264 replies to this topic

[Danny Steyn]

Apart from the contact process I believe that the Palermo head failed not one,not two but three aspects. STR, valve seat configuration, and blew 9.6 to 9.7. Just hearsay as I am in Atlanta.

[john mueller]

Post race protests were upheld. Drennan now the winner, Jonathan Davis 2nd, Blake Clements 3rd. Waiting to here the full results. Checking in from 30,000ft

 

 

Not so fast...  You're making assumptions.  Wait for the official results, may not be done yet.

 

#13 (Hernan Palermo):  DQ'd upon technical inspection.  In addition he would have been repositioned for contact.

 

http://timingscoring...ed by Mazda.pdf

[Jim Drago]

John, are these not the official results as labeled?
 
http://timingscoring...ed by Mazda.pdf

says provisional at top?

[john mueller]

says provisional at top?

 

didn't 2 min ago...

[Randy Wolfgram]

says provisional at top?

 

Jim,

 

I should have been more clear.  NASA timing and scoring has 2 results posted (  One is labeled (the link itself) Provisional, which shows Drennan as the winner and the other is labeled (again, the link) as Official (mouse over the link I posted and you can see it's listed as Official) which also shows Drennan as the winner, but in addition the #13 as a DQ.

[john mueller]

Jim,

 

I should have been more clear.  NASA timing and scoring has 2 results posted (  One is labeled (the link itself) Provisional, which shows Drennan as the winner and the other is labeled (again, the link) as Official (mouse over the link I posted and you can see it's listed as Official) which also shows Drennan as the winner, but in addition the #13 as a DQ.

 

#13 (Hernan Palermo):  DQ'd upon technical inspection for non compliant head (see Danny's above post).  In addition #13 would have been repositioned for contact.  

 

The site is just not updating...  I'm told its official Drenn, Davis, Blake 

 

http://timingscoring...ed by Mazda.pdf

[Ron Alan]

Great job Mark!!  I hope you put money on that prediction Cooper! And with a final difference of .012 sec to what has been deemed an illegal car...well deserved!  If in fact Blake was put off by Hernan as was eluded to earlier and lost 3 spots because of it...that really bits! Looked like he had a hell of a drive

 

There is something to be said about both Championship formats...pluses and minuses. Choose your poison! I think I have to lean toward the NASA method as you have to race smart. Racing isnt about the fastest lap...its about a whole bunch of fast laps put together! 

[38bfast]

Official results could take weeks to become official. Ask me how I know.

[Danny Steyn]

Ron. So what happens when a brake caliper explodes in a qualifying session a la NASA. Now you have a legitimate championship contender like Bolanos relegated to a lowly starting position when he was clearly one of the fastest guys over the weekend. No matter what he did he could not overcome that starting position which rewarded guys that were 3 to 5 seconds a lap slower the the pole. How is that creating a sensible grid?

Sure we know how it works and we try and work it as best we can, but the grid today showed us just how bad the format really is.

Surely NASA wants the best damn finale featuring the fastest SM drivers all contending for the win. Well they sure did not have it this weekend.

Yes the Tsunami messed it up, but it just points out the flaws in the approach.

I would SO MUCH PREFER 3 qualifying sessions where the fastest time from all three sessions set the grid.

Just one of NASA'S customer's voicing an opinion.

[38bfast]

In theory the nasa format would but the best up front for the big show. You can Q fast and Race fast. Reality doesn't not always agree with therory. I can't disagree with NASA adopting this format but would feel they may need to rethink it seeing it in action over the years.

[Steve Scheifler]

So let's get it out, who did the head work on #13 and was it built or at least checked since this time last year?

[Ron Alan]

Like I said Danny...pick your poison. Neither format is perfect. I dont race as all know so maybe my perspective is skewed a little...I like to watch...and NASA gets me a little more entertainment! 

 

But take your Bolanos example and apply it to Road America a few years back(if i remember correctly)when the first qual session was dry and the next 2 wet. Wasn't it Mark D who had a car issue in that first session and started 42nd? Point being either format can screw you...especially when spread over days in an unpredictable weather climate! Everybody lives by the same rules in either format...shit happens! Didn't you used to be a motocross guy Danny? Heats and Main? Any concessions for being the fast guy out there but had a mechanical?

 

That said, maybe there can be something added to the formula for the NASA Champs that allows/rewards those who have shown consistant speed but have something unfortunate happen(mechanical only). Maybe bonus points added to your finish position points for lap time? 

 

At the NASA Western Champs this year, the 2nd Qual race grid was set by fast lap time in the first qual race. Am I wrong or was Eastern set by finishing position in the first race?? If so that's consistency!!

[Blake Clements]

Jim and Others, thank you for the words of encouragement posted here throughout the weekend.

I appreciate all the work that NASA, Mazda, and Toyo Tires put in to running a fun and successful event. Multiple times on track every day, it was a stellar format.

I was put off the track by the actions of another competitor while leading on the final lap. I am happy to be on the podium, but sad to not bring a win for OPM Autosports, Ti-SPEED, Carbotech, Traqmate, Bell Helmets, SP Induction Systems, and everyone that has supported in my 11 years in Spec Miata.

Congratulations to my OPM teammate Mark Drennan on his dual championship! Mark is one of the best wheel men around.

Great job to Jonathan Davis on 2nd place! He was there all race and was there tearing his own car apart in tech. A true effort!

Blake

[38bfast]

Blake I feel your pain. I kinda had the same situation a few years ago at the NASA Nationals at Mid O. Not easy to get over. Just keep in your mind how well you did on that day / week. You may not have brought home the big trophie. but in your heart you know what you accomplished. The highs and lows of racing can be so extreme. Now go have a beer.

[trimless]

Congrats Blake on P3. 

[Jim Drago]

Drennan, Bolanos, Steyn, Charbonneau, Clements

Looks like Mr Nichols is the winner! Looks like $150.00 coupon headed your way!

A few had the same names, but you picked the winner correctly in your list, thus the win.

[basscat]

I may be out of line here but feel like these two young men had a good showing and should be recognized. Both managed to keep their Miatas out of harms way. Brian Henderson (18 years old) is in his second year of SM racing. Brian came from 36th to finish 4th. Ryan Fisher (17 years old) is in his first full year of racing SM. Ryan started 11th, worked his way up to 5th and was riding. Looked like he was going to finish 5th but got boogered by Clements just before hogpen on the last lap. He finished 6th. Ryan was running a car he and his father (me) built in their garage this past winter. His mom and dad are his crew (which isn't saying much).

 

Build thread: http://www.spiuserfo...65-son-s-firsts

 

Just a little hope for all those guys who don't have big budgets and want to get into the sport.

 

Congrats Brian and Ryan!

[Craig Berry]

Congrats to the podium... I had first and third on my list. Really cool to see some young guys up front. SM is not an easy class, but that can pay dividends when racing other classes. Awesome to see Drennan win both East and West, and Blake I really thought this was your race....both amazing drivers. Steyn, Bolanos and Charbs, I can relate this year to your out of the ordinary problems, but no doubt with a little luck it could have been an even more exciting finish.

[mdavis]

Kyle

 

I appreciate you coming on here and apologizing to me. However dude, what you did was WTF, and you did something similar the previous day. You cannot win these races in Turn 1 - you seriously need to back the F down at the starts

 

• here is the video of you going through the grass on Saturday at the start
• And here you do the same thing in the final

 

WTF are you thinking - My race lasted 14 seconds due to this insanity.

 

 

Said it before, will say it again… this is the reason I don't like going to the "big events" anymore.

 

Not sure of the qualifying format or why you started where you did but welcome to the "kill zone".

[Blake Clements]

http://youtu.be/h7SabDNxZxU