39 replies to this topic

[Bench Racer]

Jim Drago, on 12 Sept 2014 - 04:19 AM, said:

I think we are fairly close. We will see tomorrow .   

Charlie Hayes, on 12 Sept 2014 - 1:05 PM, said:

Pop up headlight car on point at 4pm today?

Do you guys think maybe the word tease belongs in here someplace. 













 

[Joe (dad) Jordan]

So on race monitor Drennan draws first blood.,

 

#10 Mark Drennan   SM Best Lap Best Time Diff Gap

NoWifeNoKids

6 01:45.520    

Blue

  2 #12 Brian Ghidinelli   SM Best Lap Best Time Diff Gap

RaceHero/AMG/MiataCage

7 01:46.093 0.573 0.573

Blue

  3 #2 Jim Drago   SM Best Lap Best Time Diff Gap

East Street Racing

6 01:46.337 0.817 0.244

White

  4 #26 Jason Godfrey   SM Best Lap Best Time Diff Gap

Botty Investors

6 01:46.821 1.301 0.484

Black

  5 #88 Kyle Kaiser   SM Best Lap Best Time Diff Gap

TFB

5 01:46.893 1.373 0.072

Blue

  6 #87 Will Schrader   SM Best Lap Best Time Diff Gap

Miatacage.com/Midas

7 01:47.090 1.570 0.197

White/Red

  7 #77 Erik Stearns   SM Best Lap Best Time Diff Gap

East Street Racing

4 01:47.323 1.803 0.233

Yellow/Blue

  8 #11 Matt Schultz   SM Best Lap Best Time Diff Gap

SMI Motorsports Inc

6 01:47.423 1.903 0.100

Red

  9 #8 Marco Gallaher   SM Best Lap Best Time Diff Gap

First Community Bank

7 01:47.483 1.963 0.060

Red

  10 #09 Rusty Dees   SM Best Lap Best Time Diff Gap

I'm just a big hairy American winning machine

7 01:47.496 1.976 0.013

Cracker

  11 #29 T Craig Berry   SM Best Lap Best Time Diff Gap

Berry Marble and Granite/EAST STEET RACING/Granite

4 01:47.522 2.002 0.026

Black/Green

  12 #18 Tim Weaver   SM Best Lap Best Time Diff Gap

 

10 01:47.929 2.409 0.407

Red

  13 #9 Ken Sutherland   SM Best Lap Best Time Diff Gap

Miatacage.com; Wyatt Fire Protection

7 01:47.969 2.449 0.040

Dark Blue

  14 #0 Dean Busk   SM Best Lap Best Time Diff Gap

Commercial Brokers

7 01:48.387 2.867 0.418

Silver/red

  15 #23 Eric Jones   SM Best Lap Best Time Diff Gap

EricJonesMotorsports.com

10 01:48.583 3.063 0.196

Black

  16 #42 Michael Niemann   SMT Best Lap Best Time Diff Gap

Team Miata-Ka

10 01:48.801 3.281 0.218

red

  17 #48 Joe Rombi   SM Best Lap Best Time Diff Gap

Flying Meatball

3 01:48.803 3.283 0.002

Red

  18 #99 Jordan Wand   SM Best Lap Best Time Diff Gap

Midas/Miatacage.com/Sophie/Lily

7 01:49.068 3.548 0.265

Gray/Green

  19 #07 Tim Auger   SM Best Lap Best Time Diff Gap

 

3 01:49.152 3.632 0.084

BLack/Orange

  20 #24 Jason Starr   SM Best Lap Best Time Diff Gap

EricJonesMotorsports.com

6 01:49.399 3.879 0.247

Blue/white

  21 #20 Andrew Holifield   SMT Best Lap Best Time Diff Gap

Motion Sickness Racing

7 01:49.653 4.133 0.254

Green

  22 #04 Michael LaBouff   SM Best Lap Best Time Diff Gap

Off the Stick Kabob Grill

6 01:49.883 4.363 0.230

Blue

  23 #40 Larry Fraser   SM Best Lap Best Time Diff Gap

 

10 01:50.072 4.552 0.189

orange

  24 #21 Mason Filippi   SM Best Lap Best Time Diff Gap

Cutting edge Drapery

7 01:50.663 5.143 0.591

Red

  25 #30 Rod McLane   SMT Best Lap Best Time Diff Gap

 

7 01:50.734 5.214 0.071

Red

  26 #14 Alan Gjedsted   SMT Best Lap Best Time Diff Gap

Larry Oka Racing

4 01:50.812 5.292 0.078

Green/Yellow

  27 #91 Brian Cross   SSM Best Lap Best Time Diff Gap

Larry Oka Racing

10 01:50.864 5.344 0.052

Green

  28 #61 David Allen   SSM Best Lap Best Time Diff Gap

Ed is Superman

7 01:50.956 5.436 0.092

Yelo/Silver

  29 #43 Dave Dunning   SM Best Lap Best Time Diff Gap

Advantage Collision Center/St John's Auto Center

6 01:51.587 6.067 0.631

Blue/Silver

  30 #34 Juan Pineda   SM Best Lap Best Time Diff Gap

CheckerLap.com - Your race results!

4 01:51.758 6.238 0.171

Red

  31 #32 David Anderson   SSM Best Lap Best Time Diff Gap

Team MiataKa Racing

7 01:51.999 6.479 0.241

Red/Wht/Blu

  32 #53 Cole Gibson   SMT Best Lap Best Time Diff Gap

Steel Partners

10 01:52.977 7.457 0.978

Blue

  33 #93 Brian Laughlin   SMT Best Lap Best Time Diff Gap

Larry Oka Racing

6 01:53.170 7.650 0.193

Orange

  34 #6 Matt Rose   SSM Best Lap Best Time Diff Gap

Railton Racing

10 01:53.447 7.927 0.277

White

  35 #97 Gregory Hoff   SSM Best Lap Best Time Diff Gap

Larry Oka Racing

7 01:53.812 8.292 0.365

Blue

  36 #50 Tupper Hull   SMT Best Lap Best Time Diff Gap

Wonder Inc.

2 01:53.997 8.477 0.185

Black/Red

  37 #08 John Grillos   SM Best Lap Best Time Diff Gap

Rumpled Fender Racing

6 01:54.257 8.737 0.260

Silver

  38 #03 Leeson Grant   SM Best Lap Best Time Diff Gap

Competition Autowerks

3 01:54.612 9.092 0.355

Blue

  39 #37 Nels Lewis   SM Best Lap Best Time Diff Gap

Parklane Mattresses

6 01:55.517 9.997 0.905

Yellow

  40 #72 Tao Takaoka   SM Best Lap Best Time Diff Gap

Toro Racing/Red Line Oil

5 01:55.544 10.024 0.027

white/purple

  41 #94 Lawrence Murdter   SMT Best Lap Best Time Diff Gap

Haag Performance

3 01:55.694 10.174 0.150

White/Orange

  42 #96 Joan Linehan   SM Best Lap Best Time Diff Gap

Competition Autowerks

7 01:56.986 11.466 1.292

silver

  43 #5 John Myers   SSM Best Lap Best Time Diff Gap

Larry Oka Racing

6 01:57.271 11.751 0.285

Green

  44 #84 Kirk Uhrlaub   SSM Best Lap Best Time Diff Gap

Cook Motorsports

4 01:58.872 13.352 1.601

Silver

  45 #95 Daniel Langon   SSM Best Lap Best Time Diff Gap

Larry Oka

4 01:59.227 13.707 0.355

Purple

  46 #71 Anders Peterson   SSM Best Lap Best Time Diff Gap

Larry Oka Racing

6 01:59.487 13.967 0.260

Red

  47 #98 Brad Green   SSM Best Lap Best Time Diff Gap

www.WaCarProperty.com

10 02:01.475 15.955 1.988

Orange

  48 #41 Salah Bibi   SM Best Lap Best Time Diff Gap

 

5 02:02.673 17.153 1.198

white

  49 #83 David Oroshnik   SSM Best Lap Best Time Diff Gap

Velodyne LiDAR

5 02:02.988 17.468 0.315

Silver

  50 #76 Krishnil Mani   SSM Best Lap Best Time Diff Gap

Larry Oka Racing

3 02:03.622 18.102 0.634

Gold

  51 #58 Dennis Murphy   SMT Best Lap Best Time Diff Gap

Modesto Tractor Co.

4 02:05.987 20.467 2.365

Yellow

  52 #4 Jon Brakke   SM Best Lap Best Time Diff Gap

 

8 02:10.793 25.273 4.806

white

  52 #44 Jon Brakke   SM Best Lap Best Time Diff Gap

 

4 02:21.214 35.694 10.421  

[Charlie Hayes]

Jim is trying to figure out turn 9, but he doesn't understand how much set up goes into turn 7.

[Bench Racer]

Two first timers in the top 10 at the moment.

[Johnny D]

Qual's up at 3:55 PST (1/2 hr from now)

 

Odd #'s 1st, then Even at 4:20 if the schedule right.

http://live.sfrscca.org/

 

J~

[Bench Racer]

Whose rental car (#4) is Jon Brakke and is it a capable car?

[Johnny D]

Qual

https://www.race-mon...mode=qualifying

 

J~

[Alberto]

Bench Racer, on 12 Sept 2014 - 11:48 PM, said:

Whose rental car (#4) is Jon Brakke and is it a capable car?

 

Looks like it belongs to Jim Wickersham.  I believe that is a Competition Autowerks car.

 

 

Johnny D, on 12 Sept 2014 - 11:51 PM, said:

Qual

https://www.race-mon...mode=qualifying

 

J~

 

Nice! 

Michael Nieman poles for SMT followed by Alan Gjedsted and Andrew Holifield.

Brandon Miller in the ever sexy Sharpie car; driven to the track so he can pick up chicks on the way; w/o special grease' poles for SSM.  Followed by Matt Rose and Brian Cross.

   

[Charlie Hayes]

Still not October but I thank my boys for taking the top 3 slots.

[Bad Rusty]

If you did not know it yet, TFB, tim, Charlie and the whole TFB crew have great drivers and a great team getting to the front. So cool to see the east street gang trying to get up to speed(all faster than me of course!) and or west coast aces leading the way. October should be an epic battle( and if I get over 119 hp, maybe I can play!). Great weekend, great job SFR SCCA!

[Jim Drago]

The track kind of kicked our butt today as did the California guys. Track was very greasy and we didn't really have an answer. I expected to easily turn a mid 46 and I was never close, clear track, but just did not have it. We will keep plugging away and trying to get closer.
Good job by mark, brian and jason

On a better note.. Went to the sardine factory for dinner.. Some really good food!
Jim

[Johnny D]

Congrats guys!!

Cole Gibson on his 1st SMT win I think

Matt Rose in SSM

http://www.race-moni...8?sortmode=race

 

J~

[Johnny D]

Qual for Sun.

FCC in odds, not sure if that blew everyones mojo in that session.

http://www.race-moni...Session/5148460

J~

[Johnny D]

Congrats guys.

Andrew Holifield in SMT

Matt Rose SSM

 

Well done Jim, knocking on the door with lap times in the ball park.

 

http://www.race-moni...Session/5149820

J~

[Ron Alan]

A lot to report on what was a "mini" Runoffs! 

Let's start with the 300+ entrants that were lined up Thursday night and waiting to get in. When the hoard was released at 6 pm it was like a goat roping contest with big rigs, medium rigs, and little rigs driving in all directions at max speed! We were lucky enough to be in already because of the HOD day....we set up chairs and drank beers and watched the cluster FoCK for an hour. Why SCCA won't simply create paddock pit numbers and assign them to competitors is beyond me. It is going to be a freaking mess when 500+ competitors get in line(with people they want to pit with no less) and are told good luck! At least if people know ahead were they are going to be...the crowd will filter in naturally over time...no mad rush!

On to SM and the weekend. First off...the starts for both races were pretty poor IMO. Granted this was a regional and P20-55 are not going to be at the Runoffs. But the back of the pack barely got through turn 10 when the green flag flew. Turn 11 is not much more than a 45mph turn and when the leaders cruise threw it fast it leads to everyone from P6 back coming through the corner almost at speed trying to catch up. If they catch up they jam on the brakes as those further back never have to because they catch up right as the green flies. Needless to say it gets a little crazy at turn 2! The 2nd double yellow restart  today was nuts when a lapper was in P3. Drennan bolted as the pace car pulled off and he was going through turn 10...Drago followed but that poor lapper had no idea what was happening. Not sure if P4 pushed him or what but he literally pulled over before turn 11. Mark and Jim had a 4 or 5 second jump over the field at the start line!

 

Nice job for the home team(CA) with Mark Drennan taking the double win. I think Brian G had something for him both days but may have to retake shifting 101! Jim D did a great job learning the track after about 10 sessions and was right there both days...as was the other Eaststreet gang members. 

Saturdays race was a little rough and tumble...today's race was a free for all   A lot of contact and poor choices...some ended well while others didnt. I guess this is what happens when everyone in the top 20 thinks they are faster than the guy who qualified in front of them   Very hard to make clean easy passes at Laguna when guys are so equal. Trying to get a nose under in late breaking was common...or simply using the front car as a second set of breaks also was popular! 2 double yellows in todays race...as I still predict will happen in the big one!

 

Nice putting faces to names finally with some of the guys back east! Look forward to next month!

 

  

[Jim Drago]

Killing time in Minneapolis this morning waiting on my connection.

My thoughts..
We started the weekend doing a hooked on driving event. That was likely the best thing we did. We got a lot of track time and it was quality time, open passing with very few cars on the track per session. I think I did seven sessions and was wore out.

Not sure what happened when the Scca weekend started but the track got away from us a little.. I was told several times.. By several people.. " welcome to Laguna" I thought for certain that I could run a low 46 or better, was never close. I think I qualufied p9. Raced my way to p3, but mark and brian were faster and long gone.

I " think" we hit on a good direction on setups as all of us were happy with our handling on Sunday. I didn't really make any good passes as both Erik and Brian missed shifts out of 11. Not sure I could have passed either less a mistake. I think we all have pretty good pace now, but we need another half second and better consistency if we want to be close.

We leave very happy with the speed we left with, we have good notes, video and data to stare at for three weeks. Hopefully we can find just a little more.
Thanks too many that helped us !
Jim

[Jim Drago]

One more thing... Don't scrub your tires in California! 

They look at that as if you are driving a diesel duallie blowing black smoke right through the middle of a go green parade.    It was pretty clear that all under my tent were from a much more "right"  part of the country, both geographically and politically  Not sure if Stearns even believes California is part of the US.  

[Ron Alan]

Jim Drago, on 16 Sept 2014 - 4:26 PM, said:

One more thing... Don't scrub your tires in California!
They look at that as if you are driving a diesel duallie blowing black smoke right through the middle of a go green parade. It was pretty clear that all under my tent were from a much more "right" part of the country, both geographically and politically Not sure if Stearns even believes California is part of the US.

I have pictures that would assume the 2 of you felt right at home...if I figure out how to post

Way more guys on the right side of the fence than you can imagine in the paddock! Love the picture of our current commander in chief on Godfrey's car with the caption "Does this Ass make my car look big?"

Someone needs to post up race video!!!!

[Bad Rusty]

Jim Drago, on 16 Sept 2014 - 4:26 PM, said:

One more thing... Don't scrub your tires in California! 

They look at that as if you are driving a diesel duallie blowing black smoke right through the middle of a go green parade.    It was pretty clear that all under my tent were from a much more "right"  part of the country, both geographically and politically  Not sure if Stearns even believes California is part of the US.  

Hey Jim,

 

I sneak over here for a little while almost everytime I'm at Laguna.  Reminds me we're still in Amercia.  You'd never know it was 700 yards from turn 2!

 

http://www.co.monter...seca_rifle.html

[CARacer]

If I did this for results this would have been a pretty frustrating weekend, but I do this for fun and I had hella fun driving the car and hanging with my friends. 

 

Saturday SSM race:

Subtitle: How not to manage a race at Laguna Seca.

Started from SSM pole (26th overall) and made a great start. It was all downhill from there. Didn't drive well, left too many doors open, watched so many freight trains go by I thought I should put a Southern Pacific Railroad sticker on my car. Ended up 5th in SSM (30th overall).

 

Sunday SSM race:

Started SSM 2nd, got a clean start, and harassed #6 in the SSM lead for a while. At 15:18, I got by into the lead with teammate #53 (racing SMT) providing some nice cover. I then started to build a gap to #6. Until then everything was just about perfect. Then the full-course yellow at 20:35 let #6 catch back up. At the restart at 24:28 he attacked into turn 11, went wide at the exit, and pushed me into the gravel. I was relieved not to hit any cars or walls, but I ended up at the back of the field. Finished 11th in class with fastest lap. #6 was apologetic afterwards. Very disappointing result, but the first 20 minutes of the race were great.

Don't miss #53's amazing move at 20:15.

 

Cool meeting Jim and the East Street crew. Also cool seeing our locals prevail.