Here's little Tommy's "racing credentials".... do the math -- he's 14 years old - and will turn a whopping 15 next week....



And the rest of you want to adjust tire pressure and click shocks..... Yeah right.... how about just learning how to drive???





Tommy McCarthy is Fourteen years old and has been racing since the age of five. Tommy has won 600+ races, and holds championships in all three major racing disciplines; road course karting, pavement ovals (large & small), and dirt-tracks. Tommy’s achievements include:

2012 QMA Grand National Champion Dirt A Class
2012 USAC Albuquerque Champion Pavement Sr. Animal Class
2012 QMA Winter National Champion Lt World Formula Class
2012 QMA Red Jacket Track Records at Madera A & B Class
2011 QMA Grand National Champion Pavement Lt. AA Class.
2011 QMA Western National Champion Pavement Lt World Formula Class
2011 WSRA Mini Cup Champion Pavement (most wins too).
2011 QMA Region 10 Champion: Lt. Mod (undefeated), & Lt. World Formula.
2011 Baylands Champion Lt. World Formula & Track Record Holder
2011 QMA American Track Records in Lt. AA & World Formula
2010 Western Indoor Lt. Mod Champion & Lt. AA Champion
2010 QMA Region 10 Champion: Sr. Stk, Lt. Mod, and Lt. 160 (undefeated).
2010 USAC “Battle of the Brickyard” Sr. Stk Champion, Indianapolis Motor Speedway
2010 Baylands Lt. 160 Champion (undefeated)
2009 Motor Sports Press Association “Rising Star Award” Recipient
2009 MMRA Mini Cup Rookie of the Year
2009-current MMRA Mini Cup Stockton 99 Speedway Track Record
2009-current MMRA Mini Cup Madera Speedway Track Record
2009 Region 10 Quarter Midget Sr. Stock Champion
2009 Baylands Quarter Midget Sr. Stock Champion
2009 Jim Russell Infenion Raceway Karting Arrive & Drive Cadet Series June Winner & Track Record
2009 Jim Russell Infenion Raceway Karting Gazelle Series, Champion and Undefeated
2009 Tri-Valley Howard Memorial Sr. Stock Track Record & Lt. Mod Track Record
2009 Vallejo Indoor Lt. Mod Champion, Lt. 160 Champion, & Sr. Stock Champion (three in the same year).
2009 Hangover Classic Sr. Honda Champion & Sr. Stock Champion
2008 Baylands Quarter Midget Sportsman of the Year (voted by other drivers)
2008 Region 10 Quarter Midget Sr. Stock Champion
2008 MONZA Quarter Midget Sr. Stock Champion
2008 Baylands Quarter Midget Sr. Stock Champion
2008 Tri-Bay Quarter Midget Series Sr. Stock & Lt. Mod Champion
2008 Baylands Sr. Stock Track Record
2008 Tri-Valley Sr. Stock Track Record
2008 Won 64 Races (Heat Races & Main Events)
2008 Las Vagas Clash Race Jr. Stock Champion & Jr. Honda Champion
2007 Baylands Quarter Midget Jr. Stock Champion & Jr. Honda Champion
2007 Madera “Galante” Jr. Honda Track Record
2007 Tri-Valley Jr. Stock “Howard Memorial” Track Record
2007 BQMRA MONZA Jr. Honda Track Record
2007 Won 60 Races (Heat Races & Main Events)
2006 Baylands Jr. Stock Champion & Jr. Honda Champion
2006 American Quarter Midget Jr. Stock Track Record
2005 Baylands Rookie of the Year.

Pretty sure if we had little Tommy's cholesterol level we might win sumthun too. #webmd



:tv_happy:

:secret: That says something about the shift linkage........

No not really ---- #1 the shifter in this little POS is incredible... super tight pattern... very short throw.... and I did the same thing little Tommy did until I finally had some time in the car and then that went away. The primary H pattern is very close - then the 5 and 6 pattern is over to your right.... and it was very easy at first to go from 4th to 3rd unless you made a deliberate move to the passenger side to slide it up into 5th.

On this track -- I only slid it into 6th ONCE that I can remember..... and of course a better driver might come off the corners onto the straights carrying more speed therefore getting into the higher gears sooner... and maybe I'd be a better driver if I spent more time adjusting my air pressures. HAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHA


Later on Sunday I did make an attempt to stay up with a couple of race prepped ZR1's that were running in the Blue group (they combined the blue and green later on Sunday) and I was very happy with the Lotus's performance.... I, however, knew I was driving way over my head and let them go after a couple corners. The car/driver combo was just way too fast for my LOFT.

I was hoping it was acclamation period. Took me a while with the T56 Mag and Hurst shifter. Trust and a little leap of faith. :D

I have to say == I wouldn't change a thing on the little POS. It needs way better tires... so I'll get a couple sets of those coming but other than that I was very happy with it.

It's funny to hear it run thru the gears -- you don't hear much of anything when you have the helmet on and the air whizzin' past you... and all that buzzing sound is going away to the rear.

Now the Mustang on the other hand... OH YEAH!!

Nice driving Greg :thumbsup: Smart move to follow the kid around the track… he has the lines dialed in.

Enjoyed the videos… The Lotus looks like so much fun!

:cheers:

Thanks Dale! And just think - you were there the day I bought the little POS!!


Thanks for the kudos.... but as you stated -- the KID had the lines -- it was super easy to just coast around behind him and commit them to memory. Left on my own - I tend to go into attack mode - hitting it harder and harder until something lets go... like the grip.... I even managed a tank slapper from 8 up to 9! There's a super nice set of black stripes that look like a slalom course was set up. HAHAHAHAHAHA I'm not even sure how I started that! The Lotus loved it.

How old are the current tires?

You must be fast cause you were haulin azz when I buzzed by you!!

Good question.... But I have no answer. They're coming off regardless.... I can't waste 2 and 3 laps waiting for the tires to start to work.