2011 Nationals

[Fbody383]

Makes you wonder about the racing weight given to the platform.

Fixed that for ya Big E.

[jeffburch]

Is this what you're preparing to do?
What about HP/tq #'s.
Are they using restrictor plates?

jb.

I talked to Steve Poe quite awhile on Friday. The car Chris was driving is for sale for $20,000. He said a decent 2005 GT can be bought for around $10,000. Black interiors bring good money on ebay...tan is landfill material. Shocks and Bushings sounds like the only suspension mods. Anders and James Ray have aftermarket calipers but Chris was on stock. A do-it-yourselfer can build an S197 for $15,000 or so mostly depending on how well one can get a cage installed. The days of the Fox cars are over.

Sidney

[BryanL]

So what happened in AI?

[Adam Ginsberg]

So what happened in AI?

Allot.

Thursday qual race - 7 AI cars (out of a total of 14) did not make it to grid on time, and had to be released via the Pit Entry Marshall (me) to join the AI field ALREADY out on track, getting ready to start their race. Reason? Drivers had asked the grid workers earlier (about an hour before our scheduled race time of 2:15pm) how far behind NASA was running, and were told 20 minutes (the PA system at Mid-Ohio was not working most of the weekend). NASA managed to pick up time by cutting some sessions short, and our group was released on track at exactly 2:15pm. Those 7 drivers waited, thinking NASA was still behind.....and it cost them heavily. One particular driver sped through the paddock area, and was reported to the Race and Series Director via radio. The driver was given an option - pay a $500 fine, or have his vehicle towed EVERYWHERE in the paddock (no one was permitted to drive the car ANYWHERE in the paddock, at any time). He chose having his car towed. One reported contact, deemed a racing incident, but of the two drivers, only one filled out a contact form. The other driver was DQ'd for failing to submit a contact form.

Friday qual race was good, plenty of battling going on, minor contact between a few racers (all deemed racing incidents). Dean Martin was DQ'd for being over on the dyno, everyone else passed tech.

Sunday Champ race was a full-on nail biter. Martin started from the back, Cobetto on pole. Attrition got one racer within 3 or so laps (Winchester...broken clutch cable or pedal, not sure which), battle up front was heated...close, tight racing, each giving one another room. P3-P5 was also an epic battle between budget racer TJ Bain (in a white 3rd gen Firebird), and two S197's driven by Chris DeSalvo and Richard Golinello. Back and forth between those 3 drivers....TJ took third, then lost 4th gear in his hooptie, then giving 3rd back to Golinello, but he held onto 4th at the checker. All cars passed a rigorous tech inspection that lasted approximately 2 hours.

[GlennCMC70]

Greg Brown is a great guy, but if they are still using his mobile dyno, they need to reconsider for future events. 3 years in a row now it has proven VERY inconsistent... The dyno used in 2008 was pretty solid...it was a "big drum" dyno. the "small drum" dyno jets are for the most part, worthless and constantly read high at any elevation and any shop.

I gotta ask.....
Is this Misty or Matt? Alot of your posts lately come across as being Matt. Sorry if it is you Misty, but I was just wondering.

[rpoz27]

We merged.

[GlennCMC70]

One of you is banned from here last I checked. Let's not make it both of you.

[cjlmlml]

Lighten up Glen.

[GlennCMC70]

Are you calling me fat?

[rleng1]

Cannot wait for my first Nationals (drama filled) experience. Not sure if my heart can withstand the anguish.