Who said I had any skills? I have plenty of bent up car parts (not any Ferrari) to argue with anyone that said I could drive. I guess we should check if passengers are even allowed for this event? Besides, "fast" is a relative term. I tend to define a lap as being "fast" if I scare the crap out of myself on a given lap, then I slow down to make sure it doesn't happen again.
I'm hoping that I'll be there... will try to get registered today. I can't wait! It'll be a lot of fun being out on Track when I should be at work! Doing the NASA event that friday/saturday/sunday as well... 4 days of straight track time... going to be fantastic!
Anyone have a rough schedule for the event? With 3 run groups, should I assume alternating 30 min. sessions from 8am-noon and then the same from 1-5pm?
schedule sounds about right with your normal lunch break. I believe you can have passengers as I told Daniel to take me around for a familiarization scouting. Also with 3 run groups I'd guess about 10 cars per group. You guys don't need to worry about skill, the cars make up for alot of lack of skill these days hahaha
The plan is 3 run groups, 20-minute sessions. There could be up to 15-20 per group but the standard FCA track events formula allows up to 40 cars for a track like VIR. There will be so much open space that even seeing other cars will be rare.
Hey I'm a DSC off kinda guy too, but some people still need those aids hahaha. Sounds good about the run groups Bob, and I'm sure there will be plenty of wide open spaces.
VIR is revamping their website and have added video. Here's a pretty good look at a lap on the full course (not in a Ferrari, however) for those who have never been or driven there: http://tinyurl.com/3cucc2 If you really want to get into the details (and you should), check this out before coming: http://tinyurl.com/365tdf
Go to the link for that video on you tube, it is a great story. "Because of my disappointment with the power of the 426 motor, Dave had an old funny car crank we decided to use, by offset grinding it, giving us a 4.5 inch stroke and around 528 cubic inches. I always did all of the time consuming, tedious work on the Hemis and assembled them with Dave. He liked to use offset dowels to locate the heads accurately over the pistons and then he would cut the piston domes on a milling machine to fit closely into the heads. On all of our Hemis, there were always 4 or 5 pistons that were lightly touching the heads and valve pockets in the pistons with shiny circles where the valves were touching just enough to keep the carbon off. It took many hours of machine shop time to achieve this close fitting that Dave wanted. The engine also had to be trial assembled several times before it was ready for its final assembly. All of this work was done in my garage."
"Fast Phil" Currin, the driver of the 'Cuda in the video, won the GTO class in the second IMSA race at VIR in 1972 in a Corvette that he brought back and raced in the Gold Cup a few years ago. Phil is an experienced, confident and capable driver. Kids, don't try this at home! The acceleration curve on that car is completely insane, isn't it?
I was there for that (historics at VIR last year) and took some pictures of that engine. The thing is as big as my Lotus! The car weighs 2900, but I swear that 1000 pounds of it must be the hemi. The sound was unreal, the speed was unreal. 172 mph on the back straight, but I am more impressed with breaking 100 mph between turns 2 and 3!!! Image Unavailable, Please Login
Those are 48IDA's. You can put a balled fist down in the venturis. Small children and animals can be sucked in! Takes a LOT of air and fuel to make that HP!
Jay, I can do near that with 140 bhp in my sports racer (well, 98.6 mph, according to the data)! Nothing like purpose-built racing cars.
Now I understand. When I saw the laptimes I was amazed. I did times like that in the Ultima during the '06 One Lap so I can REALLY appreciate that car's potential. Karl
4,250,006 But I heard somebody canceled, so we're down to 4,250,005. (Actually, the number is probably about 35, IIRK)
It's ashame 'cause your 360 is just dying to let it all hang out!! At least that's what she told me. Ha.
