gran racing
Super Moderator
Ain't that the truth! After seeing the car, I thought to myself "hey, maybe my car isn't so ugly after all."
My NHIS Experience!
- Thread starter Jeremy Billiel
- Start date
Ain't that the truth! After seeing the car, I thought to myself "hey, maybe my car isn't so ugly after all."
I'm surprised to see that there weren't any stronger feelings in regards to the ITA race.
Were people just glad that it was over?
I felt that given the expense and off track weather 4 laps was a rip-off. The good news is that the car didn't get beat up, and the tires are still effectively new, but otherwise a total disappointment.
It is frustrating to see run groups with 5 classes and 10 competitors run a full event, but the group that EVERYONE is saying will be THE BEST racing run 4 or 5 laps.
The big bore group took a 10 min black flag at the beginning of their race and still got a full event in.
What gives???
R
Were people just glad that it was over?
I felt that given the expense and off track weather 4 laps was a rip-off. The good news is that the car didn't get beat up, and the tires are still effectively new, but otherwise a total disappointment.
It is frustrating to see run groups with 5 classes and 10 competitors run a full event, but the group that EVERYONE is saying will be THE BEST racing run 4 or 5 laps.
The big bore group took a 10 min black flag at the beginning of their race and still got a full event in.
What gives???
R
Tkczecheredflag
New member
We were running a clock too and we went "black flag all" at just under twleve minutes which seemd like a lot of time considering a minute and a half per lap, times 4 laps plus pace lap (more like 8 or 9 minutes). I thought we would get a few more laps in anyway. I thought we were in the pits for about five minutes doesn't that leave 8 minutes to race (another 4 laps)?
Does anyone know the rule for going through the T-3 tire wall.
Can you wait for the field and try to rejoin the group for no position advatage? I went into the wall avoid the Triumph in 7th and came out the otherside in 22nd - would have liked to squeeze in the #7 spot again if possible under full yellow. Since I suck so bad in T-3 I thought I should become familiar with all the dos and don'ts.
RSTPerformance
New member
Not everyone thought the ITA race was the best race to watch.... I am sure everyone who was racing thought their race was the best, even those with 5 people (although I don't remember seeing any run groups that small)... I know I thought my race was the best!!!
But in reality, at NHIS and Lime Rock you will always see a timed race along with Distance, whatever comes first. I am sure that everyone in the tower is as bummed as you are that they had to checker the race with only a few laps completed... unfortunately it is in the sups, and unfortunately it has to be in the sups given the time constraints we have at our events. Certainly a bum deal for all.
I think most people are thankful that the driver was ok; he took a very hard hit.
Does anyone know the rule for going through the T-3 tire wall.
[/b]
I don't have the GCR in front of me, but I believe that it says that you can not take a short cut by way of saying that you must re-enter the track where you left. If you do take the shortcut in Turn 3 the penalty is generally that the lap did not count.
Also FYI: I was watching as was others that post here... I am not sure if it was you or someone else (I don't know your new car!!!), but the person I saw had no reason cutting through as they should have been well under control by that point. I said to myself, "well that was dumb, he just went to last place..."
So in short, don’t cut through turn 3 or you will loose that lap!!!
Raymond
Raymond,
2 groups (1,7) had 11 total-group 5 had (12) according to mylaps. I never siad that the ITA race was the best. What I meant was the hype (on this board) has all pointed to ITA as being the class to watch and what amounts to the best racing (on paper). IT and SM is what the SCCA is about IMHO. Me thinks anyone hearty enough to be at NHIS, when asked what groups they would want to see race, would say SM (SSM), and the IT's......or is FV and F5 the SCCA's hot ticket??
Make no mistake about it I did not think the ITA race was good or even worth watching...I also thought my performance in said race was about as fun and swimmingly sunny as the weather was!!!
Can we revisit the restricted regional thread??
R
PS I am also very glad that Rob was okay....I didn't mean to overshadow that fact. Safety and welfare is always first. Rob is a great guy and we often paddock (waterfront style) together at NHIS. We lend him a hand because he is always alone.
gran racing
Super Moderator
The sups also made provisions for stopping the time during a black flag. I really think even a few more laps should have been given. Heck, even if that meant shorting the other run groups by a lap or two.
Its really, really tough to attend a race weekend with so much involved to only get four laps. Yes, of course the safety of the other driver takes priority but it still sucks. I still strongly remember LRP (2 years ago?) in ITA when we only got 2 or 3 laps. With the amount of time we spend preparing for a race and pay to race, 4 laps just doesn't cut it.
Oh, and for the ITB race to have been the best race, you needed to slow down a bit.
Although it was fun watching you give those ITS boys hell.
Tkczecheredflag
New member
When the TR6 jumped up in the air at T3, I went harder than usual on the binders locked them up and slid nose first into the wall - probally could have backed up and re-entered but thought the better of it with the remainder of the field yet to file through. New territiory for me not sure I made the right decision but tried to make a safe decision. Also had visions of an Audi Coupe launching through the tire wall and coming out the other side with the ass end about two feet in the air brakeless- I thought to my self I better get out of here in a hurry. I was the red Integra #11 sneeking through the back yard
RSTPerformance
New member
Tim-
I think it must have been somebody else that I saw drive through, I thought the car was white... but my memory is lacking... for whatever reason my victory lap keeps taking over my mind still!!!
Doc Bro-
I was just giving you $#!^ I think ITA will have a few great races this year... this past weekend was a bummer... I didn't go up to turn 3 to watch 4 laps...
Dave-
As for altering the schedule via stoping the clock, I will reread the sups and I will bring it back to the other stewards at the next event and ask how/if it could have been handled differently, for my future reference. How long was the scheduled and actual race distance? Time and laps please!!!
Raymond
Oh and PS Dave: I am NOT slowing down for my brother nevermind you!!!
I think it must have been somebody else that I saw drive through, I thought the car was white... but my memory is lacking... for whatever reason my victory lap keeps taking over my mind still!!!
Doc Bro-
I was just giving you $#!^ I think ITA will have a few great races this year... this past weekend was a bummer... I didn't go up to turn 3 to watch 4 laps...
Dave-
As for altering the schedule via stoping the clock, I will reread the sups and I will bring it back to the other stewards at the next event and ask how/if it could have been handled differently, for my future reference. How long was the scheduled and actual race distance? Time and laps please!!!
Raymond
Oh and PS Dave: I am NOT slowing down for my brother nevermind you!!!
Tkczecheredflag
New member
Raymond - Congrats again on the win.
One of the first things I said when I got out of my car was, "Well, *that* was an effin waste of time, effort, and money..."
I think a lot of people recognize there's no value in bitching about it. We've done it before, wasn't productive. The race was originally billed as 20 laps or 25 minutes; we were told on the pre-grid it was shortened to 18 laps or 20 minutes. Then, we get in 4 laps (1 FCY?) and how many minutes? It wasn't even a half-distance, so I wonder if it can even be considered a finish in terms of points or licensing. Wasteful.
I do find it coincidental (?) that it's rarely the National classes cars that get their races shortened on Regional weekends. You can't blame something like this on the people organizing and running the event - things happen - but how about we put all the Nats guys at the tail end of every Regional weekend bill? In other words, you can play in the Regional pond with your National car, but the Regional guys get first priorities...
GA
JLawton
New member
I may have been one of the few that came out of the ITA race wishing it had gone the full distance. I wasn't too upset though, that's racing. I certainly wouldn't blame anyone for it.
At the time we were ready to grid, I just wanted to get it over with (not realizing how much fun I was about to have!) Maybe it was due to all the thrashing we had to do just to get the car out there or the fact that I already had a couple of hours of track time between the test day and school. Sh*t happens.
I had front row seats for Tim's excursion and was holding my breath. It could have been VERY ugly. He had to make a quick decision and made the right one. Too bad he lost all those places because of someone else! Don't worry Tim, somthing tells me you have many top 5 finishes to come!!
Until that point, it looked to have been a very clean race. I think everyone did a great job for being the first race of the season and in the rain.
At the time we were ready to grid, I just wanted to get it over with (not realizing how much fun I was about to have!) Maybe it was due to all the thrashing we had to do just to get the car out there or the fact that I already had a couple of hours of track time between the test day and school. Sh*t happens.
I had front row seats for Tim's excursion and was holding my breath. It could have been VERY ugly. He had to make a quick decision and made the right one. Too bad he lost all those places because of someone else! Don't worry Tim, somthing tells me you have many top 5 finishes to come!!
Until that point, it looked to have been a very clean race. I think everyone did a great job for being the first race of the season and in the rain.
Ain't that the truth! After seeing the car, I thought to myself "hey, maybe my car isn't so ugly after all."
[/b]
Don't get too down on Stephen about the paint. Our paint supplier really (*&(*&(*&(& this one up for all of us. I was embarrassed at the fact that the colors weren't even close and on top of that the compressor broke before we could finish it. Believe me, it WILL be repainted and made pretty.
Sorry, Stephen. You can beat me up for this one.
Here's my rundown as a total IT/SCCA newbie.
I had a great time and met some awesome people! I was lucky enough to enjoy 4 days of racing bliss (I'm only including Thurday because I played hookie at work), as I attended the school Thurs evening thru Saturday, and the Regional on Sunday.
School Day 1 - Eye Opening
I ran in group 1, which had a mix of cars and experience. The instructors were great and continued the tone of driving with safety and respect to fellow drivers, flaggers, and officials that Allan set at Thursday night's meeting. Unfortunately there was a lot of carnage, at least in my opinion, although this was the first school/SCCA event I have ever attended. Luckily nobody was seriously injured, and though my peeps had a great time (I was part of the "COM" or "Apex" group) (black 1.6 Miata/red top/ITA), I think it is fair to say we were a little untrusting of a few cars in group 1.
On the otherhand, everyone I met was just great. I came in after the first lap of one of the practice sessions because the back end felt a bit loose. As I pulled into my garage space, Andy and another one of the Flatout guys ran over and asked what the problem was. I asked them to check the lug nuts and they sprang into action. Moments later I was headed back out with all the lugnuts retorqued. Several were loose. I never even had to get out of the car. Thanks guys!!
School Day 2 - Just Awesome
The group dynamic seemed to have changed overnight. Most evident were the drivers who became more predictable as the school progressed. Hats off to our instructors for reigning the troops in and keeping the day safe and enjoyable. I had a mechanical just before the morning's qualifying session that grided me to the back for the first practice race. Had an awesome time weaving my way through the pack.
Second practice race was basically an inverted grid of the morning's race. I was grided 5th but cars 2-4 didn't show, so I started 2nd. A few cars shot by at the start, but I took the lead by lap 3 and walked from the crowd. That is, exept for a certain instructor in a red Nissan NX2000.
Greg played with me for quite a while and I had a blast! Thanks for playing along and not humiliating me! I've been attending track events and time trials for a few years now. This event was an excellent first experience, and I can see why people become addicted. I drank the SCCA Koolaid and enjoyed it!
Regional (Day 3) - My First Official Race
The weather was perfect (if you like cold rainy days and hail (yes, hail)). My goal for the weekend was to attend the school, get my logbook signed off, participate in my first regional, and drive home in my car with no more or less paint than I started. Though it is not really a daily-driver, my ITA Miata is driven to & from events and tows a small tire trailer. I headed out to the qualifying session with those thoughts bouncing around my head and hail bouncing off the hood. My 'stragegy' of pointing everyone by to get some clear track didn't quite work out. As I pointed by the last few cars I saw lapping traffic approaching. D'oh.
I started pretty far back, which honestly, I preferred. With the weather conditions as they were, I wasn't out to do anything but complete the race without contact. I also wanted to put on a good race for all of the friends that were there for support & crew. Unfortunatley, with only 4 laps, that wasn't going to happen. When the checker was thrown, I was somewhat releaved that we weren't going back out. On the other hand, another part of me was eager to get back out and make a race of it. The longer we sat in the pits, the more I wanted to put a few more laps down.
I really can't complain about the weekend at all. What fun, and what an experience! The months of planning, turning wrenches, and discussion with friends was all worth it and then some. Still, I can't help but feel that I have yet to participate in my first race.
A group of the students in the school with previous track experience were somewhat the "big fish in the little pond". As expected, most of that changed on Sunday when we ran with the big boys. Can't wait to get out there and try it again!
Cheers,
Will
I had a great time and met some awesome people! I was lucky enough to enjoy 4 days of racing bliss (I'm only including Thurday because I played hookie at work), as I attended the school Thurs evening thru Saturday, and the Regional on Sunday.
School Day 1 - Eye Opening
I ran in group 1, which had a mix of cars and experience. The instructors were great and continued the tone of driving with safety and respect to fellow drivers, flaggers, and officials that Allan set at Thursday night's meeting. Unfortunately there was a lot of carnage, at least in my opinion, although this was the first school/SCCA event I have ever attended. Luckily nobody was seriously injured, and though my peeps had a great time (I was part of the "COM" or "Apex" group) (black 1.6 Miata/red top/ITA), I think it is fair to say we were a little untrusting of a few cars in group 1.
On the otherhand, everyone I met was just great. I came in after the first lap of one of the practice sessions because the back end felt a bit loose. As I pulled into my garage space, Andy and another one of the Flatout guys ran over and asked what the problem was. I asked them to check the lug nuts and they sprang into action. Moments later I was headed back out with all the lugnuts retorqued. Several were loose. I never even had to get out of the car. Thanks guys!!
School Day 2 - Just Awesome
The group dynamic seemed to have changed overnight. Most evident were the drivers who became more predictable as the school progressed. Hats off to our instructors for reigning the troops in and keeping the day safe and enjoyable. I had a mechanical just before the morning's qualifying session that grided me to the back for the first practice race. Had an awesome time weaving my way through the pack.
Second practice race was basically an inverted grid of the morning's race. I was grided 5th but cars 2-4 didn't show, so I started 2nd. A few cars shot by at the start, but I took the lead by lap 3 and walked from the crowd. That is, exept for a certain instructor in a red Nissan NX2000.
Greg played with me for quite a while and I had a blast! Thanks for playing along and not humiliating me! I've been attending track events and time trials for a few years now. This event was an excellent first experience, and I can see why people become addicted. I drank the SCCA Koolaid and enjoyed it! Regional (Day 3) - My First Official Race
The weather was perfect (if you like cold rainy days and hail (yes, hail)). My goal for the weekend was to attend the school, get my logbook signed off, participate in my first regional, and drive home in my car with no more or less paint than I started. Though it is not really a daily-driver, my ITA Miata is driven to & from events and tows a small tire trailer. I headed out to the qualifying session with those thoughts bouncing around my head and hail bouncing off the hood. My 'stragegy' of pointing everyone by to get some clear track didn't quite work out. As I pointed by the last few cars I saw lapping traffic approaching. D'oh.
I started pretty far back, which honestly, I preferred. With the weather conditions as they were, I wasn't out to do anything but complete the race without contact. I also wanted to put on a good race for all of the friends that were there for support & crew. Unfortunatley, with only 4 laps, that wasn't going to happen. When the checker was thrown, I was somewhat releaved that we weren't going back out. On the other hand, another part of me was eager to get back out and make a race of it. The longer we sat in the pits, the more I wanted to put a few more laps down.
I really can't complain about the weekend at all. What fun, and what an experience! The months of planning, turning wrenches, and discussion with friends was all worth it and then some. Still, I can't help but feel that I have yet to participate in my first race.
A group of the students in the school with previous track experience were somewhat the "big fish in the little pond". As expected, most of that changed on Sunday when we ran with the big boys. Can't wait to get out there and try it again!
Cheers,
Will