9/26/08 Bandimere (Morrison, CO) Club Clash

[twobjshelbys]

MoTheDigitalDiva (from Team Shelby) and her driver (Melissa and Dave) invited me to the track last night. They call it a "club clash" where local clubs compete.

Steve (a coworker) brought his 2003 Cobra (4.6L, 4V) along too. He drives his in track races so has all the gear - suit and helmet.

I thought it would be a good way to get the feel for what the Kenne Bell did to the car.

Well, here's the first run (I'm 638WW, in the left lane for all the runs):



Wow, that was cool. They made me go back and get a helmet and jacket and moved me into the next higher class. The magic number is 14.00.


Things didn't go so well the next time.



The first time the track had maybe had 20 cars on it so my stock tires were able to stay in contact. This time they simply broke loose and never connected (look at the 330 time compared to the first run. After that the rest of the times are almost the same deltas. Sigh...

So in the competition run I had no clue what I was doing. Since they moved me up I put the minimum (which is a maximum) time of 13.99 and tried again.

This time the tires did the same thing. Except they didn't wait to start spinning, they started right away. I started to fishtail so let off the accelerator. Worse time than the second run.



I just picked up the slip and hung my head in shame. I didn't even see until this morning when I started to scan them that I got the win because the other guy jumped the gun. If I'd noticed I would have gone in and tried the other side.

Bottom line is the KB probably makes this a sub 13 car, but it needs a new set of tires to do it. Next spring.

After I get some new rubber, I'll have to go to practice getting off the lights. My reaction times improved as I got how to read the start (I need to go just after the second light comes on, no third), but that's just how my eyes work.


Dave did get a real win in the first run. He put in 15.000 and pulled a 15.006. Most of the experienced drivers know what their cars can do and so are so incredibly close. I saw one guy, who obviously knew what he was doing, tap on his brake just before the end, and won his run because he slowed down ever so slightly.

It's fun, and I'll probably do it again. Practice is the key here, and they have open run nights on Wednesday through the season, but the season is almost over and besides I need new tires.

[twobjshelbys]

So I get done spraying weeds and stuff and wash the Shelby. I got to the back wheel wells and under the bumper area and it's all covered with a layer of ground up tire scum from when my wheels spun. It took about an hour and bug/tar remover to get it off the outside surfaces on both sides. I left the insides of the wheel wells alone - I figure I just got a small free undercoating application. I noticed a few cars with blue painters tape in these areas. Next time a couple of rolls of blue tape will be in the trunk.

[iceman]

it gets addictive to go to the track


Another trick on the rubber is just rub a bunch of wax on the body where the rubber hits and then wipe it off when you are done. It doesn't look great while racing, but either does the masking tape

I am hoping to get there on Wed this week - all signs look good right now.

[twobjshelbys]

Originally Posted by iceman

it gets addictive to go to the track


Another trick on the rubber is just rub a bunch of wax on the body where the rubber hits and then wipe it off when you are done. It doesn't look great while racing, but either does the masking tape

I am hoping to get there on Wed this week - all signs look good right now.

Now wait a minute. Where are you? IN != CO.

I'm not going to bother until I get some new tires/wheels.

It was fun though.

[TOMMY GUN]

Not sure what you were doing?

Were you running for the best time you could, or trying to keep all your runs close to a certain number?

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[twobjshelbys]

Originally Posted by TOMMY GUN

Not sure what you were doing?

Were you running for the best time you could, or trying to keep all your runs close to a certain number?

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Absolf*n*lutely no clue. Never done it before. The finish line looked like it was 200 miles away.

I haven't been a virgin for a while, but this was my first.

It was all explained to me after my first run. We got two practice runs.

Then the "real stuff" starts.

OK, what does that mean?

Well, you're supposed to know how fast your car goes.

Oh.

Never done this before. Did one and went faster than I thought with the equipment I had (nuttin hunney), street tires, convertible (our 'verts get special penalties), etc. He said, "go for the low category (which is really high numbers, the cutoff is 14 and see what happens.)

We got two practice runs. I go up and having been given the verbal instructions before, watch the tree and stomp on it. The wheels sort of let loose but grabbed up pretty quick. I get to the end and drive by the shack and the lady inside waves at me and I figured I was supposed to stop.

"Do you want the good news or the bad news first".

"Oh sh**" what did I do? I've never done this before, did I do something wrong?"

"Nope. Nice car. Go get a helmet and fire jacket. You went too fast." [This has to do with the 14 sec breakpoint and the 'vert. Lots of other guys were under and they were wearing shorts and no helmets.]

Second run, no traction (TCS off, maybe I should try that). Spin out before it (automatic) from first to second but it catches. So the first two practice runs are calibration. Then we're supposed to "name a time". Closest over wins. Under you lose. Jump the gun you lose (that's why I was supposed to win even though I probably could have walked it faster but didn't even think about looking). If both are under their guess the closest to 0 wins, but everyone laughs.

Third run, with lots of goo on the track, and I started to fishtail. Let off and when it finally grabs it hauls, but its too late.

Then the tires won't grab because there is too much junk on the track. That's why my treads picked up half of the rubber left on the first 100' and donated it to my wheel wells and under fenders.

I got it all figured out - equipment (and a certain number of $$$) can fix this.

Honestly, I'd never done this before. In the practice runs you can have a passenger. I wish I'd ridden with one of the other guys first instead of doing the "do this and follow me".

I do think the car is capable (with the right pilot and wheels/tires) of doing a good solid 12.75-13.

That Kenne Belle is awesome.

I also figured I have a "dead spot" at the KB whine freq. I could hear my friends car and told him mine was too quiet. I wanted it to sound like a SS 725. He told me that mine has a pitch too. I guess I can't hear it from the driver's seat. I don't trust anyone to drive it by me to see for sure.

[TOMMY GUN]

okay, I kinda get it now. :BigBoss2:

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[SLGT750]

Originally Posted by TOMMY GUN

okay, I kinda get it now. :BigBoss2:

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TG it is the closest to your dial in time with out breaking out, you can keep going rounds even with a slow car as long as you're consistent!
hope that helps:Bigguy:

[TOMMY GUN]

Originally Posted by SLGT750

TG it is the closest to your dial in time with out breaking out, you can keep going rounds even with a slow car as long as you're consistent!
hope that helps:Bigguy:

That's gotta be hard unless you go to the track a lot.


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[twobjshelbys]

Originally Posted by TOMMY GUN

That's gotta be hard unless you go to the track a lot.


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I think that the guys in the class I was in (I just remembered, Top Street) do it alot. There were some guys that were within .005 on three runs. I'd guess they were there every time.

The "no competition" run nights would be a good way to get the experience. I hear they are busier than the competition nights.