- 12th place, Lil' Smokey and the Bandit, 77.
- 16th place, Nerd Herd, 08 (with a spiff 20 valve JDM 4age motor).
- 17th place, us in the Snowspeeder, 03.
- 19th place, Pole Position, 3.
- 70th, place, our pals with Free Range, 80.
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
24HL, Thunderhill '08
Monday, December 29, 2008
2009 McLaren SLR Stirling Moss
Things got just a bit brighter for the incoming Detroit Auto show. Mercedes-Benz will officially showing what will surely be one of the most attention supercars in exhibition hall, the new 2009 McLaren SLR Stirling Moss,a supercar for year 2009. The boldly styled Merc will be the last vehicle built under the partnership with McLaren, at a cost around €750,000 Mercedes should have no trouble finding buyers for the 75-car allotment. The feature of this super car will full carbon fiber bodywork wrapped over the standard version, a 650-hp supercharged 5.5-liter V8 and the five-speed automatic transplanted from the SLR 722. Despite lacking any sort of roof or proper windscreen, the Stirling Moss can still achieve a top speed of 217 mph and can reach 100 km/h in just 3.5 seconds. Other unique features include swing-wing doors, a retractable air brake that can be operated manually and a two-piece tonneau cover that can cover the entire cockpit or just the passenger seat.
Saturday, December 27, 2008
ToyoBaru RWD Sports Car delay until 2012
A smart project of Toyota and Subaru to working together on a rear-wheel-drive sportscar with “wonderful styling” have been replaced by rumours that the car has been put on hold.
The future and superb drift machine, regarded by many as the potential successor to the now legendary AE86, is believe to be based on the current Subaru Legacy platform and powered by a boxer engine putting out around 200hp through a six speed manual transmission.
The original plan is due in 2011,but, according to Nikkei, the car has been delayed to at least 2012 or more. But with things set to get even worse around the globe, 2012 may just come and go without any trace of a Toyobaru RWD sports car.
Friday, December 26, 2008
A Big Day
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Fastest Street Legal Super Car arrive at Europe...
Show up at any track with a car less than ordinary and you’re bound to get smirks of both disgust and pity. Some people don’t let it affect them, some pack up and go home in search of mummy, others give chase and some blow the competition away. That’s exactly what happen when the took his 1407hp Pontiac Trans-Am to the Papenburg track where the AMG boys from Mercedes were testing their new models.
With a brisk 8.9L V8 producing a whopping 1407 HP, The top speeds of 300km/h in his warming laps. After driving a couple of rounds around the track, to see what his road machine would do! And after pressing the pedal to the metal the when the technician came over with his laptop computer with a big grin. Here we have the official numbers: 407.134 km/h.
You may say well the 9FF team drove 409km/h in an extremely rebuilt Porsche 911 at the same track; this speed was recorded with their own equipment and therefore can be fixed and therefore is not recorded as an official speed record. Bugatti Veyron 407km/h is also recorded with their own equipment.
As the Papenburg track is to small for the Pontiac to reach its potential top speed of 435km/h and Volkswagen’s test track costs 25.000 Euro an hour to rent.
Pucker up.
Randall has the Snowspeeder ready for the track and loaded into his trailer. He and Joe are both off for some forced-family-fun for X-mas. I declined the invite from the girlfriend-in-law's family celebration to catch up on channel surfing and balancing my bank accounts. Holiday dinner was leftover road-chow of crackers and cheeze-wiz.
As nutty as a third testicle.
(As posted to the 24HL mailing list)
Monday, December 22, 2008
Do you know "Super Car"?
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Deficit
Jay Lamm is a bastard.
We got motor back from the machine shop yesterday... about a week late. Randal and I put in about 7 hours in yesterday and another 7 or 8 today. The motor is in the car but I'd say we still have about 5 hrs worth of work hooking up the myriad of shit before we can fire it.
I keep finding more stuff we need to do or buy. I keep remembering stuff we need to do buy "before the next work session" promptly upon entering the "next work session" I haven't done a lick of Christmas shopping. I think I've barely said 200 words to my girlfriend in the last 72 hrs. I'm thinking this is not the ideal time to tell her I'll be doing three races next year.
do / buy:
Mirrors
Overflow bottle / cap / dohickie
Gear oil
Harness
struts
weld lid on the car
finish installing the motor
log 200 miles on the car to find problems
christmas shop
Friday, December 5, 2008
Stick Figure Racing
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
MR2 Methodology
Monday, October 13, 2008
Off Again
but we will be back at it in the spring. We put a new/used motor in our car and it's officially
road worthy. It will be interesting to see how well an automatic does Vs a Stick.
Our Team name will be "Knights of the round track" hope to be competing along side you guys in the spring. We will post pics of our toy as we get closer to racing, Good Luck! Bender
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Back at it. (12 weeks until race.)
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Honda RA108
The car was unveiled at a test in Valencia on 23 January 2008, a week before the car's official launch, driven by Rubens Barrichello
Rubens Barrichello driving the RA108 at the 2008 Spanish Grand Prix, clearly showing the "elephant ear" nose winglets introduced for that race.
Jenson Button driving the RA108 at the 2008 Malaysian Grand Prix.
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Video And Photos From The Race
All my photos from the race are online here.
My video footage is here.
There should be a more and better footage coming from Joe, his friends, Paul, and Judy's cameras.
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Life, Death, And Racing.
As soon as you get on the track among all the machinery, power, and Newtonian physics, you become quite aware of mortal frailty. Not strapped into a steel cage, a human body wouldn't survive even briefly exposed to the forces of racing. It seems crazy to some. I really do consider the risk of death or even minor injury to be very low at these races. All the necessary steps have been taken to assure safety.
I raced the first time to fulfill a dream. I continue racing for the same reasons anyone pursues any passion: Because I love it. I love the thrill, the accomplishment, the comradeship...
You've heard it often but I'll say in my words: A life cut short is of course tragic, but every one of us goes some day and we better have done something worth celebrating. Life without passion isn't living.
I celebrate the life of Court Summerfield. A life lived.
Before / Aftermath
Saturday, May 10, 2008
Day 1 Of Altamont
OK, I need to be in bed, but here's a quick summary and photos of day one.
Team V-RAM is having a ball, but we've been baffled by an over-heating problem we now think may have resolved with a new radiator cap. [duh]
The Snowspeeder was one of the fastest cars on the track for about 2 laps but, they had some wrong bearings on their rods after their rebuild and they are out of the race with and engine disassembled in their tool trailer. Bummer.
The race is hilarious. Here's my pick for best in show.
Our car looks great with a bunch of fresh bashes on it. One team kept rear-ending us and gets my vote for the crusher... I forget the number. Mercury Sable though.
Friday, May 9, 2008
The Day Before The Race
The trip was mostly fine. The big events were a May snow storm over one of the eastern Nevada passes, and the first In-N-Out Burger I've had since last October.
Oh yeah, Joe delivered my '89 Supercharged MR2 I bought. No pics yet, but I'm excited about it. Going to pop the tops now and go hang out.
Thursday, May 8, 2008
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
Required Reading for the Snowspeeder Pilots Association Team!!
First: We better freaking win.
Driver rotation:
Joe
Randal
Or…
Randal
Joe
I can’t seem to remember which.. I figure we’ll toss a coin sometime before the race.
Keep the car on the track till the first yellow after 1.5 hours or until the motor starts cutting out due to lack of fuel.
If the car gets hurt: Randal will fix it.
Remember our strategy: If they don’t get out your way, dive to inside, grab the apex and hit them when they come across. This will result in a perfect "pit maneuver" or bounce them off the track. Trust the diminutive size of the car to create an aura of innocents, thus avoiding black flags.
Hitting barricades is ok as long as you knocked someone else off the track in the process.
-Your fearless leader
Mc JOE!
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
As Your Team Capitain, I Adivise You To BLAH BLAH BLAH.
I don't know about you guys, but I'm starting to lie awake at night anticipating the race. I'm sure that won't make it any easier to get up and hit the road at 5 AM Friday. If anyone wants to drop stuff off for loading Thursday night, feel free.
Weather is looking great for the trip and race.
Remember our priorities:
1- Safe and fun.
2- Everyone gets a turn.
3- Finish the race.
4- Compete.
At the track:
Altamont is in the middle of a giant windmill farm, so be ready for windy, dusty. weather. I wore a mask most of day 2 last year. I also wore ear plugs spectating and driving.
You'll want a comfortable chair.
Photographing the track from the pit side of the track is hindered by the chain link fence and RVs parked right against the fence. Theres a small set of bleachers that help get a view above the fence. Photographing from the grand stands may be better. (Let's try to get
footage when the flag drops.)
Rotation:
Driver order will be:
Larry
Andy
Jerry
Pauly
This order is partly because Jerry will be using my shoes (and any other equipment of mine that fits), so he'll needs to race opposite me to give more time to gear up.
We need to keep a clip board to track wipe-outs (think 'video highlight reel') and the times of driver changes. We can download all the data of lap times after the race, but a stop-watch could be useful to gage lap times.
For the first rotation, drivers should hit the pit on the first yellow flag after 45 minutes, or in 60 minutes if there is no yellow. First rotation should be pretty conservative driving. learn the lines. keep the car intact for the next driver.
After the first rotation, try to stay out as long as fuel allows. Of course feel free to pit any time you think it's best for the car, or if you want to end your turn early. Fatigue and mental state have a real affect on your driving. If you feel that your driving sucks, come
in and take a break.
In the pits:
We need at least 2 crew always on deck (in the pit or watching the track) watching for the car to come into pit. One of us can wander off for whatever reason, but get back to the stand or pit ASAP.
During pit stops, one crew start fueling immediately. Next driver mark their start time on the clip board. Drivers assist each other with driver exchange. Driver report any mechanical issues. One crew inspect tires and car, pry out fenders as necessary.
After the car leaves the pit, prep for the next refueling. Put tools away. Next driver gear up. Previous driver take a brake, (hit the toilet, eat/drink), then get back where you can watch the car.
If we get radios (and can hear them), they should be used minimally; to call a driver in, or if someone is clocking laps we can call out a driver's new fastest lap time. ie: "Paul, that was your fastest lap. 59 seconds". If we don't get radios, drivers will need to watch the
clock.
Everyone bring a bag or box where you can keep your gear. Don't let stuff get disorganized.
Let's help the Snowspeeder guys as much as possible. We'll be relying on them for power, welder, tools, and secure storage. They could use a had with fuel and such.
On the track:
Keep an eye on the temperature. Normal is just below half, maybe higher under racing conditions. We should have a fan switch installed before the race. Verify that it is on as soon as you get in the car.
Keep an eye on fuel.
When you go out for the first time, stay wide for a couple laps. Don't let the closeness of the cars freak you out. Once you are comfortable, find a good car to follow. Try to mimic their line.
Remember to yield the apex to cars that are ahead.
Everyone is bound to hit the dirt at some point. Don't make a habit of it. One spin-out costs more than several laps of slow driving.
Don't take risks near barricades. Hitting a barricades is not acceptable by the race officials and less so by the team. If you hit one, come in and switch drivers immediately.
Note the 'lousy driving' section of the official rules. (http://www.24hoursoflemons.com
Watch for flags. If suddenly cars become easy to pass, you probably didn't notice a yellow flag. If you realize you have passed under yellow, let the car(s) back in front of you.
The course is dynamic. Oil spills and displaced barricades change the course often.
Don't take anything personally on the track. All opponents are you friends when you are off the track. (You never know who you'll need parts/tools from.)
Paint Done.
On the hood is a giant alien from Space Invaders.
From Pacman are red ghosts on the doors,
Pacman wheel caps,
and the face of an fleeing ghost on the rear.
Monday, May 5, 2008
5 Days Before Race. More Real Paint.
Weather forecast says I have one more day to paint. Thursday I should have our vinyl graphics to finish the car. Then we need to pick up the trailer and load the car after work, then pack. We leave at 5 AM Friday. We really want to get to Altamont in time to drop the car Friday night.
I'm going to bed.
...Right after I pull the mask of the hood.