RCFFS Summit Point – August 2018

After dealing with my third right knee operation and extensive therapy, this would be my first outing for 2018. Since Joe Marcinski posted a detailed race report for the event (www.rcffs.org/uploads/7/5/7/4/75745913/sp_race_report.pdf ), my report will be somewhat brief.

The race format would provide lots of track time over three days. It would test my stamina. I arrived at the track for the 6PM load in and took my wheels over to the Hoosier guys for new tires. My old tires had 25 or so cycles on them and were way past their “use by date.” Hoosier was busy and I was able to retrieve my wheels by 8:30 and got them on the car in the DARK. I ate my packed sandwich and made it to the motel for a reasonable bedtime.

Friday- Two practice sessions and a qualifier

My car had the new Wilwood front calipers on it and it took a few laps to bed in the old brake pads and the new tires. Good news is that the Wilwood calipers provide a worthwhile improvement in brake performance. I really wasn’t expecting much. Just putting in some conservative laps, my lap times in the 20’s were not too shabby compared to past performance. I was 7^th fastest of the 14 car field. Near the end of the session, I slowly spun exiting T5 staying mostly on the pavement. After that, the engine ran roughly and I came in. Data check showed fuel pressure was dropping significantly in high G corners. I checked the fuel filter and found it clean and concluded that I may be low on gas (It was a 15-17 lap session).

P2: I ran behind William Velkoff for a good bit of the session. At lap 8 Derek Holmes would visit the gravel trap in T10 and cause a couple of black flag laps. My best lap came on lap 4 in the 20’s. I’m still working off the cobwebs and am 8^th fastest of a very competitive and closely matched field. With a small gas tank overfill, the fuel pressure is stable.

Qualifying: It is getting hot and sticky by afternoon. I am not going any faster or slower. I am 9^th of the now 17 car field and need to get on with it. Summit was repaved last year and perhaps has marginally better grip in some places. The BUMP in T8 seems to be gone. The additional track out pavement/alligator teeth in T3 is the BIG useful improvement. I was just beginning to explore it.

Saturday Race 1

Starting 9^th at 1040, I got a good start. I am geared short for T1 and run hard against the rev limiter well before the first brake marker. It is worse when getting a draft. I really need to change gearing, but haven’t. There are seven cars running about the same 19.5-20.0 lap times. I pass (and repass) several and end up 6^th. Marcinski would sneak past me in T1 on the LAST lap. I had rejected his pass on the prior lap. Good clean fun. Post race found my CV bolts loose again despite new bolts and jet nets. Greg Peluso, who now owns Sean’s Citation, finished 11^th with a 1:21.5 time. Mike Rand would discover he had forgotten to put oil in his gearbox and now had a damaged differential.

Weekend included a nice 20 car FV group. They perhaps spoiled the stew by twice extensively oiling the track causing lengthy cleanups. Scuttle butt was that the track had used 95 bags of oil dry. Rand said when SuperVees were popular in the 70’s they were said to be “externally oiled.” One poured oil on them hoping they would absorb enough to make the engine last thru the race.

Race 2

Using the Race 1 best lap time, I would grid 7^th. As the closely packed field entered T1, it appeared that Derek, a couple of cars ahead, raised his arm in warning. I and others backed off. Turns out his temporary repair of a side pod had failed and the fiberglass cover was giving us an arm raise. A couple of cars behind me, including Peluso, zoomed past on the inside. I have video.

I would run hard just behind Joe and Doug Fisher for many laps. I would eventually get past Doug in a T1 scrum as we passed a lapper. Later I would get past Joe in T3 as we dealt with lappers. Greg continued to motor about 50 yards ahead. About 4 laps from the end of the 18 lap race, my dash went dark. Bad sign that the engine electronics and the data system are no longer talking. I am losing some power. When Joe and I came upon Ed Eller to lap him in T3, I chose the outside line and got balked. Joe again passed me on the last lap and I finished 7^th with a 19.4 best lap. I had many 19 laps which are 1 to 2 seconds better than my previous best. Cool. I am finally getting t3 learned.

Post race, Sam Eyer pointed out that my car was leaking some gas on roll out. I had noticed some small 10 inch diameter gas leak places under the car after sitting overnight. All the gas fittings were tight, so there must be some weep from the fuel cell. (turns out the cell access plate bolts were loose enough to allow the weep; will have to add them to my bolt check list)

Race 3 Sunday morning

This race was pretty much like the others as I ran in a pack of 5 to 7 cars going at it tooth and nail. I did make a tactical error in taking my massive Prednisone knee meds before the race. My stomach would be upset the entire race and throwing up was beat back many times by yelling at myself on corner exits. But I persisted. For the first half of the race Fisher, Marcinski and Peluso would motor 50 to 100 yards ahead of me, but as I dealt with my queezy stomach, I began to close the gap. I would catch Fisher and Marcinski and pass and closed to Peluso’s tail. As in the prior two races, Marcinski would get pass me on the last lap as I went a bit wide in T5. Joe, when I “complained of his rude behavior” said he could see my tires were going off. Finished 7^th of 16 with a 19.6 best lap. Much Fun.

WTF

When packing up for home, Larry Oliver the figure head Chief Steward of the series showed up at my trailer to tell me that a complaint had be logged about my driving wrecklessly, weaving and blocking. Bull shit, I replied. Who? Peluso! That whiney twerp is still annoyed that I brokered Sean’s Citation to him at a substantial discount to market value. He was totally ill equipped for buying a racecar and made lots of unnecessary and expensive prep shop expenditures.