just when i thought i was out: Off-topic discussion forum: Grassroots Motorsports Magazine

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June 14, 2009 11:30 a.m. warpedredneck New Reader

i havent been in a stockcar or any racecar for 3 years good friend of mine calls, had an accident last week, has a concussion, can i drive his stockcar to keep his points up? let me think for a minute? hell yeah! get to the track, walk around it, rear geometry's off, pull the workshirt on crawl under, redo the angles on the lower and upper links, practice comes, squirm into the seat , adjust the belts, lock on the wheel, reach for the ign switch(did my hand just twitch?) hit the button, engine comes to life, not smooth, violent idle, wondering if its ok, then it settles into a happpy long duration burble hearts pounding like mad, grab 1st gear hit the track, heart rate drops, adreniline kicks in, pupils dilate, im back in the zone, oil,water,trans up to temp, grab high gear, start to roll thru the ends, feeling the chassis to see what its natural tendancy is, nail the load skinny pedal, pushing myself deeper into the corner, throttling back up at the apex, caution comes out, practice is over, not real sure how my times were, i let it idle for a minute, reflect on my laps, the owner comes over(white as a ghost), asks what i think? i think the cars fast but am i? his son comes over, i turn a 15.03 fastest, 15.73 slowest, the points leader was out when i was out and turned 15.1 fastest and more consistantly 15.2-3 try to find some more in the chassis, first heat comes, start at the rear work traffic, finish 2nd,amazed how much time stands still, rethink the adjustments 2nd heat finish 4th, wasent comfy car twitchy, wondering what to do next, reset the chassis to the starting base, start the feature 20th, dead last, calculating every corner entry, exit driving the balls off it, finish 5th tried to keep it low key, word got out i was driving, most of my old customers/friends, and alot of my family showed up just when i thought i was out, dey drag me right back in! thanks for listening to my rambling jeff
June 14, 2009 5:55 p.m. Volksroddin HalfDork

Sounds like you had a great time. Was this an oval track or road course?
June 14, 2009 6:34 p.m. warpedredneck New Reader

oval track, i had a fantastic time! ive slowly been weaning myself off stock cars but cant seem to find any other motorsport that gives me the same kick! hehe
June 14, 2009 7:40 p.m. The_Jed New Reader

Have you tried Rallycross?
June 14, 2009 8:58 p.m. warpedredneck New Reader

ill search, im in orillia ont if anyone has any knowledge on rallycross
June 14, 2009 9:01 p.m. maroon92 SuperDork

I have found that running in a solo with R-compounds is just as much, if not more fun, than a rallycross...rally tires are certainly fun too though.
June 14, 2009 10:28 p.m. The_Jed New Reader

Back when I was a financially impaired racer I ran Solo2 events and Rallycross on the same tires;195/75R-14 Goodyear Weather Handlers on a '97 Impreza,1.8,5-speed.

620 treadwear rating and tons-o-sidewall!!

I sometimes used the mud residue on the sidewall as an inflation gauge for the first run of the tarmac events;then it was shoe polish or chalk for the subsequent runs.
June 15, 2009 12:10 p.m. jpod999 Reader

That was a lot of commas.

Sounds like you had a good time...
June 15, 2009 12:34 p.m. MiatarPowar HalfDork

Sounds like a great time!
June 15, 2009 12:59 p.m. Xceler8x Dork

Soundsl like a blast. It also sounds like you have a bit of a reputation down there...
June 15, 2009 1:09 p.m. ClemSparks SuperDork

There is not much more nervewracking than a person's first time on a dirt oval. Warpedredneck, I know this wasn't your first time, but I'm sure you'll agree. I'm not nervous much in life, but I still remember the first time I went out on a banked dirt oval and how scared I was. My friend, now a nextel cup pro, had to talk me into it ;). Then I had to make the same reassurances to his little bro a few years back when it was his first time.

Clem
June 15, 2009 10:18 p.m. NGTD HalfDork

warpedredneck wrote:

ill search, im in orillia ont if anyone has any knowledge on rallycross

http://www.mlrc.ca/rallycross/

http://www.mco.org/cms/attachments/149_Rallycross-%20Augusta%20Motorsports%20Park%...

The Maple Leaf Rally Club ones are in Bancroft and Burnt River. Definitely closer for you than Agusta.

I am in North Bay, ON
June 16, 2009 1:54 a.m. warpedredneck New Reader

burnt river sure isnt too far, bancroft either for that matter, thanks, yeah, ive got a bit of a reputation around here, my fiance(getting married next month) it was her first time seeing me drive/race, think she might be hooked, kept asking me all sunday about racing at barrie speedway(local to us) your right tho about the nerves, my first time i was sooooooo jittery
June 16, 2009 2:51 p.m. Appleseed HalfDork

Like riding a bicycle, right?
June 16, 2009 3:43 p.m. suprf1y Reader

I ran that MLRC series for 2 years. Its fun, but in no way does it campare to dirt oval. I don't recall any dirt tracks up there, I assume you run paved?

I still want to build one of these http://www.f4modified.com/2008-photo-gallery.html (scroll down), but I hate their home track.
June 17, 2009 12:41 a.m. warpedredneck New Reader

i race(d) paved track, and yes i also have a few issues with flamborough, every time i went there to the fall specials i got hooped one way or another, i ran a mod for a couple of years at mosport, v8 version of the f4's