Dirt Missile rebuild begins

[Panteracer]

I run with Checkered flag racing.. one race group, one group A
which most can run in the race group as they are that fast
and no point byes and one group B with point byes

Most of the time it is 20-30 cars max with lots of open space
They are a great bunch of guys and run Laguna, Sears and
Thunderhill... guests are invited but most can get in

My viper buddy likes to start at the back of the pack
and run thru the group.. I do that with him but prefer
to start at the front and get a clean track until you hit
the lappers

I did the parking lot running with Shelby Club for a while
and finally went with these guys.... besides the founding
fathers 25 years back were all Pantera owners (best people
in the world.. they go nuts when a few of us current Pantera
owners show up

Bob

[57hemicuda]

I've been around this crap for a long time, run 10 or so different road courses. I have to say Nasa @ Sonoma is a bit of a cluster. So many cars on track, that they end up with cars stopped on track in grid, while cars have made a full lap, and are coming back around to grid hot. You add having TT and HPDE on at the same time, reminded me of the DC beltway.

Craziest thing I've ever seen, yeah I'll pass on that. I understand having to keep the sessions full to be profitable, but that was ridiculous.

[Flash68]

Originally Posted by 57hemicuda

I've been around this crap for a long time, run 10 or so different road courses. I have to say Nasa @ Sonoma is a bit of a cluster. So many cars on track, that they end up with cars stopped on track in grid, while cars have made a full lap, and are coming back around to grid hot. You add having TT and HPDE on at the same time, reminded me of the DC beltway.

Craziest thing I've ever seen, yeah I'll pass on that. I understand having to keep the sessions full to be profitable, but that was ridiculous.

Like I've told you and others.... the June event is the BIG one.... the other 4 or 5 during the season at Sonoma are fine.

Grow a set. Embrace the traffic.

[mfain]

Originally Posted by GregWeld

Dan,

I know what you’re saying but....

NASA can fix that by putting the proper groups on track..... they made it nearly impossible to be able to get any clean runs. We’re out there trying to get fast lap - while others are out parading.

In the TT classes — Which require comp licenses — you are supposed to be aware of faster cars on track at all times.

I agree — as the rules go - he was NOT past your door yet and you were turning in.... but as rules go - we all know “stuff” happens pretty quick out there and sometimes it’s hard to react. You did have a very wide line in to that turn which left the door open so to speak...

Greg's comment about not mixing HPDE with TT in the same group is spot on. However, NASA groups the rules for the two groups (HPDE/TT) in the same section of the rule book and currently there is only one comment about passing - "6. The driver attempting to make a pass is solely responsible for safe outcome of that pass. Drivers making a pass should be certain that the driver ahead of them can see them before attempting to pass." The guidance regarding what constitutes a safe "racing" pass (past the door, etc.) is in the competition section, which does not include HPDE or TT; however, after contact in TT I have seen NASA use the competition rules to determine fault. Most NASA HPDE Group 4 briefings include "passing with courtesy" and participants are reminded that the overtaking car cannot take the other car off his line. That is not appropriate for TT cars trying to get a good lap time. The groups should not be mixed!

Pappy

[GregWeld]

I will say —- Dan is correct — And I agree with him.... We have to know the rules and there are rules.

Every situation is different - and in the heat of battle - we’re all racers and take an advantage of any situation we can. Some of this is born out of frustration... as I’m sure this weekend was frustrating for many. However — doesn’t make it right. I’ve watched the video a few times in review —- I know myself — had it been me in the seat - I’d have taken that same pass.... 😂

What gets me is that NASA is putting cars out where the delta of lap times is just way too large. I think I now see why there’s so few cars in the upper groups. I noticed on Saturday there were way more TT cars — and they just must have packed up and gone home on Sunday. I now see why. Our plan was to run the two early TT sessions because the third session was TT and HDPE4 and supposedly that put about 100 cars on track. Darrell was smart enough to tell me “I’m not going to waste fuel and tires doing that”.... and I totally agreed. However — even the Sunday TT runs were mostly Miatas! WTF - I don’t care what you do in a Miata — it’s not going to run with almost 700hp. I also noticed the TTU Norma — it seemed to come out — do a couple hot laps and disappear... Given the rules for TT — just set fastest lap - doesn’t matter if it take you one lap or 10... that makes “sense” given the traffic situation. By the time the NORMA (OR US) came around for 2nd and 3rd lap — it put you into a cluster F....


SO what I’m trying to say is —- DAN —- Sorry that happened.... Glad it was you and not someone else. You had the skills to handle it.

[GregWeld]

By the way ——


WE are trying to make SCCA July 6th and 7th @ Sonoma — were we’ll put the car in Super Production class... that will be a real race and run like a race.

We have a lot of “stuff” to get done — and hopefully there’s not a big snafu that throws a monkey wrench in our well laid plans.

[Panteracer]

Greg
Is super production Merc9 class?
Saw him go by me a Laguna one day
Let me say it again. Saw something go by
me at Laguna and my buddy told me it was
Merc9

Bob

[57hemicuda]

Originally Posted by Flash68

Grow a set. Embrace the traffic.

I deal with traffic everyday, I race to blow off steam and enjoy the experience. Just know, its not like that everywhere. Dealing with crap that's unacceptable everywhere else in the world must be a California thing. LOL

[Vegas69]

Originally Posted by 57hemicuda

I deal with traffic everyday, I race to blow off steam and enjoy the experience. Just know, its not like that everywhere. Dealing with crap that's unacceptable everywhere else world must be a California thing. LOL

Exactly what I was thinking.

[Flash68]

Originally Posted by 57hemicuda

I deal with traffic everyday, I race to blow off steam and enjoy the experience. Just know, its not like that everywhere. Dealing with crap that's unacceptable everywhere else in the world must be a California thing. LOL

I thought the same thing as you... til I actually went out there and carved it up in those combined sessions. It was fun and tense at the same time.

Originally Posted by Vegas69

Exactly what I was thinking.

CA has its issues.... NASA Norcal registration numbers is not one of them.