Aug 11, 2015
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Just posted my latest video :)
It'd be cool if you guys watched it?
Its basically just me talking about my racing, so unless that's your kind of thing i doubt you'll enjoy it but hey, :)
Race Night Eight: Welded Differential
The next day after Race Night Seven there was an invitational race at Sunset (that really means anyone can come with a car that is legal at their home track). This was part of the 50k shootout run on several Sundays in 2011.
The problem however was that the #50 was a mess and not raceable. Rusty offered up the #2 car however, a 1996 Honda Civic:
Of course I took him up on that because this was a step up from the "learner" #50. The biggest difference with this car is that while front wheel drive, it has a welded differential. A welded diff made me feel like the car is turning itself as you accelerate through the corner. This is because it gives you more grip in certain circumstances.
The fuel pump acted up a bit in practice, so I scratched in Heat 1 because it was a new car and the fuel pump problem. Drove around and kept getting used to the car, putting the left front off the pavement into the grass a couple of times, because the car grabs and turned better than I expected.
Right after that however, was a deluge. Rain out.
Race Night Six: Sunset Compare and Contrast
Since the Gary Reynolds Memorial was on a Thursday and there was no racing on Saturday due to a music festival, the following Saturday was an opportunity to go to Sunset Speedway and race for the first time. A number of other Barrie cars made the same trip.
Sunset is generally a symmetrical 1/3 mile oval. It has three grooves through the corners, which have progressive banking. I say generally symmetrical because there is a slight incline coming out of turn 2 that you really have to "dig" out of.
Sunset has a different entry fee procedure as well, the driver is free, the crew is full price ($25). Barrie is $10/person for everyone with a NASCAR license (or $25 for the pits without).
Rusty recommended to stay in the 2nd or 3rd groove through the corner and not to switch grooves in the corner. I eventually started to get the hang of this, but I definitely had the habit of going right to the bottom of the track in the apex.
Practice is structured at sunset by time, which is available on a printed sheet when you enter. If you want to practice, you line up and they send you out 10 at a time. Once on the track you can't leave, unlike Barrie, all you can do is pull into the infield. The back straight at Sunset I was able to start hitting the rev limiter occasionally. My initial response was to lift on the throttle, but it was too early often. You can go faster through the corners at Sunset as well.
My first heat I drew the pole, which was surprising. Turns out the car itself was registered at Sunset and they allow you just to be seeded. At Barrie if you miss two weeks in a row you have to start scratch (at the back of the pack) for a week.
Having drawn the pole I tried to figure out where the expected start point was. Sunset has a restart line at the entrance to turn 3, where as Barrie its basically the start of turn 4. In theory for the start of the race (at any track) you have the option to go any time. I got bumped in turn 3 because I didn't go at the restart line. Every track has its implicit start spot and I was too late at Sunset - though in theory its my option as the pole sitte.
After placing way back in the heat, I was started near the back for the features, as were all the visitors. I fell back quickly with the 07 as I was braking too hard on corner entry to start. Eventually I got some pace and raced the 07 hard until we got lapped with a few laps to go and I had to pull back into line after catching and starting to pass the 07.
While it was great to try a new track, my technique at Sunset needs a lot of improvement.
Sunset Speedway Opening Night
Last Saturday I attended the Sunset Speedway opening night. I watched for some build details I had not looked for before. I noted the following:
Lexan windshields seemed to be used on pretty much every car
I didn't see any cars with a stock dash
I also noted a lot of Honda's (Civics, CRX) were running good, as was last year's mini-stock champion Doug Butler in a Nissan SX. The car makes are handily listed on the Sunset site this year and will required some analysis.