146 replies to this topic

[Brendan O]

5 minutes until start

[Rob Burgoon]

A plaaaan.... mmmm.... yesssh....

[Rob Burgoon]

Uh-oh, what happened to Drago and Charbs on that last lap.  Did someone do something silly?

[Muda]

A little confusion????

Ahhh, do we throw the checker or not?

This track needs to go club.

[Brendan O]

fiasco - no checkered flag on correct last lap - and i thought this would be a well run event

 

congrats to everyone, especially Drago

[Bench Racer]

Great job folks.

Drago

Charb

Berry

Haldman

Steyn

Verges 1.6 Gained 7 spots

Reynolds

Rushing 1.6 gained 1 spot

Grand Pa gained 11 spots

Reger

[Rob Burgoon]

Not sure if those results are right.  Timing stopped before the checkers came.  I heard Berry won it.

[High Chair]

Bench Racer has them correct. The last lap did not count

[Johnny D]

The rule is when time runs out, 1st across wins. Drago did with no checker. T$S had it right not just stopped.

Berry came across next lap with checkers but the 1st rule applies.

J~

[Bench Racer]

 

Not sure if those results are right.  Timing stopped before the checkers came.  I heard Berry won it.

The announcer said the race ended the lap before Berry took the lead. IIRC he said by rule when they cross the finish line with the thirty minute clock a zero, the race is over. Just reporting what the pro reporter said.

EDIT:
Damn, I type as slow as I race.

[FTodaro]

Is there any place i can see the the entire finishing order? I went to the SCCA web did not see anything?

[Ron Alan]

Man, if I wrecked my car on the last lap thinking it was the last lap...I'd be pissed! I wonder if JD and Andrew got the memo before the lap ended and backed off letting Berry and Haldeman go by??

[Craig Berry]

Lol.... Nobody backed off because one of the first things u learn is Race to the checkered flag... That's what we did. Andrew Jim and I battled so hard the others caught up. That was an incredible race! Those 2 are awesome, and vid,eo out of the back of my car show Haldeman make a Scott P type move... Can't wait to post!! Cant say enough about how the last 2 national champs can drive. Protest is filed... Video and scca radio show 8 seconds left as Jim crossed line.... But you never know what can happen. I'm proud of the race, fast lap, and to be able to race such good drivers!

[Danny Steyn]

Congrats to Jim Drago, Craig Berry, Andrew Charbonneau, and especially Chris Haldeman who all put on an amazing show. One of the most enjoyable races of my career.

 

My race video of the last lap (or fake last lap) is just off the hook!!! Going into Turn 15 all 5 of the leaders have a shot at winning!!!!! Its an amazing video which I will post in the near future. 

 

The move of the race was from Charbonneau who forced himself between Drago and Berry on the first lap in the Esses, that kept Drago and Berry from working together the way they normally do.

 

And a huge congrats to the ENTIRE Spec Miata field for keeping it clean****, keeping it on track, and keeping it caution free!! I was afraid that we would embarrass ourselves as a class, but honestly, we put on an amazing show for the crowds. Happy to have been part of the first SM race at COTA. Spoke with Jeff Danhert (SCCA Pres) at the post race podium awards, and he was thrilled that we had put on such a great show.

 

**** I did hear from Pat Sandlin and Blake Clements that there was some pretty aggressive driving behind me that resulted in contact and spins, disappointed to hear that!

 

Did hear as we left the track that as they ran so late today and were not able to get the last group in, that there will be NO qualifying tomorrow, and that we will all grid according to our fastest race laps.

[suck fumes]

Yep I got the short end of the stick. I race first thing in the morning. Which in a way may be better cause its supposed to pour tomm and being that I'm driving a NASA CMC car in T1 that evens things out a bit haha!

[Rob Burgoon]

Crazy.  I guess no checkers or 1 to go is better than the field getting rearranged in pregrid...

[Michael Novak]

The event has been very well run overall. The only missing is speed. They need to get the next group on track faster. The people have been very friendly. The track layout leads to ontact in sm. it feels like short course racing with some long sections in between.

[cam]

Talked with T&S this evening about the SM race, the way it was explained to me is that it was an officially 30 minute race. T&S has to estimate when to tell Flag 1 when to give last lap and throw the checkered flag. Today, the lead pack was really close to making an extra lap but exceeded the 30 minute limit just before crossing the timing loop.  Therefore, the finishing order was whatever the order was when the led car crosses after 30 minutes.  It was implied that if the lead was 2 seconds quicker, then the race would have ran for the extra lap.  It was a judgment call from T&S that did not work out this time.  All in all, the volunteers to a good job.

 

[Jim Drago]

I echo what the others said.. The talent is SO deep in SM.  I have no idea what happened. As far as I knew I finished forth.  We got the one to go twice, but no checker. My car had the dreaded 99 misfire from the pace lap forward, and got really bad towards the end,  worse lap after lap.  I can say I thought we were on the last lap, but when there was no checker, we all still went like hell. No one lifted, no one gave up.  I could care less what happens, we had a a great race and no one wins in this situation.  I don't think anyone is worried about where they finished, just want a clear green and checkered. I didnt know what to say on the podium, very uncomfortable situation as the results were contested and just a very strange race. 

 

The race itself, probably one of the hardest fought yet cleanest I have been involved in,  Andrew and I had two light touches with no marks, I think Craig and Andrew touched as well, but everyone gave room to each and played very nice.  You just expect people to make mistakes at the speeds we were turning lap after lap and no one really did, just insane. I think we put on a hell of a show. 

 

No idea what will happen with the protest, but hopefully it wont overshadow a great race. One thing for certain, even when there should be no drama, we find it SM. Sincere congrats to Craig, Andrew, Chis and Danny, All deserve a sincere congrats regardless of what the final results were. If it went another lap, the results could be different again. After all the smoke cleared, the same guys managed to be at the the front. If the podium stands, it is the same three from the runoffs. 

 

We are putting in a new engine harness tomorrow along with a cam sensor. I will go out in STL to test and see what we have, One thing for certain, SM is STILL the best dam class and racing anywhere! Still laughing about how much fun that race was laughing

 

Side note:

Sam Henry won FP production( GREAT RACE SAMMY)

Matt Reynolds won E prod

Charlie James won B spec.

 

SM drivers dominate where ever we go!

[pat slattery]

Keith Verges, did a great job in his SRF and also the SM.  Congrats to all in that front pack, I watched the live timing  and listened on the SCCA live radio broadcast and it was very exciting.

 

Pat