Region: SE
Car #: 39
Year : 1999 Posts: 835
Status: Offline
posted
Wow 53 cars here for the double SARRC and PROIT race. Looks like the Runoffs Lite
Qualifying was intense
Buras 1.47.895 Brown 1.47.972 Charbonneau 1.48.165 Steyn 1.48.298 Labounty 1.48.584 Sparks 1.48.740 Tucker 1.48.817 Drago 1.48 927 Bize 1,49.999 and then another 11 drivers under 1.50 - WOW
Region: SE
Car #: 39
Year : 1999 Posts: 835
Status: Offline
posted
Buras had a great race, first with Cliffie Brown and then with Jeffy Labounty. Was fun to watch. Todd just kept hitting his marks and stayed a couple of car lengths ahead for the entire race.
Region: SE
Car #: 39
Year : 1999 Posts: 835
Status: Offline
posted
quote:Originally posted by Gatoratty: What happened with your DNF?
This race was to just check out he work we did to the car after the Watkins Glen shunt. Car seems to be good. Started from the back to avoid any contact (maybe not such bright idea in retrospect) and ran 5 laps until I lost 3rd gear.
Bolanos also started from the back and moved all the way up to 9th spot - one hell of a drive.
Region: CFR
Car #: 97
Year : 1990/99 Posts: 788
Status: Offline
posted
Many of us broke transmissions in the race; including Danny. Mine broke when the green flag came out! There were 5 transmissions that failed in the race which might be an all time high. Although that was the least of my problems as my weekend started by hitting the wall on the out lap of the test day. Not one of my better moments but it did provide a lot of entertainment for the others. Besides tearing the wall up, pancaking the side of my car, blowing out both taillights, sending my windshield wipers over the fence, breaking my motor mounts, and not being able to turn my head to the right it has been fun up here.
-------------------- 2010 ARRC Champion 2010 CFR Champion 2010 instigator of the year 2010/2011 Andrew Von C Wingman
Region: Gulf Coast
Car #: 12
Year : 1999 Posts: 10
Status: Offline
posted
Great weekend! Clean racing.
+1 on the extra tranny.
Also, I found a few puddles of bright green coolant scattered around the paddock and a spot on grid. I don't believe it came from a Miata but we should all keep an eye out for that to prevent possible accidents.
-------------------- 2009 TMC East coast Champion. Spec Miata-http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zA_Dt-omsbc
Got back a little while ago. Gotta say hats off to the SM group... LOTS of great racing with very little contact. Good, hard, clean racing. You guys really put on a show, thanks!
-------------------- All this has happened before, and will happen again
Region: SE
Car #: 39
Year : 1999 Posts: 835
Status: Offline
posted
Sunday - ProIT
Cliffie Brown, Jamie and myself were out on Hoosiers. Lovely for this track. Buras was on RA-1's. I started on inside of front row and led the field for the first few corners, then Charbonneau (in ITS Miata) and Matt Reppert (ITS BMW) got by. I was able to hang with them for the first ten laps as Charbonneau's car was handling badly and slowing Matt in the corners allowing me to catch. Cliffie and Todd had their hands full with David Kim in the ITS 240Z, and that allowed me to gap them.
Charbonneau's throttle cable came off and allowed Matt past and he opened a 5 second lead on me. I finished 2nd, Todd 3rd and Cliffie 4th.
Very happy with the car - seems to be good for the Runoffs - was able to break my ISM lap record set last year - ran a 1.47.385 (more than .5 second under the previous record)
Congrats to Tom, Ryan and Mike and the entire OPM team for the excellent work in getting this car back to the form we are used to.
Sunday - SARRC
Back on Ra-1s for the SARRC's. I qualified on pole with a 1.47.893. Cliffie 2nd, Todd 3rd, Nathan Sparks 4th, Jeffy 5th, Alex B 6th, Jamie 7th, Andrew (in his spare SM) 8th, Chris Topping 9th, Skip Brock 10th. Mike Cottrell 11th - TOP 11 Cars within 1 second!!! For some reason no qualifying time for Drago in his spare car (or Pat Sandlin for tht matter). Mark Pombo was breaking in a new engine and motored around in 28th place (that has to be a first!!)
At the start Cliffie got past into turn 1, and led the first three laps, then Buras got past me into 2nd place and made the pass on Cliffie in the hairpin. Todd led Cliffie, me and then a bit further behind Alex, Jeffy, Nathan and Jamie were scrapping it out.
Todd was really under control, but Cliffie was sliding like a wildman, and that allowed Alex to close on us. Alex passed me and had a great race with Cliffie for several laps. I hung back out of trouble and watched the fun times ahead. Todd was opening a good gap on Alex and Cliffie. Eventually Alex got by and started opening a gap over Cliffie.
Behind us Jeffy, Nathan and Jamie closed fast and got by me. Never been happier to finish 6th!
Apart from the trannie, car is good to go.
As to the weekend, what a tremendous field with over 53 SM cars entered. Todd Buras was the class of the field winning both SARRC's. He is very precise and smooth. Good to have him back in SM!!
In the end there was almost zerosheet metal damage at the front of the field with some very clean and resepectful racing by all, but further down there was a bit more contact. A few cars were torn up and there were several tranny failures.
But once again Barber is a stunning SM track. So much fun, always busy, and the best looking track environment you have ever been to.
If you are reading this post and you werent there, make sure you are there next year. This event is getting better each year.
[ 09-06-2010, 01:03 PM: Message edited by: Danny Steyn ]
Region: mid south
Car #: 2
Year : 1999 Posts: 4275
Status: Offline
posted
Fun place, lots of good people who also happen to be very fast. Pat and I were sorting our cars in runoffs trim, mine was a new car that had some minor teething issues, but nothing major and will be good to go in a few weeks at Road America. I managed 4th on Saturday until fuel starting cutting every lap at the hairpin and fell to sixth. Pats car is very good and will be finish higher than many expect at the big dance. I would add him to your dark horse list.
As for Sunday qualifying...maybe we should read the schedule We incorrectly assumed that if we go there at 8:55 we would have plenty of time for group 5???????? NOT! You guys were on track as we pulled into the paddock Oh well. We even got missed the start Sunday. When the leaders were on under the flag stand, Pat and I were in the middle of the back straight? For some reason they held us at grid and I guess pace lap was also very fast? I was "flat out, because thats the way I drive, FLAT OUT" from turn two and never caught up, never passed a car until lap 2.
Hopefully the track day humor skit with "Panty Stain" and Jeff Labounty will surface here at some point. Very funny stuff.
Awesome weekend! What a great facility, can't wait to go back. Hopefully next time I'll make sure that my transponder is working before qualifying =( The drive from last to 9th on Saturday was fun (and a bit treacherous) but Sunday was a blast duking it out with the boys upfront.
Congrats to Buras on the wins, I had a bit more pace at the end but he just doesn't put a wheel wrong. Interesting that 3 "SM2" cars were in the top 10 all weekend... imagine that.
Also gotta thank Todd for the donuts in the morning, they went over rather well... imagine that! Also some great driving, good to see you back out again.
-------------------- All this has happened before, and will happen again
Region: CFR
Car #: 97
Year : 1990/99 Posts: 788
Status: Offline
posted
More like the top 5!!! And for any doubters out there I can tell you that Labounty is putting out less than 119HP. Lots of elevation changes at Barber and the 1.6 and 1.8s were right there at the end. Saturday SARRC 1st 1.6, 2nd 1.6, 3rd 99, 4th 1.8, 5th 99 Sunday SARRC 1st 1.6, 2nd 99, 3rd 99, 4th 99, 5th 1.6 3rd through 7th came across the line less than a two seconds apart and we had a great race to the end. Danny won the Pro-IT in his 99 with a 1.6 second. I think everyone in the top 10 would agree that the cars are very close. The SMAC and BOD has done a very good job at getting these cars very close. Thanks!!
-------------------- 2010 ARRC Champion 2010 CFR Champion 2010 instigator of the year 2010/2011 Andrew Von C Wingman
Region: Southeast
Car #: 6
Year : 2002 Posts: 33
Status: Offline
posted
Ditto Danny's comments about Barber as the ultimate SM track. Technical and busy, rewarding good technique, but also requiring serious courage to pick up the last few tenths, with blind hills and many apexes invisible until after turn-in. Watched Danny's video of his record lap as he went flat through the blind falling left-hander at the end of the back straight. 100+ mph. Talk about Panty Stains... not for the faint of heart.
Thumbs-up to Steve D. for stepping out of his European taxicab and back into his Asian chick car. He and I enjoyed some great door-to-door racing in the Pro-IT.
My OPM rental and RE engine were spot-on - and that's a good thing, considering the depth of the field. I was happy to qualify 10th on Sunday with less than one second between my time and pole. Great drivers ahead and behind. This event should be on every SM driver's calendar.
-------------------- Skip Brock OPM Rental, RE Engine
Seems like everywhere I go, The more I see, The less I know.
Region: 003
Car #: 56
Year : 1990 Posts: 401
Status: Offline
posted
Congrats to Danny for setting the new track record at a 1.47.3 which was only .2 off of Andrew Von overall ITS Pole at a 1.47.1
You all better watch out for Danny as he is going to “Bring it” to the run offs.
Shout out to Stu and BSI for the great track support all weekend. It was good to be back. Come on by BSI; Stu is a much happier guy. Smile everyone smiles.
Thank you to Mike Cs wife and Ken for not killing me after our little adventure Sounds Kinky
The corner workers were great, if not for you guys we all could not play.
Nice run Alex, watch out; he is coming.
Great facility, tough track, great competitors and even better racing. Jamies post got it right, everone needs two cars for different tracks around the country.
-------------------- [URL=http://www.toddburas.com] //East Street Auto//Traqmate//SafeRacer//
Region: mid south
Car #: 2
Year : 1999 Posts: 4275
Status: Offline
posted
Hopefully those who signed up for SM2 realize they have issues other than their version of SM. I really dont agree with splintering the class at all. I think the results speak for themselves as far as the "need" for the class at all. I just don't see the sense of accomplishment winning in SM2, seems like a shallow victory IMO. ( I dont even know who won, not an attack on any one person, just the idea in general)
Region: 003
Car #: 56
Year : 1990 Posts: 401
Status: Offline
posted
One more thing "Sponsor Shout out"
Hope everyone enjoyed the pipping hot fresh 60 dozen Krispy Kreme doughnuts that were delivered to the track Sunday morning. Shout out Birmingham Krispy Kreme.
And Trqmate for getting me a working unit!!!!
-------------------- [URL=http://www.toddburas.com] //East Street Auto//Traqmate//SafeRacer//
quote:Originally posted by Drago: Hopefully those who signed up for SM2 realize they have issues other than their version of SM. I really dont agree with splintering the class at all. I think the results speak for themselves as far as the "need" for the class at all. I just don't see the sense of accomplishment winning in SM2, seems like a shallow victory IMO. ( I dont even know who won, not an attack on anyone person, just the idea in general)
Region: Atlanta
Car #: 92
Year : 99 Posts: 20
Status: Offline
posted
Great weekend!!! Congrats to Todd Buras on winning both SARRC race. Congrats to Danny for setting a new track record. It was nice to be back at the race track after not racing for about a year. It was also nice to meet all the people that I hear so much about on the forum like Jim Drago, Jamie Tucker, Andrew Von Charbonneau, Todd Buras and so on. My weekend was good with an 8th on Saturday and a 9th on Sunday. Barber Motor Sports Park is an awesome facility to be able to go race at and I can't wait to go back. Big thanks to Bob Thorton for the amazing power that he gives me. Todd thanks for the donuts. Another big thanks goes to Mr. Pink for help me out with some parts that I needed. Look forward to seeing everyone in the near future.
-------------------- Chris Topping CT Motorsports,Race Engineering, OPM Autosports
Region: Atlanta
Car #: 92
Year : 99 Posts: 20
Status: Offline
posted
Thanks to Tom & Tim at OPM for helping me out with a camber bolt that I needed.
-------------------- Chris Topping CT Motorsports,Race Engineering, OPM Autosports
Steve D.
Once you get past the gag reflex, the jelly ain't bad!
Region: Atlanta
Car #: 30
Year : 1999 Posts: 652
Status: Offline
posted
quote:Originally posted by Brockodile: Thumbs-up to Steve D. for stepping out of his European taxicab and back into his Asian chick car. He and I enjoyed some great door-to-door racing in the Pro-IT.
Back at 'cha, Skip! That was one of the most enjoyable races I've had in a long time. The whole weekend was great, actually. Next time we need to talk before the race because I didn't realize I was supposed to roll over and give you the spot when you ducked inside at the end of the back straight.
Sunday qualifying - top 22 cars within 2.1 seconds? Yup, that's SM racing. I had a great time somewhere mid-pack all weekend. I was doing pretty well Sunday until I decided to join Cottrell and 1 other in a "sympathy spin" in Turn 1.
The short results from Sunday? I beat Mark Pombo, Drago, Sandlin, and Cottrell. Let's not get bogged down in the details of how.
After 14 months out of the Miata it was a pleasure to be back on track with y'all and in the paddock with the OPM gang.
And Buras is right, Stu was actually smiling! Probably still thinking about the goober we saw at the convenience store down the road dressed in full racing gear including Cool Shirt at 7 am.
Region: sediv
Car #: 66
Year : 1992 Posts: 87
Status: Offline
posted
I have a quick question concerning Barber's for next year. I am a decent mid-packer, with no other aspirations than to have as much fun as possible. I have done a number of DE's at Barber in my 944 turbo when my son was at Auburn, as it was a great reason to drive down and see him. I absolutely love the track, and would love to try in in my SM. Considering the number of Runoff contenders that use this as a tune up, what is the general opinion of crowd as to us non-contenders participating. As best as I could tell, this was a Regional, not a National event (I only have as of right now a Regional license), but I can't get a feel for how many racers such as myself participated.
Dave... Please come out and play, you will be welcomed and will find someone to race. It is a regional as is the Pro-IT so your license won't be an issue.
-------------------- All this has happened before, and will happen again
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We incorrectly assumed that if we go there at 8:55 we would have plenty of time for group 5???????? NOT! You guys were on track as we pulled into the paddock ![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
Oh well. We even got missed the start Sunday. When the leaders were on under the flag stand, Pat and I were in the middle of the back straight? For some reason they held us at grid and I guess pace lap was also very fast? I was "flat out, because thats the way I drive, FLAT OUT" from turn two and never caught up, never passed a car until lap 2. ![[scratchchin]](graemlins/scratchchin.gif)
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