32 replies to this topic

[Bench Racer]

Where?

0:09 Just inside the A pillar beyond the cross road.

[screaming monkey]

This event was the first (and possibly last) Luckritz, Nelson, Sager team effort.  Not because we didn't enjoy the weekend but because the likelihood of us all being at the same event again is a little slim.  Mr. Nelson was running his first national and traveled from North Carolina after trading his Army helicopter and years of dodging bullets in Irag and Afganistan for SM racing. The Army didn't train him to avoid a Miata torpedo and he took one to the port side on lap 1 of Q1.   Luckritz took one to the starboard side in the same incident.  For a short time I thought that they had done it to one another but I was very relieved after we figured out they were simply victims.  For most of the rest of the day, we could have filmed a 3 stooges episode as we managed our way through broken cars, a visit to the hospital, getting our crap rained on and my usual obsessions about what was going on at the office, car setup and "where the hell are the keys".  I heard the Army guy tell his wife that I had been a "brutal task master" for most of the day.  

 

Fortunately we were saved by Drago and crew with an assist from Dave Wheeler too.    After nearly screwing up Jim's dinner party he was even gracious enough to invite us to join him.  Thanks Jim.  I really enjoyed sharing Watkins Glen bog stories from the '70's and '80's with Tom Todaro.  Frank, the beer I brought you ended up going home with the Army guy.  He earned it but if you send me your address via PM I'll get some Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale to you. 

 

On the track was mostly fun.  Unfortunately my camera turned itself off (or was never turned on) so I can't show my exciting airborne off road trip in the grass exiting turn one during Sunday's race while trying to avoid a spinning car.  We don't realize how fast we're going until we leave the racing surface and in this case don't be fooled by what looks like smooth grass out there.  Joie Chitwood could probably have a daredevil show out there.  IT'S ROUGH.

I put the wrong sd card in, so no video either but I can vouch for the Kentucky Bourbon Ale. Had it in an airport in KY and immediately tracked some down here in WI. Makes ya goofy in a hurry.

[FTodaro]

Tom's off

 

I just love it when people show you going off track.

 

I did a little off on Sat. and Novak just could not wait to show Drago, Kyle and anyone else my off.

 

Its a sickness.

[luckymiata76]

Fortunately we were saved by Drago and crew with an assist from Dave Wheeler too.   

 

Amen to that! Tom brought the cavalry over to look at my damaged front suspension. Not only did SM Guru's Drago and Wheeler offer advice on what needed to be fixed, Drago had me bring the car over to his hauler and had his right-hand man, Ricky. He performed the necessary surgery to get the car fixed. What would have taken me 6 hours, Ricky and Drago fixed in an hour!

 

Not only did they fix my car, they fixed my spirits. I'll remember that forever.

 

Thanks guys.

[screaming monkey]

Fortunately we were saved by Drago and crew with an assist from Dave Wheeler too.   

 

Amen to that! Tom brought the cavalry over to look at my damaged front suspension. Not only did SM Guru's Drago and Wheeler offer advice on what needed to be fixed, Drago had me bring the car over to his hauler and had his right-hand man, Ricky. He performed the necessary surgery to get the car fixed. What would have taken me 6 hours, Ricky and Drago fixed in an hour!

 

Not only did they fix my car, they fixed my spirits. I'll remember that forever.

 

Thanks guys.

You put up a hale of a fight on the track too. It was a pleasure racing with you.

[Tom Sager]

Thanks for posting the video, Keith.  Can't see much but believe me it was a nasty ride.  

[Michael Novak]

Video from 9th trying to move through...

 

[Jim Drago]

Ok, Helmet cam has to go.. Getting motion sickness

[Michael Novak]

Its easy and I can reach it..  Yes it can make you a little sick looking at it.

[pat slattery]

1.6 still the weak link in all the SM cars. It is capable of turning good laps, but, typically at most Majors on the east coast not many decent 1.6 cars racing.  If 2 decent 1.6 cars are running together and working together like a 99 and up can do they can be competitive but that is not the real world.  The entrance to the long straight to MIS,  if you were objective would bear this out.  Our car would get yanked 10 car lengths around the first turn, the only way Shawn was able to stay near was to out break the 99+ cars at the end of the straight.  We were coming onto the straight at 30MPH and about 4200 rpm in 2nd gear, what chance does a 1.6 have of running with a 99 at that reduced speed out of that corner

[Bench Racer]

  We were coming onto the straight at 30MPH and about 4200 rpm in 2nd gear, what chance does a 1.6 have of running with a 99 at that reduced speed out of that corner

Lets see now, a 99 would have approx 20 foot pound more torque at 4,000 rpm. With all else being equal, when one looks at the car weight pounds/foot pound torque the story should be fully understood.

 

CaveMan, these are facts, this has nothing to do with your favorite "P" word. 

[dbednarz]

Its easy and I can reach it..  Yes it can make you a little sick looking at it.

Mike - You had a great drive on Sunday.  Congratulations on the podium!  You will be strong at the Sprints.

[Michael Novak]

Dave--Congrats as well. I have never been on track before at RA so I have VERY low expectations.