I finally got around to mounting a camera in the race car. Here is the 1st 9 minutes from the start of the race. It is my 1st youtube video - not sure why it is clipped as I shot it in 1080i HD.
Backstory: I DNF'd the previous day so I was starting from the back. I botched the start a little because I couldn't see the green flag from back there and lost a few more spots right away.
Way cool!
Whats the schmutz floating around on the passenger side floor?
BBsGarage wrote: Way cool! Whats the schmutz floating around on the passenger side floor?
Tire clag. The bits of rubber that collect on the outside of turns get flung into the car whenever you get next to someone who is offline.
Looks more fun starting from the back.
Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote:BBsGarage wrote: Way cool! Whats the schmutz floating around on the passenger side floor?Tire clag. The bits of rubber that collect on the outside of turns get flung into the car whenever you get next to someone who is offline.
Ahh! For some reason I found myself watching that more then out front. 
BBsGarage wrote: Ahh! For some reason I found myself watching that more then out front.
When I watch it I see poor camera placement, loose straps that need zip ties and someone who forgot to put their visor down :)
I was trying to get a view out the side, the mirror for rear traffic and the windshield. It appears I mostly captured the interior. Hollywood isn't going to call any sooner than Grand-Am I'm afraid.
looks good.. you certainly seemed to do better than people with fasterlooking cars (the widebodied and winged E36 comes to mind)
mad_machine wrote: looks good.. you certainly seemed to do better than people with fasterlooking cars (the widebodied and winged E36 comes to mind)
The first two positions in the race were very ordinary looking E36 M3s (well driven and well prepared... but very street car appearing).
They lapped me in under 30 minutes of racing.
Looks to me like you were seriously held up by the mid-packers. Tough getting by people that can out-run you down the straight but park in the corners.
Awesome! I actually thought the camera placement wasn't bad. Yeah, it'd be nice to get a better forward view, but I liked being able to see what was going on inside...
About 7:10 to 7:40 appears to have been some interesting times on track...
jstein77 wrote: Looks to me like you were seriously held up by the mid-packers. Tough getting by people that can out-run you down the straight but park in the corners.
I am sure they feel the same when I'm in front and driving down the inside of the straight to keep them behind until the corners. I can make an E30 pretty wide when I have to :)
ransom wrote: About 7:10 to 7:40 appears to have been some interesting times on track...
You are the only person to catch my little missed shift - that mistake cost me the position for the remainder of the race despite him trying to give it back a few turns later. I couldn't capitalize because when he went sideways I backed out lost the torque curve and he was on the gas, beating me to the corner. Live and learn...
In reply to Giant Purple Snorklewacker:
I was wondering whether that might have been a result of being a little flustered by the dark car's bobble right at the beginning of that segment. Looked like he braked hard and early and wobbled a bit, and would have left me going "how do I get away from this person, and which direction is he going to wobble next?"
I feel strangely compelled to chuck in the disclaimer that I have no idea what I'm talking about, having done one track day. The tone of the above is a bit "oh yeah, been there...", and I haven't. Very jealous of your actually getting out there and getting on with it.
Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote: When I watch it I see poor camera placement, loose straps that need zip ties and someone who forgot to put their visor down :) I was trying to get a view out the side, the mirror for rear traffic and the windshield. It appears I mostly captured the interior. Hollywood isn't going to call any sooner than Grand-Am I'm afraid.
I thought most racers kept their visor up in closed-roof cars. I see lots of pros with it up at Sebring, Daytona etc.
I think the camera placement is pretty good actually. It's nice being able to see you work the car. Perhaps move it up just a touch higher so you can see your line a little better, but I like it overall.
dyintorace wrote: I thought most racers kept their visor up in closed-roof cars. I see lots of pros with it up at Sebring, Daytona etc. I think the camera placement is pretty good actually. It's nice being able to see you work the car. Perhaps move it up just a touch higher so you can see your line a little better, but I like it overall.
At NJMP there is a lot of sand, rocks and rubber flying around - later in the race it occurred to me that the rock dings in the windshield could just as easily be on my cornea.
Why do I keep watching these things..makes me miss it more & more every day!
I wonder what the guy in the E36 thought about not being able to lose an old E30 (sounds glorious, BTW)..
friedgreencorrado wrote: (sounds glorious, BTW)..
In the excitement of trying to figure out that I was starting dead last instead of 12th ( start pos was based on previous race which DNF'd, not qualifying DOH!) I forgot to put my ear plugs back in.
The ringing I can still hear is not glorious at all. Thanks though :)
Way awesome. With the missed shift, you can at least be thankful it didn't appear to be the famous BMW money-shift.
DaewooOfDeath wrote: Way awesome. With the missed shift, you can at least be thankful it didn't appear to be the famous BMW money-shift.
It was a 3rd to 2nd "moneyshift" and I did go back and watch the video carefully... the shift light didn't come on before I yanked it back to neutral.
This comes down to getting flustered with traffic and my basic laziness. The shifter is home-made and a little sloppy because I over-bored the bronze bushing. I have to choose my gear carefully. You can lay money that I'm re-doing it before the race at Summit Point though.
Lucky break!
I've only been to T-bolt a few times. I have a lot more seat time at the Lightning circuit (which I like a bit better).
I have lots of vids from Lightning, but they're all from my vintage car.
In '07, I built a car that I considered running in the GR Challenge....a Ford Escort GT. It would have complied with all the rules for the '08 Challenge, but when push came to shove, there was no way that I could get to Fla. for that long during that time of the year. So I ran it in local NASA events and eventually sold it to friend (so I could focus on my vintage racing).
HERE is an in-car vid from the Escort at Thunderbolt. Engine was bone stock along with most everything else. I didn't stand a chance against the BMWs. But, still fun. I did a little "off-roading" at 5:30. 
aeronca65t wrote: I've only been to T-bolt a few times. I have a lot more seat time at the Lightning circuit (which I like a bit better).
My car has better gearing and grip for staying with the big dogs at TB but truthfully neither track holds a candle to Summit, Mid-O or the Glen for great layouts. It just happens to be close.
Cool vid - but I much prefer the ones you post chock full of old eye candy jacking and sliding all over :)
Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote: In the excitement of trying to figure out that I was starting dead last instead of 12th ( start pos was based on previous race which DNF'd, not qualifying DOH!) I forgot to put my ear plugs back in. The ringing I can still hear is not glorious at all. Thanks though :)
Dude, seriously..I've done it, but for the earholes, do what you can do--every single time.
My daughter: "Dad, you need a hearing aid."
Me: "Pfft, that's what I've got you for. What did that guy say again?"
No wonder she doesn't call me as often as she used to (cellphones make it worse)..
..... I much prefer the ones you post chock full of old eye candy jacking and sliding all over :)
LOL
Me too!
Are you going to be at H'fest? I'm doing TTC on Sunday - What color/number is the car if you're there - I've got tons of time between rounds - I'll come by.
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