485 replies to this topic

[FTodaro]

 

Indy race control, don't be passing under yellow. I hear they have lots of good footage from the PCA indy DE.

[Danica Davison]

Damn. I do my best work under cautions!

[Tom Sager]

It's tough to find decent video for the infield section at Indy.  Here's a video that should give first-timers an idea what to expect.

 

[Jim Creighton]

There's a figure eight track at Orlando Speed World outside Orlando, Fl.  I know the owner, Robert Hart. Want me to set up a SM figure eight race for you guys? They race school buses on it so SM should be no problem.

[Todd Lamb]

Oval race, round 2, at Lanier

[Jim Creighton]

Todd, I don't know if they want racing at Lanier anymore. When I looked over there a couple weeks ago, It was all set up for go karts. I know our Region solo ran up there some and I was there for a meeting. It's one big paved area with no inside walls at all. Sure would lead to some "cutting the corners". Going into the pits would be a matter of judgement.

[Danica Davison]

Okay people, its officially one month away and the smack talk is really struggling.  Time to spice it up some! There are just so many unanswered questions:

 

1.)   Who will win?

2.)   Who will podium?

3.)   Who will be the first one to crash out?

4.)   Who will win the qualifying race?

5.)   Who is the most likely to have a mental breakdown at some point during the week?

6.)   Which engine builder will have the most cars qualified in the top 10?

7.)   What will be the average age of the top 5 qualifiers?

8.)   What will be the average age of the slowest 5 qualifiers?

9.)   Will there be more DNFs in the qualifying race? Or in the main show?

10.) How many DNFs will we have in the main show?

11.) How many drivers qualified in the top 10 will finish outside of the top 10?

12.) What will be the number of spots gained for the Hard Charger Award winner?

13.) Who are the biggest dark horses in this race?

14.) How much time will the top 20 qualifying times be separated by?

15.) Who will win the Spec Miata golf tournament that we should have?!

16.) How many articles will Danny Steyn write throughout the week?

17.) How many lines are going to be on this list?

18.) Eighteen.

[Parity]

I would say 16 since 17 was answered although incorrectly and 18 is not a question.

[Jim Drago]

Okay people, its officially one month away and the smack talk is really struggling.  Time to spice it up some! There are just so many unanswered questions:

 

1.)   Who will win? The peoples Champion

2.)   Who will podium? The Peoples Champion, Chris Haldeman, Alex Bolanos

3.)   Who will be the first one to crash out? John Davison on test day and come back with the win

4.)   Who will win the qualifying race? No idea

5.)   Who is the most likely to have a mental breakdown at some point during the week?Tom Fowler

6.)   Which engine builder will have the most cars qualified in the top 10? Mazda

7.)   What will be the average age of the top 5 qualifiers?  34

8.)   What will be the average age of the slowest 5 qualifiers? 44

9.)   Will there be more DNFs in the qualifying race? Or in the main show? qualifying

10.) How many DNFs will we have in the main show? 5

11.) How many drivers qualified in the top 10 will finish outside of the top 10? 4

12.) What will be the number of spots gained for the Hard Charger Award winner? 18

13.) Who are the biggest dark horses in this race? Taylor ferrante

14.) How much time will the top 20 qualifying times be separated by? .7

15.) Who will win the Spec Miata golf tournament that we should have? Not me

16.) How many articles will Danny Steyn write throughout the week? well, usually provisional pole report and obligatory wrap up, so two

17.) How many lines are going to be on this list? non habla

18.) Eighteen. nineteen

[Danica Davison]

I would say 16 since 17 was answered although incorrectly and 18 is not a question.

 

Incorrect. I asked how many LINES there were ... not QUESTIONS. got em

[Parity]

Incorrect. I asked how many LINES there were ... not QUESTIONS. got em

False. The preceding title stated " There are just so many unanswered questions:" Then the questions followed. According to AS9100 and the internet, the questions must be interpreted as a subset of the title.

[Danica Davison]

False. The preceding title stated " There are just so many unanswered questions:" Then the questions followed. According to AS9100 and the internet, the questions must be interpreted as a subset of the title.

 

#FakeNews

[sentercut]

Okay people, its officially one month away and the smack talk is really struggling.  Time to spice it up some! There are just so many unanswered questions:

 

1.)   Who will win? Kicera 

2.)   Who will podium? Drago & Haldeman

3.)   Who will be the first one to crash out? Holton

4.)   Who will win the qualifying race? Qualifier #61-65

5.)   Who is the most likely to have a mental breakdown at some point during the week? Caveman

6.)   Which engine builder will have the most cars qualified in the top 10? Rossini

7.)   What will be the average age of the top 5 qualifiers? 41

8.)   What will be the average age of the slowest 5 qualifiers? 51

9.)   Will there be more DNFs in the qualifying race? Or in the main show? â€‹Definitely LCQ,  

10.) How many DNFs will we have in the main show? 7

11.) How many drivers qualified in the top 10 will finish outside of the top 10? 5

12.) What will be the number of spots gained for the Hard Charger Award winner? 19

13.) Who are the biggest dark horses in this race? Caveman, PC, & Nufer

14.) How much time will the top 20 qualifying times be separated by? .6, and Top 30 by 1.2

15.) Who will win the Spec Miata golf tournament that we should have?! Me 

16.) How many articles will Danny Steyn write throughout the week? 4 I hope, he is very thorough. 

17.) How many lines are going to be on this list? I suck at math

18.) Eighteen.

[Danica Davison]

3.)   Who will be the first one to crash out? Holton

 

LOL

[Danica Davison]

1.)   Who will win? Andrew Von Charbonneau
2.)   Who will podium? Charbs, Bolanos, Danica!
3.)   Who will be the first one to crash out? Erik Stearns & Tyler Kicera
4.)   Who will win the qualifying race? Nick Soriano
5.)   Who is the most likely to have a mental breakdown at some point during the week? Tum Fowler or Danny Boy
6.)   Which engine builder will have the most cars qualified in the top 10? Autotechnik
7.)   What will be the average age of the top 5 qualifiers? 32
8.)   What will be the average age of the slowest 5 qualifiers? 52
9.)   Will there be more DNFs in the qualifying race? Or in the main show? main show!
10.) How many DNFs will we have in the main show? 10
11.) How many drivers qualified in the top 10 will finish outside of the top 10? 4
12.) What will be the number of spots gained for the Hard Charger Award winner? 29
13.) Who are the biggest dark horses in this race?  The peoples champ and Preston Pardus
14.) How much time will the top 20 qualifying times be separated by? 0.7
15.) Who will win the Spec Miata golf tournament that we should have?! Caveman!
16.) How many articles will Danny Steyn write throughout the week? SIX. One for winning test day, one for each qual day, and then one after the race!
17.) How many lines are going to be on this list? See answer below
18.) Eighteen. Nice

[Alex Piku]

19) Who will match with the most smokes on Indy Bumble?

[Danica Davison]

19) Who will match with the most smokes on Indy Bumble?

 

I thought about including this and forgot.  My guess will be Paul Holton. "It's the hair, Cotton!"

[Johnny D]

Mazda's take on Runoffs Contenders: Spec Miata

Danny Bender, Jim Drago, Justin Hille, Tyler Kicera, Chris Haldeman and Alex Bolanos lead in the hunt for Spec Miata glory at the SCCA Runoffs

 

 

Not only is the 2017 edition of the SCCA National Championship Runoffs (set for Sept. 25-Oct. 1) breaking records for entries, Spec Miata alone stands at nearly 100 cars. It’s a deep field full of possible contenders, former national champions and some who have come awfully close to the win in the past. With Indianapolis Motor Speedway being mostly new to everyone (a few drivers have managed to sneak in some time at the track, although in a different configuration), there is no home track advantage.

 

One thing is clear: With a long front straight and the nearly-as-long Hulman Boulevard straight, anyone caught in qualifying without a drafting partner will likely be far down the grid for the race, so that will be key.

 

The interesting thing about Spec Miata is that in its 11-year history as a Runoffs class, only Jim Drago has repeated as winner. So, naturally, he’s near the top of the list of contenders. But there are many more, perhaps far more than there might be given all the unknowns. It’s not like when the Runoffs were at Road America and it was pretty safe to bet on the June Sprints winner. Speaking of which, add Danny Bender to the list of potential winners. Bender, the 2014 Touring 4 champ, is SportsCar magazine’s pick to win Spec Miata, so that’s got to be worth something.

 

 

Tyler Kicera is concentrating on the Runoffs this year, and he’s got a lot of buddies in the Battery Tender Global MX-5 Cup Presented by BFGoodrich Tires, in which he’ll make his debut at Watkins Glen. Those contacts might be valuable for data and track knowledge – MX-5 Cup raced at Indy earlier this year – so you can expect Kicera to make the best of it. And a double win against a stout field at VIRginia International Raceway doesn’t push down his odds, either.

 

“When I go down the list of drivers, there are a lot of really talented people in the field,” Kicera says. “But honestly, I feel like all of the heavy hitters, a lot of the guys that are going to be contending for the win, with the exception of a couple of names, were at VIRginia. We had a 55-car field and I managed to come away with the win both days. That gives me a lot of confidence I can at least be in contention at Indy.”

 

In discussing possible Runoffs winners, you certainly have to include the defending champion, and 2016 Runoffs winner Justin Hille is capable. Speaking of repeats, Voytek Burdzy has been on the SM Runoffs podium twice, so he knows his way to the front.

 

One driver who has been somewhat under the radar but caught Kicera’s attention is Chris Haldeman. His previous Runoffs starts haven’t produced big results, but Kicera says: “He’s really strong on these flat tracks like NOLA and COTA. I think he’ll do really well. He picked up the Glen really quick at the NASA Championships last year. I was really impressed by that.” Kicera also mentions Alex Bolanos as one to watch.

 

There are several Spec Miata drivers who are doing double duty, and the extra track time could make a difference. Chief among them is Danny Steyn, who is also racing in Super Touring Lite. Nick Leverone is doubling up in those same classes. 2010 SM champ Andrew Charbonneau returns to the Runoffs, and is running two additional classes.

 

Others who could factor include Sellin Rollan, Michael Carter, Steven Powers and Paul Holton.

 

The complicated part is that with only 72 cars allowed to start the race due to the track size, a lot of racers won’t be on the grid come Friday – this makes qualifying on Monday to Wednesday that much more important. But those who make the big race will put on one heck of a show, with a slew of drivers ready to make their mark and become the first driver to win Spec Miata at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

 

Look for more contender articles as the Runoffs gets closer as we take a look at each class that has a significant Mazda presence.

 

https://www.mazdamot...ers-spec-miata/

[Danica Davison]

Mazda's take on Runoffs Contenders: Spec Miata
Danny Bender, Jim Drago, Justin Hille, Tyler Kicera, Chris Haldeman, John Davison and Alex Bolanos lead in the hunt for Spec Miata glory at the SCCA Runoffs

 

I would say Mazda hit it right on the money there!

[Johnny D]

Should the qual 71 and have a peoples vote for #72 ??

 

J~