Head'n north to Elkhart Lake, WI - Page 3

jayscobras · #41 (**permalink**) 07-16-2010, 09:37 AM

2s not ones

ones are just for my shorter track memory.

glad ya'll corrected me

Jay

jdean · #42 (**permalink**) 07-16-2010, 03:03 PM

Steve we have some nice 100 degree days coming this weekend. You'll want to get back from the tundra ASAP to not miss it.

LuvDaBlues · #43 (**permalink**) 07-16-2010, 09:38 PM

Up early, prep and go racing. Again, great track. Lot's of fun.
Upper 80's / lower 90's with a breeze. Comfortable

Dropped the time to from 2:53 to 2:50 from first session to second, but way behind 95% of the pack. VERY fast cars. Just bringing up the rear.

Don, with 3.70 gears and a 26.5" rear tire, I'm using 2nd gear in turn 5 and sometimes in turn 8 (when I screw up). It sounds like others are also. I have definitely found one guy to race with. A maroon Mustang. It takes the entire front straight to pass him. Topping out at 143 mph (by calculation) I can almost reach out and shake his hand. Quite a thrill! For engine longevity sake, the engine rev limiter is 7,000. Haven't hit that yet. Reaching about 6,600 at the Road America Straight (front straight) and Moraine Sweep. I know some others are hitting 8,500. They have bigger "eggs" than I do.

Here is a taste of some of the cars.
This is the real deal (or so he said): I asked the CSX #, but I didn't understand what he said. He only said a double digit number, like #48. I looked for the typical tags, but didn't find them. Didn't look too hard though.

He races in Group 6 with us, and blew by me yesterday and today, but failed to finish both days.

And it's power plant:

A CSX 4000 series, races in a different group:

Try this for additional photos:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sseitz/...7624518507248/

LuvDaBlues · #44 (**permalink**) 07-17-2010, 05:23 PM

No photo's today. Had my hands full. (But I do have in car video, will upload later) After morning practice the left brake cylinder decided to take a dive. Scrambled to find a new cylinder and new brake shoes (yes I forgot them at home in the garage) and purchased from Cobra Automotive. Porterfield brand $$$$$$$. A buddy from CVAR happened to be attending the event as a spectator, and help replacing. Made the Mustang race within two hours, then the Big Bore race 1.5 hours after that.

Qualifying race was quite interesting. Only 4 laps then all cars black flagged.
Corner #1: '65 Mustang off left in kitty litter
Corner #3: Corvette blows up to the right, pouring oil (three cars back from that event)
Corner #3: AC Cobra off to the left, no idea
Hurry Downs: '67 Mustang off to the right, flat tire
Corner #9 (Carousel): Jaguar off to the left in the kitty litter
Corner #11 (The Kink): '65 Mustang wads up his front end. Comes to rest in the middle of the track.
Thunder Valley: Off to the right, but can't remember what that was.

The drivers are getting pretty aggressive now. Glad I run in the back.

LuvDaBlues · #45 (**permalink**) 07-18-2010, 05:01 AM

Check up on the earlier post. We did get out at night to see the Concourse show on the streets of Elkhart Lake. Thousands spectators. So I did get the camera out and try to get some of my favorites.

Flicker account link.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sseitz/...7624402059263/

But can't figure this one out. An AC? A Shelby American? A kit car? A continuation? A replica?

Sorry, poor photo.

Plates

Info board next to car:

Oh yes, it's official now. The wife has had enough and is ready to head home.........

LuvDaBlues · #46 (**permalink**) 07-19-2010, 06:03 AM

VERY busy day, and very tired, so no photo's. Group 6, the big bores, had the best weather. It rained Saturday night, so wet track in the morning for the first groups practicing. But dried up just fine for us. Then rained late morning, cleared up and dried off for our race again. Then on the cool down lap the skies opened up again and it was coming down in buckets. It just made it tough to pack up immediately.

The practice session went well, but I made the mistake of gridding early which put me in the 3rd spot and everyone behind me.

I've never seen the blue and yellow flag (check your mirrors because your about to get passed) that many times in my life.

I had to point by so much that I hardly kept my hand on the wheel.

For the final race, I think I was 3rd or 4th from last spot out of 45 drivers (?). At least not "DFL" (dead f#@%ing last) a racing buddy called it. On the 3rd lap the car started smoking, but oil pressure, oil and water temp, and the performance was just fine. I could tell the corner workers were also keeping an eye on me, and no black flag. So I just continued and finished the race. Passed a few guys and DIDN'T GET LAPPED!!!!

I did learn, at this event the deeper into the weekend, the crazier the drivers get. Some say it's aggressive, I say it's nutty. Not as many cars off track as Saturday, but what I was watching, even in the back of the pack, it wasn't what I would consider "a vintage spirit". Come on, it's a cheep $20 trophy.................... it ain't cash prizes!

Packed up and headed south. Made it to Rockford, Ill. last night and want to hit Springfield, Ill. to see the Lincoln Presidential Library today. Two days of travel to home to face reality again.

It's been a great trip. I've never been in this area of the country before, and the Midwest people are great. Beautiful countryside. Road America is now my favorite track. Super setting, great track surface, and a well organized group. Hope to come back some day.

Dumpling · #47 (**permalink**) 07-19-2010, 06:31 AM

too bad, closed Monday and Tuesday...Dana Thomas House

Better than the Robie House by a long shot, and just blocks from the Lincoln Library.

Jerry Clayton · #48 (**permalink**) 07-19-2010, 07:30 AM

Steve

being an Illinois farm boy(grew up about 40 sw of Springfield) I appreciate your midwest remarks---It has always amazed me being around Chi for several years how so many people have been back to there ancestors roots in Europe but haven;t seen the midwest!

When I was at the Lincoln museum I was plesantly surprised at the percentage of visitors that were of African descent (and it was years before "B"came on the scene)

LuvDaBlues · #49 (**permalink**) 07-19-2010, 08:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dumpling

too bad, closed Monday and Tuesday...Dana Thomas House

Better than the Robie House by a long shot, and just blocks from the Lincoln Library.

"D",

There was no way Yancey was going to let hit another FLW site. But the Lincoln Museum was good. Geared toward youth education, but quite entertaining. Spent 2 hours there, and didn't get over to the library side. Just ran out of time. Sitting in Springfield, MO tonight. Hopefully up early so we can get home tomorrow night.

It's been a good trip.

Johan · #50 (**permalink**) 07-20-2010, 10:47 PM

I had a great time as well. I could not find you guys in the upper paddock. My phone did not work at road America for some reason so I could not go back and see what your cars looked like exactly. Our tent blew down Saturday night and it took hours to get it back up. still, Sunday racing was great. The activities in town were fun as usual. Great place !

Johan · #51 (**permalink**) 07-20-2010, 10:49 PM

That Burgandy 289 cobra is Mike Stott's and it is an original Cobra that he has been racing for 20 years or so. The 427 is a continuation car.

LuvDaBlues · #52 (**permalink**) 07-21-2010, 03:21 PM

Johan,

We did see you run, just didn't remember which one you were. We wondered the paddock, but there were so many cars my head was spinning. My car was hidden by the white with green decals Corvette, while Larry's Fomula Ford was under cover a lot to keep the crap out.

The Can-Am races were great. You guys must have "eggs" of steel. That was pretty damn fast into turn 1. What is the top speed you hit on that coarse?

If you got a chance to watch Group 6, I was the "quiet" Mustang in the back of the pack. I had a few spectators drop by and mention that's how they remember my car. More of a whoosh instead of a rumble.

I didn't break any speed records, or threaten any of the leaders, but that was great fun!!!!

Johan · #53 (**permalink**) 07-21-2010, 04:00 PM

I was the red lola with the door that swung open in left hand turns...

LuvDaBlues · #54 (**permalink**) 07-21-2010, 07:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Johan

I was the red lola with the door that swung open in left hand turns...

Oh yeah................unmistakable. We watched at turn 5. That must have been a little distracting. Especially with the one guy nipping at your heels.

RedSnake351 · #55 (**permalink**) 07-21-2010, 10:52 PM

So Johan, why don't you answer Steve's question in post#52, "What is the top speed you hit on that coarse?"

Inquiring minds want to know!

Ralph

Johan · #56 (**permalink**) 07-22-2010, 07:53 AM

I don't have a speedometer but I ran 5th right on up there...
I DO have an in-car video.
http://vimeo.com/13533252

LuvDaBlues · #57 (**permalink**) 07-22-2010, 09:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Johan

I don't have a speedometer but I ran 5th right on up there...
I DO have an in-car video.
http://vimeo.com/13533252

Nice video Johan. I videoed two races, but every time I tagged a rumble strip, the camera zoomed all the way in, then it was just a kaleidescope of colors. Oh yeah, the other difference between yours and mine............. you are passing cars, while cars are passing me. Must be the camera angle!

Come on, do the math with tire size, gearing and RPM. WHAT WERE YOUR SPEEDS????

I can slow your video down and see me and my buddies sitting at turn 5. I'M A STAR!

One fun thing about that event, when I dropped my window net to wave to the corner workers (racing etiquette), the spectators thought I was waving at them. So further into the weekend, I could get the whole bleachers waving to me. Even if I was at the back of the pack................ I AM a STAR!!!!! Thank you very much........ I'll be signing autographs in the lobby front while selling my latest DVD.

RedSnake351 · #58 (**permalink**) 07-22-2010, 11:42 AM

Very nice video, Johan, thanks for the ride!

Steve, many of the drivers also wave at the spectators besides the corner workers!

You'll be back, won't you?

Ralph

LuvDaBlues · #59 (**permalink**) 07-22-2010, 02:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RedSnake351

Steve, many of the drivers also wave at the spectators besides the corner workers!

Ralph

Gee, thanks for bursting my bubble Ralph...........

Johan · #60 (**permalink**) 07-22-2010, 03:51 PM

Ralph, anytime !
According to this video the top speed at the end of the pit wall is 189 and the speed through turn 1 is about 90 so 100 mph must be shed in a fairly short distance. This car ran this year but was not as fast as last year. I actually passed it ! Must have a new more cautious owner... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZBNh8LMShyE