July 24 Thill

[dave FF 50-aka "Harm"]

Entry list posted for Thill
34 total entries for group 4

FV 11
CF 10
FC 6
FF1 5
FST 1
F5 1

The points leaders are:
FV Jim Petrek 124, Brett Hope 120, Brian Swanson 108 (all entered)

CF Chuck Horn 158, Clay Arnold 154 (both entered)

FC Eric Boucher 152, Greg Mercurio 118, Sean Kelly 114, Mike Manning 110 (all entered)

FF1 Bill Mabry 118, Mike Bernstein 106, Jon Brandstad 102, Tom Duncan 100 (only Jon & Tom entered)

c'ya there
dave

[brian]

ill be there on the test day if anybody needs anything. Will be working with Dan Phipps but will be available.

[Bruce]

Anyone with a recap of the race weekend?

[sabre1]

I'll second Bruce's request for a race report. Thanks.

-Jim

[Take 'em Out Terran]

It was HOT HOT HOT! but everybody would know that

Practice and qualify went pretty good for everyone, and the first race ended up being a cluster f**k. There were about 3 incidents that happened all within the same lap: one between 3 Club Fords that took each other out (the story so I'm told is that one passed under yellow, second one didn't see him and collected with him and a third CF), something happened with two Continentals (spun and stalled I can only imagine as there was no damage to either but they weren't moving, I don't know what the third incident was, and going down the hill after turn 9 my tail flew off (whole other story =P ). This led to 7 laps under caution ( the 7th lap was due to the pace car forgetting to pull off) and then 2 laps under green. Jim won the race with everybody finishing except Team ToadHallRacing (we figured out later dad had a damaged valve seat, and I ran smack dead into a large rock towards the entrance to turn 9 that was kicked up onto the track which bent the plate holding the brake master cylinders. So I had no brakes by the time i went through turn 11 and had to pull off.)

Second qualify went great for everyone, first 10 cars were all within 3.5 seconds of each other with dad taking pole. Race also went well with only a couple caution laps and Jim taking the win again after battling with dad for the lead the whole race. Mitch, Gavin, and Tim all connected on the second lap and took them out of the race, whiched caused the caution for the two laps.

I can give final race results of everyone's position as soon as I remember it.

[Dan Wise]

Jul 26, 2010 19:26:07 GMT -8 Take 'em Out Terran said:

going down the hill after turn 9 my tail flew off (whole other story =P ).... and I ran smack dead into a large rock towards the entrance to turn 9 that was kicked up onto the track which bent the plate holding the brake master cylinders. So I had no brakes by the time i went through turn 11 and had to pull off.)

Hey Terran, I recall your engine cover came off at the exit of turn 6, but the last fastener held on until the downhill after 9. I dropped back while trying to figure out which way it might go when it let loose and avoid a face-full of engine cover. It came off and moved off line without hitting anything.

Everyone has had something fall off at one time, including car off the pavement, so no worries.

There certainly were a lot of car parts left on track after the Saturday race. Its unfortunate we have had some near misses and and incident that involved missed yellow flags the last few events.

A waving yellow means a serious problem on the racing surface. There may be an unprotected worker trying to assist a driver in harms way. I have worked corners in years past (Colorado Region) and have much respect for our workers' skill, dedication and sometimes significant courage. Ever try to hoof it up a hill at a dead run with a 20lb fire extinguisher and drivers with red mist/tunnel vision flying by?

There is nothing like my Pueblo Colorado experience of leaving a worker station bunker to assist a disabled car trackside just as another rent-a-Ford does a low altitude flyby over the bunker, upside down and backwards. Some very lucky people that day.

Sunday's race was better, with but one unfortunate incident in T1 with two FV's. Don't know how or the outcome. I had a good view of the last few corners (10 through 15) of the FF1 race with 5 good cars racing nose to tail with Darrell Bordon taking the checker. The Sunday CF race went well with Paul Rodler taking his second win of the weekend. Congrats Paul and Abigail.

My weekend went reasonably well, with most of the problems between the steering wheel and the seat.... Its a steep learning curve for the old fat bald guy.

It was great racing with everyone and we enjoyed a great group in the paddock too. I did my best to drive the line and be predictable, save some bobbled shifts down and missed turn in points/apexes. If I don't scare myself, then I'm not trying hard enough.

I tried to avoid placing myself in someone else's race, but enjoyed a few fun dices with some of the individual vees and Tim W in the FST. I am really impressed how the Vee and Ford drivers carry the momentum through the corners so well. I go to school for at least a few corners every time I get passed.

My guest crew chief enjoyed his very first club race weekend and is now a SCCA First Gear Member. He did a great job for me and I hope he comes back to visit us again. I think he would like to try formula cars, but needs to find something for a size 13 shoe.
Thanks Clint!

Regards,
Dan Wise CF #76

[qposner]

Mysterians and Protoform P3's will fit a size 13. Ask me how I know...

[sabre1]

Thank you Terran and Dan for the race reports.

-Jim

[brian]

Having watched several regionals from the tower by turn nine I've noticed that the region is quite casual regarding getting back to green during these incidents. I spoke with the Operating stewards after the day and expressed my consternation with flat towing cars all the way back to the pits during pace car yellow laps. It can take several pace laps to get all the way back to the pits. I recomended that they move the cars our of "harms" way and get back to green racing. They spoke of perserving the precious schedule and I responded by saying it would only take a few more seconds for the tow trucks to follow the last car on course after the checker. They promised to discuss during the postweekend debrief. I'd suggest anyone who agrees with me be heard and write your board.

My compliments to all the drivers. The weather was a bit of a challenge for you fair weather bay area folks but the racing and socializing was really fun. Can't wait for Sears. oops Infinieon

[dave FF 50-aka "Harm"]

SFR Sunoco Championship Series Challenge Winners
Driver and Worker of the Weekend

Congratulations to all our race winners from the July 24-25 Sunoco Championship Series Double Regional at Thunderhill Raceway.

Winners of the Sunoco Challenge in Group 4 and $300 each are:

Eric Boucher FC

Terran Swanson FV

[dave FF 50-aka "Harm"]

Thanks to all who came up and welcomed me back after almost 2 years.

As for the FF1 race #1
Daryl Bordon rented one of Porter's DB-6 rockets and put it on the pole. He lead flag to flag (1:56.140). Jon Brandstad in his DB-6 was 2nd (1:55.826). Jon drove the best I have seen him drive. He made smart decisions without unnecessary risks. Will Gallaher (the "kid" 09 Piper) finished 3rd (1:56.142). Tom Duncan in his 98 Van Diemen was 4th at 1:56.993 and dave jalen (DB-1) finished 5th with a fast lap of 1:56.852. Very close racing with just over a 1 second from fastest to slowest.

Race #2
Daryl's clutch failed :(prior to Qualifying, so he had to start from the back. Will got a good start and held first for the whole race. His fastest lap was a 1:54.696. Jon was 2nd again (1:55.173), Tom 3rd (1:55.248). Daryl (1:54.665 fastest FF1 race lap) caught up to me on the 2nd to last lap and made an pass to take 4th. I finished 5th again with 3rd fastest lap of a 1:55.050. The five fastest laps were within .583 second of each other. The newcomer, John Howarth is still sorting his Piper. He will get faster with his DSR experience.

Very tight racing without any contact for the FF1 group.
OMG, it feels great to be back in the seat again. ;D
dave

[Dan Wise]

Sorry for the mistake on the FF1 winner. Results for both races are now on mylaps.

www.mylaps.com/results/showevents.jsp?st=3&org=32147

[gmercurio37]

It was a good weekend to sit out, and I had a ball watching. I would remind everyone that there are exactly 2 sides to every incident, and only the person that got hit and the person this did the hitting count. Corner workers are not trained Driver/Observers, so their opinion is not to be counted or discounted, it their opinion.

I will only say this about the incidents in the Ford and FC ranks: Lots of drivers miss yellows, and I'm no exception. ALL contact IS avoidable during a yellow flag incident. "nuff" said.

Congrats to all that partook, and finished, and especially those that finished well. See you all at Sears.