23Racer

I know that this isn't RX7 related, but the owner of the Cobra R that I race in enduros out west has entered it in the Speed GT race at Portland this weekend. The car is 300 lbs heavy and a little down on power to the front running cars (it only makes about 600 hp), but Tim Brown (the owner) really knows Portland well and is bullet fast in the car. Another concern is that the spec size Toyo RA1 tires barely fit and he may be forced to run a smaller front and rear tire combo.

The team hopes to be very competitive, even though the car is really an enduro car and required the SCCA to give Tim a bunch of one race tech waivers to allow the car to be in the race. Take some time and watch the race. I hope it comes out unscathed as we are scheduled to run the Portland 8 Hour enduro in October (fingers and toes crossed). If it doesn't, I hope to at least see an exciting race.

RacerJason

iTrader: (5)

We always put on a grea show Okay, Infineon had it's quiet moments...

Snrub

iTrader: (1)

Just to be clear, you're not driving the Cobra R, correct?

Isn't there a rule in World Challange that you cannot race a car beyond 4 years after it's model year?

TYSON

You can race older cars in a limited number of races during a season.

23Racer

No, I am not driving the car, the owner is. I do have the opportunity to drive the car as a second driver in longer enduros and in some regional sprint races out west. I have been lucky enough to have raced the car for over 4 years. My next sheduled race is the Portand 8 Hour in October, however if my scedule allows and Tim's race weekends work out there may be another race sooner. Just wanted people who wonder about the Cobra R to see the only real racing Cobra R race on TV.

There are some age limits in the Speed Series, Jason step in now, but you can run older cars. I believe it is four or five years after the body style is out of production and this style car has only been out of production for 1 year. They also grandfather cars with reduced points or no points with a maximum number of races per year. This is why you can still see some mid-80's Porsche 928s still running from time to time.

Remember Speed is first and foremost a show. If you can show up with an interesting car that helps with the "show" the SCCA will help you out as long as you don't severely impact the title chase.

RacerJason

iTrader: (5)

"show"? Ouch... I watch Papis, Lidell, Pilgrim et al get out of the cars at the end of a race and I deal with the crews along pit lane and let me tell you this is no show to them. They're out there going for it. We are out there to race and if great tv comes out of it then all the better.

4-5 years is correct I believe. We've made exception once or twice for teams that are enthusiastic to only run their local event.

Feds

Damn, there goes my plan of punting off the leaders with my '86 cutlass supreme dirt tracker!

23Racer

Jason, I meant no slag on the Speed Series. When I talk about the "Show" I refer to any series that uses competition adjustments to continually equalize the field. The Speed series is the best racing series out there today with a great blend of technology and some of the best drivers anywhere. You know that to have a successful series with disparate vehicles, rulesmakers have to use artifical means to continually balance the field.

Speed doesn't have a pure vehicle formula that allows unbridled technology advancements, (which doesn't lend itself to anything but outrageous budgets, slim fields and no racing). I like it just the way it is and in fact it is the only series that I faithfully watch all the races, on tape or live.

Keep up the great work and let Papis, Giglotti, Henzler, et all, continue to wring the necks of their beasts in vehicular "Titanic Battles", hey I channeled a bit of old Murray Walker. 2 thumbs up for the Speed Series.

Jamie, your Olds could win a race. All of the other cars would be scared of getting cooties if they got too close.

Snrub

iTrader: (1)

Do you think they'd make an exception for a FD or TII or massively modified FB (think more along the lines of GT3) for a one off or is there some sort of political connection that allows the one off guys to run?

I realize we don't see Cobra Rs on TV, but aren't most of them raced as that's really what it was intended for?

If you really want to channel some of that old Murray Walker you need to convey the senality of "Look how slow that car is going over the curbs!" "Ummm..that's a slow motion replay Murray..."

23Racer

There was an FD racing up until 2 years ago and I believe it would be grandfathered in to toays series if you wanted to run it. It was the Pettit Car run by a guy out of Toronto. It was not able to generate the torque needed to run up front and the team really didn't know all the tricks to make the car run really well.
The car is now in Belgium running in the Belcar series.

A heavily modified FB would not be allowed as it is too old and doesn't fit the concept of the series.

As to the Cobra R, Ford only made 200 of them and only 4 came into Canada and Tim Brown owns 2 of them. There are only 2 being actually raced anywhere in the world. The Brown Bros. Cobra R and another one in New Zealand that Tim communicates with a lot as between them they are forced to engineer all of there own upgrade parts. For an example the headers were very difficult as there aren't any off the shelf items. The headers have to wind through the suspension control arms and supports. They are a work of art. Actually Tim's Cobra R is very heavily modified with redesigned suspension geometry, a fully done motor and tons of carbon pieces. The driver has been set back about 8 inches, a'la Cadillac, to move weight back. All of this were in search of reducing the enormous front weight bias of the stock Cobra R. The car has been featured as a cover car in a couple of Ford/Mustang mags.

All of the other cars are very stock and used primarily for lapping days or stuck in garages somewhere appreciating in value.