| Author | Message | ||
| Dinah DeRoller (Mme_butterfly)
New member Username: Mme_butterfly Post Number: 19 Registered: 8-2003 |
LOL! He figured out the smiley faces! Go Matt! ~D | ||
| Jon P. Kofod (95f355c)
Member Username: 95f355c Post Number: 978 Registered: 8-2001 |
Nope! Hasn't worn off yet!!! | ||
| Matt Karson (Squidracing)
Member Username: Squidracing Post Number: 544 Registered: 3-2001 |
 | ||
| Jon P. Kofod (95f355c)
Member Username: 95f355c Post Number: 972 Registered: 8-2001 |
Dennis, Matt still had that silly grin on his face six hours later when I left the track. Wonder if it's worn off yet. Might be a permanent thing. Oh well at least he can play with Bill Jennings 360GT. Clocked Bill in the high 1:50's several times (1:58 something) was his best. You and I can always get our jolies playing with you know who's 333SP and that other car he drives. Regards, Jon | ||
| Dennis (Bighead)
Junior Member Username: Bighead Post Number: 215 Registered: 2-2003 |
Here's a big-a$$ smile of Mr. Karson in the driver's seat.  And our friend Bubba giving Matt best wishes for a hot lap.  Car looks pretty good, no?    vty, --Dennis | ||
| Hubert Otlik (Hugh)
Intermediate Member Username: Hugh Post Number: 1336 Registered: 1-2002 |
>>If you think so then you're doing something wrong !<< No, see, you're the one that's got it backwards. You're doing something wrong behind the wheel... | ||
| Rob Lay (Rob328gts)
Board Administrator Username: Rob328gts Post Number: 6151 Registered: 12-2000 |
LOL Frank | ||
| Frank Parker (Parkerfe)
Advanced Member Username: Parkerfe Post Number: 2900 Registered: 9-2001 |
If you think so then you're doing something wrong ! | ||
| Sean F (Agracer)
Member Username: Agracer Post Number: 369 Registered: 2-2003 |
Don't worry John, the SCCA will increase the price, again and again. And all the members will suffer. Then, in 5-years they'll tell us the engine is too old and make you buy a new one. Like they did with Spec Renault (now Ford). They were still making engines in Mexico but for some reason they were "just not enough available" Read, Vicki got a nice check from Ford and low and behold Ford is the engine of choice. Now what happens to all those engine builders for FF and FC. Oh, to bad so sad SCCA Enterprises will now build you a "sealed engine". Their is nothing wrong with the current formula. We all knew who the cheaters were, and if they got a little to far ahead, a simple protest took care of them. Otherwise, no one really cared. Are you telling me that you can't change the gear sets on the new FSCCA car? I'm sorry, but gears are NOT that expensive and gearing your car for a track is not that complicated. The fast SRF guys spend just as much money as the fast FC or FF guys one a national weekend. If you choose to race regionally only, you can get buy just as cheap as a regional only SRF in your FC or FF buying used tires and such. As I wrote, 90% of the costs are the same. This whole "we can make racing cheap and fair" is a myth. The FC pro racing is dying because they changed the engines and fixed the chassis as the Van Diemen (one supplier for cars and parts in the U.S. - oh, they aslo happen to run the series...oh, they also happen to be building the new FSSCA cars for the SCCA...hummmm??). Not to mention the economy hasn't been crap for the last three summers. That doesn't help the amateur racer much. Neither does making all the current car owners cars obsolete/gone be killing a class or changing engines. Can you tell I'm pissed about this. The SCCA is so 'effing stupid sometimes. They can't see the forest for the trees and they're driving memebers away when they do crap like this. Not to mention their are already WAY to many classes (like 27 now - how is a fan supposed to follow all that?). Sorry for the Rant. But the people in Denver really need to catch a clue. Membership is going down and so is race participation because they're constanly screwing over the membership. Any of you remember Shelby Can Am? What a farce that was. | ||
| Racer Nika (Racernika)
Junior Member Username: Racernika Post Number: 67 Registered: 7-2003 |
Here's the info on the new Renesis "Mazda" http://www.racerchicks.com/news/mazda.html It is a cool car and they have sold quite a few.....should be interesting at Sebring when they debut | ||
| will h (Willh)
Junior Member Username: Willh Post Number: 197 Registered: 3-2003 |
Jon, in our area, I believe FM attendance is driven by the FM Eastern Series, which awards money, tires and other goodies at certain races. The cars show up for those series races, and not much else. I tend to avoid MARRS because the race groups are so large; of course, the nationals are "better" in part because they don't include the hugely popular regional classes. Good grief, Spec Miata has a great pro series! The only reason I don't try spec miata or rx-7 is I've become spoiled by very light purpose built cars, and going "back" to a street based sedan would be ... odd. Now, give me a purpose built Trans Am Shaguar and I just might be able to live with it! ;-) Hate to say it, but I'd avoid FC, FF, FVee and the current FM, and instead think about Atlantics, or FSCCA, or the '04 pro Mazda. This suggestion may not be fair to the FCs, which have always been my favorite SCCA cars, but Jon, I think your comments about gear sets, for example, only begin to scratch the surface. The FC pro series seems to me to be struggling. And I think FF, once a terrific open wheel starter class, has seen its best days, as has FVee. I see more and more folks wanting to take a big step up from their first car, whatever it is - hence the interest in the powerful Radicals and the like, for those who don't like open wheel cars, and what I suspect will be increasing interest in Atlantics and the '04 pro Mazda. SCCA may be on the right track combining their new pro series for FSCCA with national weekends, it's real leveraging, you've got to hand it to them. I ran in the August VIR National as well as the pro race, and got to double up on practice and track time. I'd do it every opportunity I had. Nothing like being both the manufacturer and the sanctioning body, eh? Jon, have you ever run your SRF at the June Sprints, 70+ car fields? When the green flag falls, folks are still coming up from the Billy Mitchell bridge, pretty incredible. By the way, anybody running the FoW October event? I'll be there. | ||
| Jon P. Kofod (95f355c)
Member Username: 95f355c Post Number: 959 Registered: 8-2001 |
Rob, Yeah the new Mazda looks good but at 73K it's way over my head in terms of what I want to spend on a race car. I bet one corner on that car is probably 8-10K. Will and Sean, You both raise good points about why SCCA is bringing in the SCCA car. I agree with Sean on one hand about SCCA lining their pockets at other peoples expense. Just like any other spec car this one will, if successful, make SCCA a ton of money and that is partially their aim..... BUT.... I don't think it's their single aim. I am sure Will will agree with me here, that at the regional level the fields here in the DC and Northeast Region in general are seeing very small fields on FC, FM and FF. Will and I race at the Regional level in the Mid Atlantic Road Racing Series and in the past two years the average open wheel race contains one or two FF cars, maybe two or three FM's and at most four or 5 FC's with a lone FA thrown in. The fields are usually too small and we get C and D Sports thrown in with an odd S2000 once in a while. I realize at the National level the fields are a bit bigger but still at Mid Ohio's last National of 2002 (Aug) there were only a few FM's and a few FF's. The other issue is that many people in the past few years have started looking at spec classes as the cheapest way to start racing. Look at Spec Miata, Spec RX7 and SRF. All ensure at least a partially equal playing field with minimal costs in terms of what you can do to the car. This was what appealed to me the most. Limited modifications (meaning your talent wins not your wallet) and large fields to race in. At VIR last year we had 63 cars in SRF and 58 took the flag. Spec Miata this year in our region has an average field of 27 cars. Many of us are getting started in this type of racing and are somewhat hesitant to get into FC or FF where a lot of tinkering takes place and there are huge (costly) options. I have a friend who has raced FC for years. He has something like 15 different gear sets and such. I think that SCCA is serving both itself (no doubt at the cost of FF, FC, and others) BUT also serving a growing number of us that want to move up the racing ladder into open wheel but like the idea of a series such as SRF with specs. In the end it will all depend on how the new SCCA car is received an how they keep the cost down. At first the SCCA car was supposed to run 26K open wheeled and 29K with body work. Now they are already going back on their word and saying it will be another 2K on top of the original prices. Well have to wait and see if it's a success! Regards, Jon | ||
| will h (Willh)
Junior Member Username: Willh Post Number: 195 Registered: 3-2003 |
"Don't take offense, but the club FM cars are really antiquated." Sean, absolutely no offense taken. I think the club FM is going to die off slowly now - why buy a new one? I've owned both an FM and a Zetec powered Van Diemen, and there's no question which was the better car - the Zetec is probably the quickest handling race car I've ever driven, I loved it. I'm also an F2000.com lurker. I only gave up on the Zetec because I didn't have a good vibe about the future of the pro series, and the car is not competitive in SCCA FA. Don't know where you run, but hope to see you at the track, I should be at the Thanksgiving Sebring race, then the winter nationals in January in Florida, then all over the place in SCCA next year - unless I sign up with David Moore for the USAGT series, which sounds pretty interesting. | ||
| Sean F (Agracer)
Member Username: Agracer Post Number: 366 Registered: 2-2003 |
That is true that their is a difference between an LMP car and a Spec racer. But if you're going with a certaint type of car, say open wheel, except for the entry price, most of the costs are going to be similar. Look at FA versus FF. A good FF car is 15-18k right now. A good FA is 40k or more (haven't looked in a long time so that could be off). Other than the tires, what costs are that different? The engines both get rebuilt in about 16-18 hours of running for similar costs. Gas, lodging, etc. are all the same. And some cars just give you more bang for the buck. Don't take offense, but the club FM cars are really antiquated. They go like hell on the straights, but can't turn worth a crap. I'd much rather have an FC car that I can modify and tune myself. The thing I hate about the SCCA Spec Formula car is that EVERYTHING is bought through SCCA Enterprises. That' just BS. Do you know how much money I saved (if you want to talk saving money) making a lot of my own parts, rebuilding my own engine, and modifying my old car to keep it as fast as the newer cars? I can't do any of that with the Spec car. By forcing me to spend money, how is the SCCA saving me money? Again, who really is the winner here? Vicky and who else? | ||
| will h (Willh)
Junior Member Username: Willh Post Number: 194 Registered: 3-2003 |
"The SCCA's Formula car is another SCCA/Enterprise scam to gouge the consumer and a lot of FF and FC owners are really pissed about it." Hi Sean. I've heard this rant before from lots of folks. I am one of those affected personally by the introduction of the SCCA car, because I feel it really hurt the resale price of a Van Diemen I recently sold. I don't know why SCCA is in the business of damaging the value of members' cars, either - but for now it is in the business of making cars, and in the FSCCA I think they have a big winner. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend the FSCCA to folks wanting to try out formula car racing. I disagree with you about cost effective racing, in this sense. The type of car one selects dramatically affects cost, right? I think you'd agree, for example, that it costs a LOT more to operate an LMP car than it does to operate an SRF. I also feel you can reduce your costs - again, relatively speaking - by running in a spec series, like club FM, as opposed to a "how much engine can you afford" class like CSR. I have seen racers on relatively small budgets do well in SCCA. No question the tire and testing budgets are very important, but at the amateur level, at least, I continue to believe that the driver is a major determining factor. Matt - Thanks for asking, speaking of non-cost effective racing, I've been running through test days and tires trying to get my CSR car up to speed. Have a ways to go yet, doing high 55s at VIR full for example, need to do 52s. Need to play with jetting and work through aero and suspension development, we still really are guessing with a lot of changes, the car is quite complex. Or, as always, I could replace the soft part behind the wheel! Please post a complete set of pics of the Jag, what a beautiful car. Cheers, Will | ||
| Sean F (Agracer)
Member Username: Agracer Post Number: 365 Registered: 2-2003 |
"I think the new SCCA formula car could be the way to go for cost effective amateur open wheel racing" Their is no such thing as cost effective racing. The guys with the most money will find a way to spend it. Whether is tires, testing or better gas, they'll find a way and always have and advantage over the poor guy. The SCCA's Formula car is another SCCA/Enterprise scam to gouge the consumer and a lot of FF and FC owners are really pissed about it. It's a conflict of interest to make rules, then sell cars for those rules as well. Ask Vicki how much money she's getting off this deal? And the last thing the SCCA needs is another class. I'd better not get on this soapbox or we'll be here all day. | ||
| Matt Karson (Squidracing)
Member Username: Squidracing Post Number: 541 Registered: 3-2001 |
Will....cool site. How did your season go? | ||
| Matt Karson (Squidracing)
Member Username: Squidracing Post Number: 540 Registered: 3-2001 |
Rob... 'Jon is right and I've said it before to you, with your talent and money you need to be racing door to door'.... talent....I may have some talent (totally subjective) behind the wheel, but........ money....I have none, (I would put a frowny face here, but I don't know how to do it) or at least no where near enough. I totally hear you when you talk about your RX7 racing. It sounds like great fun. Until I get more of the money thing I think I'm relegated to the 'go out with my track friends and have a blast' thing. Anyone have an extra money tree in their back yard?? | ||
| will h (Willh)
Junior Member Username: Willh Post Number: 193 Registered: 3-2003 |
Matt, congratulations. Wow. And this is the sad truth, I think you have to figure it out after you've spent a bundle trying to make a street car fast: "A thoroughly developed purposely built racecar mocks anything else." Jon, IMO the open wheel classes are a bit confused right now, from the top to the bottom. I think the new SCCA formula car could be the way to go for cost effective amateur open wheel racing. I believe that, in a few years, there will be a lot of the SCCA cars and they will have their own national class. The car is less adjustable than a continental, but the look is good and the entry cost seems favorable. As you no doubt already know, the '04 FM product is a very serious car and offers more room to "grow" as a driver than the SCCA spec car. The new FM sells for about 70k and runs in either the Mazda pro series or (soon) SCCA FA; I believe 50 or so of the cars have been spoken for. I think it will be a fabulous car, but one that will require a fair amount of engineering and the help of an experienced prep shop (+ deep pockets) if you wish to be truly competitive. I race with the shop that supports this year's points leader (and supported last years champion), check out www.racersedgemotorsports.com, and would be happy to put you in touch with them. I would NOT buy the current club FM, even though they can only get cheaper after this pro season ends. I'd also stay away from Fran Am. Good luck, Will | ||
| N'din (Abangdin)
New member Username: Abangdin Post Number: 43 Registered: 7-2003 |
You guys have all the fun. I envy you. Keep it up. | ||
| JRV (Jrvall)
Intermediate Member Username: Jrvall Post Number: 2378 Registered: 11-2002 |
That Jag is way cool, but someday I want an Alba-Ferrari and a Lambo GTR. Don't get me wrong though, if the owner of the Jag needed a test pilot I wouldn't turn him down { } | ||
| Hubert Otlik (Hugh)
Intermediate Member Username: Hugh Post Number: 1328 Registered: 1-2002 |
Hell... you guys are all talking about wheel to wheel, and just these last few track outing I ran open passing rules, and thought that was a rush. | ||
| Rob Lay (Rob328gts)
Board Administrator Username: Rob328gts Post Number: 6136 Registered: 12-2000 |
Jon, check out the new Formula Mazdas. Don't know when they'll be released, they've just been testing them right now. 240 HP. Heard they would be faster than Formula Atlantics if they had more downforce. So imagine a car with the speed of FA's, but with less control.  Sounds fun. | ||
| Jon P. Kofod (95f355c)
Member Username: 95f355c Post Number: 956 Registered: 8-2001 |
Sean, I know what you mean. I raced a few races in the Skippy Series and it was a blast. I then went to SRF to get some racecraft experience with an affordable car that needed little setup or maintenance and a big field of cars. My goal was (and still is) to do three seasons in SRF (this is my third) and then move on to FC or FM. I am also keeping an eye on the new SCCA Formula car as well. When I got into SRF a well maintained FC was about 20-25K (95-98 VD). Now it's more like 15-18K so it's quite a bargain now. I think racing is like any other drug, it addicting. Before I got into racing I spent money on all sorts of hobbys and collectibles. Now I am slowly selling off all my toys so I can go racing. I used to spend bukoo bucks on expensive street cars but since I got into racing I don't really care about a 400 hp street car. I can get 10X the kicks in a 150 hp race car. I hear people at the track all the time sayinf they sold this or that to go racing. Hell half the people in the paddock at the last national were talking about taking out second mortgages on their homes..... Racing is like a drug! What's the old joke......Wanna make a small fortune in racing.....start with a big one !!!! Regards, Jon | ||
| Jon P. Kofod (95f355c)
Member Username: 95f355c Post Number: 955 Registered: 8-2001 |
Rob, Got your email today will get back to you on your pad question tomorrow as I need to check which pads I used. Jon | ||
| Rob Lay (Rob328gts)
Board Administrator Username: Rob328gts Post Number: 6134 Registered: 12-2000 |
Jon is right and I've said it before to you, with your talent and money you need to be racing door to door. Racing my cheap Rx7 door to door with 40 others is much more fun than running solo time trials in the Challenge. | ||
| Sean F (Agracer)
Member Username: Agracer Post Number: 363 Registered: 2-2003 |
Jon, Once you go open wheel, you never go back. Buy and FC. It doesn't really cost that much more to run, despite what people tell you. 90% of the costs (gas, food, lodging, entry, etc.) are all the same. So you may have to buy more tires. Trust me, it's worth it. This is my FC just before I sold it (moment of silence please). Jeez do I miss it something terrible. The 308 I'm looking for is a stop gap measure until the kids get old enough to come to the track with me.  | ||
| James Glickenhaus (Napolis)
Advanced Member Username: Napolis Post Number: 2507 Registered: 10-2002 |
Jon/Matt A lot has changed since in 36 years... 1967 Ford GT40 MkIV Lift: 148 lbs. @ 150 mph, with 365 lbs. of drag 213 lbs. @ 180 mph, with 554 lbs. of drag 263 lbs. @ 200 mph, with 648 lbs. of drag 318 lbs. @ 220 mph, with 828 lbs. of drag I bet at speed that puppy makes 3000lbs of downforce with 1000lbs of drag. | ||
| Jon P. Kofod (95f355c)
Member Username: 95f355c Post Number: 954 Registered: 8-2001 |
God help us all if Matt ever decides to drive an INDY CAR !!!!! Seriously you need to have fun with the TA car for about a year than join SCCA and go racing. It will run in GT1 with a bunch of other TA cars and you'll swear it's better than sex, drugs, you name it. Hell I have more fun in my 105 hp Spec Racer at a Regional or National race than I ever have in my 355 at a track event. I tell people what I race and they say "only" 100 hp. Nothing beats going wheel to wheel with 32 other cars through turn 1 at the Glen or at Summit. God...I can only imagine running with 700 hp. Here folks is a picture of Mr. Karson's ride:  As for lap times I am sure Matt was somewhere around 2:00 minutes flat and that was in someone else's car. No doubt he will be knocking on the 1:50's with his own car. Regards, Jon P. Kofod 1995 F355 Challenge #23 | ||
| William H (Countachxx)
Advanced Member Username: Countachxx Post Number: 2977 Registered: 2-2001 |
Matt did you buy the Shaguar ? Are you going to repaint it like Austin Powers Shaguar ? Will it be an EeeeViL Shaguar ? | ||
| Dave Burch (Merlyn)
Junior Member Username: Merlyn Post Number: 128 Registered: 8-2002 |
Lap times?? | ||
| James Adams (Madmaxx)
Junior Member Username: Madmaxx Post Number: 175 Registered: 11-2002 |
I sat in the LG Motorsports car once James | ||
| Matt Karson (Squidracing)
Member Username: Squidracing Post Number: 539 Registered: 3-2001 |
Guys....all I can say is......BE SCARED.....BE VERY SCARED!!!! The owner of the Jaguar Trans Am car (I don't want to mention his name without his permission) let me "test" his car this past Sunday at our Glen event. This car is the most amazing car I have ever had on the track. I mean...348 Challenge/355 Challenge/355 GT/360 Challenge/F40...(never drove a F40LM or 333SP) apples and oranges. A thoroughly developed purposely built racecar mocks anything else. This isn't a knock on the marque I know, have owned several of, and really really love...but I can't even think of anything else than getting a Trans Am Car!! The downforce of the XKR body and rear wing was like nothing I have ever experienced before. The contact patch was massive, creating amazing grip. Even with 700 hp, the car was begging me to give it more. Of course, I wasn't driving it like it was my personal car, but I can tell that the cars potential is mind boggeling. Anyway...if I had to give up sex....THIS WOULD BE MY SUBSTITUTE! |