Racing!

[Bror Jace]

For those of you who missed any or all of them when they were first aired through the months of November and December, Speed Channel will be showing a marathon of the SCCA Valvoline Run-Offs (National Championships) on Christmas Day. This 3-day-weekend extravaganza takes place at Mid-Ohio race course every year. One race per class (something like 30 classes in all) featuring the top regional finishers from across North America.

It jist don’t git no better‘n dis!!

This is super-competitive amateur racing sanctioned by the Sports Car Club of America. Whether you like old British cars, Japanese cars or traditional American muscle (F-Bodies, Vettes & Vipers) there is a class for you. There are even a few formula (open wheel) and sports prototype classes. My personal favorite is the resurgent DSR: D-Sports Racer. Some of these guys race each year on a budget of $10,000 or less … with others in the more expensive classes probably spending $100,000+.

A good description of each class is on the SCCA website:

www.scca.org

I’m guessing most guys here (Patman and others) will like American Sedans, Touring 1 and Touring 2.

Each race is 20 laps and Speed Channel makes them into hour long shows. They start off with a few scenes from the last year or two and profile a few of the more promising competitors. Then there is a description of the cars (engine size and other limitations) so you don’t have to really know anything going in.

You can see the broadcast schedule (which shows classes) on their website:

http://www.speedtv.com/

A week later on New Year’s Day, they will be running a World Rally Championship marathon featuring the 2003 season. This is simply the most awesome racing on the planet and if you haven’t exposed yourself to it yet, I strongly urge you to do so!

--- Bror Jace

 

[MRC01]

quote:

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Originally posted by Bror Jace:
1) What kind of racing do you like to watch? Why?

2) Have you done any racing yourself? Would you like to?

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I like watching the 24 hours of LeMans every year because IMO it is the single most brutal test of a car and a driver.

I was active in SCCA autocross from '96 through '01. I campaigned a race prepped yet street legal RX-7 twin turbo, then later my Panoz Roadster. I really enjoyed it and learned a lot about cars & driving. But I've been inactive since my daughter was born -- I now use my weekends for different activities!

 

[GROUCHO MARX]

UF, was that an order?

 

[jsharp]

To answer the original post - I've done some amateur motorcycle road racing, SCCA amateur autocross, and I help some friends with their road racing cars from time to time. I've also done a little bracket racing and we did a lot of heads up racing on the street back in the day.

The son and I would love to build an SCCA A/Sedan Mustang at some point in the near future but right now we need to get him through school.

Once you've done any kind of racing you can never really stop for good. You'll be back. Watching it doesn't really satisfy you even though it's enjoyable, it just makes you want to go back even more...

[ December 24, 2003, 04:05 PM: Message edited by: jsharp ]

 

[Drew99GT]

IMSA racing was my all time favorite racing, but ALMS and Grand Am are not far behind. I also love drag racing, but not professional NHRA or IHRA. NSCA worlds fastest street car series is my favorite professional drag racing tour. I also love NMRA and NFBRA for Mustangs and F-bodies. I use to love import drag racing, but it's totally become too marketing oriented/professional and lost it's grass routes atmoshphere. Oh, and anything SCCA rocks, especially SCCA World challenge, but that too seems to have gone too cookie cutter. I used to love Roger Foo in his darn near stock engined (well, JDM stock pistons/rods) Civic just kill everyone at the Seca with practically no sponsorship, which is now the name of the game to be able to compete.

Favorite personalities are probably Boris Said and Ron Fellows.

 

[shortyb]

Got into this post late and at 3 pages, I'll keep it short (no pun intended

)

I like to watch any motorcycle racing, especially roadracing. I dig WRC, F1 and ALMS. I'll watch NASCAR but prefer races with more right turns. I love to go to drag races, only way to get the feel for all that power. Watching it on TV just doesn't cut it for me.

I have a very long list of favorites and relatively short list of non-favs. If I had to pick one, it would probably be Kenny Roberts Sr. The man was just plain etheral on a bike.

The only dislike I have right now is that I don't have the time or funds to do more racing myself. Back in my irresposible (read single) days, I did lots of motorcycle roadracing. Started with MARRC sprint racing, then to WERA Endurance. I ridden pretty much every class from singles all the way up to Formula Extreme.

I currently have been trying to get some funding for a unique D.A.R.E. program in our department. Rather than taking fancy painted seizure cars around, I want to run a Pro-Stock dragbike. Figure I can paint it like one of our bikes and fit some strobes on it if the rules permit. Take the kids to the drags, let them have some fun, and learn a few lessons at the same time. Plus I could get my racing fix cheap

. I'll keep working on it.

 

[Don Stefanik]

I didn't see anyone say Tractor Pulling!!!!
Drag racing and tractor pulling have to be two of the most ground shaking events a person can go too. Mind you when you have 40 or so cars going 200mph at Taledaga that would be awsome as well. But when you have just 2 Top Fuelers going down a 1/4 mile track at over 300mph or have a 5 engined Unlimited pulling the weight transfer down a 300 foot track with all 5 engines screaming at 7500rpm. Man to this old farm boy there ain't nuthin like it.

 

[oilcanboyd]

quote:

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IMSA racing was my all time favorite racing

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i saw the final imsa gtp race at phoenix (i forgot what year) and i was sad to see them go. the porsche 956/962 is my favorite race car of all time. i remember those days when indy car drivers used to race GTP cars on their off weekends.

 

[sprintman]

World of Outlaws!! In Sydney for the next 3 nights. Wild horses wouldn't keep me away. Now if the shop that just did my brakes can sort out the 'noise/shuddering' I'll be underway tomorrow am. Hoping for good news.

 

[Bror Jace]

"I remember those days when indy car drivers used to race GTP cars on their off weekends."

Those wistful days before the IRL/CART split.

--- Bror Jace

 

[Drew99GT]

I will say this: I can not stand IRL!!!!!!! I've never seen so many empty seats. CART is slightly better, but IRL is having to mix things up this season and go road racing.

 

[sprintman]

Terry yrs Fortd had a good season and I like Fords. Best touring car racing on the planet and as well as the races now in New Zealand going to China, and Singapore (or is that Malaysia?) this yeatr I believe. still nothing beats sprintcar racing!

 

[tweeker43]

i've gone to the indy 500 since 1987 or so (having grown up in indiana), so i have an affinity for cart/irl. i feel bad about the split, but there would be about 4 teams right now had they carried on at the previous pace. i think open-wheel racing in the u.s. was on the decline prior to tony george taking his toys and staying home, and the split just exacerbated it. there are a couple of things that should help bring it around: the addition of road courses to irl and some of the bigger names back at indy (andretti, unser).

i'm hoping the irl doesn't turn into a feeder league for nascar though. the exodus of tony stewart (from my hometown ) and robby gordon certainly didn't help the irl.

anyway, beyond the indy 500, i run down for the usgp as well, and i love to watch midgets (sweaty little fellas), rally, and motorcycles of all types (dirt trackers are nuts).

i can watch nascar if it's not on fox - dw makes me want to projectile vomit.

quote:

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Originally posted by Drew99GT:
I will say this: I can not stand IRL!!!!!!! I've never seen so many empty seats. CART is slightly better, but IRL is having to mix things up this season and go road racing.

---

 

[Terry]

Sprintman, you don't know how much I wish I could be there! I watched the Aussie "V8 supercar" finale on motor V in Zurich, Switzerland a few nights ago and what a screem. Looks like Ford/Falcon dominated.

I can't stand the talk here about IMSA GTP days as I am in severe racing withdrawel depression.

Analyzing oil for racers is akin to a alcoholic having to make beer but not able to drink any !!!!!!

 

[Bror Jace]

Isn’t it funny that at a time when NASCAR is at an all time high in popularity, the IRL (and CART) circle track races are commercial failures? I wonder if it is the culture associated with modern, open-wheel racing? Maybe people who like open wheel racing (as opposed to stock cars) in this country tend to like F1-type road racing (as I do) and think that “running around in circles” is a phrase best used to describe a pointless exercise or a waste of time?

Of course the Indy 500 with all its history seems in good shape, but that’s about the only one.

I know there were cost problems with CART running all that high-tech hardware which needed replacing every year if not every race but something could have been done in the area of cost containment without resorting to the split and then the other subsequent changes. A spec engine? C’mon, that’s amateur league stuff!

--- Bror Jace

 

[guitargeek]

I love racing. When F1 is in season, I try to watch most of the races with my dad, makes for great father/son bonding.

I would love to participate in some form of racing event, whether it be drag racing or AutoX. Once I get my Fiero, I plan on doing a bit of AutoXing. Hopefully that will be this summer...

I like drag racing because it's so American. It's brute accelaration, and nothing else, with cars being made so that they can do nothing BUT accelarate briskly in a straight line. It's so excessive!

 

[Bror Jace]

Anyone else watching the Dakar (often known as the Paris-Dakar Rally) on Speed Channel?

It’s a great adventure as well as a challenging motor racing event. A 6,500 mile race featuring all types of vehicles over all kinds of terrain for 18 days. Everything from motorcycles to large “straight job” panel trucks compete in this unique event. In addition to Speed Channel’s coverage, you can follow the event here:

http://www.dakar.com/2004/us/index.html

They are near the halfway point with updates (typically 30 minutes) every day.

I’m especially interested this year because Mad Man McRae, recently pushed out of the WRC because of weird rule changes for 2004, is driving a modified Nissan pick-up with Tina Thorner (another WRC refugee) in the passenger seat. And, after starting 9th, they’ve worked their way up to 3rd!

--- Bror Jace

 

[sprintman]

Terry I had a great weekend. Stayed with Ivan Walker who built the engine for Kerry 'the Madman' Madsen who is based in Knoxville for the US season, beat the visiting Outlaws the first two nights. Australian chassis and wing (Cool Chassis & Vortex wing). Had a good second locked up with half lap to go on the third night when engine cutout for a few seconds. Plenty fuel so MSD box or associated wiring probably. Finished forth. Up till 5am with Steve Kinser (winner) and Schatz, Jason Sides, etc. Bad hangover for the long drive home yesterday. Best racing I've ever sen by far!

 

[tweeker43]

things could be getting better for open wheel racing!

irl looks at cart

 

[sprintman]

Bror I watch Dakar every night on free to air channel SBS. Have watched this for years in amazement. Unfortunately a few get killed in this event. Only for the brave this one.