Spec Boxster Build

[thstone]

Here is a video of me chasing Andrew Weyman in the #9 through the Star Mazda turn at Buttonwillow.

A couple of laps later, I was able to get a good run on the #9 coming into this corner and got alongside him on the inside but wasn't able to hold my line and pushed out into his line at mid-corner.

Andrew graciously backed out and let me have the corner. I immediately pulled to the right and gave him a point by to give him the position back. I never got another good chance for a pass and finished behind him. We talked after the race and he appreciated my gesture of good sportsmanship.

I'm still working on my driving and therefore, am far from perfect; but I do try and do the right thing out there.

[seningen]

Originally Posted by husker boxster

Turn 1 of a Club Race at COTA is a sight to behold. Cars go 4 or 5 wide and a couple of rows deep into the turn but rarely everyone survives.

I prefer to be way outside here -- but I remember on race last year that I was straddling the candy-stripes, while at my door was a SPB, that hadn't rotated yet. I'm staring at his front bumper.

Fortunately he was just tip-toeing and no issue insued -- but the way T1 at CoTA is,
it is very enticing to take the inside line, but then you get squeezed out and you
basically have to park it waiting for the Walmart traffic to let you through :-)

I like the outside line for several reasons, there's room to bail further outside, you can maintain some semblance of momentum, and it opens up after the turn, even if T2 is a right hander, it can be taken at moderate speeds (race start speeds) and hold a decent line into the Esses.

That all said -- I'll get pinned on the inside this weekend just because I typed this :-)

Mike

[husker boxster]

Originally Posted by seningen

I like the outside line for several reasons, there's room to bail further outside, you can maintain some semblance of momentum, and it opens up after the turn, even if T2 is a right hander, it can be taken at moderate speeds (race start speeds) and hold a decent line into the Esses.

I believe it was Scott Dixon who pulled your outside in T1 at the start of Sunday's IndyCar race and picked up 2 spots by doing it. Maybe he saw you execute that move and liked it.

[thstone]

I was finally able to get a dyno test of my most recent replacement engine and while not quite as powerful as the last engine (195hp), it is certainly within the expected range (185-195 hp at the rear wheels). Not a bad deal for $2,450.

[Greg Holmberg]

What matters for racing is torque, right?

Where did you buy it? How many miles did it have?

It will be interesting to see how long it continues to make the same power and torque.


Greg

[seningen]

Originally Posted by husker boxster

I believe it was Scott Dixon who pulled your outside in T1 at the start of Sunday's IndyCar race and picked up 2 spots by doing it. Maybe he saw you execute that move and liked it.

I was just watching F1’s Drive to Survive, the COTA episode last night and Seinz was penalized 5 sec for going beyond the racing surface on T1 start and gaining an advantage...

I’ll take 5 sec over a busted car :-)

Mike

[thstone]

Originally Posted by Greg Holmberg

What matters for racing is torque, right?

Where did you buy it? How many miles did it have?

It will be interesting to see how long it continues to make the same power and torque.


Greg

Hey Greg, its an eBay motor from a salvage car with around 90K miles.

The last motor (also eBay sourced) made the right around 195hp right up until it started to fail.

[seningen]

Originally Posted by thstone

Hey Greg, its an eBay motor from a salvage car with around 90K miles.

The last motor (also eBay sourced) made the right around 195hp right up until it started to fail.

Hi Tom,

What were your symptoms of "started to fail"?

Adding to my mental rolodex...

thx,

Mike

[thstone]

Originally Posted by seningen

What were your symptoms of "started to fail"?

Hey Mike, all of the details are here: Spec Boxster Build

[seningen]

Originally Posted by thstone

Hey Mike, all of the details are here: Spec Boxster Build

Got it -- thought that was more recent -- thx for the link!

Mike

[thstone]

I had a great weekend racing on the royal at the PCA/POC California Festival of Speed at AutoClub Speedway in Fontana, CA!

We had practice and qualifying on Friday, Sprint Race #1 (30 min) and the 70 min Enduro on Sat, and Sprint Race #2 on Sunday.

I qualified 11th of 20 overall and 9th of 14 in Spec Boxster using the same set of tires that I raced on at Buttonwillow which meant that the car was quite loose and struggling for grip in 2nd gear out of T4, T6 and T9. A new set of tires on Friday evening solved that problem.

Results:
Sprint Race #1: Started 11th of 20 overall and 9th of 14 in Spec Boxster. Finished 13th overall and 11th in Spec Box.

This was not my best race. I didn't get a great start and then with 3 laps to go, the low fuel light came on. I do some quick math in my head and decide that I'm not going to make it so I slow for 3 laps and then come into the pits before the checker.

Enduro Race: Started 19th of 24 overall and finished 16th overall. All of the race cars were grouped together for this race, so we had everything from 911R's and 911 GT-3 Cup cars to Spec Boxster's and 944's on track together. This requires paying a LOT of attention to your mirrors! Overall, I did well and spent the 70 mins of track time working on my line and technique. 70 mins might not sound like a long time to race, but I was beat at the end of that race.

Sprint Race #2: Started 11th of 16 overall and 9th of 12 in Spec Boxster. Finished 5th overall and 4th in Spec Box.

This was my best race of the weekend and I chalk it up to my improved fitness and getting 70 mins of practice during the enduro race to fine tune my driving. I had a great start and passed a few cars, then fell back a few positions, then made them back up.

There was an incident in this race so I edited that video first so the drivers involved could see what I saw.

As we come around NASCAR Turns 1 and 2, I see that the three cars ahead are all bunched up on the inside to protect any pass attempts, so I go wide to carry more speed through Turns 3 and 4 to try and make up some distance.

The #729 tries to go up the inside of the #318 and reportedly stepped on both the brake and the throttle at the same time. Thus, he was unable to slow and hits the #318 in the left rear quarter panel at the entry to Turn 3.

When this happens, I have already begun my turn towards the apex and have to quickly adjust my line to avoid the carnage and get by cleanly.

Full screen with sound for the best experience!

[Anker]

NIce evasive maneuver. Noty a lot of room there!

[husker boxster]

What was the debris that you dodged? It looked like a gas tank but that couldn't be. At least I hope it wasn't.

[78F350]

Originally Posted by husker boxster

What was the debris that you dodged? It looked like a gas tank but that couldn't be. At least I hope it wasn't.

That is a door. Great job Tom. Love to watch your videos.

[thstone]

Originally Posted by husker boxster

What was the debris that you dodged? It looked like a gas tank but that couldn't be. At least I hope it wasn't.

As 78F350 said, it was the passenger door from the #729! Watch the slo-mo carefully and you'll see it pop off.

A lot of race cars have doors that simply drop onto hinge pins so if the door becomes unlatched, its easy for them to come off.

In real time, I had no idea what it was, I was just trying to avoid something that looked too big to run over safely.

[husker boxster]

Ahhh… so he got his door blown off. Guess it really happens.

[seningen]

Originally Posted by husker boxster

Ahhh… so he got his door blown off. Guess it really happens.

Need a tether to the roll cage...

I was thinking that was a very unusual line.

Sure you can gain on braking -- but you basically have to park it in the corner
and hope the outside guy gives you room or you sit there parked with a turn signal on
or you hit them.

At least on the outside you have room to bail out.

M

[bkovac]

Just needs to be bolted. Unsafe

[thstone]

Here is video from Race 1 at the California Festival of Speed. I included a short intro clip showing me getting situated in the car while in the Garage. That is my wife outside the drivers window and my oldest son around the back of the car.

Like most drivers, I have a fixed order and routine that I go through each time that I get into the car: lap belts, door mostly closed, window net up, close door completely, left shoulder harness, right shoulder harness, gloves, steering wheel, key, check time (and I may sit for a several mins), start engine, one last mental check, and pull out.

For some unknown reason, my rear camera didn't turn on, so I decided to try something different for this video and created a side-by-sde of the front camera and the drivers camera to better show what I am doing during the race.

1080p full screen with audio provides the best viewing experience!

[Ciao]

That was cool!