Season final at Laguna

[Bruce]

45 cars in the field. 12 CF's, 15 FF's and 18 FV's.

[brian]

Enjoyed watching the race, especially the restart. Seeing the first few vees flying through the field when the green came out was hilarious. There were cars well through turn 10 and 9, most of whom didn't realize the green came out and were sleeping. I think Blake passed 10 cars before turn 11. When the lights on the pace car go out, it's a hint, when the yellows go down on the turns, the green's out.

Heard some stories about impatient Fords diving under vees and saw some pretty scary passes on back markers. With all due respect guys, there's room for improvement in this group.

[sweenrace]

Brian,

objectively speaking, how did the vee guys drive? Is there something we were doing wrong? how could we make thing better? any suggestions?

From my perspective, some of the ford guys made some hairy moves, stealing the apex of turn 6 as an example

Ian

[Bruce]

The reason Bagnell was in the sand outside of turn 9 was because some Fords decided he didn't need to be on the track, the same move they put on me at Sears, drivers left past turn 1. I'm definitely bringing this up at the next group meeting. Someone is going to get seriously hurt if this type of move is permitted.

[brian]

From the front straight viewpoint I saw several vees stay drivers right and hold their line. That was good. What I did see that bothered me were two incidents of fords passing each other while they were passing a vee. I flinched so much one time because I was convinced I was about to see something ugly. In both cases one of the fords could have held the pass until they had cleared the vee. I'd like to see more patience on the part of the faster cars.

[qposner]

At Sears last July, I pointed that 16 yr old ford driver by on my left at the end of the straight going into turn 1. I stayed right, when to my surprise, he went right where there was just enough room between me and the dirt. Scared the Hell out of me. Apparently, fords don't need to follow where you point them...

[spondon]

I think that depends what finger you were using to point with.... )

[qposner]

That came about 50 ft up the hill... ;-)

[dave FF 50-aka "Harm"]

Quinn, please let me respond to your comment from a Ford's perspective. The closing speed between a front running FF and a Vee at that point on the track (between T1 and T2) is something like 20+ mph. It seems to me that when the Vees hit the hill after T1, that they can now longer accellerate and may even lose speed (what is the typical speed for a Vee there? 90mph?). A fast Ford (and boy, are those kids FAST) is accellerating all the way to the braking zone for T2 (110-115 mph). Our line is driver's right to give us a straight shot at the entrance berm for T2. With that kind of overtaking speed, we make the decission of where to pass most likely before you can figure it out thru your mirrors, and thus are committed to one side or the other before you get your finger out.

Please remember, overtaking drivers ASSUME you will be on the racing line. The point-by just tells the other driver where YOU would like him to pass, not where he has to pass.
thanks for racing with us
dave

[qposner]

True, Dave. However, when you point someone well enough in advance, they should take it. I know the difference in speed having been racing vees for 15 years and racing my dads Crossle on occasion in Conference races. While I feel the fast fords do a great job with the vees (the slower ones are a nightmare, truthfully) I did point that kid by well enough in advance. Im not saying he is a problem, I haven't raced with him enough and the few times I have, never had a problem. I was just pointing it out as an example (and perhaps I shouldn't have identified the driver). Either way, the problem down there is the large fields which isn't the fault of anyone.

BTW---I just wached the pro mazda race on my Tivo. Holy Christ there is alot of gravel at Laguna now!

[dave FF 50-aka "Harm"]

Quinn, with some much of the county complaining about small fields, we have a great turnout. I would rather race with 20 Vees than in group 2 with FA,FM,S2,CSR,DSR,FSCCA,SRCCA,FC,SS2, I forget the rest.
To ease the congestion, next season SFR group 4 voted to split the bonus weekends. So instead of a main race and then a bonus race, the Vees would get one race and the Fords would get the other. We have already split the qualifing sessions.
BTW, when you said "the slower ones are a nightmare, truthfully" did you mean the slow Fords, slow Vees, or both?
Photo of the start of the race entering T2. Notice those wide open spaces for the gravel pits. And the slow Fords in the middle of the Vees, drivers right
dave

[qposner]

I meant slow fords. As you know, they kill us in the corners. I am probably overstepping by saying anything since I am not even a SFR regular, but it is really disappointing when you have slow FF and CF cars slamming the door on you when you catch them under braking and try to pass to keep momentum up after they get a ways ahead on the straight. I am probably wrong, but it almost seems like some of those guys have an ego that says "I am in a ford, so I am better and faster" even though they run the same lap times (or slower) as a vee. However, I would rather things be how they are down there instead of running with other OW cars as well. The splitting of races sounds like a good idea.

[DerElf]

Dave;

Speaking as an interested (and dieting) observer I will chime in here in regards to the slower fords.

The sad state is that some of the slower fords have been SO direspecful of the Vee drivers as to become notorious, meaning I have heard their names mentioned in the Vee Paddock as follows:

Grumpy Vee Driver1:"Well we were hooked up and having a good race until Rubberfoot Plutarsky caught up with us."

Grumpy Vee Driver2: "Yeah when Rubberfoot catches you there goes the race! Yanks away on the straights then throws out the anchor in the corners"

Grumpy Vee Driver3: "Well I tried to talk to him last race and all he did was grin and ask if I enjoyed us RACING as much as he did"

Grumpy Vee Driver4: "It's like he just doesn't get it!"

We actually had an incident with one of the ford drivers complaining about a Vee BLOCKING him...after he had broken up a three car train. Mind you this particular "Rubberfoot" was running alone and not in contention.

It is about consideration, respect and understanding. Watching from the outside I have to say I have been impressed overall with the transitioning of Group 7 into Group 4...but it is all still a learning process.

[qposner]

Nothing wrong with blocking slow fords or 500's down the straight in my book.

[Vracer]

I agree 100%. Read my blog at www.bartlett-motorsports.com