Popping my cherry at Pocono

Roscoe · #1 (**permalink**) 06-07-2002, 01:45 PM

Well I finished my build last year and, I believe, I have worked out most of the bugs and have it tuned to a point that I feel I am ready to make the move to the track.

With a pretty heavy work schedule it is difficult for me to be available during the week. And after 34 years of marriage bliss it is hard to get away on the weekends!! I have noticed that most of you racers are out during the week.

I found PDA in Clifton, NJ that runs several tracks in the area including Pocono, The Glen, LIme Rock. The upcoming Pocono track date (North Course) is July 20/21, a Saturday and Sunday.

I am going to be signing up for at least one of the days. If anyone is interested in joining me please email or respond here.

Roscoe

John McMahon · #2 (**permalink**) 06-07-2002, 01:53 PM

Most Excellent my dear boy!!!!!!!!

Will not be able to attend since I need to get rolling on fixing my car.

Club Cranky will be attending the Glen with Rochester Shelby in Aug. and PDA in Oct. (Check the other threads on All Racing Talk for the particulars.

If you are even remotely interested, I suggest you not only sign up now for the events, but also call the Seneca Lodge to reserve a room. They sell out quick.

In the meantime, have a blast...and be careful of that damn infield!!! It looks like Afghanistan, craters everywhere.

RACER X #99 · #3 (**permalink**) 06-07-2002, 03:03 PM

Way to go Roscoe,
Glad to see you are finally joining the Club (10%club) and I know you will be signing up for many more open track events after your experience at Pocono. Our Club Cranky member Joe Rodomista may be attending one of the Pocono dates you mentioned. He has ERA #142 FIA car. Look him up and say hello.

McCranky

a427sc · #4 (**permalink**) 06-07-2002, 08:34 PM

Roscoe

Glad to see your coming over to the Dark Side. Check out Joe R if you can, about as good an FIA as you will ever see, and about as fast as there is too.

Just remember two things told to me by people who know.

"In a Cobra, Power is your friend, lift throttle is your death."

"There is nothing you can do out there today that will make your car worth any more than it is right now."

Hope you can make it to the Glen in Oct. I suspect you'll fit right in with these Cranky bastids.

McDon

mrmustang · #5 (**permalink**) 06-10-2002, 08:56 PM

Insert Yoda voice here:

Hhmmhmhmhmhmhmhmhmhmh, gone over to the dark side you have, yes, hmhmhmhmhmhmhmhmhmhmhmhmhmhm............See you on Saturday the 20th I will, must deal with dark forces then.......hmhmhmhmhmhmhmhmhmhmhmhm...............

Deinsert Yoda voice here:

Roscoe,

Spoke with Joe this morning, will be handing him my check in a day or so.....Drop me a line and we'll firm up the times and a place to meet...........

Yours in Fords,

Bill S.

PS: With the NERC cancelled, this will most likely be my only chance at track time for the season...........

Roscoe · #6 (**permalink**) 06-13-2002, 01:32 PM

As far as I know we have the following drivers for Pocono on 20 July:

Bill S.
Bill K.
Tom R.
Roscoe
klayfish
Joe R.

Roscoe

Gotta Go To Pocono! Gotta Go To Pocono! Gotta Go To Pocono!

(How'm I doin John?)

mustang man · #7 (**permalink**) 06-13-2002, 02:06 PM

Roscoe

I just sent my registration in to PDA for the July 20th event this afternoon.

Also sent the registration in for the Glen event in September with the Club Cranky gang.

Seems like the rules for the VIR event prevent non-Cobras from running. Imagine that!!

See you at Pocono.

Roscoe · #8 (**permalink**) 06-13-2002, 03:50 PM

Tim,

Glad to hear you can make it. Looking forward to a great time. Hope the weather is better than when I went as a spectator last year. Bill S. was seen bailing out the FFR.

Roscoe

mrmustang · #9 (**permalink**) 06-14-2002, 05:16 AM

Bailing out the car was made easier by the two holes I bashed in to the floor for drainage...Over the winter I replaced the stock FFR supplied carpet with marine grade indoor/outdoor carpet just to be on the safe side........Will most certainly bring the top with me this year, even if they are calling for a bright sunny day (if I remember correctly, the weather forcast for last year called for a 10% chance of a brief afternoon shower...After 3 hours in the pouring rain, I no longer had a Cobra, but a Jaquzzi on wheels).....

Bill S.

Quote:

Originally posted by Roscoe
Hope the weather is better than when I went as a spectator last year. Bill S. was seen bailing out the FFR.

Roscoe

John McMahon · #10 (**permalink**) 06-14-2002, 07:32 AM

Tim,

Just to clarify the Glen dates, its not in September:

Aug 19 & 20 w/Rochester Shelby Club

Oct 4 thru 6 w/ PDA ..3 DAY WEEKEND EVENT!

mustang man · #11 (**permalink**) 06-16-2002, 05:09 PM

John

I stand corrected.

I meant the August dates.

Thanks

NJ2000R · #12 (**permalink**) 06-16-2002, 08:30 PM

I'm gonna look into the august dates but will probably bring my 2000 mustang cobra R and not the ERA cobra....I want to look it over 100% before I run it on the track, and work has been and continues to be super busy....good in the financial department, bad for car and track time....

John McMahon · #13 (**permalink**) 06-17-2002, 07:27 AM

Ken, bringing the Mustang to the Glen is a much better choice. Especially if you have never driven the Glen before.

I have driven both the Cobra and the Mustang there and I definitely prefer the Mustang.

If you DO plan on going, you MUST register now!!!!!!!

Also, make sure to get a room at the Seneca Lodge. More info under the threads directly relating to this eveny on "All Racing Talk".

JM

NJ2000R · #14 (**permalink**) 06-25-2002, 05:40 AM

well, since the august date at the glen appears to be sold out, I'm looking into the July 20 date at Pocono with PDA....

NJ2000R · #15 (**permalink**) 06-27-2002, 01:09 PM

registered and confirmed for July 20th at Pocono....see ya there!

NJ2000R · #16 (**permalink**) 07-10-2002, 09:30 PM

Lets get a head count for this event....lets also try to plan on parking together in the pit area....sound good?

klayfish · #17 (**permalink**) 07-11-2002, 06:15 AM

I'm signed up for the 20th, but honestly am starting to have second thoughts. I really, really don't want to hurt the car. If I wreck it, I'm in deep doggie-do.

Right now, my FFR has the standard 4 link Mustang rear suspension. The car does some spooky things when pushed beyond 8/10ths at the autocross, I'm afraid what it will do at higher speeds. Don't mean to sound like a wimp, but I invested a lot of money into that car. I'm thinking about postponing my track debut until I can afford to put the 3 link rear in the car. But if I do come, I'll definitely meet wherever you park.

Steve

John McMahon · #18 (**permalink**) 07-11-2002, 07:17 AM

Cranky and I may show up sans cars. I just got bad news, I need new heads for the Stang so I won't be ready.

(I wouldn't want to really run here anyway and put the Watkins Glen event at risk with a failure here.)

Roscoe · #19 (**permalink**) 07-11-2002, 07:26 AM

Klay,
It is going to be my first time on any track. Just go over the car well and make sure everything is tight. You do not have to go excessively fast. There are no walls if you go off the track, just open field. Worst is you will get dusty.

NJ2000R:
As far as I know:

Me
Mustang Man
Mr. Mustang
Tom R.
Bill K
Bill S
Klayfish
Joe R
YOU

Spoke with Bill S. yesterday. We were going to try to arrive early and get some spots inside the garage area.

Roscoe

klayfish · #20 (**permalink**) 07-11-2002, 07:36 AM

Roscoe,
I've been going back and forth on this. I just edited my previous post to be a little more specific.

My concern is that with my current rear set up, when pushed the car becomes unpredictable and hard to hold onto. I fight it all the way through my autocross courses to get the best times. I know I could just drive slower and not put the car in a situation where I could go off course, but then I think "What's the point of going"? No matter what set up I have, I don't intend to drive beyond my abilities or jacked up on adrenaline, but with the car being unpredictalbe as it is...I'm just concerned what it'll do on a real track. Everyone tells me the 3 link rear will cure the handling woes I have. That would make me more comfortable and confident in the car. But then again I REALLY want to go....

Sorry for rambling on, I'm just thinking out loud. So there are NO walls for me to hit if I slide off track? What kind of mph are we talking about through the turns (on street tires)?

Steve