Region: NASA GL - SCCA Stl Cities
Car #: 32
Year : 1990 Posts: 276
Status: Offline
posted
NASA put on another awesome event for Spec Miata racers. This weekend was absolutely perfect weather and the racing was close and clean. A big thanks to all SM drivers for a completely clean race on Sunday and an almost clean race on Saturday. With 27 cars in the field, I think that is a great accomplishment.
Mark Bennett, in his Race Engineering powered SM, preatty much dominated the time sheets. He qualified on the pole both days and won both races handily. It is obvious that the rest of us have a little more work to do to catch Mark. Last years OH/IN Nasa Champ, Dennis Joynt, in his Winning Formula SM, took 2nd place both days.
Some other drivers who really picked it up this weekend are: Rick Deerwester, Eric Meyer, Dave Watts. These guys all had personal best lap times this weekend and will be contenders this year.
-------------------- --------------- Greg Stasiowski #32 SM
Qik Nip
Loose Member '09 & '10 Great Lakes Regional Points Champion
Region: Cincinnati Great Lakes
Car #: 60
Year : 1990 Posts: 1487
Status: Offline
posted
Greg: Thanks for the compliment. It was great fun dicing with you yesterday. I only wish that the Honda's could have stayed out of trouble so that we would have run a few more hot race laps. Rick
-------------------- Fortune Cookie Racing SM 60 Directions for use: Race, Rumple, Repair ... Repeat!
Region: OVR
Car #: 88
Year : 1991 Posts: 2401
Status: Offline
posted
Spectacular weekend. Team D-Squared Racing (Deb and Denny) had a flippin blast. NASA did an awesome job conducting the event. Only thing that could make it better would be a SM only group (I can dream, can't I?) Bennett turned a 1:43.496 in qualifying. Does anyone know if that's a pro-course track record? GreatLakes website's pdf file for records won't open.
Anywho, great to see all our buds, and great to be back in the car and racing after a long miserable winter.
Bravo NASA! I must say that the relaxed atmosphere yet structured schedule made for a smooth event. The great weather did not hurt either! Thanks to Greg for being the Series Director and Shane for being Tech Guru.
I had a great time on track. It was amazing how much I learned about the car and the track after 3 years. If you want to know the definition of "bad push" or "massive understeer" look for some video of Slattery from Saturday. I've seen school buses turn sharper.
I was great seeing all the old faces, and learning a few new ones. I plan on making most, in not all, the Mid-Ohio NASA events. And I am thinking about Grattan later this year...
Region: NeOhio
Car #: 26, 27 or 29
Year : 2001 Posts: 720
Status: Offline
posted
quote:Originally posted by d mathias: Bennett turned a 1:43.496 in qualifying. Does anyone know if that's a pro-course track record? GreatLakes website's pdf file for records won't open.
Denny
Denny,
1:44.7 (Tony Coello) was the best lap time on the Pro course from the Pro-Miata Cup years.
-------------------- Danny Puskar (push-car) Carbotech Performance Brakes 4031 Dearborn Place N.W. Concord, NC 28027 877-899-5024 danny@ctbrakes.com http://www.ctbrakes.com
Region: NeOhio
Car #: 26, 27 or 29
Year : 2001 Posts: 720
Status: Offline
posted
I would agree. That was part of what I meant when I said the right conditions! There also needs to be a third car of almost equal speed, that might be you slim!!!
-------------------- Danny Puskar (push-car) Carbotech Performance Brakes 4031 Dearborn Place N.W. Concord, NC 28027 877-899-5024 danny@ctbrakes.com http://www.ctbrakes.com
Region: neohio
Car #: #50
Year : 91 Posts: 265
Status: Offline
posted
quote:Originally posted by CarbotechDanny: If Mellman ran a 1:44.7 then Bennett's 1:43.4 is believable. That makes me think someone can run a 1:42.9 in the right conditions!
Alright, Mark Bennett holds the new Mid-Ohio track record on the Pro-course at a 1:44.1 for Spec Miata. Correct? Congrats Mark!
Hey Danny, I thought I was the smart a$$! Mark ran 1.43xx in practice on a different surface he hasn't run on before...1.42xx is possible! Howard
-------------------- Never argue with an idiot, they drag you down to their level then beat you with experience!
A cool sunny day, a draft/tailwind, and a Pro-built car with a Pro driver, and 41s are in the bag!
I must say, NASA ran a *topnotch* event.
I hate roo-rah website commercialism, but for anyone that actually cares, it is certainly true that Race Engineering motors, Backstreet Performance Dynojet tuning, Carbotech brake pads, and SafeRacer are a big part of my race program.
Congratulations to Waldo Watts for raising his game at Mid Ohio and entering his FIFTH season on ORIGINAL PAINT AND SHEETMETAL. (And original everything else that hasn't broken or fallen off)
-------------------- Visit the Midland City Arts Festival!
quote:Originally posted by MBennett: Congratulations to Waldo Watts for raising his game at Mid Ohio and entering his FIFTH season on ORIGINAL PAINT AND SHEETMETAL. (And original everything else that hasn't broken or fallen off)
I would have had my original motor in it if it wasn't for you blowing it up Mark!! (I guess I should thank you, huh?)
I really appriciated Mellman's comment of "How can you be a second and a half faster than me in THAT thing!?" Hint: CRX's make GREAT drafting partners (see picture): THANKS TO MARKUS
Region: Detroit
Car #: 6
Year : 1990 1.6 Posts: 425
Status: Offline
posted
Hello Mr B, is the surface repaved AGAIN after last year when we raced? If comparing my times from last fall, I would have been better served staying at home working on needlepoint.....needle point I hear is pretty boring.
-------------------- "To punish me for my contempt for authority, fate made me an authority myself"
quote:Originally posted by MBennett: Were you trying to draft it, or park inside it?
I was going to use it as a brake for turn 1!
quote:Originally posted by steveracer: If comparing my times from last fall, I would have been better served staying at home working on needlepoint.....
Take into consideration that this was the "Pro" course without the Bus Stop. Since I was there last, the inside curbs were ground down and the Keyhole was ground down on the inside line (or paved?).
Region: Detroit
Car #: 6
Year : 1990 1.6 Posts: 425
Status: Offline
posted
Hi David, the course was modified already for the race there last fall, and we were more than 2 seconds a lap slower running at the front. That was the Pro course, but maybe they repaved it again.
My needlepoint has improved immensley with coated lightweight needles and expensive blueprinted textiles!
-------------------- "To punish me for my contempt for authority, fate made me an authority myself"
Region: NeOhio
Car #: 26, 27 or 29
Year : 2001 Posts: 720
Status: Offline
posted
quote:Originally posted by nohairracing:
quote:Originally posted by CarbotechDanny: If Mellman ran a 1:44.7 then Bennett's 1:43.4 is believable. That makes me think someone can run a 1:42.9 in the right conditions!
Alright, Mark Bennett holds the new Mid-Ohio track record on the Pro-course at a 1:44.1 for Spec Miata. Correct? Congrats Mark!
Hey Danny, I thought I was the smart a$$! Mark ran 1.43xx in practice on a different surface he hasn't run on before...1.42xx is possible! Howard
Don't worry Howard, everybody knows you are!!!
Nice racing Watts, and don't take any crap from Bennett. Bennett has been trying to hold you back for years (remember the Runoffs side slap?). Wasn't Bennett the one who blew up your motor???
-------------------- Danny Puskar (push-car) Carbotech Performance Brakes 4031 Dearborn Place N.W. Concord, NC 28027 877-899-5024 danny@ctbrakes.com http://www.ctbrakes.com
Region: Detroit
Car #: 6
Year : 1990 1.6 Posts: 425
Status: Offline
posted
The fruits of our labor are the love of apples and oranges together, so say the Omared wise one. Apples today and Oranges tomorrow yield dessert without toppings.
Fast Times at Mid Ohi were laid down by Niki a few years back, but I believe the surface was the old apple, or was it the orange. Some call it Lemon, but who am I to ponder the existance ot the Nosaj tree that grew far from the gravitational path of the parsed fruit.
It is raining today, maybe even at MO, so therefore would you not say the sky is falling yourself?
Erstwhile question remains unanswered.
-------------------- "To punish me for my contempt for authority, fate made me an authority myself"
quote:Originally posted by steveracer: My needlepoint has improved immensley with coated lightweight needles and expensive blueprinted textiles!
Steve, Steve, Steve...while you may not be breaking any SPECIFIC rule, you are not following the "intent" of the needlepoint hobby. If you like to use modified or suped-up equipment, maybe cross-stitching is more your style. We will file protest paperwork at the annual Quilt-Offs (TM) if you show up with such.
quote:Originally posted by CarbotechDanny: Watts, and don't take any crap from Bennett. Bennett has been trying to hold you back for years (remember the Runoffs side slap?). Wasn't Bennett the one who blew up your motor???
Don't I know it! That side-slap was AFTER I radio'ed him to tell him it was clear. He obviously sees me as a threat.
I like oranges better than apples. What were we talking about?
I want to thank NASA (Dave)and everyone else who attended the Mid-Ohio race.. I had a great time .. Special thanks to Mike W. of the "Winning Formula" for turning/tuning a 2352lbs. 114hp sm into a competative car. To quote Mr. Bennett.. "Lap times, Shmap times" .. if I recall you cant win a race with "ONE" fast lap..
Thank You Steve.. After last weekend .. on my own telemetry I was fortunate enough to turn a 1:44.1 ( different Stop/Start than the tracks ) to dip into the 1:43's I am considering a Pro Motor to replace my stocker .. any thoughts fellas .. I would have to say .. If Mr. Bennett and the Dear Mr. Schultz are running the Race Engineering Motors .. Im leaning heavey that way ..
Region: Detroit
Car #: 6
Year : 1990 1.6 Posts: 425
Status: Offline
posted
quote:Originally posted by DJoynt: ...running the Race Engineering Motors .. Im leaning heavey that way ..
Which side of your pants do you carry your wallet? I would have to formulate an opinion that you are leaning VERY heavily to that side at this time if you can afford one of those things
-------------------- "To punish me for my contempt for authority, fate made me an authority myself"
My question .. Money aside .. if I purchase a Race Engineering "Pro Motor" ..Do I get the same quality and performance as Mr. Bennetts Power Plant.. I understand that there is always some variances to any built performance motor, but how big is the gap between a "Pro Motor" for the purchasing public and the "Ultra Pro Motor" that simply is not for sale..
Mr. Thorton .. Thanks for your reply . We all know that there are several Motor Builders to choose from. As a business owner myself unerstanding quality and service. Based on your proven quality and equally important, the racers (Mr. M. Bennett / Mr. G. Schultz)you have chosen to represent your company is why I will choose a Race Engineering Motor.
Region: neohio
Car #: #50
Year : 91 Posts: 265
Status: Offline
posted
Dennis, I'm sure all the motor builders build a fine product but Bob goes that extra yard to help after the sale. I run his motor too! PM me if you want more details. Howard
-------------------- Never argue with an idiot, they drag you down to their level then beat you with experience!
I have heard too many horror stories of customers shelling out 7k and getting a motor that has only 116 or 117 Hp and is unreliable. I have heard ONLY RAVE replies from Race Engineering customers. How many Hp's can be expected from a Race Engineering Pro Motor. with Mike W. of "WINNING FORMULA" tuning the car, adding a few more ponies from my current 114hp seems to be my next step to being competitive across the board.
Region: neohio
Car #: #50
Year : 91 Posts: 265
Status: Offline
posted
I'd be willing to bet most "pro motors" come to you at about the same HP. You have to tune on a dyno to get the full potential from the motor. Change timing, change exhaust,change plugs, different brand gas, etc... In my experience my RE motor make hp/tq before my old "pro motors". Just my .02 Howard "Only one yard tall"
-------------------- Never argue with an idiot, they drag you down to their level then beat you with experience!