SCCAForums.com

O.K., boys and girls.  For those of us who can't get there  Shoot the info out here into Forum-land, puhleeeeeeeeeeeaaaze!!  Who is doing what, where and when!!! 

I know some of you SSB/C folks read and write, and play with computers---go get yo' lazy fingers to work and let us know the way things go, Joe.  Umm, I didn't mean J'mac in particular--any Joe in general who wishes to provide us underprivileged folks with the facts would be just fine.

 
Thank you sooooo much,

Missing racing sooooooooooooooo much!

 

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Jack SSB Z4 #09

Ditto!  Enquiring minds want to know!

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Steve Taake
SSC #5
SWDiv SCCA

SSB  Niffenegger- Honda  2:45.6

Jensen- Acura 2:47.2

Flory- Solstice 2:47.5

Porter- Mini 2:48.2

Dalton- Miata 2:57.7

Start- Mini 2:47.6

Shader- MX-5 2:47.3

 

SSC  McClugan- Mazda 3 2:53

Russell- Mazda 3 2:54.2

Carini- Mazda 3 2:55.7

Dulude- Civic 2:57.2

Jones- Civic 2:58.5

Daly- Rabbit 2:57.4

 

Maybe we should give the SSB Honda a better suspension package???  The defending National champion was only 2 seconds slower on his fast lap.

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Mike Scornavacchi
#25 SSB Solstice
Hoosier, Phoenix, Carbotech, Lawrence Chevrolet, www.TrackTapes.com

This race might not prove too many points due to shortened length and incidents constraining performance potential over time.  From the SCCA.com site front page story:

"Race Three saw it all—clean racing, a big incident and rain. The Touring 3, Showroom Stock B, Showroom Stock C and Spec Miata contest ended before many felt the racing was going to really start—particularly in Spec Miata, which saw an epic battle for the lead developing before the race was slowed.

Bob Boileau, of Monument, Colo., built a sizeable lead overall in his Touring 3 class Hoosier/1-800-FIGHT-MS/CTEngineering Honda S2000 before a lap-five incident involving the Showroom Stock B cars of Bob Schader and Jonathan Start brought out a full course yellow. Due to the lengthy cleanup and a brief rain shower, the race was shortened to seven laps and ended under caution with Boileau taking the overall win. Boileau also set a new T3 track record in the process.

Lee Neffenegger, of Delaware, Ohio, won Showroom Stock B in his Honda/BFGoodrich/Cobalt Friction Honda Civic Si and Joe McClughan, of New Braunfels, Texas, took SSC in his Mazdaspeed/Hoosier MAZDA3. Polesitter Mark Bennett, of Lagrange, Ohio, led a train of Spec Miatas that included Jim Drago, Jason Saini and Richard Wiese, and took the win in his Stewart Engineering/Carbotech/Backstreet Mazda Miata."

Congrats to the winners - er... survivors

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PaulG
56 T3

Congratulations to Lee, whose qualifying time took a full second of of Toby's old lap record.  His race time was within a few hundredths of Toby's record, too.  Given the conditions and the fact that Toby only did one lap at that time (second lap on A's and all the others were in the 2:46 range), I'd say that the Honda has everyone pretty well covered for next year.

It appeared that the Mini's were not as fast a prior years, so perhaps the track and weather weren't all that ideal.  I expected the Minis to turn a bit faster times. I also was looking for another second, perhaps, from the Solstii--so they have been slowed, perhaps, a bit.  I just wish that my car had been ready for this event so we could get a decent comparison from all the top marques.  

It does appear that the Honda has between a second and a half to two seconds, possibly, on the other makes at Road America, though I wasn't there and can't be certain of what the race conditions might have done to slow others.  Perhaps the HPT race will be really close this year, but the future looks to favor the Honda motored cars.

Sorry I missed it, guys, but I hope to see some racing this year, soon. 

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Jack SSB Z4 #09

I was in the clear at the start while everyone else was fighting it out for the first few laps and were caught up with a T3 car in the middle of it all. The lap times mean very little to compare.  Also, the fast time was on par with Toby's time a couple of years ago.  Not like the record was SMASHED.

Before everyone starts sqwuaking about the Civic take into account... I'm on tires and brakes that NO ONE ELSE has even bothered to TRY.  Additionally, I've gotten very creative with alignment settings and the car is MUCH better handling wise than it has ever been.  I suggested my settings to Jeff Jensen and he dropped 2 seconds in the second qualifying.

Ken appears to be down on power, especially compared to the other fast Solstice out there.  I'm sure this will be rectifiied by October.

I will agree with the comment on the Mini's.  The ones there were no faster this year than last year and they were given a suspension and LSD.  However, if you look at the Brecht Mini's in California and the Davis Mini in the SE, they are exactly on par with the Civic.

Rather than crying foul about a car that hasn't won any championships, look at how close the races have been between the fastest Minis, Civics, Solstice, and from what I understand out west - the MS-R of Schader though that car may be out for a while.  The class is as close as it has been in 4 years.

 

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Honda/BF Goodrich/ Cobalt Friction/AEM/Traqmate

Relax, Lee, I'm not calling for the heads of the Honda powered drivers just yet.  I said that I wasn't there to evaluate conditions and that is the case.  Still, two Honda powered cars tied or broke Toby's flier lap record, and that isn't poking around.  You may not be at an advantage this year, but if this race is any indication, the Honda powered cars will be very, very competitive at the 2009 Runoffs.

I'm thinking--umm, maybe about 250lbs. of lead should take care of it?    Wink, wink, nudge, nudge!

I'd really like to hear from Ralph and Jonathan about what kept their speeds down at last years' levels.  Also, what did happen to Bob and Jonathan?  Your post makes it sound like Bob has a lot of damage--Jonathan too?  I hope it's nothing like as expensive to fix as mine is turning out to be.  OUCH! 

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Jack SSB Z4 #09

All,

Here are the facts and statistics and then I'm done with this thread:

California Speedway

Niffenegger Civic Si 1:59.415**  (new record)

Tim Brecht Mini S   1:59.619

VIR 1

Gilsinger  Civic Si   2:20.563

Davis       Mini S     2:20.937

VIR 2

Gilsinger  Civic Si    2:19.214

Davis       Mini S      2:18.997** (new record)

Nelson Ledges1

Niffenegger  Civic Si  1:17.065

Scornavacchi  Solstice 1:16.897** (new record)

Nelson Ledges2

Niffenegger  Civic Si  1:17.512

Scornavacchi  Solstice  1:17.150

Beaverun

Niffenegger  Civic Si  1:08.396

Scornavacchi  Solstice 1:08.292** (new record)

Road Atlanta

Davis  Mini S          1:44.713

Scornavacchi  Solstic  1:44.207

Doesn't look like such a huge gap between these cars does it?  New records for all of these cars.

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Honda/BF Goodrich/ Cobalt Friction/AEM/Traqmate

the race wasn't much of a race.  6 laps.  the ssb incident was past the kink and looked like lots of damage.  i have no idea what happened and had to jet for the airport right after the race.  the incident happened on lap 6.  we followed the pace car for 2 or 3 laps.  then it rained a bit in canada corner and they threw the checkered.  we never went to green after the lap 6 incident.

as far as ssc.  joe was untouchable.  he under plays his driving abilities but he was braking deep and nailed every apex.  i've never even sat in a "3" before this weekend.  but felt extremely comfortable in it about halfway through the first lap of practice.  very predictable.  joe gave me a great car.

gino and richard had an "interesting" moment.  i'll let them tell you about it.  the rabbit did well for it's first national.  it would be interesting to see how it does on a tighter course.

luke

Lee

Let me tell you the obvious...

Catching someone and passing them is to different things. It is impossible/frustrating when the slower car in a straight line is losing huge amount's of time on the straightaways. This is alot of smoke. We all know something needs to be done the question is what???

I am glad Ken went to Road America and what happened is what I thought would happen.

All this sounds good but you haven't lost a race this year in the Civic and Chad hasn't either.

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Mike Scornavacchi
#25 SSB Solstice
Hoosier, Phoenix, Carbotech, Lawrence Chevrolet, www.TrackTapes.com

BAD PNY:

Lee

Let me tell you the obvious...

 This is alot of smoke. We all know something needs to be done the question is what???

I am going to point out the obvious, where was this kind of comment from the Soltice camp before about your own marquee when it was cleaning clock before all the adjustements up on stuff?

I am not on the Honda's jock, just always get a kick when it sways back and forth

I agree 100% on that.

BAD PNY:

Maybe we should give the SSB Honda a better suspension package??? 

And what I find totally hilarious is when Mike was rather easily wiping up in the NE the last couple of years the forum posts (from him and others) were about how great of a DRIVER Mike is. Then Hondas start winning and the post are about how great the CAR is. I think now we are seeing some very capable drivers with finally equalized cars!!!!

I also do not see any kudos when the CRB apparently gets is right! Thanks board! 

The Sprints results were not a surprise to me--actually not far from what I expected.  Road America is a power track and the Honda motors deliver. Lee drives the track very well, too.

The results from around the country indicate that the CRB is very close to having the SSB class balanced for most tracks (I'm not quite sure about our Z4s yet, but we'll see).  Road America is not like most of the tracks in the country, however, it rewards top end very well and handling moderately well.  That is to say that a car that can hold momentum can turn very good laps but a car with excellent power can turn excellent times unless it is a handling pig.

I think that perhaps the class is very close to full parity for HPT and the 2008 Runoffs but can't predict 2009.  The edge looks slightly, at the very least, in the hands of the Honda motored cars.  That doesn't mean that there will be a runaway at the 2009 event--there is plenty of time to make the small adjustments that might be needed, if any. I think that the Z4 might do fairly well at RA because the course doesn't have a bunch of slow stuff to go through and we've done well there before.

Frankly, without the Z4 running at the Sprints, and with a limited number of each make there, I'm not sure who, if anyone, has the advantage.  The Minis may have a disadvantage because of their brick shape which doesn't hurt them as much at most tracks.  That might require some changes, but what?  We haven't heard from Ralph or Jonathan about what slowed them this time---unless they were baggin' it, which I doubt. Aero bricks, for sure. (could we allow them to chop and channel the Mini?)

Bob seemed to get going fairly well in the MX5, and it is early in the history of the cars development.  It will be quicker, I'm pretty certain.  We don't know about the GM cars since they didn't show this time, but I expect them to be fairly tough with the improvements. Ross was pretty competitive (albeit a bit inconsistent) before and the car is faster now. Mike P. can make the GM cars fly, so it will be interesting to if he runs that next year. 

There is some irony in the fact that the class seems close to equal for this year and HPT but might not be as close for next year and RA.  A different venue for the Runoffs may bring up the issue of how to balance all the cars again, but perhaps not as seriously as it has been for a few years. TBD....!

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Jack SSB Z4 #09

JTIPPENS:

 

We don't know about the GM cars since they didn't show this time, but I expect them to be fairly tough with the improvements.

I did not realize I was not there in a GM car.

 

Ken Flory

SSB Pontiac Solstice (GM car, I think)

Damn thats a long drive! But what a great track and great folks up there in WI.

Thanks for the compliment Luke, we were glad you came along for the ride. The rest of you boys and girls in C, take note, this kid is good. He will be someone to watch this year at the runoffs(in the right car).

We had a ball, and coming home with the gold two years in a row makes it so sweet!

I was sorry the race was shorter than it should have been, but I'll take it anyway I can get it!

Now we're off to Roebling for the big 4th bash! Anybody want to rent a good c car for that one, I've got two. Let me know........JM

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Joe McClughan
McClughan Racing Enterprises

OOOOPS!   Sorry, Ken.  I meant Camaros and Firebirds--I just don't think of the Solstice as anything like those cars and forgot that you drive a Gummy Motors vehicle. 

Amend my statement to say Camaros & Firebirds--O.K?   They just got a pretty good set of bars added this July 1st, which should help them control their weight transfer quite a bit.  We got 2mm more on our restrictor, which will help a bit, too. I'm smiling, but not jumping up and down with glee--I really wanted that supercharger!

Thanks, CRB and Advisory Committee. Any help is appreciated. 

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Jack SSB Z4 #09

July 4th.  Hmmm.  I'll be around and my wife will be out of town.  I really like roebling.  I could possibly make that work.  I'll let you know.

luke

Luke, I'd be please to have you there. I'm not sure Timmy and Mark would be all that happy about it, but what the hell.

Tim, your thingy is going out this afternoon and should be there by friday........JM

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Joe McClughan
McClughan Racing Enterprises

It really was a great weekend filled with all kinds of typical Wisconsin weather and some pretty exciting Road America spills and thrills no other track in the country can offer. We had wild weather that included major thunderstorms, heat, clouds, sunshine and always the distinct smell of beer and brats in the air.

I had a great time hangin with everyone and I agree with Joe, Luke can drive!!

I hope everyone who was able to attend was satisfied and maybe (maybe ?) even a bit impressed with the way Road America handeled everything and is excited about the 2009 runoffs new location.

As I have said in the past, the June Sprints always feels like a major event, definatly bigger than the Runoffs in Topeka have ever felt.

With that said, The Group 3 race had a few exciting moments for me, either my battle with Richard Clark or the swarm of killer Spec Miata's that I could'nt seem to get away from. But mostly the second qualifier where I blew my motor and called it "weekend over". But Joe McTexas and Richard Clark were having none of that....Thanks to Joe who offered up a fresh motor and labor (Richard and Joe) in exchange for many many cheeseburgers and fries, I was back on my Hoosiers and able to give Richard a run for his money and finish 3rd.

The race was run, but short, and sure, finishing under yellow kind of sucked, but I felt the decision was safe one.

Say what you want about SCCA and SSC, but never say we arent a tight knit group who look out for each other, because we are!! I was really proud to be part of this group and would not have changed a thing. Except for the fact that I had to buy a new motor and cheeseburgers and I would have like to won too.

Hopefully some of you will consider coming back to RA for the Cat National on July 26-27th.

One more thing...Tracy, tell your Dad he left before he bought me a beer, and Mike Jones, when it comes to brats, never bet on double or nothing!!

 

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GinoC#59
ERC Motorsports LLC
#59 SSC
2004 Mazda 3