Tulsa T.N.T. Invitational-Hallett Motor Racing Circuit Aug 6 & 7 - Page 3

gsharapa · #41 (**permalink**) 08-02-2011, 07:54 PM

You young guys are much braver than us old farts. Heck I don't even want to take the Cobra out to the breakfast Saturday........have fun and stay cool

Clois Harlan · #42 (**permalink**) 08-03-2011, 06:33 AM

YOUNG? I don't think so.

Just doin it while we can. That goes for other things too!

Toolman · #43 (**permalink**) 08-03-2011, 07:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PurpleVenom

For anyone that knows, how do you prepare yourself to drive with a helmet on in a really hot car with outside temps at 106? Any tips?

Stand under the hand dryers at the gas station, they approximate what it will feel like!

I don't think you will even notice honestly. The run sessions are less than 20minutes, just wait to put your helmet on until you are the staging lanes, and the second you are WOT on track, you will forget you even have helmet on!

Trust me, it can not be hotter than the bunker gear/helmet/gloves I had on yesterday while the flames were lapping my knees!! Dagnabit grass fires!! That was HOTT HOTT HOTT!!

Toolman · #44 (**permalink**) 08-03-2011, 07:14 AM

Also, I have never been to Hallett during a track rental, does their rental insurance allow passengers? Will it depend on track experience/car prep? I have some friends that will be joining me, but they may change their mind if they are not allowed for ride alongs.

LREYBURN · #45 (**permalink**) 08-03-2011, 11:49 AM

I would recommend a cool suit cooling system as illustrated here: Fresh Air Systems*Racer Series Cooler With Pump And Hose-No Shirt*-*SafeRacer
Seitz uses this system and he comes off the track fresh and too cool. It also results in faster lap times and produces a bigger head requiring a new size helmet. Have fun.

PurpleVenom · #46 (**permalink**) 08-03-2011, 09:00 PM

Clois, can we drop our trailers at the track friday evening?

LREYBURN · #47 (**permalink**) 08-06-2011, 08:19 PM

Give us an update, please. We are worried about you maniacs running in this heat. 'Hope all are well and having a blast.

jshel1 · #48 (**permalink**) 08-06-2011, 10:02 PM

I am also remembering those brave souls with serious cooling systems. I saw 113 ambient temps over central Oklahoma. I hope all brought an extra set of tires.

jayscobras · #49 (**permalink**) 08-07-2011, 10:10 AM

I talked with several of the guys last night. No major problems or incidents.
Said it got to 108 before they shut down. Mike Berhardt was running 15 seconds off the track record in his Indy car. Scott Laughheed was running second fastest in his Porsche. Fastest cobra was Matt Tweihause (sp) in his lone star. Cloise had some Mechanical and design issues he was working out on his new coupe.

They all seemed in good spirits even though they are All certifiably NUTS.

Jay

TMark390 · #50 (**permalink**) 08-08-2011, 09:28 AM

Heat keep my father and myself from going to watch. We have been in this blast furnace for close to three weeks, just praying the AC holds on till fall. Raining today still forcasted mid 90's. Hope everyone that participated had a safe weekend. I look forward to events such as the TNT when we get in the game.

Mark

STL Mark · #51 (**permalink**) 08-08-2011, 01:13 PM

It wasn't so bad. Only 116 degrees on Saturday - but there was a nice breeze and very low humidity. Hallett was such a blast. They really treated us great.

Here's a shot of me getting an inside pass on an Indy car.

WildBill3 · #52 (**permalink**) 08-08-2011, 06:05 PM

It was a great time and yes hotr than all getout Thanks Clois for putting this event together and inviting Mary and I out to share the fun with you.We only hurt a rotor in the end,will bring spares next time!Larry you missed out,and we missed you not being ther.Sammy and I had to have our own fun.

SSSammy · #53 (**permalink**) 08-08-2011, 09:17 PM

First time at Hallet out of about 12 total days there I have had a transponder. Worked my way down to 1:30.4 Sunday am (clockwise). That was the fastest Cobra time as of noon sunday when I left. Don't know what happened later, but I was pretty pleased to be 1 sec faster than Dave Williams

How hot was it? 112 Friday when I dropped the trailer off at 3 pm. About like that Saturday. You had to drink constantly and stay in the shade of the Raceports. I brought a barrel fan that helped.

No more than 5 cars on the track at the time .. insurance rule, I guess. Got lots of clean laps, but missed the sensation of racing and passing other cars. The only real race I had either day was me and Wild Bill and we had a lot of fun. Sure wish he'd been in the blue Daytona ...

I did get to go head to head in a drag race up the hill from turn 3 with the Z06. I was passing him and he yielded, but he 'forgot' to lift

I stayed with him at WOT till he let up for turn 1. Always wondered how my Cobra would do against a Z06 .. I'd say it was an even race.

I will have some great in car video later .. that takes a while ...

Sam

PurpleVenom · #54 (**permalink**) 08-08-2011, 09:20 PM

Great time...well, except for Saturday for me. Blew a water pump. Turns out someone I had work on the intake installed the thermostat upside down. Anyway, got back on the track all day Sunday, turned 57 laps on Sunday with no issues.
Trying to keep up with Sammy....I wasn't successful...

Saturday's Times:

Sunday's Times, page 1:

PurpleVenom · #55 (**permalink**) 08-08-2011, 09:26 PM

The rest of Sunday's times:

Parade behind Clois

The Indy car driven by Mike. Turned a 1:21 on Saturday

They need to rename this turn to S.O.B.

It was hot, yes, but there seemed to be a breeze all day and as long as you were in the shade drinking water or gatorade, all seemed good. I had to work on my car most of the day Saturday, and finished up at 7:45pm. Wanted to make sure I was on the track all day Sunday. Lot's of wildfires in the area due to how dry it was. Hope we can do this again in the Spring.....

Toolman · #56 (**permalink**) 08-08-2011, 10:13 PM

Had a great time Saturday seeing all the fine machinery everyone brought. This was my first time at a track with my new toy, and I was very pleased with how it ran, seeing as it was a suspension package I had never run before. Still have some brake balance to get dialed in, but all in it I was very pleased with everything. Other than some elevated oil temps that had me taking cool down laps early (that is getting addressed this week), and a small heater hose cap that started leaking, the car was trouble free, which is saying a lot for a 1989 Taurus, especially one that has seen a lot of track use (before it came into my hands).

I did not get to meet everyone, but I met most, and all were a great bunch, very friendly and accommodating. And thank you Clois for putting this together, I will be very interested in doing this again, as it was a great chance to get to know a new car without worry of lots of traffic.

Here are some pics that Birds Eye took, and one from me, enjoy!

Clois Harlan · #57 (**permalink**) 08-09-2011, 05:55 AM

Thanks all of you that turned out in the Oklahoma heat. I had a great time playing on the track with all of you.

Problems, I had a few minor issues. I had a upper radiator hose that needed to be relocated because it was being crimped by the nose piece, also I had to disconnect my rear sway bar because the builder (Brian Anderson with B&B) wasn't smart enough to move it away from my fuel cell which could have been disasterous. Of course I paid for a posi-track and he got away with putting in a open differential. I have spent well over a year fixing this shoddy work but I am almost there.

Pay backs are coming Mr. Anderson!!!

The other problem I had was my throtle was sticking and that was all on me. But, aside from a few issues I had a great time. My engine was really Kick A_ _ and nothing fell off on the track. Next time I will have all this sorted out and a new set of slicks.

Thanks again to all of you that joined us. We are planning to do this again next spring. We can put more cars on the track at a time it will just cost us an additional $100 per day per car for insurance. So, next year we may limit our field to 35 or 40 cars and put 10 cars on the track at a time. I think that is would be a good event.

Clois Harlan

RACER X #99 · #58 (**permalink**) 08-09-2011, 06:45 AM

Congrats to all you guys who open tracked your Cobras. You now belong to the elite club of Cobra owners who have actually experienced what it is like to drive a Cobra on a real race track at real speed.

You just can't experience that on the highway or the parking lot of some fast food restaurant.

SSSammy · #59 (**permalink**) 08-09-2011, 07:09 AM

Tim, thanks for the time sheets .. my 8/7 sheet is incomplete. I was tickled to see that Dave Williams went back out after I left and undercut me by a tenth of a sec. I measure myself by how I do against drivers like Dave

You know, I may put some slicks back on so I can run Pro Class at RnG ... Hmmmmm

Clois, thanks again for having the energy to organize this event. I would do it again even knowing about the heat. Man, you have got to be eligible for some award for what you have been through with the Daytona

I have no problem with an extra $100 .. but three groups makes for a bit too fast a turn around for old guys like me with no pit crew

Sam

Clois Harlan · #60 (**permalink**) 08-09-2011, 11:40 AM

Sammy,

That would not be an extra $100 apiece. As I understand it the insurance that we are required to carry is incremental. Our insurance was $800 per day for 5 cars on the track. If we go to 10 cars on the track at a time our insurance per day would be around $1300-$1600 per day. Then we have to add two more corner workers and rent the roll back for stand by. As I understand it if we went to 10 cars on the track at a time and we increased our invitations to 35 or 40 cars we could charge LESS PER PERSON. Probably around $275.00 each for the weekend. When Connie gets back from Ireland I will get a better feel for everything.

Clois