172 replies to this topic

[James York]

After a quick look, Huffmaster father and son have completed STL laps in the 39's and 40's. Maybe Drago pulled the plate in his Spec Miata to run STL????

Jim Drago??? 1:40.605 1st session, 1:41.337 2nd session in STL. STL car or pull the Spec Miata plate?

It is not legal to "just pull the plate" and run a SM in STL.  You must be in full SM trim, or be fully compliant otherwise with the STL rules (engine size, weight, etc)

[Todd Green]

Drago - 1:42:848 - New (SCCA) club course record. Previous record Mark Bennett, 2008, 1:44:472 (82.7 mph)

Am I missing something?

 

6.10.6. Lap Record
Official lap records are set during races; not practice or qualifying.

 

Out of curiosity, why don't they allow quali?  Not enough tech post session?

 

In any case congrats on the smokin' lap in a new car.

[Mark Drennan]

It is not legal to "just pull the plate" and run a SM in STL.  You must be in full SM trim, or be fully compliant otherwise with the STL rules (engine size, weight, etc)

 

I've heard conflicting opinions on this.  I've heard you can run ITS trim in STL - no plate and a manual rack in a '99.  No idea what's fact/fiction but would like to know.

 

Thanks,

-Mark

[Bench Racer]

It is not legal to "just pull the plate" and run a SM in STL.  You must be in full SM trim, or be fully compliant otherwise with the STL rules (engine size, weight, etc)

 After reading the rules once through, agree pulling the plate with a weight of 2563 pounds (if my math is correct) doesn’t work. Ride height may also be an issue.

[Bench Racer]

I've heard conflicting opinions on this.  I've heard you can run ITS trim in STL - no plate and a manual rack in a '99.  No idea what's fact/fiction but would like to know.

 

Thanks,

-Mark

 

Super Touring Category Specifications

 

12. Power steering may be modified in any of the following ways:

a. disconnected

b. an OEM manual steering rack for that model may be fitted

c. an electric power steering pump may be fitted

d. An OEM electric-assisted steering system may be used.

 

 

STL Maximum

Displacement (cc’s) Minimum Weight Notes

ITS, ITA, ITB, or

ITC vehicles with a

reciprocating piston

engine of 2L or less

engine displacement.

(1985-)

 

Max displacement

See GCR 9.1.3

Minimum Weight

See GCR 9.1.3

Must completely conform to ITCS specifications

 

 

Manual steering

 

Under ITCS, did not view a rule for steering. Will believe if the 99 Miata came with a manual rack or per the below C. Specifications may make update/back date rule may make it legal. Don’t totally understand the update/backdate rule. For info, here is a comment from Miata.net site. Pat McCartin, I spoke with Jim at East st when I was looking. They (manual rack) only came in the 03 Club Sport and a handful of stripped base 99’s.

 

C. SPECIFICATIONS

The SCCA shall publish the Improved Touring Category Specifications

(ITCS) containing the officially recognized specifications for each car

eligible to compete in the Improved Touring Category during the calendar

year.

To maintain the stock basis of Improved Touring, updating and/or backdating

of components is only permitted within cars of the same make,

model, body type (e.g., sedan, station wagon, convertible, etc.), and

engine size as listed on a single Improved Touring Specification Line.

Any updated/backdated components shall be substituted as a complete

assembly (engine long block, transmission/transaxle, induction system,

differential/axle housing). No interchange of parts between assemblies

is permitted, and all parts of an assembly shall be as originally produced

for that assembly (such parts may, however, be coated, painted or

plated). Additionally, it is not permitted to “create” a model or type of

car by updating or backdating assemblies. Parts or assemblies which the

manufacturer lists in factory service manuals or parts guides for a particular

model which supersede or replace original parts or assemblies are

permitted. Documentation of the superseding parts or assemblies must be

supplied to the Club Racing Department and the appropriate part numbers

listed on that particular model’s specification line.

 

GCR ITCS P. 506

 

GCR ITS Spec Line P. 536 No restrictor plate and weight is 2375 pounds.

[Jim Drago]

New car so far has obviously been really good. Not even hiccup. Race day is when the troubles usually start. the tires are obviously faster as there is zero explanation for the times we are turning. They are much more toyos, you really have to drive the crap out these tires.

On STL , running my STL car with spare engine ( down 10-12 hp from primary) sm susp kit for time being, old sm tires and 235 lbs heavier than SM. Didn't expect to go much faster.

[Ron Alan]

New car so far has obviously been really good. Not even hiccup. Race day is when the troubles usually start. the tires are obviously faster as there is zero explanation for the times we are turning. They are much more toyos, you really have to drive the crap out these tires.

 

Great run Jim...nice job! Your consistency is very impressive...looked like about .6 between your fastest and slowest lap in 17 trips

Something to be said in the little tidbits you put out!!

 

Nice job to our West coast representatives,..Charlie Hayes and Jason Godfrey who both finished top 10   

[JRHille]

Gas pedal stuck to the floor. Good times...

[pat slattery]

Gas pedal stuck to the floor. Good times...

Glad you came out of it OK JR.

[Johnny D]

Sat Race

http://scca.cdn.race...SatRace-GP2.pdf

 

J~

[Johnny D]

Hey, a little off topic and maybe I'll do it's own thread but...

I'm a big cut and paster.

With Win7 and 8 I couldn't paste what I wanted to post.

Turned out it was Internet Explorer 10 and 11.

 

So if you want to cut and paste but can't, uninstall IE11, (for example) and pick IE 9.

Or you may have 9 after you uninstall and reboot.

J~

 

Edit:  this only works for Win 7.

Still having issues with Win 8

J~

[Keith Andrews]

Congrats Jim, looks like it was a fast day at MidOhio.  

 

BummerJustin.  That had to really get your attention.  

 

The battles behind Jim looked tough.  Good luck tomorrow to all.

[Craig Berry]

CONGRATS JIM! Amazingly consistent laps. The 6 and 7 day weeks and long hours to get that you and York have had are really paying off......a new build that is both fast and problem free.

[Johnny D]

SM Sun grid

http://scca.cdn.race...p2 sun grid.pdf

 

Sat STL Race

http://scca.cdn.race...p4 sat race.pdf

Sun grid

http://scca.cdn.race...p4 sun grid.pdf

 

J~

[FTodaro]

Was a good day for me today, a shout out to to an up coming local guy Jonathan Davis, first SCCA race and a podium finish.
Jim is fast but we got a little closer today.
Weather was perfect track is fast. The SM 7 is fast and not graining

[Craig Berry]

Congrats Jonathan Davis! Looked like a very strong weekend. Also, no surprise Burdzy was right there. And WAY TO GO Novak!....Great podium and some fast times today.
Jim, I may have upset the racing gods and spoke to soon bout the new car

[JRHille]

HUGE congrats to Jonathan. Very cool to watch him climb the ranks with our NASA crowd. What a way to have his first win ever be at such a competitive race at his home track....just awesome!

[FTodaro]

Going to give a quick write up of today, i am sure there will be others, as this was a fantastic weekend of racing, the weather was perfect, the field was competitive but forgiving for the most part. Qualifying was interesting as most did not have a chance to practice the day before, for those who did they soon figured out that the SM7 was the tire to have at Mid O, the SM6 was much slower. The 7 was good right out of the box and you could run them fresh without graining the rubber. Between the track conditions and the new tire. The track record in the mid 144’s, was bested by 17 drivers on Saturday.

 

Saturday, Drago finished P1 with a blistering fast lap and new track record of 143.127, followed

2. Voytek

3. Johathan Davis

4. Sterns

5. Todaro

6. Hayes

7. Bednarz

8. Williams

9. Godfry

10. Selmants

 

Hillie qualified well so did Novak but both had Mechanicals, including Webb.

 

Sunday was also a morning race cool temps. On the out lap, Drago had a mechanical with a half shaft leaving Voytek, Rowley, Davis, Stearns, Hillie to battle it out. Davis got around Voytech, for P1, Novak came from 10^th to grab third behind voytek.

 

I am sure there are many more battles to report.

 

From my standpoint, I had some fantastic racing with Charlie Hayes and Tom Brown on Saturday, Charlie and I must have traded the same spot 4 time, and gave plenty of racing room.

 

Tom Brown is cool because he always brings beer, I always look forward to seeing Dave Wheeler and the folks from Advanced Auto Sport, look forward to seeing you all next year.

 

I would say the big news story out of the race was, the SM7 was rocket fast, and did not fall off, Also however several bearing failures were reported this weekend, I wonder if there is a connection.

[Bench Racer]

Thanks for the write up/details Frank.

[Johnny D]

Sun SM

http://scca.cdn.race...SunRace-GP2.pdf

 

Sun STL

http://scca.cdn.race...SunRace-GP4.pdf

 

J~