NASCAR Truck Weekend
08-14-14, 04:02 PM
#1
Rotary Freak
Thread Starter
NASCAR Truck Weekend
Well guys, it just keeps getting betterer and betterer. I know its not an RX7 thing, but its really cool. Both Nummelin Motorsports Group Cougars have been invited to race in the Sunday 30 minute Canadian Touring Car Championship Invitational Race right after the NASCAR Truck Race at Mosport. Its kind of a special deal as we will not get any practice and will have to start at the back of the grid for the race, but the chance to race in front of 40,000 people will be totally awesome. Imagine what my team mate Mark Clyde is feeling right now. Only done one race day in his car and a test day. Now he will be running it for the first time at Mosport, on argueably its largest spectator day of the year. Everybody here should send him their best wishes, as its a monster cool thing for him to experience.
He will be starting beside me and we will be working our way up through the field. If all goes well, I should be able to run mid pack, Mark will be a bit lower down in the running order. The other really cool thing, is that we will be the only 2 North American made cars in the field. NASCAR Fans should really love that. Mark's monster American Flag on the hood will also be a fan favourite.
If you guys can make it to Mosport for the Sunday, you should try as it should be quite a show.
Eric
He will be starting beside me and we will be working our way up through the field. If all goes well, I should be able to run mid pack, Mark will be a bit lower down in the running order. The other really cool thing, is that we will be the only 2 North American made cars in the field. NASCAR Fans should really love that. Mark's monster American Flag on the hood will also be a fan favourite.
If you guys can make it to Mosport for the Sunday, you should try as it should be quite a show.
Eric
08-20-14, 07:30 PM
#3
Rotary Freak
Thread Starter
The schedule has changed a bit. The final series race is in the morning. The 30 minute CTCC Invitational is at 5. That's the one we are in.
Eric
Eric
08-21-14, 03:25 PM
#4
Rotary Freak
Thread Starter
Anybody who comes for the day, make sure you drop by the CTCC Pit area and say hello. Unlike the NASCAR guys, you can walk up and talk to us and see the cars up close. I would love to say hello as its going to be a pretty long day with little to do.
I have attached a picture of the car, just so you guys will remember what it looks like. There are a couple of changes since this photo was taken, but it is basically the same car.
Eric
I have attached a picture of the car, just so you guys will remember what it looks like. There are a couple of changes since this photo was taken, but it is basically the same car.
Eric
09-01-14, 09:20 PM
#5
Rotary Freak
Thread Starter
So, I thought that I would give you guys an update on what happened this past weekend. Starting off, at the very last minute my tire sponsorship didn't come through, so I was forced to run the race day with my 12 year old Toyo RA1 lapping day tires. This was a major downer as the tires had about 50 heat cycles on them and had been horribly abused in storage, but what the heck, I was going to get to race the Cougar in the CTCC Invitational in front of about 40,000 people. Just to be there was a buzz.
Got to the track nice and early with my son, checked in and looked around. EVERY FREAKIN' INCH OF THE TRACK WAS COVERED IN CAMPERS AND CARS!!!!!! Holy sweet mother of Jezuzzzz.... This was taking me back to when I raced professionally and all the old juices started to flow again. Off loaded the car and waited for my teammate Mark to show up. Granted showing up at 9:00 for a 5:00 pm race seemed a bit much, but the atmosphere was fantastic. All I could think of was that for me it was bringing me back, but for Mark, this was all brand new. Mark showed up and unloaded his car and we went to work preparing them for the race. I had to move some tires around to get the best ones in the best places, but Mark had a huge alignment issue and fortunately a great guy named Vic Simone came by and as he runs a race prep shop got to work sorting out Mark's car. After checking the alignment, it turned out that Mark had 31 mm's of toe out in the front end and when they went to adjust it all the adjusters were seized from when it was in the previous few owners possession. Vic WD40ed the joints loosened them up and set the toe properly. The car still had about 6 degrees of negative camber, but we thought it would last for the race.
We then went and got the series decals and started applying them to both cars so that we were compliant. They also gave us a bunch of hats, shirts, free lubes, money off coupons, etc... I know the guys that run the series pretty well, so I checked to see what the car count was going to be for the Invitational. It seemed that they only had about 20 cars for the final race of the year, that morning and a few of them had issues and a few of the remaining cars had decided not to push their luck, so it looked like the grid was going to be about 10 cars. Kind of disappointing, but actually for Mark, it was better as he wouldn't have to deal with traffic.
We went and watched a bit of the NASCAR Truck race and had lunch. Man those guys were working at it and the top guys are seriously good. Some of the backmarkers used some creative lines and tended to free form the apexes and braking zones. We finally got called to the grid and I was concerned as the airtemps were in the 90's and I wanted to drop my pressures a pound or so, but my crew guys weren't available so I thought that it may get fun after the tires came up to temps. Also, it was stinkin hot in the cars as we sat on the mock grid. I kept looking in the rearview at Mark wondering what he was thinking. Finally we got the move off sign and we rolled out on to the track. The pace lap was fun as the people were still lined up about 3 deep all around the track. A lot of the hillsides were covered in campers and it was at that moment I realized that I wanted to do this again. To run in a series like this meant something and that was what I have been missing.
So after that life affirming moment, we all lined up in position, came around Turn 10 and got the green. I stomped on it and used all 2500 cc's of Duratec power to jump a S/C Touring Class Mini going in to Turn 1. Felt the back end slide a bit and decided to wait until I had tire temps to work hard at it. Now its important to note here that I had a super full load of fuel on the car. I had miscalculated the cars usage rate and thought that I had only had about 2 gallons left in the cell and went and added 5 gallons earlier. Then went to add another 5 gallons and only got 1 in. freak, I was running about 100 lbs heavier than I needed to and on the first few laps it was reall noticeable as the other cars could pull me out of Turn 5 pretty well. Also, the gear spread with the stock gearbox meant that I had to wind it up to 8200 in 3rd and then shift to 4th to keep it above 6,000 rpm. I really miss the Quaife close ratio box.
Anyways, I noticed one of the other Super Touring Subaru's was smoking pretty good on the first hard lap and as we crested the hill in Turn 2 the car whoa'ed up pretty fast and the 2 cars ahead of me slowed up pretty quick. I saw a gap between them and in my best Days of Thunder move went for the gap in the middle of the smoke and came out of it 3 places higher. So as I came out of Turn 5, one of the cars I passed pulled around me and powered by going up Andretti Straight. I'm all cursing the fuel load in my helmet, but I thought I could take him through Turn 8. As we hit the braking zone ( I was turning 7800 in 4th), I let the car float a bit wide mid corner and thought I could just over under him through 9/10/ It was then that my 12 year old Toyo's told me that I had no chance against new Conti slicks and the back end stepped out far enough that I had huge counter steer dailed in and it took some of the runoff in 9 to gather it up. Have I ever mentioned that I love the new paved runoff area's. So, my new in race plane was to drive as smoothly as possible and not run the tires off the car. I needed them to last at least 30 minutes and every time I leaned on them, the front or the rear would hold for a second, then wash out. Not terribly comforting when a number of the corners were being taken at over 100 mph.
Anyways, after I gathered it up, he was gone and I looked in my rear view and couldn't see anyone so just kept going. On the next lap as I came out of 5B, I saw Mark Clyde (my team mate) pulled over on the side and wondered what had happened. Anyways, that was the only car I saw for the rest of the race until the last lap when coming down through 4, I saw Alain Lauziere exiting 5B in his Mini and I just drove it to the end of the lap and got the checkered flag. On the cool off lap all the Marshalls were waving at me and giving me the thumbs up and I'm all wondering if this is what they do for the guy who finishes DFL in a race. I truly had no idea where I finished. I waved back at all of them, looked at the crowd and enjoyed the moment and then pulled in to the pits.
As I pulled in to my pit stall I realized how hot I was and just wanted out of the car to get some fresh air. I climbed out, beat off the crowd of well wishers, actually a boy about 5 or 6 who wanted my autograph, LOL, and went to see what was going on. Mark's car was pulled in and he had blown up the box again.
So it turned out that I had finished 3rd overall and 1st in the Super Touring Class. I don't care that only 5 cars finished, I finished in 1st place in Super Touring in the last CTCC race of the year and I get to brag all winter about how godlike the drive was and how I felt Senna coursing through my veins. At least it sounds better than I just outlasted everyone else.
Not bad for an old pig being dragged out of retirement. Now, the organizers have told us that they are open for us running the cars again next year in the full series, so after this weekend, I really have to work on the setup for the Conti slicks, eke out a few more horses and get the Quaife box put back together again. Oh yeah, there is that whole money thing to work out, lol.
One final note. Always check the fit of your new harness while you are in your full setup. I didn't and at the last minute realized that the crotch straps were Alto Soprano tight. Had to get my crewguy to cinch them up for me and even then it took him getting far to familiar with the wedding tackle. Then after the race I ended up with two abrasion blisters between my legs that made me walk like Yosemite Sam for a day. So as a public (pubic) service reminder, please check it all with your HNR on, it saves having to explain a series of small blisters in an area that maybe she feels, she should only be familiar with.
Eric
Got to the track nice and early with my son, checked in and looked around. EVERY FREAKIN' INCH OF THE TRACK WAS COVERED IN CAMPERS AND CARS!!!!!! Holy sweet mother of Jezuzzzz.... This was taking me back to when I raced professionally and all the old juices started to flow again. Off loaded the car and waited for my teammate Mark to show up. Granted showing up at 9:00 for a 5:00 pm race seemed a bit much, but the atmosphere was fantastic. All I could think of was that for me it was bringing me back, but for Mark, this was all brand new. Mark showed up and unloaded his car and we went to work preparing them for the race. I had to move some tires around to get the best ones in the best places, but Mark had a huge alignment issue and fortunately a great guy named Vic Simone came by and as he runs a race prep shop got to work sorting out Mark's car. After checking the alignment, it turned out that Mark had 31 mm's of toe out in the front end and when they went to adjust it all the adjusters were seized from when it was in the previous few owners possession. Vic WD40ed the joints loosened them up and set the toe properly. The car still had about 6 degrees of negative camber, but we thought it would last for the race.
We then went and got the series decals and started applying them to both cars so that we were compliant. They also gave us a bunch of hats, shirts, free lubes, money off coupons, etc... I know the guys that run the series pretty well, so I checked to see what the car count was going to be for the Invitational. It seemed that they only had about 20 cars for the final race of the year, that morning and a few of them had issues and a few of the remaining cars had decided not to push their luck, so it looked like the grid was going to be about 10 cars. Kind of disappointing, but actually for Mark, it was better as he wouldn't have to deal with traffic.
We went and watched a bit of the NASCAR Truck race and had lunch. Man those guys were working at it and the top guys are seriously good. Some of the backmarkers used some creative lines and tended to free form the apexes and braking zones. We finally got called to the grid and I was concerned as the airtemps were in the 90's and I wanted to drop my pressures a pound or so, but my crew guys weren't available so I thought that it may get fun after the tires came up to temps. Also, it was stinkin hot in the cars as we sat on the mock grid. I kept looking in the rearview at Mark wondering what he was thinking. Finally we got the move off sign and we rolled out on to the track. The pace lap was fun as the people were still lined up about 3 deep all around the track. A lot of the hillsides were covered in campers and it was at that moment I realized that I wanted to do this again. To run in a series like this meant something and that was what I have been missing.
So after that life affirming moment, we all lined up in position, came around Turn 10 and got the green. I stomped on it and used all 2500 cc's of Duratec power to jump a S/C Touring Class Mini going in to Turn 1. Felt the back end slide a bit and decided to wait until I had tire temps to work hard at it. Now its important to note here that I had a super full load of fuel on the car. I had miscalculated the cars usage rate and thought that I had only had about 2 gallons left in the cell and went and added 5 gallons earlier. Then went to add another 5 gallons and only got 1 in. freak, I was running about 100 lbs heavier than I needed to and on the first few laps it was reall noticeable as the other cars could pull me out of Turn 5 pretty well. Also, the gear spread with the stock gearbox meant that I had to wind it up to 8200 in 3rd and then shift to 4th to keep it above 6,000 rpm. I really miss the Quaife close ratio box.
Anyways, I noticed one of the other Super Touring Subaru's was smoking pretty good on the first hard lap and as we crested the hill in Turn 2 the car whoa'ed up pretty fast and the 2 cars ahead of me slowed up pretty quick. I saw a gap between them and in my best Days of Thunder move went for the gap in the middle of the smoke and came out of it 3 places higher. So as I came out of Turn 5, one of the cars I passed pulled around me and powered by going up Andretti Straight. I'm all cursing the fuel load in my helmet, but I thought I could take him through Turn 8. As we hit the braking zone ( I was turning 7800 in 4th), I let the car float a bit wide mid corner and thought I could just over under him through 9/10/ It was then that my 12 year old Toyo's told me that I had no chance against new Conti slicks and the back end stepped out far enough that I had huge counter steer dailed in and it took some of the runoff in 9 to gather it up. Have I ever mentioned that I love the new paved runoff area's. So, my new in race plane was to drive as smoothly as possible and not run the tires off the car. I needed them to last at least 30 minutes and every time I leaned on them, the front or the rear would hold for a second, then wash out. Not terribly comforting when a number of the corners were being taken at over 100 mph.
Anyways, after I gathered it up, he was gone and I looked in my rear view and couldn't see anyone so just kept going. On the next lap as I came out of 5B, I saw Mark Clyde (my team mate) pulled over on the side and wondered what had happened. Anyways, that was the only car I saw for the rest of the race until the last lap when coming down through 4, I saw Alain Lauziere exiting 5B in his Mini and I just drove it to the end of the lap and got the checkered flag. On the cool off lap all the Marshalls were waving at me and giving me the thumbs up and I'm all wondering if this is what they do for the guy who finishes DFL in a race. I truly had no idea where I finished. I waved back at all of them, looked at the crowd and enjoyed the moment and then pulled in to the pits.
As I pulled in to my pit stall I realized how hot I was and just wanted out of the car to get some fresh air. I climbed out, beat off the crowd of well wishers, actually a boy about 5 or 6 who wanted my autograph, LOL, and went to see what was going on. Mark's car was pulled in and he had blown up the box again.
So it turned out that I had finished 3rd overall and 1st in the Super Touring Class. I don't care that only 5 cars finished, I finished in 1st place in Super Touring in the last CTCC race of the year and I get to brag all winter about how godlike the drive was and how I felt Senna coursing through my veins. At least it sounds better than I just outlasted everyone else.
Not bad for an old pig being dragged out of retirement. Now, the organizers have told us that they are open for us running the cars again next year in the full series, so after this weekend, I really have to work on the setup for the Conti slicks, eke out a few more horses and get the Quaife box put back together again. Oh yeah, there is that whole money thing to work out, lol.
One final note. Always check the fit of your new harness while you are in your full setup. I didn't and at the last minute realized that the crotch straps were Alto Soprano tight. Had to get my crewguy to cinch them up for me and even then it took him getting far to familiar with the wedding tackle. Then after the race I ended up with two abrasion blisters between my legs that made me walk like Yosemite Sam for a day. So as a public (pubic) service reminder, please check it all with your HNR on, it saves having to explain a series of small blisters in an area that maybe she feels, she should only be familiar with.
Eric
09-02-14, 04:54 PM
#6
Rotary Freak
Thread Starter
Some photos from the weekend. I will have more tomorrow. It was cool.
Look in a few of the shots, there were tons of people there.
I will try to download some video tomorrow.
Eric
Look in a few of the shots, there were tons of people there.
I will try to download some video tomorrow.
Eric
09-08-14, 08:30 AM
#7
Rotary Freak
Thread Starter
Finally have some video downloaded. Watch the video and see what its like to try to race on really old hockey pucks. Even at much slower cornering speeds than normal, you can see the car try to take a set, then give up and slide. It was a lot of fun to try and guess what it was going to do next. This is the super boring half of the race when I didn't have a car near me, so I spent my time trying to be a smooth and gentle as possible.
Also, I noticed afterwards that as I was showing my exasperation each lap as I passed in front of my crew guys, I was taking my hands off the steering wheel under full accel. No torque steer at all!!!! Those guys at Multimatic and Bill Mitchell must know their stuff after all.
Eric
Also, I noticed afterwards that as I was showing my exasperation each lap as I passed in front of my crew guys, I was taking my hands off the steering wheel under full accel. No torque steer at all!!!! Those guys at Multimatic and Bill Mitchell must know their stuff after all.
Eric
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