Pumpkin at Firebird West, August, 2009

[Shoaz]

We had a half-day (5:30am to 10:30am) event last Saturday at Firebird West. This is the first time I've had the Pumpkin on that course. It's very tight and twisty, so much so that many people describe it as an autocross course. This means I'm at a pretty substantial disadvantage to the lighter cars, like Hondas.

Three of us beat the old TTE track record, but, sadly, an Integra and a CRX did it faster than I did. No surprise they both weigh a thousand pounds or more less than the Pumpkin.

Ten minutes or so of vid: Firebird West Time Trials, August, 2009

 

[Sho Amo]

proof shos can beat mustangs lol.

 

[Shoaz]

He was pointing me by, so I just took the opportunity. He said later he had a passenger that cost him three-quarters of a second a lap.

That car has about half again as much hp as I do and weighs a little less, IIRC. Bigger tires, too.

 

[Toolman]

You may have mentioned it before, but what does the ole plumpkin weigh? Congrats on the time.

 

[drivinhard]

That car has about half again as much hp as I do and weighs a little less, IIRC. Bigger tires, too.

yeah but everybody knows the nut behind the wheel is the best mod

how many events before nationals, or was that it?

is there a posted list of TT entrants for miller somewhere? I'm curious how many TTA cars there are and what they are.

As the time gets closer, I'm very ****** I'm not going. I am getting my car really close to 100% dialed in.

 

[Shoaz]

You may have mentioned it before, but what does the ole plumpkin weigh? Congrats on the time.

My minimum competition weight is 3374 lbs, so I have to weigh more than that any time coming off the track. I'm trying to keep it in the 3400+ lb operational range so that I don't get busted on the scales again.

yeah but everybody knows the nut behind the wheel is the best mod

how many events before nationals, or was that it?

Yeah, it's just fun to point out when you're keeping up with or beating a "superior car".

That was the last event before nationals, so hopefully minimal changes are needed. It was sucking in the first sessions, then I cranked the rear Konis to full soft and let a little pressure out of the rears and it got better. Being even reasonable at FBW should, I hope, make it happy at Miller where the turns are much more open and faster. Just have a few things to tweak up a little bit and it should be more or less good to go. The schedule there has a lot of time between sessions, so there should be plenty of opportunity to make reasonable adjustments while there.

is there a posted list of TT entrants for miller somewhere? I'm curious how many TTA cars there are and what they are.

Yup:

http://www.nasaforums.com/viewtopic.php?f=69&t=28208

So far in TTE it's just me and the guy from GA you mentioned previously. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for at least a podium.

As the time gets closer, I'm very ****** I'm not going. I am getting my car really close to 100% dialed in.

There's next year! By then I might be in a TTA car, too!

I'll make this year an intelligence gathering mission for you.

 

[drivinhard]

http://www.nasaforums.com/viewtopic.php?f=69&t=28208

So far in TTE it's just me and the guy from GA you mentioned previously.

you gotta be kidding me, only 5 TTA cars? we had more than that in TTA at the last SE event

Suck. I really want to go now

 

[Shoaz]

you gotta be kidding me, only 5 TTA cars? we had more than that in TTA at the last SE event

Suck. I really want to go now

Attendance is down, due both to the relocation and the economy (although I bet more due to the economy). They keep delaying the "full price" registration date to try to get more people to sign up. We'll see who really shows up.

Don't worry, I'll take vids and pics.

 

[Shoaz]

BTW, in case anyone is doubting the commentary on the Porsche I was following in the second half:

Austin Newmark

He's a good guy, seems to have his head screwed on pretty well, and a very talented driver. He and his Dad are fixtures around the paddock now and are both very well liked.

 

[Toolman]

Did you get your mirror from Griot's? I like mine, bought three of them. Videos like this have me so excited to get my track car done. Have only tracked my stock weight cars, moving into a superlight with a full cage and extra downforce should be quite fun.

 

[Shoaz]

A buddy insisted I try that mirror, which he got on ebay. It just clips onto the existing mirror. He thought it gave a wider viewing angle, I couldn't tell any difference at all. I gave it back at the end of the day.

 

[Toolman]

It is not wide angle, but has a much larger field of view, I love mine. Makes backing up the truck with the camper shell a much less anxious afair. But in my track car it will not be clipped on to the stock mirror. It will be mounted on my rollbar.