Guest ChumpCar Posted July 23, 2011 Report Share Posted July 23, 2011 Greetings Chumps, Moms & Dads, Boys & Girls, and Race Fans of all ages... Chris Econoline-Maki here in College Station, Texas... home of Texas World Speedway, Nacho Brothers Home-made Tamales, as well as Texas A&M University (you know, those fine folks who put Texas World Speedway out of business and drove-off NASCAR a few years back).It's looking to be a great weekend for motorsports... with the 18-hour ChumpCar race here in Texas and ChumpCar's 24-hour race being held in Spokane. Forty-two hours of motorsports mayhem!The weather may play a factor in today's race at Texas World Speedway (TWS), as the heat wave continues to burn its way across the country. Temperatures in the Brazos Valley will hit 104 today, with 63% humidity... some of the Chumps may melt under this kind of heat. The organizers of today's event had the foresight to plan this event to avoid most of the afternoon heat. Today's "Yellow Flags of Texas" event starts at 4:00pm (CST) and continues until 10:00am tomorrow morning, making this race equal parts -- 9 hours of daylight and 9 hours of darkness.Tonight, starting at 8:00pm, ChumpCar will hold it's "Chumpstock Music Festival" -- 1 Day of Peace and Music. Live music on-stage, and lots of beer and BBQ are all on tap for when the sun starts to set. (Hey! I just made a joke! Beer! On-tap! Wow! Chris Econoline-Maki made a joke!) Okay, back to the racing... it looks like we've got about 50 teams taking the grid later today... 243 drivers... America's best and bravest... their machines finely tuned and ready for fierce competition. The track is a very technical 2.9-mile road course that is integrated within the famous, record-setting 2-mile oval. The road course features 14 turns and lots of elevation changes, as well as a few blind areas that should prove daunting to these American heroes, especially at night... with headlights glaring... and exhaust pipes glowing. Oh, the spectacle of it all!Looking out from my air-conditioned, fully-catered, furnished wet-bar and leather furniture ABC Sports press booth, 6 stories above the track, I can see what looks like a... an Opel GT? A Mazda Miata with a SHO engine transplant? An MG Spridget? An American Motors AMX? A SHO-Taurus with over 100 rubber boobs... er -- ahh, I mean breasts... glued to it? Wait a minute! Wait a minute! This isn't right! It can't be! What happened to the REAL race cars? The ABC Sports guys told me that this was going to be a REAL race? What the hell is this?I'm signing off now... gotta go see those guys from ABC Sports. This wasn't in my contract...This is Chris Econoline-Maki for ABC Sports at Texas World Speedway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Taylorcraftbc65 Posted July 23, 2011 Report Share Posted July 23, 2011 An OPEL-GT, and an MG Spriget, now THAT will be a COOL race between THOSE two cars. (I just LOVE a race within a race). Brie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Team Infiniti Posted July 23, 2011 Report Share Posted July 23, 2011 I have a friend driving there, if only I asked with what team Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WinkTimber Posted July 23, 2011 Report Share Posted July 23, 2011 An OPEL-GT, and an MG Spriget, now THAT will be a COOL race between THOSE two cars. (I just LOVE a race within a race). BrieAnd why aren't you there? I thought this was your "local" track?BTW, it is a very comfortable 60 degrees and breezy near Duluth today. Neener, neener, neener.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Taylorcraftbc65 Posted July 23, 2011 Report Share Posted July 23, 2011 Because I have the S15 Jimmy up on stands while I completely rebuild the front end, I haven't replaced the head gasket in the Jeep Wrangler yet, while I fixed the F-350 dualie EFI by throwing out the EFI system, the registration sticker has EXPIRED while I was doing the repairs, and won't be renewed till next week. The BMW engine swap in the 1959 F-100 Hot Rod won't be done till next month, and the GSXR 1000 Suzuki needs a new back tire, something about the burn-outs. The race Jeep will be Street Registered on the first, it runs GREAT!!! The "Local" track is about 800 miles away, so I'm not going to drive the truck 1,800 miles round trip with an expired sticker on the windshield. You asked, now you know. Tee and I will try to make the Harris Hill race in September as Volunteers. If I am happy with it, we will show up in the race Jeep, but still without the cage in it. BrieAnd why aren't you there? I thought this was your "local" track?BTW, it is a very comfortable 60 degrees and breezy near Duluth today. Neener, neener, neener.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
csadn Posted July 23, 2011 Report Share Posted July 23, 2011 as well as Texas A&M University (you know, those fine folks who put Texas World Speedway out of business and drove-off NASCAR a few years back)OK, I can't find any info on this -- explain, please? (Not doubting it happened; just don't recall how it happened.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WinkTimber Posted July 23, 2011 Report Share Posted July 23, 2011 The "Local" track is about 800 miles away, Texas covers a lot of ground. That's why "local" was in quotes. Sorry you couldn't be there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tubby Posted July 24, 2011 Report Share Posted July 24, 2011 How is Mike doing in his BMW? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Taylorcraftbc65 Posted July 24, 2011 Report Share Posted July 24, 2011 No offence taken at all winker, that's why I put it in quotes also. Yes, I wish that I could have been there too. I have six vehicles, and at the same time, four of them need work, and two are ready, but need their registrations taken care of. Got to get out of the way of Race Reports GO TEAM SPRIDGET!!!! I hope you get back out there!!! THERE'S an idea, A chevette powered by a GSXR engine??? Texas covers a lot of ground. That's why "local" was in quotes. Sorry you couldn't be there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest firebat45 Posted July 24, 2011 Report Share Posted July 24, 2011 Mazda Miata with a SHO engine transplant?Now there's a cheater car that'll even make the E36 guys complain. In all reality, I only say that because I'm full of spite, can't find any cheap local Miatas to do that exact swap. Cheapest one is $4000, and I've never seen one in the junkyard either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Team Infiniti Posted July 24, 2011 Report Share Posted July 24, 2011 I cant find em cheap but one local junk yard that buys cars @ $400 has 4 of em so they do at some point get cheap enough to junk at that price.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
krek Posted July 24, 2011 Report Share Posted July 24, 2011 A Mazda Miata with a SHO engine transplant?FWD or RWD? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Taylorcraftbc65 Posted July 24, 2011 Report Share Posted July 24, 2011 I want to know how that team bolted that motorcycle engine up to the drivetrain of the spridget!!?!?!??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sergio Posted July 24, 2011 Report Share Posted July 24, 2011 FWD or RWD?I'm going tomorrow morning to watch the finish. I'll try to take some pictures of the Miata and talk with the teram. I would think it's RWD, seems like a total PITA to make it FWD. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
krek Posted July 24, 2011 Report Share Posted July 24, 2011 I would think it's RWD, seems like a total PITA to make it FWD.My thoughts as well. I'd be curious how many penalty laps they racked up as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stogie Posted July 24, 2011 Report Share Posted July 24, 2011 Its 10 pm how are the "Chump Staffers" doing driving??If Mike wins I have another Stogie for him @ Heartland Park. Hope the Cuban I stole from Jessie Ventura hit the spot @ BIR last weekend in the Chump Circle.(Before the stage wet boom.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stogie Posted July 24, 2011 Report Share Posted July 24, 2011 Anyone on pit wall with info/updates on teams/cars or adult viewings?????????? Anyone?Anyone? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Undecided Posted July 24, 2011 Report Share Posted July 24, 2011 Live timing for both races here http://home.comcast.net/~fairlanemac1964/cc/lt.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pstrbrc Posted July 24, 2011 Report Share Posted July 24, 2011 Pics! Especially the AMX. 1st gen? 2nd gen Javelin? 3rd Gen Hornet hatchback? 4th gen Spirit? WHAT??????Noticed it ain't doin' so hot. How many penalty laps did Loony Tunes start with????? If not that, wahoppen? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent merkle Posted July 24, 2011 Report Share Posted July 24, 2011 My thoughts as well. I'd be curious how many penalty laps they racked up as well. Jeff im here and Johns meds wore off hn the heat its not a miata its an rx7 and its rwd and WICKED fast. Not sure about p~laps tho. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stogie Posted July 24, 2011 Report Share Posted July 24, 2011 Here's a big shout to the Merkle family -- Kent and Pete (aka StigDad and Stig) -- for driving all the way from Ohio to help us work this event. And, Pete brought a couple of friends -- Matt and Logan. Kent, Pete, Matt and Logan were also at Nashville and Iowa. Talk about GREAT CHUMPS! If anyone ever wants to know what a great volunteer staff we have... there are your role models. Side story - we first met Kent and Pete at Putnam Park last year. Out of the blue. Worked the event when we really needed them and they've never stopped supporting ChumpCar.Again - mucho thanx, guys!X2 X4 X6 X8, cant beat the Stig and Stigdaddie and the gang. Great bunch!!!!Even if they passed us at RA in a K-Car. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Taylorcraftbc65 Posted July 24, 2011 Report Share Posted July 24, 2011 THANKS for the update on #8, Team 8 balls John, that must be a wild piece of engineering mating the motorcycle engine to the drivetrain. If I was going to dosomething like that, I would chaindrive a live rear axle the way it is done in Legend cars, and not have to worry about driveshafts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest AWiley1953 Posted July 24, 2011 Report Share Posted July 24, 2011 Brie, Legends have a flange welded to the primary sprocket, and a drive shaft to a Toyota rearend. Baby Grands do the same thing only to a quick change. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Taylorcraftbc65 Posted July 24, 2011 Report Share Posted July 24, 2011 I'm not going to build one myself, I have enough to do with the XJ, but I was just throwing an idea out to others. I thought that someone could come up with one of the old H.D. Servicar chaindrive axles, and run a HEFTY chain from the final drive of the bike engine to it. I'll throw the idea up on it's own thread and not clutter this one any more. Brie, Legends have a flange welded to the primary sprocket, and a drive shaft to a Toyota rearend. Baby Grands do the same thing only to a quick change. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest quattro Posted July 24, 2011 Report Share Posted July 24, 2011 Any news on Team Unintended Acceleration? I heard they were performing an engine swap most of the night, and had to drive all the way to Austin to find a spare. That's Chump-tastic! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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