<VV> The Mitty Update, April 16, 2012
levair at aol.com
levair at aol.com
Mon Apr 16 09:34:19 EDT 2012
Michael and I went to a Corvette sponsored autocross( Wounder Warriors
charity) Sunday to see what would fall off of the cars. It was a real
test too; one section was so rough, that I'll spend most of the day
looking for loose bolts. Both cars ran well but were poorly geared for
the rather tight event. Corvairs are pigs at tight events. I used the
tires that were on Michael's cars at last year's Mitty; the rubber
snakes on them made for an exciting first run.
Our cars were very well received, especially when they found out
about their intended purpose in less than two weeks.
My lighter car was balanced by passengers making them about equal
(Michael's has no passenger seat.). I barely nipped Michael on the last
run. We left early without making the next set of runs as Michael's tow
vehicle was having problems--testing isn't just about the race cars.
Warren
-----Original Message-----
From: Rick Norris <ricknorris at suddenlink.net>
To: fastvair <fastvair at yahoogroups.com>
Cc: virtualvairs <virtualvairs at corvair.org>
Sent: Mon, Apr 16, 2012 8:06 am
Subject: <VV> The Mitty Update, April 16, 2012
It is now 12 days until the Mitty.
15 Race Prepared Corvairs Signed Up!
Rumors, gossip, innuendos, etc.
Anybody have anything to add here send it to me.
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Curtis Wood sez: In 1991, a year after I bought my first race car
(YS199) a few of us had the first Yenko Stinger Reunion to celebrate 25
years, and it was at the Mitty. Attached is a picture of the back of
my 1991 Yenko reunion T-Shirt. It is really neat that those ambitious
Corvair racers, including you have restarted it and just maybe turned
it into a longstanding annual event. I do not remember everyone that
attended, but a bunch. It was largely organized by Jeff Moore. Jim
Schardt helped and then of course ran blisteringly fast laps all
weekend. YS199 broke. Can't remember what broke but in the group
Stinger picture it is "tailhigh" with the engine out. Chris Langley
drove his street car with 13" wheels and 3.89 gears all the way from
Houston. Nuts?, adventuresome?, or both? Guessing that was a loud
ride. I Think there were 6 Stingers total? It was a lot like the Mitty
last year. A really nice time with some really nice people. Look
forward to seeing everyone at
the Mitty.
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Jeff Moore sez: The cats out of the bag! Sort of last minute, but I
couldn't stand not bringing YS095 back this year. I enlisted my old
(and good) friend Curtis Wood to drive this year. Curtis was at the
event last year being a very sporting fellow and driving his seniors
division concours Yenko Stinger YS003 on a 1500 mile round trip to
attend the Mitty from Missouri. Curtis started his road racing career
in 1991 taking YS199 as a GT3 car to his first SCCA drivers school at
Hallett Motor Racing Circuit and winning his first race that weekend.
Curtis raced YS199 (now owned by Chris Langley, and being driven this
year at the Mitty by James Reeve) for several years before moving on to
several other Corvair GT3 cars. He now races a Alfa Romeo Giuletta
spider in HP and FP in SCCA. Can't wait!
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Al Wicht sez: Looking for a surprise. Road Atlanta is real drivers
track. Looking forward to racing with other Corvairs first, then also
racing with some of the Corvair "legend" drivers, is a true "can't
miss" event. I hope a bunch of our non-racer brothers and sisters come
out to watch and support. 14 Corvairs in one race, and a father/son
combo. I always love when my son and I race together. This is a once
in a life time event. I probably will be shy of 200 HP, but the motor
is only one part of the deal. I took off work this week, even though I
could use the cash. I saw that the car wasn't going to be ready if I
didn't spend this whole week working on it. So working on Underdog's
nephew, the #65, now the #3. Warren got #93, he has the honor being a
few years older than me. Spent the week, going through the car,
checking all nuts and bolts for tighty, tight. Checking tire wheel
clearances. Assembling a new motor. Replacing rear stock shoes with
metallic's off Underdog. O
rdered Hawk pads for the front from Jegs. I made a cool discovery,
Spence 's car has brakes off a 69-81 Camaro and with some light
grinding on the caliper, my 13" Diamond wheels fit on the front.
Already have good slicks mounted to go all the way around and a mounted
set of new rains.
Second 2AM nite.......Got the motor together, going in car today.
This is the back up motor with stock exhaust. The Weber motor has
large slant tubes which don't have headers yet. I will bring good
motor, maybe someone will have a set laying around if I can't get some
made. Time is getting short. Worked until past 2AM, 3 nites in row. Got
to go back to Key West to work tomorrow. Bringing two motors or three.
Two sets slicks, one set of rains. Planning on being there Wed. about
4-5 PM.
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Eddie Meadows sez: Put the race engine in my buggy and drove it
around for a few miles to break it in. Seems very willing to rev. It
will go into old YS062 this weekend and we will be ready.
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David Clemens sez: My plans are.. Leaving Virginia around 7AM
Thursday morning that should put me at the track around 3pm Thursday
afternoon. To whomever is there first, please try to get a large enough
area for all 15 + corvairs to be together.
Awesome... Can't wait...Mike or anybody with connections we need to
coordinate a group photo if possible on the track.. Maybe Thursday
evening or Friday evening to make certain all are present and able to
make it out to the picture...With my recent percentage of breakage I
may need to be towed out to the picture but I want to be a apart of it
either way.
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Linda Latulippe sez: We should be there on Wed. We need power
also-for the motorhome. We will put all our heads together to try and
set up a great compound for the Corvair Mitty Gang. (editor: remember,
two heads are always thicker than one!)
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Judy Marchione (HSR Registrar) sez: Dear Mitty Participant: Thank
you for entering the 2012 Mitty. This is to inform you that the Mitty
entry list is posted on the HSR website (hsrrace.com) and will serve as
confirmation of your Mitty entry. Please check the information
carefully and contact me by EMAIL with questions or concerns. The
official Mitty schedule is now posted on the website as well as the
Test Day Schedule. Parking at the Mitty is a very time consuming and
demanding process. Please be patient. Parking is not on a first come,
first served basis, nor is reserved parking available. Parking is
accomplished by the best way to make it work. You may not be parked in
the order you are lined up. The HSR parking staff is experienced in
the parking process and will accommodate you the best way possible. The
Mitty promises to be a spectacular event, including the Mission Foods
Friday night welcome party with authentic Mexican cuisine, beer and
wine. Saturday night
is the Mitty event party with food, friends, music and spirits. Don't
forget to visit the infield where Classic Motorsports magazine has
planned a wide variety of event, including car club corrals, activities
and the Classic Motorsport official event site. We hope you have a
great Mitty experience. Judy Marchione, HSR Registrar
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Rick Norris wrote:
Judy, (Marchione)
We are REALLY excited about this years Mitty. If you look at the
entry list for Group 2H you will see we have 14 Corvairs ready to
race!That's about 36 percent of the field. Our goal for this year (with
Mike Levine) was to get ten Corvairs to show up. We have exceeded that
number. I know that Triumph is the featured marque but, this an
historic event for the Corvair crowd. Never in our history or at any
other time or place has there been a race field with 14 vintage race
prepared Corvairs! As I am want to say, Its gonna be historic! ps. We
invited Ralph Nader but haven't heard back...
Judy answered:
Rick: I just can't imagine why Nader hasn't responded to your
invitation! That is so exciting - largest field of Corvairs. I know
they are all going to have a great time. Thanks for letting me know.
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Media: I have sent flyers with our info to the following Facebook
entities.
Victory Lane, Car& Driver, Sportscar Digest, Vintage Motorsport,
Autoweek, Motor Trend, Automobile Magazine, Vintage Racing Today,
Vintage Auto Racing, Vintage Drivers Club of America, Vintage Racer
Group, Penske Racing, Motorsport Retro, Bert Levy, Classic Motorsports,
Road Atlanta Track and my own Facebook page so far.
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Pit Parking: We will be crowded this year so, we are asking that
open trailers park on the hill up behind the Pro Pits and any personal
vehicles that are not absolutely needed. We plan to have a golf cart
available for shuttling people back and forth and for fuel runs. This
is preliminary and will be worked out as needed.
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Corvair Alley: Race car prep continues. Final linkage hook up and
test. Weighed the car..really ugly with chubby driver!
Need to inventory the race boxes. I have a habit of borrowing
something from them and not replacing it. I'm bringing a really big
clock to hang where we can all see it, especially us severely
experienced (geezers!) guys!
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