428 replies to this topic

[Jim Drago]

The only smack that should be talked here is to the guys that should or could be racing but aren't. 24 cars? C'mon!!

And your registered right?

[pat slattery]

I was joking, since only one, 1.6 was entered at the Runoffs, but,

99's have won every NASA Championship race at mid Oh, that didn't involve rain. The 2012 winner won every race at mid Ohio he entered including poles, I believe it was 5 times,
And 99 cars have won every Runoff at Road America. I do think we are closer to parity but still have a ways to go IMHO.

This is a smack thread isn't it

[SaulSpeedwell]

Bennett, Buras drove a fantastic June Sprints. Ya got to be there to win it. With that being said he could hang with the 99's but couldn't do anything with them. He got by Sadlin when Long hit Sadlin in T8 & he got by Long drafting Drago. We all know how he got by Berry & Drago. & we know how he got by Long. Bench racing is what it is. If the two of you were not bench racing you woudn't comment on my posts.

Blake, let's see how your doing a 70......... Didn't you make a comment in the add for your car something about 50 pounds over.

And everyone else at the Sprints was tooling around with Ms. Daisy riding shotgun, able to pass Buras at will by simply pressing the gas pedal harder?

OK, Kreskin . . . when Buras shows up in a 1.6 again, what will your story be then? He is just a dumbass that wants to run an underdog car in order to have a proper challenge?

[James York]

I was joking, since only one, 1.6 was entered at the Runoffs, but,

99's have won every NASA Championship race at mid Oh, that didn't involve rain. The 2012 winner won every race at mid Ohio he entered including poles, I believe it was 5 times,
And 99 cars have won every Runoff at Road America. I do think we are closer to parity but still have a ways to go IMHO.

This is a smack thread isn't it

Pat,

I think it has been said, the SCCA and NASA are not planning to balance the cars for a national rule set for one track (or two). They are taking a bigger picture approach.

And 99's have not won every NASA Championship at Mid-Ohio (or Miller for that matter).... You know they started in something like 2006 or so right?

[DrDomm]

I'm a gynecologist, and recognized this similarity years ago. I've never found a colleague that agreed...but, finally on MazdaRacers.com!

[LarryKing]

You know they started in something like 2006 or so right

At the 1st NASA Champs the 99+ ran in a separate class, SM2 (I think two cars entered)

Stop posting vag pix - you're going to get Webb all antsy.

[pat slattery]

Pat,

I think it has been said, the SCCA and NASA are not planning to balance the cars for a national rule set for one track (or two). They are taking a bigger picture approach.

And 99's have not won every NASA Championship at Mid-Ohio (or Miller for that matter).... You know they started in something like 2006 or so right?

James, I am refering to the last 4 NASA championship races at Mid Ohio, I doubt there will be any changes but just stating the obvious.

[MPR22]

Pat,

The 1.6, 1.8 and 99 parity is better than ever. I have a hard time choosing between my 99 or my 1.6 some weekends. Depending on the track, I can run faster laps times in the 1.6 but I am more consitent in the 99 ( more seat time and because it is more forgiving of the mistakes). I don't believe you are going to change that anytime soon (3 yrs), so by all means please keep beating the dead horse.

[pat slattery]

Not beating the dead horse, just stating the obvious, and when you have two car choices at your disposal you don't and shouldn't care. I am aware nothing will probably change.

All you have to do is look at the low number of entries at RA and see the apathy of the racers that are campaigning non 99 cars

[Caveman-kwebb99]

You can look at the low numbers and point to apathy of many who are driving 99's!

next year I will run runnoffs, sure as he ll not going to the boneville salt flats for a race...

[MPR22]

Not beating the dead horse, just stating the obvious, and when you have two car choices at your disposal you don't and shouldn't care. I am aware nothing will probably change.

All you have to do is look at the low number of entries at RA and see the apathy of the racers that are campaigning non 99 cars

I have a 99 and didn't want to go. I am an ok wheel man and I didn't want to go. I'm not interested in spending a week and a half at a new track when all of the top 10 have been for been racing that track for years now. Would I love to go to that track? Yes! Maybe next year for the June Sprints, not as much of a time committment. When the Run-offs change venue the entries will go up. The car parity is not the issue, the track is the issue.


What do you want the SCCA to do in your perfect world? Give the 1.6 a cam, lighter flywheel, restrict the 99 more???? Or just change tracks. Let's say go back to Topeka, would that help?

The other website doesn't even like this debate anymore, looked at it yesterday and there are exactly two people who continue this debate, you and Dewhurst. I dare say neither of you would say boo about parity if the Run-offs were not in your back yard.

[Caveman-kwebb99]

I have a 99 and didn't want to go. I am an ok wheel man and I didn't want to go. I'm not interested in spending a week and a half at a new track when all of the top 10 have been for been racing that track for years now. Would I love to go to that track? Yes! Maybe next year for the June Sprints, not as much of a time committment. When the Run-offs change venue the entries will go up. The car parity is not the issue, the track is the issue.


What do you want the SCCA to do in your perfect world? Give the 1.6 a cam, lighter flywheel, restrict the 99 more???? Or just change tracks. Let's say go back to Topeka, would that help?

The other website doesn't even like this debate anymore, looked at it yesterday and there are exactly two people who continue this debate, you and Dewhurst. I dare say neither of you would say boo about parity if the Run-offs were not in your back yard.

I want to say "Boo"

[Blake Clements]

Let's say go back to Topeka, would that help?

I am Blake Clements, and I approve this message.

[Danny Steyn]

Pat

I also think there are a BUNCH of 99's that are not attending the Runoffs for a variety of reasons, but I will hazard an opinion here.........IMO Road America is so much about horsepower that if you don't have the hamsters under your hood that others do, there is no way you can make it up in the turns. it is something peculiar to this track as the other 3 x 5th gear track I have raced at is VIR, and that track does allow you to come back to the front runners, until of course you run out of talent or cook your tires.

I believe that Mid Ohio attracted a great turnout for this very reason. IMO it is more of a drivers track, and yes JD, I agree, its not ONLY about setup, but IMO a great setup on a decent car, even a hamster or two short, will help you be competitive, and as we saw, all years of Miata were competitive at different times.

[davew]

Just my opinion on why Runoffs entries are down.

10-The allure of the Runoffs at Road America has washed away
9-Too long of a commitment, even with the "shortened" cough cough schedule
8-Poor officiating at times at Road America. Yes I know this is Topeka running and not Chicago Region. But it is still a lot of the same people
7-I can out drive him, but he spent big bucks on the BIG motor syndrome.
6-Need a 99. Perceived or reality?
5-Waiting untill the 50th Anniversary of The Runoffs in 2013
4-I did not know I was eligable. I can not understand the eligability rules.
3-Too far from the Eutopian tubes of Texas.
2-Everybody cheats and my car is legal

And the number one reason;

It's the economy stupid !!!!!!

Dave

[NPiekarski]

If everyone knew that there is the worlds best chicken wings only 10 minutes from the race track, the entries may have been higher....and those chicken wings may be the reason I no longer need ballast in my car

[LarryKing]

Fallopian

[Jim Drago]

Pat

I also think there are a BUNCH of 99's that are not attending the Runoffs for a variety of reasons, but I will hazard an opinion here.........IMO Road America is so much about horsepower that if you don't have the hamsters under your hood that others do, there is no way you can make it up in the turns. it is something peculiar to this track as the other 3 x 5th gear track I have raced at is VIR, and that track does allow you to come back to the front runners, until of course you run out of talent or cook your tires.

I believe that Mid Ohio attracted a great turnout for this very reason. IMO it is more of a drivers track, and yes JD, I agree, its not ONLY about setup, but IMO a great setup on a decent car, even a hamster or two short, will help you be competitive, and as we saw, all years of Miata were competitive at different times.

Danny Danny Danny...
It is all about the HP.. That is the lowest hanging fruit and what everyone always grabs at first, especially the novice drivers as it is the easy answer to all, certainly not their driving. "I would be great if I just had that last two HP like so and so" There has to be a valid reason..

The engines and level of preparation of our cars is as good as know how to do. I am no expert, I do this s a hobby and because I love it and that has made me very good at it. I will put the level of preparation those three cars against any at the Runoffs or NASA champs or at any race all year long feel very confident that our cars are as good or better in just about every area. They may not photograph as well or even have as many drink bottles, cup holders, radios,cameras, GPS sensors but we are in pretty good shape in anything that matters.

If you think back to the first of the season, do You recall Sebring? We were literally light years ahead of the field, Coincidence? nah, probably just the HP again. We pitted with you and OPM.. How many times did you see us changing setups and pressures? Not many if you remember, the cars were ALL spot on from session one ( mine had teething issues, but handled well from lap 1). What many don't know is Craig did all the tire testing for team over the winter at MSR Cresson.. Literally 400+ miles plus on the Hoosiers before Pat and I ever hit the track with them. We did a lot of communication about the tires, made many setup changes etc and had a far better handle on those tires than anyone else did at the start of the season, still do IMO. The phenomenons you mention of the Hoosier going completely away around 4-6 laps in and coming back are contributed directly to set up.. Guess how many times we experienced this? Twice.. In Texas while Craig was testing, we recognized it and fixed it immediately, never to see it again. I even remember a certain African American asking me what the hell I was marking my tires and valve stems for at Sebring.. "Well Danny, the Hoosiers move on the rim and I want to know how much they are moving. Do you remember your reply??? I do .. " I have been racing WHO SEE ERS ( That is in my South African accent ) for 5 years and they don't move on the rim" You know what happened next.. You had Tim mark your tires to prove yourself right only to see the tire moved almost 180 degrees. What we figured out in one session on track, confirmed in two... you missed completely driving them for 4-5 years. What did you think all that vibration was from? If you missed something so simple for 4-5 years, I wonder how many other things you miss that are not quite as simple? You are one of the more "in tune " drivers and this stuff gets by you, wonder how much gets by the mid pack guys? Ahh, can't be anything else, has to the last two hp ...
Anyone who feels the only reason they are not winning at Road America is the last two HP should consider a coach like Jim Pace ( he has helped me and the rest of our team there immensely) and see what you can figure out. There are so many small things that matter there that make little to no difference at other tracks. It looks so easy that most just say, man I just need more power. I have notes that I have compiled over the last 4-5 years that I think are worth a second a lap to almost anyone I have shared them with. Those notes and coaching from the rest of our team brought Todd from literally no where on his own, to running as fast or faster than us in a session or two. Same goes for Blake.. Blake was two seconds off and on suicide watch, in one session of lead follow with me, he made every bit up. Exceptional drivers so they picked it up fast, but struggled on their own. I had a similar deal with Bennett, had i not shared my data with him in 07, he would have been off as well. As even our fearless leader Von Charboneau, we have talked about RA, he has picked up some time from things we have spoken about there as well.. None gained any HP, all picked up time?

We have won races this year at every type of track this year? Hallett and Barber are about as far from a power track as there is... Won Sebring, Road Atlanta... multiple other places.. HP always helps, but with out driving and set up, HP means nothing. I can guarantee there will be no cars at the Runoffs set up better than ours. Last I recall, you don''t even scale the car, even at the Runoffs.. your right, has to be the last few hp I would trade 2 hp ANYTIME for my scales, at ANY track!

People love to rationalize.. If it makes you or anyone else feel better about why you aren't winning and we are, by all means....continue to rationalize as we will continue to do our best trying to win, working on all aspects of the car and driver.

Jim

[Roger Caddell]

Let's say go back to Topeka,

I am Blake Clements, and I approve this message.

I liked Topeka.

[Mike Asselta]

I need to inform all other run-offs competitors that I am now 8 seconds UNDER the Road America track record, IN my 94, ON my XBOX, which proves the 94 is the car to have.

SCCA should just mail my trophy and save us all a lot of gas and time.