me sharing this little secret, but from early/mid July to late Sept it's some of the nicest weather and prettiest scenery anywhere on the planet. If I didn't have such a good gig here in the asshole of the universe I'd be back in West Seattle or Capitol Hill or down PDX way in a heartbeat.

Perhaps you never heard my special Sebring rain set up?
It is called 4 jack stands and a car cover

[Glenn]

Perhaps you never heard my special Sebring rain set up?
It is called 4 jack stands and a car cover

Guarenteed no crash damage

[dstevens]

Guarenteed no crash damage

But boring in car video....

[AJ Roderick]

But boring in car video....

At least we would be able to see clearly

[Jim Drago]

But boring in car video....

You would be surprised.. some of the funniest stuff I have ever seen happens in the paddock

[Rob Burgoon]

You would be surprised.. some of the funniest stuff I have ever seen happens in the paddock

F1 teams building paper boats to race down pit lane?

[Glenn]

You would be surprised.. some of the funniest stuff I have ever seen happens in the paddock

Or here in this thread!

[Todd Lamb]

Wow.

I don't remember any of this trash talking going on (from either side) in Utah, where the Fiat and the Honda took the wins.

Quick reminder in mutil-branded racing - a cheater car and a brand that has a rules advantage are two very completely different things. Ask me how I know (cough cough, turbo cars, cough cough)!

Certainly a lot of braggadocio....hope you can all get along at NJ.

Congrats to Chip Howell, coached him from afar over the weekend and he had a great run!

[guest driver]

Wow.


Quick reminder in mutil-branded racing - a cheater car and a brand that has a rules advantage are two very completely different things.

and this quote from Peter Keane;
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

Pleae note;
Due to the monsoon conditions, the winning Mazda2's results at Homestead as well as the 2nd place Mini and 3rd place Fiesta are irrelevant to the actual performance potential of the cars. New Jersey (if dry) should provide a clear performance indicator as to their overall competetive balance.

Having watched this entire race from high above in the Club suites, do not need the in car video to see they were all pretty much even. The Mazda2, the Mini and the Fiesta all could have won this race. Chip put in a awesome first lap with 2 passes for the lead only to hydroplane off while on point, the 2nd place Mini turned the fastest race lap by over a second, finishing only 2.6 sec behind the winning Mazda, 3rd place Todd Buras in the other Fiesta led about half the race, took a bit longer to re enter the track after his off, finished just 5 seconds back.
All of the top guys went off numerous times each, this race was won by the driver that was able to quickly get back on track. Not a good indicator of performance potential or even driver rain racing abilities, just how lucky you were running into the puddles while driving blind.
Bottom line: Homestead race results are inconclusive to implement a rules "balancing act", neither weight nor restrictor plate.

Disclaimer;
don't know Ernie Francis, congrats on the survival win,
do know both the Fiesta drivers well, both can race FWD, rain or dry, after some set up development on the Fiestas, both will be up front.
Look out for the Mini, that seems like the car to have ...

[BreathlessPerformance]

and this quote from Peter Keane;
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

Pleae note;
Due to the monsoon conditions, the winning Mazda2's results at Homestead as well as the 2nd place Mini and 3rd place Fiesta are irrelevant to the actual performance potential of the cars. New Jersey (if dry) should provide a clear performance indicator as to their overall competetive balance.

Having watched this entire race from high above in the Club suites, do not need the in car video to see they were all pretty much even. The Mazda2, the Mini and the Fiesta all could have won this race. Chip put in a awesome first lap with 2 passes for the lead only to hydroplane off while on point, the 2nd place Mini turned the fastest race lap by over a second, finishing only 2.6 sec behind the winning Mazda, 3rd place Todd Buras in the other Fiesta led about half the race, took a bit longer to re enter the track after his off, finished just 5 seconds back.
All of the top guys went off numerous times each, this race was won by the driver that was able to quickly get back on track. Not a good indicator of performance potential or even driver rain racing abilities, just how lucky you were running into the puddles while driving blind.
Bottom line: Homestead race results are inconclusive to implement a rules "balancing act", neither weight nor restrictor plate.

Disclaimer;
don't know Ernie Francis, congrats on the survival win,
do know both the Fiesta drivers well, both can race FWD, rain or dry, after some set up development on the Fiestas, both will be up front.
Look out for the Mini, that seems like the car to have ...

i second that the Mini is fast and if it were in the dry the results could have changed. We will find out at NJ next weekend and hopefully it will be dry.

Ernie Francis