944 racing this last weekend.

[PeanutinCA]

So, how did it go for NASA?

 

There was a lot of action with POC, more so in the who can run, who's broken, who's having good luck and who's hvaing bad? Too much for the time I have right now, but if the runners don't offer up some stories, then perhaps I will when I have a little more time?

 

P.D.

[Packfill]

P-Dilly...

 

With just a glance over to mylaps.com (possibly my favorite website), it looks like there wasnt any 944 racing with NASA this weekend... I may be wrong, but I actually didnt even see any in HPDE? (although they may just classify different...)

 

A quick idea for the powers that be... if I can get 3-8 cars per event to show up to NASA for next couple of months, and since there are NO other cars running, can we run in 944SPEC and qualify for Toyo bucks and championship points? I am pretty confident the guys will come back.. they (we) are just not going to change their headers and suspension...

 

On another note: Mikeal Weitze put a stamp on this weekend and should have cast aside ANY doubt that his NASA competitors might have about his "uber car."

 

Mikeals car broke early on day one... he borrowed the "timinater" on Saturday and won the race. Not too surprising, the VIsion Timinator is a well built car. But on Sunday, the Timinators owner was in the same race as Mikeal, so Mikeal borrowed John Tunnicliffs car... stock DME, stock exhaust, NO LSD, etc... Mikeal and Foley swapped for the lead two or three times until Mikeal (WHO WAS LEADING) bobbled in the omega, and Foley got by... It was a great race and a great drive by both competitors...

 

I think the rest of the field was Yousko, Momeyer, Muscat (Love) who is now an official racer!, Hirsch, Bandini, Greyhall, Morgan, Simpson, and Johnson, who was driving an 86 Schnauzer....

[Spec-944#70]

Don't forget he also won in my old car at CSW a few weeks ago!! And my car was pretty much untouched since it was sold. Let's see from memory it looks like he has won races in 4 different cars? Maybe Tim will let him borrow a CRE car to put it on the podium!!! Last weekend also show's he can make mistakes and be beaten!

[944-Spec#94]

Jim,

I don't believe any has ever said Mikeal was a bad driver. Nope he is excellent and one our best. On track results prove this. He also takes pride in his car and it is also very well prepared. On track results prove this as well.

 

 

As for 944 racing we in Arizona had 5 car out for a 4 hr "practice" event. Firebird East (most a test track) for from 6am to 10 am. Just a little practice event with about 45 min of total track time.

 

 

We had 5 racers

 

Joe Paluch #94

Norm Hamden #99

Steve Marlow #74

Vince Vaccaro #10

Dave Hauck #08

 

The event was only a test event with a 2 15 min sessions and 15 minute practice race.

 

The day started early with a 6am roll out for the first DE cars. Race group went out at 7am. We did two laps of yellow just to warm up and I began to notice a little hopping under brakes. I figured it was tire pick-up and dirt on track. My first green flag lap I passed a Mini Cooper and went hard in to the 180 on the south end of the track. This is a double apexer and I decied to use what looked like fresh pavement near the first apex. Well I got on the brakes and as I continued my trail braking the car slid alot and spun around. Not good for my 2nd hot corner of the day. Oh well, I had not driven the track in a while so I figured It was just my bonehead move. I completed the lap and set-up the next one pushing harder it was decient except for some bad braking in tight 2nd gear right hander turn 1. I chaulked it up driver error again. Well on my 6th lap I purposely fully went in easy and still managed to spin upon releasing the brakes. I tried to move the car out of harms way, but seemed dead the water. Motor was fine, but I had no drive. I found reverse and got the car moving to safe zone, but feared a blown gearbox. Once the session was over I was able to nurse the car back in to the pits. Turned out my right rear caliper had literally broken off. This caused my right rear wheel to lock under braking and caused my spins. I checked for a spare in the truck, but I did not have any. My day was done after 5 laps.

 

Qualfying saw Norm on Pole again using old worn borrow tires.

 

Norm,

Vince,

Dave and Steve was the order

 

Norm was instructing in the session right before the practice race so as he came in the race cars went out. By the time he moved to his race car the field was 1/2 way around the track. By the time the field went green Norm was behind by the length of the straight. By the end of the first lap Norm caught the tail end of the small field and short order passed Steve for 3rd in class. The next lap he passed Dave for 2nd in class. This left Vince in his sights.

 

Firebird East is a short 1.2 mile track with little room to pass. Vince used this to great event holding off Norm for 3 laps. Norm them got a great run into turn 1 and passed Vince. Vince stayed with it and when Norm misssed a shift Vince came right back and took the class lead. Norm once again set-up pass on Vince and pulled it off, but again slowed on corner exit. This time however it was terminal. Norm pulled off track. Vince got first, Dave came in second, and Steve Marlow had to settle for 3rd after a last ditch effort to pass Dave came up short.

 

Norm's had to dragged off track, but the problem was as simple as a loose bolt on the shifter over the gearbox cause him to lose gears. The fix was just tightening the bolt.

 

Overall it was still a fun day inspite of the minor mishaps. It is actually quite nice to get seat time in June with temps under 90 degrees even if it means being at the track at 5 am.

 

For those looking for summer track time NASA Az will be hosting a similar summer morning event on Aug 4th at Firebird again.

[Packfill]

How did this...

 

On another note: Mikeal Weitze put a stamp on this weekend and should have cast aside ANY doubt that his NASA competitors might have about his "uber car."

 

Turn to this?

 

Jim, I don't believe any has ever said Mikeal was a bad driver.

 

I never thought there was even a question of Mikaels ability... did I miss something? I was simply pointing out the guy can draw a set of keys out of a hat and be competitive...

[944-Spec#94]

On another note: Mikeal Weitze put a stamp on this weekend and should have cast aside ANY doubt that his NASA competitors might have about his "uber car."..

 

 

Jim how does running and doing well in someone elses car have any bearing on Mikeal's car? All it shows is that Mikeal is an excellent driver. This fact was a given long before this weekend. Even if you show Mikeal running faster in his car vs a borrowed car that does not prove anything either. I know I would probably run a tick slower in a borrowed car since it is borrowed and it has not be tweaked to my balacne tastes.

[pixrken]

I like to read race reports from other regions.

Great job all on your weekend races!

[944mechanica]

P-Dilly...

 

 

 

On another note: Mikeal Weitze put a stamp on this weekend and should have cast aside ANY doubt that his NASA competitors might have about his "uber car."

 

Mikeals car broke early on day one... he borrowed the "timinater" on Saturday and won the race. Not too surprising, the VIsion Timinator is a well built car. But on Sunday, the Timinators owner was in the same race as Mikeal, so Mikeal borrowed John Tunnicliffs car... stock DME, stock exhaust, NO LSD, etc... Mikeal and Foley swapped for the lead two or three times until Mikeal (WHO WAS LEADING) bobbled in the omega, and Foley got by... It was a great race and a great drive by both competitors.......

 

Jim, worthy of note is that Mikeal did have a similar advantage as Mark Foley and Pete Yousko when he jumped in John Tunnicliffs car, albeit less the magic chip and header.

 

Too bad a great group is now split over inconsequential circumstances...

[DavidH]

I wish I could have been there. It sounds like it was some GREAT racing.

 

Mikael, great job. I heard that Tunnicliffs car also had street tires...joking. You put up a helluva' fight.

[Packfill]

I heard that Tunnicliffs car also had street tires...joking. You put up a helluva' fight.

 

Yeah, but Foley drove the whole race with a Diet Coke between his legs....

[roberth944]

We had 3 944's at HPDE at Buttonwillow. 2 in HPDE 3 and 1 in HPDE1/2.

[PeanutinCA]

Yeah, but Foley drove the whole race with a Diet Coke between his legs....

 

Is he trying to have more kids? I don't get it?

 

P.D.

[Tim Comeau]

Jim,

NASA's 944 Cup class is wide open and waiting for those SoCal drivers who don't want to revert to stock headers and chips.

[DavidH]

Yeah, but Foley drove the whole race with a Diet Coke between his legs....

 

Is he trying to have more kids? I don't get it?

 

P.D.

 

For those of us with kids, it was not the diet coke that did it. Maybe a diet coke to wash down a Viagra for us old timers might do it. I think what Jim is saying is that Foley drinks alot of DC and didn't have a cup holder

[PeanutinCA]

For those of us with kids, it was not the diet coke that did it. Maybe a diet coke to wash down a Viagra for us old timers might do it. I think what Jim is saying is that Foley drinks alot of DC and didn't have a cup holder

 

I was thinking more along the lines of an ice cold DC? That, or he was freezing his brain to help him drive faster?

 

P.D.

[944 cup]

Jim,

NASA's 944 Cup class is wide open and waiting for those SoCal drivers who don't want to revert to stock headers and chips.

 

Tim is spot on. Old rule 944 Spec cars, i.e. PCA SP1, are legal under 944 Cup class. If there's an interest, we can set up a 944 Cup schedule for the West Coast.