TMS Recap - 2019

[michaelmosty]

The track was definitely more fun than I had expected. NASCAR 4 starts getting quick at speeds around 115 mph. The tri-oval goes very quickly and then with able to go flat through the chicane we were entering NASCAR 1 around 130 mph. If you went in without lifting it usually pushed you up track about a car width and was a nice pucker moment. It seemed like the best was to lift slightly and then get back to full throttle until the brake zone. The feeling was unlike anything from the previous tracks we have raced.
I will say, due to the speeds through the banking, car prep is crucial for running the track. It is scary to think what would happen if a hub failed through the banking.

The infield was nothing special but I did find it tricky to get the correct braking / turn in points as there were no reference markers.
I also thought the grip was terrible on the infield and I wonder how much of that was due to the high temps or just maybe bad driving, haha.

Also, the Right Rear tire takes a beating. I didn't rotate my tires and now my RR is bald, even with running only 4 full sessions, 1 very shortened qual, and virtually nothing of the last race.

If we run the track next year, would be neat to have a full field!!

[RichardP]

I will say, due to the speeds through the banking, car prep is crucial for running the track. It is scary to think what would happen if a hub failed through the banking.

Or a tire. When the Corvette C5R was there racing, they lost a tire exiting turn four. They were live on the in-car when it happened. You heard the pop and a half a second later the car was in the outside wall hard. It punched the windshield out through its clips. No visible input from the driver. It just happened too fast. Completely totaled...


Richard P.

[Pranav]

I installed new C7 hubs and aged out my rear axles, made it a point to run on brand new tires because of these stories.

I think the chicane, despite being wide, helped slow things down a little.

This even was fun, A+ would recommend again.

Now to rebuild me rear end; broke the end off carrier housing when we had contact on the LR wheel while I was on the gas on Saturday. Thought it was a loose panhard bar mount saturday night, but sunday morning the rear end kept making the same noise then started grenading in warmup.

Thanks to John and the new guy with the green camaro we were able to get it rebuilt with my spare r&p and diff, and on track in 2 hours!

Now if I could find a T2R again...

[ShadowBolt]

I broke a hub at Hallett. How in the world can you make sure a hub does not fail?

JJ

[drecords]

I broke a hub at Hallett. How in the world can you make sure a hub does not fail?

JJ

How old was it Jerry? I'd consider changing them before TMS.

[drecords]

For those of you who missed it. This is what it looked like.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=7_A5Qb...ature=youtu.be

[centerville]

Here is my take on an awesome weekend.

I did comp school on Friday and received my provisional license to go racing. WooHoo!

Saturday morning warm up went ok. Didn't feel great about it but I was glad to have the stress of comp school over with. Qualifying I decided to just work on a couple corners as rookies start at the back no matter what times you run. I felt better about 3 and 7 after the session. R1 first standing start, don't miss a shift. I didn't but the t5 is worn so 2-3 is horrible. When its over I finished 3rd. One heck of a first day racing.

Sunday morning warm up went out and tried to pick up time as the temps were down. Picked up speed almost everywhere. Qualifying just went out and tried to stay in the gas all the way into 1-2, crazy fast and I slightly lifted. Again as I rookie I am supposed to start last no matter how I qualify so I come in early to be ready for the R2.

R2 for whatever reason I'm not at the back, I'm in p3. No problem just don't miss a shift. 2-3 did not work this time at all but Pranav did not run me over. Thanks. When its all over 4th place and picked up a bunch of time from Saturday. R3 is an invert and I did not know that, nor were grid spots posted. When I pulled into grid I am told to go to p1. So much for rookies starting at the back. lol First rolling start and things went well. Finished 8 seconds faster than my Saturday times and in 3rd place again.

Outstanding weekend and I can't thank everyone enough for guiding me through my first weekend and all the noob questions. I can not wait till MSRH. I have quite a few things that need to be addressed before then so no NOLA for me.

[ShadowBolt]

How old was it Jerry? I'd consider changing them before TMS.

I'm sorry I misspoke. I broke a spindle at Hallett.

JJ

[Suck fumes]

That’s the first time I have seen the track let anyone use turn 1 and 2 banking. They used to make us use the flat area on the bottom of the banking for turn 1,2 and then we could use the bank for the other side of the track for whatever reason. So with turn 1,2 banking this track just got a whole lot faster haha and brakes even more critical!!

[RichardP]

I'm sorry I misspoke. I broke a spindle at Hallett.

JJ

To be fair, looking at the failure surface, it seems likely you actually cracked your spindle at Cresson when you broke the strut. It was probably difficult/impossible to see with your eyes at the time. If you had done a crack check at any point between then and Hallett, the failure would have been obvious.

For anyone that takes a big hit, doing a crack check on suspected parts is pretty easy. I give a class on fatigue failures/crack checking for my DE students. There isn't an equivalent outlet for the racers but I'm happy to give the class if someone wants to see it...


Richard P.