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Post by RichH on Dec 2, 2013 12:25:35 GMT -5
So overall not a great day for the NFRA group. I did not finish the first race, got punted in the second. I do not think Simon ever felt he got up to speed. Jeff completed both races but was just hitting his comfort zone by the end. Hal, ran some fast laps with the dbl clone monster but did not finish his race due to a smoking engine on the left side.
Honest Guys it can be a lot better than that
I have great video of all my crashes. The one in the first race still hurts when I watch it. The incident in the second was a fun bump to a 360 at about 70mph and kept on going. I will let others watch and decide on the driving decisions made.
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cazman
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Post by cazman on Dec 2, 2013 13:33:16 GMT -5
Rich....you definitely get the 'Tenacity Award' of the year and were victimized by the 'wrong place, wrong time' senerio too many times! In my case, (7) minutes more and it would have been a PERFECT day. Yes, I hurt (seriously) a motor and took it apart yesterday and was ready too 'Quit' in taking the blame! Then (this morning) I pulled the other motor down, of which has far more run-time on it, and....IT is a cream-puff!! The event (race) was a fact-finding mission for me/us (driving included) and I found...Facts!! As 'Arnold' once said...."I'll be Back"!  Better luck nxt season Buddy! |
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Post by Simon on Dec 2, 2013 16:00:28 GMT -5
Yes .. I struggled for speed all day and so never got close enough to anyone to even get in a draft. I switched motors before the 2nd race and that actually ran a little better, but still was left standing at the start .... and had a bunch of clones fly past me on the pit exit at the start .... which I'll never live down !!
Terminal velocity was identical around 2/3rds the way down the carrossel as it was entering T9.
Motor #1 is now up north for further investigation by the advanced technology team.
All in all, a fun but frustrating day. It would have been a lot more fun if I could have got in touch with others to race with, so something for me to work on there. Most of the races were spent seeing how much speed i could carry into T4, T7 and T11 (carrossel ended up being just wide open all the way) and seeing how little I could make my self down the back straight to try and get out the wind.
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Post by RichH on Dec 3, 2013 1:22:18 GMT -5
Here is the video of Race#2 youtu.be/s4tNTzRCImsNot much excitement in the beginning and middle but what a finish. I was just hanging back in the middle laps. Was satisfied to follow a few people around. Felt I had the speed to keep up with the top three and was planning on getting into the mix at the end of the race. When I hit the wall I did not think I was getting out of the kart. It gave me kind of a stinger to neck & back. Look at the end and my feet are flopping up in the air.  Bruises up and down my back Will work up the second world formula race tomorrow. Its got a crazy 70mph bump and then a complete 360, and then I just keep racing. A note of thanks to Jeff for the new 50mm axle so I could race in the second race. And to Brad and Simon for their help in getting it changed out in time |
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Post by Simon on Dec 3, 2013 18:13:12 GMT -5
Ouch! That was quite a thump you took there Rich ! Good job that was the slowest corner on the track ;-)
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cazman
Junior Member
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Post by cazman on Dec 3, 2013 19:53:03 GMT -5
Dam* Rich....ya went out jst when I was gonna blow by you! Glad you Only bent an axle!
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Post by RichH on Dec 3, 2013 20:32:33 GMT -5
Video of the second race youtu.be/NPXbiQ3Cr2IAll the excitement is in the first lap and a half. Not my day at the track  |
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Post by ron90 on Dec 4, 2013 13:04:40 GMT -5
I am gladf I did not go. I think I would have just added to the excitement. I thought there was no close drafting, they frowned on contact etc. There was a ton of room all over the track and there seems to have been a lot of contact. Was that just drivers that were inexperienced?
I am glad you are alright after that Rich. I may go to Davis thios week and test with new parts that are supposed to arrive today.
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cazman
Junior Member
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Post by cazman on Dec 4, 2013 16:41:55 GMT -5
Hey Ron....if ur doin big track racing and Not drafting you will be very lonely out there.... |
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Post by RichH on Dec 4, 2013 18:49:14 GMT -5
Ron, the official statement at the drivers meeting was NO Bump Drafting, It is surprisingly easy to get an inch off of someone's bumper and just feather the throttle all the way down the straight. If you can tell I actually back off right before the corners. Inexperience is probably the right word. In my opinion you do not win a road race in the middle of turn 11 on lap 4! Stay smooth and with the lead group. Then it can become a scrum in the last corner and a drag race to the finish line. Usually a lead group works it way out in front. So much for the opinion of Road Racing being less contact  |
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Post by ron90 on Dec 5, 2013 13:02:29 GMT -5
Ron, the official statement at the drivers meeting was NO Bump Drafting, It is surprisingly easy to get an inch off of someone's bumper and just feather the throttle all the way down the straight. If you can tell I actually back off right before the corners. Inexperience is probably the right word. In my opinion you do not win a road race in the middle of turn 11 on lap 4! Stay smooth and with the lead group. Then it can become a scrum in the last corner and a drag race to the finish line. Usually a lead group works it way out in front. So much for the opinion of Road Racing being less contact That makes sense. It seems to me that it was inexperience. The karts were moving dodging and weaving sometimes when a nice smooth throttle would have been best. That appeared to be the "sprint" racer mentality. Staying an inch off someones bumper, however, depends on both drivers. They have to know and trust each other, and each others abilities. If you and I were on the track I would stay on your bumper road racing knowing that you would not be slamming on the brakes as you enter every corner. But if you had drivers in front of you that I did not know, then I would definitely back off. Would I stay on the bumper of a racer that I just met that day, absolutely not. Backing off like you did made sense under the circumstances. It unfortunately it did not give you enough time to react, even though the track was as wide as it is. |
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Post by Dan Pell on Dec 5, 2013 20:02:35 GMT -5
Agreed guys, I saw some horrible racing lines. One would think that racers would be aware of the importance associated w/ high-speed courses. Tom Agan & I were talking yesterday, both touched on what you guys shard above. Two karts can work so much better than one, but there has to be a level of comfort with those that are working together, or THE BIG ONE, Talladega-style ensues. Thanks for the share Rich, glad you're OK!
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cazman
Junior Member
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Post by cazman on Dec 5, 2013 21:13:09 GMT -5
I would have been able to go faster if somebody would have worked with me! I guess i'll just have too add another engine!! Hey Dan...sori we didn't meet, I look forward too it 'nxt' time! |
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Post by Dan Pell on Dec 6, 2013 19:07:10 GMT -5
Hal- based on what we both saw, the solo drive just might have been a blessing??!! I think we ALL have a greater appreciation for those 200+ mph NASCAR drivers that can work so well together in the draft....maybe Thunderhill might be the training ground- hope to see ya there!
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cazman
Junior Member
Posts: 81
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Post by cazman on Dec 6, 2013 20:16:18 GMT -5
Look'n forward to it....I think!
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Better luck nxt season Buddy!
Bruises up and down my back
