2018 SCCA Runoffs..Run to the Championship

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bertvorgon
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2018 SCCA Runoffs..Run to the Championship

Post by bertvorgon »

RUN TO THE SCCA CHAMPIONSHIP 2018

I asked Collin if he was excited…”No, not yet!” he said. As we put the front end onto the car I thought to myself, I am sure excited about this trip. This Mission test day went well with no issues at all, car sounded fabulous. Andy and Collin have basically re-built and checked EVERYTHING.

I must admit I see a bit of myself in Collin, the total focus required at this level of the sport. One cannot be worrying about the car, just the driving. With Andy’s impeccable pre-race preparation, it is an award winning team with the trophy’s to back it up.

In the Sports Car Club of America’s 55 year history of the Championship runoffs, NO ONE has done what Collin has achieved! Collin is the only one to go 4 for 4. Let us hope for 5 for 5. Collin is on the cover of the Sports Car Clubs magazine for this month.

Link to the magazine for reading.

http://www.sportscarmag-digital.com/spo ... 8?pg=1#pg1.

I will be heading down to Sonoma Raceway October 16th, a quick run down I-5, staying in Yreka the first night then hopefully getting to the track by noon on the Wednesday for the second round of qualifying in the afternoon. My plan is to document the trip, good and bad. Collin’s race is scheduled for the second last on Sunday, October 21. I have attached the race schedule. There may be like last at Indy, the streaming of the race, will let you know.

We do have some other Canadian’s running also, for you locals, Vance Swifts son, Kale Swift is running in E-Production, an RX7. Paul Bunbury is running his Honda Civic in GT-LITE. Also in GT-LITE will be Troy Ernish in his Datsun 510, Troy being favored to be on the podium. I do have an old friend from the 70’s Solo days running in SRF3, Glen Woloski, be fun to surprise him to say hi and good luck.

At the time of my writing this there are some 1,030 entrants. This is significant as a lot of competitors will be pitting in gravel and dust with the road to pre-grid being tough on tires. Collin has lucked out by having a friend with a garage at the track.

There will be some good competition for Collin this run, people he has run against in the past both in NASPORT and GT-3. Mike Lewis is one and is also running in GT-1, the GT races I am really looking forward to watching. Both Collin and Mike know the track well, so each driver will be focusing on what their car does best. That is how I used to tackle my Solo events…what does MY car do well and concentrate on that.

My family gave me a new, MODERN electronic device last Christmas, a Samsung Tablet, so I should be able to update daily to our 510 site. Not sure about pictures though, will try a test later today to see if I can downsize pictures when taken with tablet. I will need to download a resize tool.

I plan to return to Vancouver by doing most of the Coast Highway. I have spent the last month putting new tires on the G35, brake check, some great driving music, waxed it twice and just generally made sure it is good to go for some 3,000 Km of driving.

ROAD TRIP!
Attachments
Schedule (Large).jpg
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Sonoma Map.JPG
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GT-3 Grid.JPG
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Last edited by bertvorgon on 07 Oct 2018 13:43, edited 1 time in total.
"Racing makes heroin addiction look like a vague wish for something salty" - Peter Egan

Keith Law
1973 2 Door Slalom/hill climb/road race / canyon carver /Giant Killer 510
1971 Vintage 13' BOLER trailer
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bertvorgon
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Re: 2018 SCCA Runoffs..Run to the Championship

Post by bertvorgon »

More from Mission test day
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"Racing makes heroin addiction look like a vague wish for something salty" - Peter Egan

Keith Law
1973 2 Door Slalom/hill climb/road race / canyon carver /Giant Killer 510
1971 Vintage 13' BOLER trailer
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bertvorgon
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Re: 2018 SCCA Runoffs..Run to the Championship

Post by bertvorgon »

From my camera,

The RX7 guys years ago complained that the 240's were too fast, so they got a weight penalty and a restrictor for the engine, I think 32MM. Even with that Andy has gotten 300+ Hp from the KA
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Engine restrictor
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"Racing makes heroin addiction look like a vague wish for something salty" - Peter Egan

Keith Law
1973 2 Door Slalom/hill climb/road race / canyon carver /Giant Killer 510
1971 Vintage 13' BOLER trailer
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icehouse
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Re: 2018 SCCA Runoffs..Run to the Championship

Post by icehouse »

So rad!
"People don't like it when shit doesn't match their rule of thumb." Sam
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duke
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Re: 2018 SCCA Runoffs..Run to the Championship

Post by duke »

I might be traveling on the weekend, but I would really like to make it down there for at least a half day during the week. It would be great to meet you in person Keith (maybe get some more of your speed secrets out!) and be able to watch some of the qualifying action.
Duke Schimmer

'72 2-Door 510
"Simplify and add lightness."
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bertvorgon
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Re: 2018 SCCA Runoffs..Run to the Championship

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That would be really nice! Are you far from the track? We will be staying in San Rafael.

Yes, I am looking forward to the Thursday Qualifying sessions.
"Racing makes heroin addiction look like a vague wish for something salty" - Peter Egan

Keith Law
1973 2 Door Slalom/hill climb/road race / canyon carver /Giant Killer 510
1971 Vintage 13' BOLER trailer
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duke
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Re: 2018 SCCA Runoffs..Run to the Championship

Post by duke »

I'm about 35-45 minutes from Sears Point depending on traffic. I'm going to plan on taking a half day on Thursday and hopefully being able to catch some of the qualifying!
Duke Schimmer

'72 2-Door 510
"Simplify and add lightness."
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Re: 2018 SCCA Runoffs..Run to the Championship

Post by Danthewire »

Keep us posted Keith, I still love my racing. Just not the work that goes with it.
Interesting wear pattern on those front tires.....
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bertvorgon
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Re: 2018 SCCA Runoffs..Run to the Championship

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Very observant...my lips are sealed.

Now back to re-building one of my vintage stoves, my wife is happy I have not blown up the basement...YET.
"Racing makes heroin addiction look like a vague wish for something salty" - Peter Egan

Keith Law
1973 2 Door Slalom/hill climb/road race / canyon carver /Giant Killer 510
1971 Vintage 13' BOLER trailer
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bertvorgon
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Re: 2018 SCCA Runoffs..Run to the Championship

Post by bertvorgon »

So, here we go for first race report.

Collin did two days of practice, four sessions per day. It was a flip-flop between him and Mike Lewis for fast time. There we some minor issues that cropped up but nothing that was not easily dealt with by Andy who is down there now.

Collin's time, with his RACE setting, is 1:41:357
Mikes time, with his QUALIFYING setting, is 1:41:584

This is ok for Collin as he is good with his race setting, whereas Mike would not be able to sustain that pace in qualifying mode.

Regardless this will be a barn burner of a race. Today was spent as a pre-race look over on the car. First qualifying session is tomorrow.

I hope to be there by Wednesdays afternoon qualifying session late in the afternoon.

I am hitting the border at 5:00 AM tomorrow and hoping to make it to Yreka, Ca.. Then up early wednesday for the last 5 hour drive to the track. Tacey and Collin's mom are landing at the airport in early afternoon, so we should all hit the pits around the same time.

To be continued......
"Racing makes heroin addiction look like a vague wish for something salty" - Peter Egan

Keith Law
1973 2 Door Slalom/hill climb/road race / canyon carver /Giant Killer 510
1971 Vintage 13' BOLER trailer
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gooned
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Re: 2018 SCCA Runoffs..Run to the Championship

Post by gooned »

Safe trip Keith!
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bertvorgon
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Re: 2018 SCCA Runoffs..Run to the Championship

Post by bertvorgon »

I am in Redding, California, it is 30C out right now! 12 hours to get here including half hour picnic, fuel stop and 2 leg stretches.

As the great rolling river that is the I-5, I cannot believe what I encountered with traffic, beyond insane. Back ups that went for 20 miles, 4 lanes wide and stopped. At least it was opposite me, i got caught in Seattle traffic and then the bridge was up in Portland, you should have seen the north Bound line up for that. One massive multi car that had a line up behind it as far as the eye could see.

Car ran great, cruised at 120 to 130 when I could, got 706 km to the first tank of fuel.

The semi traffic just boggles the mind too and most are just booking it too.

I will be up at the crack of and head to the track, maybe 4 hours away, have to check Google after this post.

Stay tuned.
"Racing makes heroin addiction look like a vague wish for something salty" - Peter Egan

Keith Law
1973 2 Door Slalom/hill climb/road race / canyon carver /Giant Killer 510
1971 Vintage 13' BOLER trailer
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bertvorgon
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Re: 2018 SCCA Runoffs..Run to the Championship

Post by bertvorgon »

What a day! Up at 5 hit the road at 7.

Impressions:
Cruise control is good after 1,400 km.
These boys know how to farm
Said farming puts a lot of dust and particles in the air, could not believe how much in some places.
Performance tires are crap for noise on some of the crazy road surfaces, of which are many and varied, from smooth to totally screwed. Some surfaces made the inside of my car insanely noisy.
The semi truck traffic is just an unending stream, carrying who knows what for our bellies and stuff from off shore to find a home in our garages after a few months after they die.
We have no sense of what real traffic is during rush hour in Vancouver.
Having good tunes is really important as U.S radio sucks and country and western is still the worst music ever created.
The Ford F150 is king of the road and they drive fast.
Food in America comes from McDonalds, burger king, and a host of other fast food places.
California is DRY, saw the big fire around Shasta, crazy what it burnt.
My car loves the open road..........
"Racing makes heroin addiction look like a vague wish for something salty" - Peter Egan

Keith Law
1973 2 Door Slalom/hill climb/road race / canyon carver /Giant Killer 510
1971 Vintage 13' BOLER trailer
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bertvorgon
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Re: 2018 SCCA Runoffs..Run to the Championship

Post by bertvorgon »

Arrived at Sonoma at 10:30, the sound of race engines at full screaming song! The history here is not lost on me, I was boggled. I had to park a long way from where Collin had his garage, taking me to hiking and then the shuttle.
The gang was prepping the car for next qualifying. You would not believe what is in the garages here, race cars, antique cars, Formula 1 cars, world class fabricators, drag cars, go-carts, and just plain cool shit!
Collin was .96 behind Mike Lewis after this qualifying round. He felt the car was just a bit too loose, did not feel like it wanted to take a good "set". So, more wing was put in, tire pressure lowered a tad, we reviewed the video many times for the forensic analiysis. We will see how tomorrow goes. Collin feels ok at this point as the race is what matters.
Laying on the floor now, everyone gone to bed, it 10:30 as I finish this. Try to get some pictures loaded tomorrow am as I have to downsize them.
"Racing makes heroin addiction look like a vague wish for something salty" - Peter Egan

Keith Law
1973 2 Door Slalom/hill climb/road race / canyon carver /Giant Killer 510
1971 Vintage 13' BOLER trailer
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icehouse
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Re: 2018 SCCA Runoffs..Run to the Championship

Post by icehouse »

Can we live stream it like last year?
"People don't like it when shit doesn't match their rule of thumb." Sam
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