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#41
Kyle Burkhardt

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Kyle are you planning to take your 99 to the Mid-Ohio event April 8-10 2011 ?




Steve, Very very funny !!!


No, I only run the Midwest Schedule, so I won't be going to Mid O until July or August, whenever the crossover is. I'll be at the first crossover at Putnam in May.
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#42
Michael Novak

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I was at CMP and see the results a little different---BUT I applaud running the tracmates to try and figure it all out as I can see it being very diffcult to do. That being said--if you read through a few of the last few comments:

A self described old crate motor(1.6 in Matts? car) should not be able to run with a good 99+(Nash) The 1.6's are faster in the corners and slower in concept down the straights. I thought the 1.6's did run well, but it makes me think what it will be like with a 1.8 in the group.

I feel the magic size will be 39mm, but time will tell.
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#43
Kyle Burkhardt

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There always was, and always will be, anecdotal evidence one way or another on this issue. I was just curious, cause it was a virtual certainty that the 99 didn't have a chance.
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#44
Caveman-kwebb99

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Not being a smartass.

It would be nice to hear from the many respected and knowledgable folks who declared the 99 dead in NASA to offer an explanation or counter-point to the early evidence that seems to be indicating that the competition is still close. Granted, there are a lot of variables and it's still very early in the season, but the talk out there was that the 99s would be racing each other at the back of the pack--so much so that it has been suggested that they all bolt for PTE or leave NASA all together.

Just curious as I'm still preparing my 99 for the start of the NASA Midwest season.



Kyle I am no expert but it would seem to me that if a 1.6 with a crate motor was running up front even if he is a top driver ( I don't know him), and lets assume the 99 was one that is prep'd to the level of a national contender. So ask yourself where will you be in the pack, If you can't drive like Wittis and have a 99 that is not a national contender. These comparisons while it's nice they are being done, as Nash said already there is no way to tell for sure as there are to many variables!
How many 99's with a crate motor can run up front? The answer is ZERO, if there is good competition at the race! Thats why people buy race motors!

I would be suprised if Chris Price finishes top 5 at Mid Ohio in April! That is the yardstick you need to see as a NASA Mid West or Great Lakes racer. I can think of 5 guys I would pick to beat Price with his 37mm RP! Here they are: Chris Williams, Dave Spencer, Guthrie, Murdick, Deerwester! And not neccesarily in that order, so Rick I am not picking you last of the 5 :lol: ! Who knows Justin Hille maybe a dark horse for April in his 1.6 rocket! I didn't even have to think to hard about that one! So remember what I said here as that is my prediction, for April. Remind me please, even if I am wrong as I am over 40 now and get forgetful of some things I say from time to time these days!

I hope I am wrong but those 5 guys gave Price a run last year in his supposed super (DRAGO) car, so take some torq and hp away from him and then still expect him to win! Sorry just seems a huge stretch! Not to mention he did not win every Mid-O race last year! Mid-O was won many times by the 1.6 in 2010!

I will be watching (I mean passing) the SM's as I will be running PTE with no restrictor and 2400lb. in April! I am well past being angry about NASA's rule changes. I do not think I have been off base with any of the points I have made here or in any prior posts. The right number for the RP in the 99 is a 39mm with NASA's weight of 2390. If I am a betting man, I would put a little wager on that but we all know betting is illegal, well in Ohio at least!

I am not interested in what happens at CMP as I dont race there and don't intend to race there, at least at this time in my life. I can think of alot of other places I dont care about the testing, but at Mid-O where I do most my racing and where the NASA Champ race is the next two years, for the sake of the SM class and for NASA as an organization I don't think they can afford to get this one wrong.

I am rambling now so thats all for a bit till my old feeble mind can catch back up with my fingers! See you at Mid-O! :D

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#45
Kyle Burkhardt

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Kyle:

It will be interesting to see results from tracks/drivers/cars I have some familiarity with.
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#46
Weekend Warrior

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Kyle I am no expert but it would seem to me that if a 1.6 with a crate motor was running up front even if he is a top driver ( I don't know him), and lets assume the 99 was one that is prep'd to the level of a national contender. So ask yourself where will you be in the pack, If you can't drive like Wittis and have a 99 that is not a national contender. These comparisons while it's nice they are being done, as Nash said already there is no way to tell for sure as there are to many variables!
How many 99's with a crate motor can run up front? The answer is ZERO, if there is good competition at the race! Thats why people buy race motors!



Well the said 1.6 crate motor was being constantly pushed around the track by a well prepped 1.6 with a pretty good driver (I would like to think)... Don't put too much into the fact that he led the race for a couple laps. Without the help of a fellow driver, that car would have been significantly farther back (just based on the car, not the driver). When it came down to a well prepped 1.6 and a well prepped 99 racing down the back straight, all was fairly equal. At least that was the discussion in the tech shed after the race. The draft was everything. Derek was able to pull up to me and get 3/4 of his car out front, then I was able to use a side draft to pull even with him.

Now, I have refrained to post on this topic until I saw for myself what the results were on the track. I have no real dog in this fight either since I have already begun to build my 99. I have however allowed NASA to use any data from my car they wish.

I think, from my experience this past weekend, that NASA's rule change has leveled the playing field a bit. All the drivers in the tech shed came to the same conclusion - including both 99 drivers (one of which was not happy about the change before the season started).
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#47
Caveman-kwebb99

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Well the said 1.6 crate motor was being constantly pushed around the track by a well prepped 1.6 with a pretty good driver (I would like to think)... Don't put too much into the fact that he led the race for a couple laps. Without the help of a fellow driver, that car would have been significantly farther back (just based on the car, not the driver). When it came down to a well prepped 1.6 and a well prepped 99 racing down the back straight, all was fairly equal. At least that was the discussion in the tech shed after the race. The draft was everything. Derek was able to pull up to me and get 3/4 of his car out front, then I was able to use a side draft to pull even with him.

Now, I have refrained to post on this topic until I saw for myself what the results were on the track. I have no real dog in this fight either since I have already begun to build my 99. I have however allowed NASA to use any data from my car they wish.

I think, from my experience this past weekend, that NASA's rule change has leveled the playing field a bit. All the drivers in the tech shed came to the same conclusion - including both 99 drivers (one of which was not happy about the change before the season started).


Good Post! I would play in the NBA if they gave me 12" shoes with rocket boosters! Thats why I never played basket ball I could never compete in that sport! All cars should be even if it's a spec class, just think NASA could have gone about it better and they need to do real testing rather than just pulling data from everone and comparing it. They need to hire a Driver that has no adgenda to drive all the 4 models equally prepped and set up to get the closest data! Anything less is just a guessing game. I commend you for allowing them to gather your data!!!!!!! What did the previous test mules have to hide that they couldn't or wouldn't let anyone see the data? I gotta stop thinking about this stuff it just gets me going again! See everyone on the track and the test for Mid-O as I said is April! So keep your eyes peeled for those results! :blink:

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#48
dmathias

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the test for Mid-O as I said is April


Naa, the test at Mid-O is in September.
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#49
dstevens

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All cars need to be the same to be a spec class. SM hasn't been spec for a long time. That's the harsh reality. There will always be some that are bitter and float conspiracy theories that in reality are nothing more than emotional opinions based on whichever package that particular driver happens to race. Been happening on all sides for years.

Regardless of whatever equivalency formula there will always be someone disappointed with the outcome. This time it's 99 owners, other times it's been 1.6 owners and NA1.8 owners. At this point nothing will bring everyone under the same tent. Ain't gonna happen.

#50
Caveman-kwebb99

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Naa, the test at Mid-O is in September.


September is putting the cart before the horse unless you are one that thinks that the new rules should stand, regardless of results in the mean time!

But yes September is the ultimate test! Can NASA bring the best of the best in SM out to Mid-O for the September race, I would think anything less is a loss for NASA in the SM dept!

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#51
dmathias

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Yep, let's see what happens at NASA's "Runoffs". Isn't that how the SCCA plays it. B)

No disrespect to GreatLakes drivers, but we are not known as a "power" division, kinda like the Big Ten vs. the SEC.
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#52
Steve D

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They need to hire a Driver that has no adgenda to drive all the 4 models equally prepped and set up to get the closest data! Anything less is just a guessing game.

Given a $200,000 testing budget we should build four equal-prep cars to represent each variant, rent several tracks, hire several drivers (all the same height so corner weights don't change with seat adjustment), and provide each of them with stickers, four heat cycle, and ten heat cycle tires to use. After correcting for changes in track and ambient temperature through the day, we'll have some pretty good data. Not perfect, but pretty darn good. ;)

Or we can plug dedicated Traqmates into several cars at each race and give that a whirl. The cost-to-data-quality ratio looks pretty damn good with option 2 IMHO. :D

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#53
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Given a $200,000 testing budget we should build four equal-prep cars to represent each variant, rent several tracks, hire several drivers (all the same height so corner weights don't change with seat adjustment), and provide each of them with stickers, four heat cycle, and ten heat cycle tires to use. After correcting for changes in track and ambient temperature through the day, we'll have some pretty good data. Not perfect, but pretty darn good. ;)

Or we can plug dedicated Traqmates into several cars at each race and give that a whirl. The cost-to-data-quality ratio looks pretty damn good with option 2 IMHO. :D


lmfao!!!!!!! :lol:

My point was the data will never be totaly accurate and your post seems to indicate to me you agree!

If pulling data in a bunch of cars is your only option then so be it. And your right your way is cheaper!!!!!! So I guess we both agree now! :)

I see why the National Champ just posts Youtube vids!

Steve welcome as the new div. spec miata boss, don't know you but look forward to meeting somewhere along the line!

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#54
Steve D

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I see why the National Champ just posts Youtube vids!

:lol: :lol: That's funny right there.

Steve welcome as the new div. spec miata boss, don't know you but look forward to meeting somewhere along the line!

Thanks. Maybe at MidOhio? Say, September-ish? ;)

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#55
Caveman-kwebb99

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:lol: :lol: That's funny right there.

Thanks. Maybe at MidOhio? Say, September-ish? ;)


I will be there and will look forward to meeting you! Best of luck in your new role, as well as your racing!!!!! :)

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#56
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What do multi-brand pro series like Grand Am ST do when they make competition adjustments or have new cars join the series? Do they have some sort of rigorous testing regiment, or do they make "best guess" adjustments and then react to the outcome/results with additional adjustments? Or something in between?

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#57
Lance Snyder

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Steve, does this make you "Chump Light" now?
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#58
Rob Burgoon

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What do multi-brand pro series like Grand Am ST do when they make competition adjustments or have new cars join the series? Do they have some sort of rigorous testing regiment, or do they make "best guess" adjustments and then react to the outcome/results with additional adjustments? Or something in between?


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#59
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Just did a NASA weekend at Homestead-Miami speedway this past weekend and did a test with the new NASA 99 rules on Alex Bolanos' front running SCCA national car. I must say, if NASA was looking to eliminate the advantages a top level 99 has, they hit the nail right on top of the head!

The basis was to Test the NASA rule set for 99's on a front running SCCA driver and car for Saturdays spec miata racing, and then have him switch to the SCCA rule set and race in the PT class in our "thunder" group (big, fast cars). It was ideal because it was the same driver, same car, same tires, on the same weekend. On Saturday, the race results were:
1st: 1.6 (Blanchard)
2nd: 99 (Rollin)
3rd: 1.6 (Wehmeyer)
Bolanos (99) was running second to Blanchard when he dropped out of the race prematurely, and I (1.6) was running 3rd closely behind Bolanos when I had a handling issue that kept me from turning consistent laps. When we all gathered at impound, everyone came in right on weight and the results were staggering, the top 3 lap times (Blanchard, myself, and Bolanos) were all within tenths, hundreds, or even thousandths of a second off of each other in the 1:48 range! All of our cars are built well and are fast, with the higher level of prep and development going to Alex's car, as it is his SCCA championship chaser.
On the track, the cars were EXACTLY the same in terms of power. Cliff's car and mine were dead nuts even down the straits and out of corners, the only differences were in set-up's, braking points, lines, and good ol' driver skill! Alex's 99 seemed to lack a little torque out of the hairpins, but pulled through the mid-range better and evened out on the top end with the 1.6's. Several times throughout the race I found myself inches from Cliff or Alex's bumper and could not even bump draft them, where in previous races against Alex's 99 at the same track using last years 99 rules, he walked away from me out of the corners and through the mid range. There is a big difference for sure, and it's definitely evening out the playing field down here on our flat tracks (Homestead is a NASCAR roval).
Alex was supposed to provide data from his traqmate

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#60
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Just did a NASA weekend at Homestead-Miami speedway this past weekend and did a test with the new NASA 99 rules on Alex Bolanos' front running SCCA national car. I must say, if NASA was looking to eliminate the advantages a top level 99 has, they hit the nail right on top of the head!

The basis was to Test the NASA rule set for 99's on a front running SCCA driver and car for Saturdays spec miata racing, and then have him switch to the SCCA rule set and race in the PT class in our "thunder" group (big, fast cars). It was ideal because it was the same driver, same car, same tires, on the same weekend. On Saturday, the race results were:
1st: 1.6 (Blanchard)
2nd: 99 (Rollin)
3rd: 1.6 (Wehmeyer)
Bolanos (99) was running second to Blanchard when he dropped out of the race prematurely, and I (1.6) was running 3rd closely behind Bolanos when I had a handling issue that kept me from turning consistent laps. When we all gathered at impound, everyone came in right on weight and the results were staggering, the top 3 lap times (Blanchard, myself, and Bolanos) were all within tenths, hundreds, or even thousandths of a second off of each other in the 1:48 range! All of our cars are built well and are fast, with the higher level of prep and development going to Alex's car, as it is his SCCA championship chaser.
On the track, the cars were EXACTLY the same in terms of power. Cliff's car and mine were dead nuts even down the straits and out of corners, the only differences were in set-up's, braking points, lines, and good ol' driver skill! Alex's 99 seemed to lack a little torque out of the hairpins, but pulled through the mid-range better and evened out on the top end with the 1.6's. Several times throughout the race I found myself inches from Cliff or Alex's bumper and could not even bump draft them, where in previous races against Alex's 99 at the same track using last years 99 rules, he walked away from me out of the corners and through the mid range. There is a big difference for sure, and it's definitely evening out the playing field down here on our flat tracks (Homestead is a NASCAR roval).
Alex was supposed to provide data from his traqmate for submission to NASA national, and I am not sure what happened on that front.
Alex did not run his car on Sunday, he ran Cliffs other car, which is a 99. He ended up finishing 3rd behind Blanchard and myself, his lap times were a half second or so off of ours, which is understandable being he was in a car that was not his. Since Alex's car was parked, no data was able to be gathered from the experiment using the SCCA rules in the PT class. Cliff's car was racing in PT with Alex at the wheel, but I am unsure if the SCCA plate was used or of they just had a fun run with no plate, because the lap times were in the 1:47.5 range, which was faster than any SM time of the weekend. If it was in SCCA trim, there is still a definite advantage as Alex was in Cliff's car once again, which is not his normal car. I'd like to think another half second or so would be had in his own car in SCCA trim. Just to note, the existing SCCA lap record at Homestead is a 1:48.1, so we are talking so seriously good times here.

So, this is what happened when a top level driver, in a top prepped 99 used the 2011 NASA SM rules in a race with other well prepped 1.6's (no na 1.8 cars in the top 5). At this track, the car was dead even with the 1.6. Essentially what I see here is that NASA's new rule set made a top level 99 no better than a well prepped 1.6. This might have been the point in NASA's rule change, and if so, they have nailed it. I also think that NASA has it's own program and agenda, which is to build up it's race group within it's own HPDE ranks and not rely on crossover racers from the SCCA, and keeping the rules the way they are for the 99 cars will do that, as top prepped 99's and their owners will most likely stick with the SCCA where their cars are faster. But the 85% of regional based SM owners that don't have top prepped 99 front running cars will be happier in NASA competition, as their cars will be more competitive then they would be in SCCA competition.
Call it "not good for the better or the class", but I think it will prolong the class. The racers with home built or mid pack early na cars will come back out of the woodwork and jump back into the sport without thinking they need a pro prepped 99 to be competitive. We have seen this happen already, we had several new drivers attend this past race that have not raced with us before, and they didn't come up through the NASA HPDE ranks.

Fire away, call me biased because I have a 1.6, or call me NASA biased, but to me, you can't escape the fact that the lap times are pretty damn close between cars with these rules.

I will put a link to the race results when they are available. And please excuse the typo's if any, this was done on an iPhone.

John Adamczyk
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