dsycks Posted October 9, 2011 Report Share Posted October 9, 2011 The Muttonheads! are (mostly) back from Nelson Ledges and want to thank all the kind folks for making us feel welcome. We were greeted by a tech inspector coming to out pit area to tech our car well before 3pm which was a huge blessing. we didn't have everything in hand and ready but as the car was well sorted it was quick and easy. A nice surprise to get done early and super helpful! Great practice day put on by the Nelson staff. Thanks for working with Chump to put on the night practice and for putting up with all the landscaping that folks did to your run off areas. Oh yeah, great food too! I would like to thank Oddball for the nice big black paint smudge on the side of the car. I enjoyed watching you drive off as I got pushed into the grass. Actually I have two big paint rubs from you guys but that one was by far the worst and its purdy! Thanks to Johnda for the nice green streak just over Oddballs black paint. I am also thankful that you didn't wreck me on any of the other 4 or 5 times you made grazing contact with us. I guess I should not late apex a turn if I don't want you to show me how little you care for my safety huh? Thanks to mealtime for only rubbing me once despite driving every last bit as spiritedly as Johnda. Also congrats to DuctTape on the win and thanks for never touching me once even though I thought you were going to kill me at least half a dozen times. Super fast and spooky but no red paint so much love! Tigers Wood. This was the second time this summer I have raced with you guys and you have always shown me great consideration and acted as if you did not care to kill me or anyone else. Wish I could have been of more help with your motor swap last night but we lost brakes about 10 min after you lost your motor. If we can ever lend you a hand please say the word. Van Widen, you guys were a joy to share a pit with! Your cows and our sheep... we are a few critters away from a full barnyard! Even though you guys were faster than us well, everywhere... You only almost killed me once but when I went to joke with your driver about it and he thought I was there to hurt him I could not help but feel guilty. I hate guilt! Damn you polite candians! Drop me a note and lets swap info so I can get you guys those spare wheels off my E36. Should give you some spares for when you bend up a few more. It was a wild weekend of fun and super busy. Not sure I am in a hurry to do another 24 hour race anytime soon but I figure that by next year I will forget how crappy I feel right now and be willing to do this to myself again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogtired Posted October 9, 2011 Report Share Posted October 9, 2011 If this post doesn't summarize the weekend none ever will. Remember kids................... "Rub'bins Racin'" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Team Infiniti Posted October 9, 2011 Report Share Posted October 9, 2011 Come on dog lets hear your story. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mostmint Posted October 9, 2011 Report Share Posted October 9, 2011 We were greeted by a tech inspector coming to out pit area to tech our car well before 3pm which was a huge blessing. A nice surprise to get done early and super helpful! Agree. Jeff Collier and his roving band of merry Chump officials really helped move the process along. In our case we sought him once we knew he was out there. I figure that by next year I will forget how crappy I feel right now and be willing to do this to myself again. +1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogtired Posted October 9, 2011 Report Share Posted October 9, 2011 Come on dog lets hear your story. Maybe in a few days. SmartPhone keyboard. But I think the RedFlag driver's meeting this morning speaks for itself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
olddude13 Posted October 10, 2011 Report Share Posted October 10, 2011 Wow! Still reeling from the whole thing , First chump car race !!!!!!GREAT TIME!!!!! went to bed with that dam red baron car sound in my head, Aside from having to do a trans swap we finished 46th We will be back next year. #69 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
olddude13 Posted October 10, 2011 Report Share Posted October 10, 2011 Any one have some good night video of the race? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators Bill Strong Posted October 10, 2011 Administrators Report Share Posted October 10, 2011 I do Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
l337h4l Posted October 10, 2011 Report Share Posted October 10, 2011 If this post doesn't summarize the weekend none ever will. Remember kids................... "Rub'bins Racin'"Depends on what you consider rubbing?I was forced off track by someone I can only assume early apexed to try and dive in at turn 1 and take my line, in excess of speeds of 80MPH. Luckily the car was able to continue the race after a 540...720...1080 along the tire wall... i lost track of how many spins.Racers need to remember it is the over taking cars responsibility to ensure a safe pass. Especially at night. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
porkchops22 Posted October 10, 2011 Report Share Posted October 10, 2011 "Rubbins racing" would definitely not explain the over aggressive driving behavior of some of the teams out there this past weekend. I was hit 5 times in a matter of 4 hours, one of which forcing me off in the carousel, almost rolling, correcting it, sliding back across the track only to get in DedBulls VW way. I apologize for being a major obstruction at that point in the race. Although I am thankful for the alignment adjustment. The added toe out actually made the car handle better for the remainder of the race. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Team Infiniti Posted October 10, 2011 Report Share Posted October 10, 2011 Sad to hear bout all the rubbing but go measure the alignment and check tire wear, take notes..I have learned positive things never otherwise thought of due to contact. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dsycks Posted October 10, 2011 Author Report Share Posted October 10, 2011 I was forced off track by someone I can only assume early apexed to try and dive in at turn 1 and take my line.This happened over and over and over again. There were a handful of teams who felt as if sticking their nose under you and then forcing you off the line was a valid and acceptable way to go about their day. More oddly they kept doing it even after the chat we had at sun up. I talked to officials about some of my own issues and was told "we know what teams are doing it" but oddly they still did it. I saw one car with a huge amount of body damage from multiple crashes pass three wide with two tires in the grass under the bridge right in front of the tower?! I was waiting to see them get bumped into the bridge evaporate into a cloud of mist.I know folks hate black flags and all but when there is so much carnage, so many cars off on their roofs, so many folks who just don't seem to get the hints that their behavior has crossed the line... Count me as being in the camp of wanting to see more of them. I love racing but I love my family more and want to go home to them after the race. This weekend at nelson was just too much and could have ruined an otherwise great event. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dsycks Posted October 10, 2011 Author Report Share Posted October 10, 2011 John, you may not have been there but I think you post shows you have a pretty good idea of exactly what I was seeing. Nelson presents some challenges that you won't get at other tracks. Wider tracks with safer run off areas are a bit more forgiving of use of multiple lines but an uneven surface and wet grass over soft soil that is rutted up can and will bite you HARD if you go off. I was honestly a little stunned at the actions of some. One group in particular I had met and talked with a good bit and got along great with. On track however I think their idea of safe and reasonabrle may be just a little different than mine. When your car looks like its been through a cement mixer at the end of the race like theirs did however I think its time to consider that changes could be a positive thing. Thanks again for a fun event. Chump staff was a joy to work with and the food and hospitality of the Nelson folks was wonderful. Weather was pretty darn good too! A few tweaks and even I would be hard pressed to find something to complain about! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zauskycop Posted October 10, 2011 Report Share Posted October 10, 2011 Well, this was my first Chumpcar race...actually, the first event for our entire team and car. First of all, I would like to thank the event organizers, and volunteers who worked this event for the spectacular job they did. The corner stations and safety crews had to be exhausted after that mess! But they sure did a great job.Secondly, I would like to thank Dan and Ben for building up and preparing, and inviting me to drive the #66 Bavarian Mustache Werks E30 (the goldish one). They spent a LOT of time getting that car ready, and since it had about 15 minutes of track time before the race...we obviously found some issues, and had teething problems. By the end of the race we had one completely blown front damper (the entire race basically), and the other 3 were essentially blown also. We had no front swaybar due to a previous hub breaking incident that tore it away from the body. 3rd gear left the building after about hour 12 or 13, so we drove the entire course in 4th gear (for those of you wondering why we were so slow coming onto the front straight)! And we started with a LSD, that degraded to a open diff by hour 6, which seemed to become welded to a live axle around hour 22. Add to that the exhaust dropping off cat back in about hour 16, and a hole opening up in the flex pipe in the last hour (LOUD) and we ended up with an amazingly interesting car to drive.As far as the race is concerned... I can say in my driving stints, I never had too much of an issue. I don't think our car had any issues for any drivers (that I know of at least) but someone may have a different opinion...by all means let us know! I know we had to side to side contacts in corners...both at night I think but that was the extent of our damage to the body...very minor things. I will say this. When I drove it seemed (at night time especially) that it seemed the same cars were causing the yellows over and over. And it was the same cars, over and over, that caused issues on track. Driving slowly in the middle, not staying on a line, wandering out or in at corner exits when they knew there was another car there. I definitely, by the end, had a mental notebook of how certain cars drove and passed each accordingly. But if I came up on a car that looked like it went through a demo derby...I treated it accordingly.THAT said, I had some nice experiences with drivers who saw you, pointed you by (don't wear black gloves at night and expect others to see your point-by ;-) ) and the leaders who came up on me and didn't force they issue in traffic. The Cougar, and Oddball and another blue-white Honda (who all passed me over...and over...and over) were all great to work with and are cars that come to mind...I know there were others. So for the good drivers...thank you! I tried not to hold you up!!It was an incredible experience and by the end..I felt like we had been racing for a week...not 25 hours! It was very emotional for me to get to not only finish the race, but get the honor of taking the checkered flag. I had some great races during the race (a red BMW and Black #42 come to mind) and the whole regalia and camaraderie shown was awesome. Special nod goes out to our pit stall mates, Mopar for Life. Tough break guys, but I heard they made just a few of those Neons and there are engines'o'plenty to be found. It was great pitting with you. Also to the Celica crew for all their help and explanation of procedures Thursday night...it helped immensely. We tried for 12 hours to catch Fiery Death by never could quite do it. Thanks everyone and I know that you have a new team that will be seeing you often out on track!Tracy RamseyBavarian Mustache Werks #66 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daily driver Posted October 10, 2011 Report Share Posted October 10, 2011 Hey dsycks (and others) -We hear you, loud and clear! I just got off the phone with Mike Chisek who was still pretty frustrated with 3-4 "regular" Chump teams (regular, meaning that they have competed with ChumpCar enough times to know that ChumpCar doesn't hold demo-derbies) that were overly aggressive this past weekend. They can expect a little something in the mail (e-mail) that, basically, says -- drive that like again and you're out of ChumpCar for a year. Yes, we're serious... and we're going to get tighter with our on-track penalty policy in 2012....You can start with the Portland race in 3 weeks. Last october was a bit rowdy as well. The only thing I liked about the other race series is they don't tolerate contact. Not that I prefer how they handle it but as least they talk to teams that are out of control. My car got clobbered in Spokane and the other car didn't even find us to apologize. We had no idea who hit us until we reviewed the video. Also there was another car that was rubbin' a lot and I notice they will be back at PIR. I plan to use the dq vote this time if I see that again. Being the sole owner and only one fixing the car I would prefer these cars are at least talked to. In 4 races I personally have not made ANY contact with other cars and there was plenty of traffic to get around. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daily driver Posted October 10, 2011 Report Share Posted October 10, 2011 ...Judge each event and car separately.... I always do as I have new drivers each time. The slate is clean for everyone every race! This particular car was very competive until they hit some concrete early in the morning. I hope that wasn't the rented one! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
csadn Posted October 10, 2011 Report Share Posted October 10, 2011 We hear you, loud and clear! I just got off the phone with Mike Chisek who was still pretty frustrated with 3-4 "regular" Chump teams (regular, meaning that they have competed with ChumpCar enough times to know that ChumpCar doesn't hold demo-derbies) that were overly aggressive this past weekend. They can expect a little something in the mail (e-mail) that, basically, says -- drive that like again and you're out of ChumpCar for a year. Yes, we're serious... and we're going to get tighter with our on-track penalty policy in 2012. Would you like me to bring my Large Mallet Labeled "OFF" to the Portland event? It might come in handy.Plus, I know folks who stock Cluebats -- you might even get a bulk discount.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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