4-Hour Aftermath

[aeronca65t]

We ran the EMRA 4-Hour Twilight Enduro at Summit Point.

Sort of.

Bruce drove the first 45 minutes. No problems
I drove the next 95 minutes (the "transition" to dark). Again, no problems.

Pete finished up. Almost.

Actually, the car threw a alternator/water pump belt with about 40 minutes left to go. Pete was able to pit with no overheating and I had a spare, new belt. It took a while to get it on and I think we damaged it in our haste. So it only lasted about 15 minutes. We had one more (used) belt and we could have put it on and gone out for the last lap, thus guaranteeing ourselves the EMRA "Horse's Ass" award (this is the last place car that is running at the conclusion).
We checked the scoring (we had wireless scoring on our laptop) and discovered that the guys presently looking to get the "H-A" award were a nice bunch of young fellows in a CRX. So we made decision to park the car and let them have it.
Which was cool because they really enjoyed it.
Also, by parking the car, we got to drink beer sooner. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/thumbsup.gif

We had a great time.
We brought mounted rain tires as well as slicks. This guarantees there will be no rain.

The car made 100 laps before the second belt went so we got to triple digits.
The brakes got a little spongy at the end, but we're Brit car guys and are used to running with awful brakes (Bruce has a 1275 race Mini and me and Pete have race-Spridgets). I'll fix the brakes and the belt problem over the winter (nothing obvious wrong with the pulleys, etc.).

Also, I got to meet "Two Sheds" (John H.), which was cool. We talked about cars, racing, aeroplanes...all the Good Stuff.
And we got to see ChrisS too.
And it snowed all the way home so we took it very easy (Chris: Hope you guys got home OK!)

Here's some pix (I have some vids and other stuff I'll post later):


(Below) During a brief, Black-Flag All

(Below) Turn 10 (a fast entrance to the main straight).
The yellow car is "The One After 909". /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/jester.gif

(Below) Bruce during Enduro Qualifying

(Below) Pete (in car) and Bruce practicing Driver Change

(Below) The Black Flag All (briefly, Red Flag) was caused when a Miata spun out of T10 and this CRX hit him. Both drivers are good guys....just one of those "racing incidents" that happens from time to time. This is an indexed race and this CRX won overall last year.

 

[Steve]

Looks like you had a great time.

So, if that yellow car is the "One after 909" did he have to "Move over once, move over twice......" ?

 

[Mickey Richaud]

Looks like you had a great time.

So, if that yellow car is the "One after 909" did he have to "Move over once, move over twice......" ?

Perzackly my reaction to that picture, Steve. Amazing how like minds work, ain't it? /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smirk.gif

 

[JPSmit]

Cool - I want your job!

 

[aeronca65t]

.....So, if that yellow car is the "One after 909" did he have to "Move over once, move over twice......" ?

Ha-Ha!

Yeah, I see some of you have gotten ~The Connection~ .

<span style='font-size: 8pt'> Keep watching...you'll even see some British cars</span>

A lot of my race friends (mostly my age) got it too.

I just added more pictures to the ~Same Link~ (be sure to hit Refresh)

 

[Steve]

Anyone else notice the "Entropy Racing" car? Doc, you holding out on us?

 

[DrEntropy]

nahh. One o' Nial's buncha buds. Neat outfit, too.

I see there's an Elan holdin' up Sir Colin Chapman's end.


EDIT: Nial, would you have a program to list drivers? Who has that Alfa spider? (#73)

 

[Twosheds]

Nial, I looked for a post on this race in the Racing Forum, then realized that the Escort isn't British!

Great to meet you and talk about The Good Stuff. I stuck around until 5:00, after the restart. I thought they got going again quite quickly. Saw your first driver change; you went out behind the tow truck. Errr... not towed behind it, well behind it. Too bad about the belt, though.

Made it home in time to have a couple G&Ts before watching my Mountaineers win.

I forgot to ask you; what do you think of the new surface?

Guys, some of you know this, but Nial is The Coolest Guy in the World.

 

[aeronca65t]

Doc:

The ALFA pilot is David Richarson. Nice guy. I am not sure where he lives.....probably PA or NY. The car has a 2.0L with big Webers. It is exceptionally fast.

My pal, Charlie Greenhaus owns Entopy Racing. His whole deal is renting race cars (and reserving one car for himself, so he can have some fun too).
*He* has the world's best job! https://www.entropyracing.net/

John:

I like the new surface! They got the bumps out of the Wagonwheel bend (T7); a Good Thing!
There was a lot of talk about the drop-offs on the edge of the track, but it was no big deal.
Also, someone had told me that there was a lot of dusty areas near the track edge, which would be a problem with the night race.
I had even asked the track manager to have a water truck ready. But again, no big deal.
Wish I could get away for the Turkey Bowl this weekend but Linda would kill me.

Also, see picture below. And thanks for the kind words......now if only my kids felt that way!

 

[Banjo]

Looks like you had LOTS more fun than me last week.
must...resist...racing...bug....no...money...to..go..racing...But I wanna!!!!

 

[Bugeye58]

Ben, just pick up something along the lines of Nial's Escort, and go for it. The IT classes are fairly cheap at the entry level. I've seen decent cars in the 2500~3500 dollar range. It's not like you don't have a local track to play on!
Jeff

 

[aeronca65t]

Ben, just pick up something along the lines of Nial's Escort, and go for it. The IT classes are fairly cheap at the entry level. I've seen decent cars in the 2500~3500 dollar range. It's not like you don't have a local track to play on!
Jeff

Agreed! It doesn't really matter what you start with....just get out there!

And for the record, you can build a car for HPDEs, track days, Time Trials or similar events for peanuts. These events do not require roll bars, race harnesses or race tires. Stock, street vehicles are fine.
You'll still be out on the track.....and like me, you'll have more fun with a cheapo car than the guys spending mega-bucks.
In fact, I have the perfect car for this right now.
It's a 1.9L, 5-speed Escort I got but do not need. Runs great, with recent timing belt and new-ish tires. Needs master cylinder and battery. If you like it, you can always build it into a real wheel-to-wheel racer. Or just junk it after a few seasons.
Asking $200. Make me an offer (but soon...I'm looking at another car and I need the space)..

 

[Banjo]

Nial, you're seriously trying to get me killed (by my wife) aren't you? hehehe.

soon. Can't do it now, but the fire is lit. Right now I'm treading water in a sea of bills. There's zero bucks for projects I already have. The TR2 is in a holding pattern, and I'm gonna have to drive the BMW through the winter (however much I don't want to) for lack of a more suitable beater. The CJ ain't a good winter car, but I don't want to sell it.
All in all it comes down to working through a pinch, then looking to have some fun.
Temps going down, means utilities go wayyyy up. Can't afford new windows either. It just gets better and better!

 

[aeronca65t]

....Right now I'm treading water in a sea of bills. There's zero bucks for projects......

Believe me, Ben. I know that feeling.

That was my situation around 1985.

Hang in there!...it'll all work out eventually.

 

[ChrisS]

And we got to see ChrisS too.
And it snowed all the way home so we took it very easy (Chris: Hope you guys got home OK!)

We made it back OK, a few white out moments compounded with a bit to much tongue weight and low beams that reflected off the snow like high beams but it only lasted for a few hours. We pulled in to home about 4:00am, I was a little grumpy at work on Monday but no one noticed a difference. See you at Shenandoah in the spring.

 

[Deleted member 3577]

Looks like you had LOTS more fun than me last week.
must...resist...racing...bug....no...money...to..go..racing...But I wanna!!!!

I should be done with this in about a year & 1/2...

And it will go CHEAP! /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/grin.gif
Imagine your wife's reaction to that purchase /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/nonono.gif
You could get a bigger garage out of the deal on account of her wanting to 'hide' it.....BONUS! /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/jester.gif