RX7s dominate NASA TTU class (and I set a track record :D)
 

Congratulations to Brian Evans(NorCal), and Damian Delahuerta(sp) (midwest region) for winning the TTU championships in NASAs newest class.
I also run TTU in Norcal, but got a late start this year, competing in just three events. I did however this last weekend win 1st place both days competing against Brian, and setting a new track record for all time trial classes of 1:58.4 at ThunderHill Raceway I was the third fastest car all weekend(IIRC) for allclasses, with two super unlimited cars besting my times. the two cars were a current Panos GT2 car on slicks, and a fully road course prepped NASCAR car. Unfortunately I may have cracked my rear iron, but we shall see. Anyway, if your in norcal, and yo want to trackyour 7 at a high level, this is a great way to do it. Carl

Congrats, Carl. What times were the two faster cars turning?

Panos was ~1:53.5, and the Nascar guy was 1:55.3 (both SU), then AIX cars in the 1:59 range for the fastest cars. The stock car was down to ~2500lbs roughly. Of course they had 4-5 guys, and a complete shop with them, I had my 7, and 9 year old boys(-1 sec for chasing each one around the paddock), and my dear wife helping as she could. I've got alot to do this winter if I hope to compete in SU next year, otherwise, if $$$ is tight, I will stay in TTU. Most likely I'll do a mix. The car that dominates SU is a FACTORY sponsored Porshe TT, I'll have to look, and see what times he turns. I need to continue to work on reliability, I am no where near the cars limit yet. I can totallly screw up a corner, and the car still makes me look good ;)

Way to go Carl. IS that porsche the yellow and purple one, I remember that car up there.

Congrats.

I might go to Sears Point next year for a NASA HPDE, I'll be storing my 1st gen 30 minutes from Sears next year.

Later,

Brad

Congrats on the kickass time Carl! That is hauling ass especially still sorting out the car.

The 1:55 in the NASCAR was my buddy Chris Strom in SU. He is pretty damn fast.... his car is closer to 3000lbs without driver and has a crate ZZ4 350 in it making about 420 flywheel hp.

Congrats again... very very fast!

#28? When I mentioned my car was 2900 wet, he said they were ~200 less than me w/driver. Nice guy. They were 2003 enduro champs, same guy?

Not sure Brad, there are alot of PRC guys in SU. I haven't paid too much attention to them with the new car, and instructing. The FD I beat by 3 seconds ran a 1:48 at Sears last event(I was at BW), Can't wait to go back there...
I am pretty sure I cracked my rear iron(un-identified rear oil leak), 18lbs of boost on S4 irons for 20 minutes at 6500-8200rpm must have been it LOL
I am having cooling issues now that I am starting to get faster, i may have to turn it down a bit. Hope not.

Carl,
Nice to finally meet you face to face. sorry, about the engine problems, but if it turns out to be cracked near the oil filter pedestial then it was likely detonation. You may or may not hear it but even a minor event can break that area of the rear steel. Happened to me on the first lap of my original turbo car. I never heard it but had a bad leak right near where the stock oil filter goes. engine should hold the boost if there is no detonation. good luck and here's hoping it is just and o-ring on the filter pedestial.

Thanks Tim, it was nice to finally meet you as well. The car boosts fine, but was leaking at a pretty good rate, Also, the car overheated after only 1.5 laps. I have the underdrive pulley, and was fine for the two prior twenty minute sessions at the same boost. not sure why it overheated so quickly. Maybe the water was low, the tem guage was jumping all over before it went 240 plus... seemed like air then water then air possibly. I may rebuild the motor regardless, it has never been apart since I owned it, I do not even know if it is ported. I overheated about four times this season, and I'd rather build it now, than in the middle of the season. A large street port will let me make more power at a lower boost, maybe enough to correct the problem. I also need to learn to shift a little sooner, and keep the revs down. Does the water pump cavitate at 7000-8500 even with the under drive pulley? I think I spent half my track time over 6500 rpm. Thanks, Carl

Congrats again, Carl.

I was checking out the NASA time trial website and can't seem to find any schedule posted for 2006. It's probably not avialable yet but I thought I'd ask if you know the schedule.

I'd like to see how many events I can make next season.

good job
 

Great going Carl!! way to smoke it on the west coast!! Would love to drive some of those tracks in the future. I think I am going to the Rolex 24 at Daytona this year as a spectator, anyone else going? Jim

Carl,

Your car looked fast again; Tims- you too. That thing sounds wicked.

Our weekend was good.
Finished 2nd in the race Saturday after blowing the start, 16th overall 7th in class in the enduro Saturday night, then won the Pro7 class Sunday. (Thanks speedtoys.com :D )


Marcus

man you guys are lucky to have such nice tracks, and people close. Very few here want to hit the tracks, which are 4+hours away. Congrats to all you guys

if you guys have any videos, please post, It would be nice to see some 7 racing

Congrats to you both, Carl and Marcus. Hopefully I'll have some good news by the end of the month, too. :)

Congrats Carl, I new you could be the fastest in that car.
Did you run on those same bias-ply take-offs you've been using?

Also, how are your brakes holding up? You are still using the stock calipers and rotors, correct?

Carl,
with the underdrive pulleys the water pump will be fine even over 9000rpm. Like I said before sounds like the engine broke. The spike in temps could be caused by exhaust gas getting by the side, corner, or apex seals(usually causes oil to be hotter than the water). Check the compression and find the source of the oil leak.

Turbo23,
4 hours doesn't sound bad I had to tow 8 hours each way to get to Thunderhill. Usually I can get to the local tracks in under 3 hours, so 4 doesn't sound to bad.

Marcus,
I finished just ahead of you in the enduro in 15th overall 2nd in class. I had a 5 minute penalty for some spilt gas by the crew, so I lost 3 laps or so to the field. I had a great time but I could not come close to Carls time. Best I could do was a 2:10 on my 31st lap ever at thunderhill. the engine was losing power towards the end of the race, so looks like I will be trying my hand at engine rebuilding this year.

Hey Dave, take offs, and stock brakes. And three pairs of underwear;) I think I broke the motor, so I have alot to do before next year. I'd say I can drop it another 3 seconds before I need bigger brakes, 5 seconds with brakes, and a wing that isn't tearing off the rear sheet metal... I came off after the last session, and the mounting bolts were tearing through the sheet metal on the back of the car LOL. Time for a bigger wing tied into the frame. I am losing 1-2 seconds going up to 9, 2 in 10, 1 in 14, 2 in 1, and 1.5 in 3-4-5. The speeds are pretty scary considering my brakes. 6500rpm in 5th going into 1 I think.

I was there too. :)
 

But I was in HPDE group 3, car #20, blue/white stripe Pro7.

I found Marcus, didn't know you were there too Carl.

Even though I don't frequent this board as much as I should, I'd like to put faces to names, and check out some cars.

Congrats on the driving to all of you.

Some day I'll be out there racing.

-Todd

I am in the blue #77 widebody TII. Blue G Force suit. Pics on the NASA TT picture pages of me with the umbrella girls :), car pics every where ;)

Tims- I'm surprised! your car was flying. We had a 5 minute penalty also; very slight fuel spill. Overall, I must say I was very dissappointed with the NASA officials. Larry gave me no end of the grief for my fuel jugs, and then Donnie for the fuel spill. They never even told us we had a penalty, until they black flagged our car for it. I guess I'm used to SCCA where they tell you things before hand.
The fuel jug rule is ridiculous. My fuel jugs have a full mark at 5 gallons, and they still deemed them illegal... Sure, I could have filled them to 5.5, but not poured fuel at that level. very dissatisfied at that part. I'm searching for some Scribner jugs right now.
Chris, Thanks!
Marcus

Todd, come out and join us! Its was great seeing you again, and as I told you at the track,finding those last couple seconds only happened when I started racing. I was around cars similar to my own, lap after lap. Next time we are at the track together, we can see if they'll let us do a bit of lead-follow, if you think that will help?
Or, think of doing the SCCA school. three days racing, half hour on, half hour off.

Marcus

results are posted here:
http://www.mylaps.com/results/showevent.jsp?id=106485

Marcus,
That fuel jug issue has come up before. I guess some enterprising folks at last years(or maybe 03) 25 hours race used the oversized jugs and people complained. I don't think there was an official protest but at the first enduro this year everyone was warned that the oversized jugs were not going to be allowed. I run ES so I don't follow all the happenings with regard to fueling. Larry and his boys gave us a hard time during tech inspection so I understand your frustration with him and his crew. I have little to no problems running with the socal boys. They seem to understand the idea of amatuer club racing. I hope to see everyone next year at all the enduro races, except maybe the 25 hour race.

right on carl!!

when do i get a ride???