|
|
Post by brad42 on Mar 1, 2009 10:05:38 GMT -5
So how was the race Feb 28? Who showed? Who blowed? Who won? Was it fun?
|
|
|
|
Post by Brad Wunder on Mar 2, 2009 19:54:51 GMT -5
Oh my God, that was AWESOME! 3 HOURS of track time (full 2 hours of practice and 2, 30 minute races)! WF/F200s may not be the fastest class out there but there is NO better racing on the track. Every lap there had to be at least 6-8 lead changes. Oh my God it was exciting. Front to the back and then back up to the front over and over again. WEEEEEEE!
The threat of rain kept the numbers down quite a bit (at least compared to the November race) but there were racers from the Midwest, WA, OR, ID and who knows where else.
A big thanks to Kevin from Palo Alto. Some of you might remember me mentioning him during our conference call as someone who is looking to get back into karting and is interested in Briggs. Anyway, after watching the first race he gave me some pointers about turn 11 that paid off BIG in the last race. Thanks man.
Overall is was an excellent day. Weather cooperated, program ran flawlessly, and best of all, there were NO red flags!
Brad
|
|
|
|
Post by Steve Bryant on Mar 3, 2009 11:43:51 GMT -5
Brad, Sounds like you had a blast! How did you do?? Did Corey race too? Come on man...more details! lol
|
|
|
|
Post by Brad Wunder on Mar 3, 2009 15:42:02 GMT -5
Oh yeah, I had an OUTSTANDING time! Corey was coming up but was planning on hauling his stuff up in someone else's vehicle. They ended up bailing on him so he couldn't make it.  I'm still trying to get the hang of these road courses when it comes to drafting. I KNEW I didn't want to be in the lead on the final lap. After trying a couple of different approaches I thought 3rd in the pack would be where I wanted to be coming into turn 11. That was all fine and dandy till Scott got loose in T11...then Brian got loose in T11...and I sitting there thinking CRAP, I'm going to run into them! So I ended up over correcting and got sideways....  Managed a 2nd place finish but I thought I could do a little better. The second race was a little different. As I mentioned, Kevin gave me some tips on T11. So we spent the first half of the race slicing and dicing. Each time going into T11 I made sure was no closer to the front than P3 and trying to put into practice what Kevin told me. And damned if what he told me didn't work. Nearly every time around I could be back in my usual P3 spot and still manage to get to the lead before the start/finish line OUTSIDE of the draft. About this point I notice that Brain isn't passing anymore whatsoever. I'm thinking to myself, that bastage, he is purposely staying behind me to see WTF I'm doing. I confirmed with him that was exactly what he was doing cause, as he said, "man you were getting helluva run off T11". So coming into T11 on the checker lap I'm thinking don't screw up...don't screw up...DON'T SCREW UP! Well, this time I didn't. Applied Kevin's advise, passed P1 just barely out of the turn and was in the lead for the last 100 yards or so. WOOOHOOOO!! |
|
|
|
Post by Steve Bryant on Mar 3, 2009 16:18:35 GMT -5
So you won the second race?? Congratulations! Nice job Brad!
|
|
|
|
Post by Brad Wunder on Mar 3, 2009 16:28:16 GMT -5
Yeppers. ;D
|
|
|
|
Post by paulskirocks on Mar 3, 2009 16:40:47 GMT -5
Good job!! What gearing did you run? Did you hit the rev limiter? What was your fast lap time?
I miss road racing!
|
|
|
|
Post by Brad Wunder on Mar 3, 2009 18:31:31 GMT -5
I ran a 22-64. Never came close to the limiter. I think the max RPM I hit was maybe 6600. I'm also not sure what my fast laptime was but I think it was 2:18ish? NCK should post all that stuff if they haven't already but it might not be right on there because of the number snafu. As I've posted previously, they require that EVERYONE have a unique number this year. I registered the #9 on 1-22. You can imagine my surprise when we are standing in the tech line and I look over at Luis' kart and HE is #9! WTF?? Seems that he wanted #6 but that was already gone so he was assigned #9. Still not sure how they plan on handling this.
|
|
|
|
Post by brad42 on Mar 3, 2009 22:28:28 GMT -5
any more talk of some of those guys coming to race little tracks with us?
|
|
|
|
Post by Brad Wunder on Mar 4, 2009 12:59:31 GMT -5
Dave is looking to do some sprint races with us. In fact, Dave almost came with Luis last year when he raced with us at Davis. I'm not sure if Dave is the same buddy Luis was talking about bringing along when we go sprint racing.
|
|
|
|
Post by paulskirocks on Mar 4, 2009 18:29:26 GMT -5
Hey BradW, do you know what kind of speed you were hitting on that last stretch before the final turn? I remember hitting 99 mph in the stock moto shifter, and that last turn would show up quickly!
|
|
|
|
Post by Brad Wunder on Mar 4, 2009 18:40:41 GMT -5
Yes I DO happen to know how fast we were going entering T11 as I actually remembered to measure my tires and updated my Mychron. Top speed was 76mph. With the F200 TS was in the mid 80s but I'm not sure how accurate that was since I don't recall measuring my tires.
|
|
|
|
Post by paulskirocks on Mar 4, 2009 19:39:55 GMT -5
You know, at a half inch off the ground, without a roll cage or seat belt, I think 76 mph is just fine! 99 mph was a bit more pucker factor than I sometimes liked...
|
|
|
|
Post by brad42 on Mar 4, 2009 21:42:25 GMT -5
You know, at a half inch off the ground, without a roll cage or seat belt, I think 76 mph is just fine! 99 mph was a bit more pucker factor than I sometimes liked... Well I am not an expert, but to me the 125 having way better brakes more than compensates for the extra speed, plus having less power you need to force yourself to carry more speed through the turn. I know for a fact that the guys that run Animals at Daytona whine a lot about shifters "parking in the turn" in front of them, sometimes causing wrecks in a big draft chain |
|
|
|
Post by paulskirocks on Mar 4, 2009 22:54:51 GMT -5
You know, at a half inch off the ground, without a roll cage or seat belt, I think 76 mph is just fine! 99 mph was a bit more pucker factor than I sometimes liked... Well I am not an expert, but to me the 125 having way better brakes more than compensates for the extra speed, plus having less power you need to force yourself to carry more speed through the turn. I know for a fact that the guys that run Animals at Daytona whine a lot about shifters "parking in the turn" in front of them, sometimes causing wrecks in a big draft chain Well, I don't know, Brad, and I'm not sure of your point. I'm not an expert, either. What I do know is that I have run a 125 shifter and an Animal, and the shifter is far more crazy. So, my point isn't that I am going to go smoke the field if when I go from shifter to Animal. My point is that I think I can be more competitive in the slower class because I'm not scared sh**less. In fact, my point is that I am not ready to be competitive in a shifter. I'm not here thinking I'm some badass shifter pilot. I am a beginner. What I suggest is that you go drive a 125 shifter on a sprint and road course, and see how you do. I think you will find that you are much closer, percentage wise, to the fast guys, when you are in the slower, less scary kart. It is not to take away from the fast guys. I am not at the level to handle a shifter at the same level I can handle a clutch cart, so I am looking forward to hitting turn 1 at T-HIll at 75 instead of 100. I don't planning on being the fast guy in WF or F200, but I will be a lot closer than when I ran the shifter. Further, I am not thinking that because I drove a shifter, I can rip it up on an Animal. It took me a number of road races to finish on the lead lap in my shifter, and I remember being passed by KT100s when I was still trying to figure out the shifter. Anyways, I am looking forward to the slower kart, regardless of what place I finish. I think it will help me be a better driver. |
|
Managed a 2nd place finish but I thought I could do a little better.