<VV> Autocross report-long, maybe boring
levair at aol.com
levair at aol.com
Mon Oct 27 11:04:14 EDT 2008
Yee Haw!!!
Are we sick? It was around 40 deg. and 45 mph winds and we had a great
time anyway at Grissom AFB.
Well maybe not the first heat group who made half of their runs in
the rain. Of course we had to work in the rain. It was so windy that
pylons , timing equipment and chairs were blowing over. Reminds me of
Kansas in late Sept.
Weather forecasters in Indiana don't even come close. Can't hardly
wait to head for Florida Tuesday.
Some of the Indy members in open cars on slicks just slunk away and
went home due to the weather--you know who you are.
The 45 mph winds dried up the water and the concrete surface was
grippy for the 2nd and third heats where slick tired cars ran.
The two ladies in 200 hp, 1200#,open slick tired cars , ran in the
early rain heat and had a ball. Both were novices and put on a great
show with Wanda (car co- owner) pulling out a .6 sec. win over Tracy.
They say that the men who slunk off are Barbie Dolls.
I drove the turbo Corvair Stinger for two reasons , one was to have
some cammeraderie with other CP drivers and the other to test my ever
changing set up. The Cammeraderie was a given, competing with Jeff
Rapp-Corvair, and Robert Richwine-Mustang. We had a great time and I
was able to take the win--always helps.
I had just recently decided that the early reduced section(smaller
.2 A/R ratio) turbo exhaust housing was too small and reducing power
output, although with great response,. I ran the late, larger (.55 A/R
ratio) housing at a recent Indy event and was constantly smoking the
rear tires. so for Grissom I had installed much larger 23.5-11.5-15" in
tires on 12" wheels, in an R 35 coupound.
I ususally run the smaller car at small events and the huge car at
larger ones anyway. I was afraid that the rain was going to ruin my
testing, but the course was great for it; lots of room for boost and
fun sweeping turns. I believe that the sustained momentum design was
good for all cars.
The test was great, the car was a hoot to drive, and the boost was
addictive--just ask the rider/victims. The previous over locking rear
diff (hard to turn in) was fixed also. I turned the same times whether
in 2nd or 3 gear, so the torque was there. 52.5
There was a great race between Michael (Levair Performance) and his
car owner Steve Brinkerhoff in the other powerful light Lotus 7 clone
with Michael taking a .1 second win. 48.3
Watching the other less powerful classes turn very fast times (i.e.
Ron Conrad's 54.5 in an STS car) proved that the momentum design helped
every one.
PAX best was Chuck McMillion in an AWD car-fast in all
conditions--congrats.
We had a mini year end banquet at the Golden Corral later, great
friends, great fun.
Now I have to go out in the freezing weather to unload the Stinger
and load the Roadster for the trip to St. Augustine, FL.
Warren
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