Hunker Down

It's hunker down time.  The storm approaching looks to be a big one. The race car should be ok, the plane is tied down with a couple of extra ropes and the vehicles are moved away from any possible trees falling on them.   Now we wait.

Lime Rock Park Historic YouTube 2012

        The uphill at Lime Rock, looks as much fun as it is.

Jury Duty

We'll, a whole day of waiting.  A good time to catch up on the blog.
I heard from Eric the other day.  He's planning on going to NZ a little earlier this year.  He also bought a midget racer,  1940's era.  He does plan on racing it. Sounds like fun.
Haven't heard from the F5000 association about next years schedule.  It is still a little early. Some of the race tracks have published there 2013 schedule included Lime Rock.  The Historic festival will be on Labor Day weekend again. 
As far as the race car, haven't done a thing to it.  But I am thinking about it.  First on the list is to talk to the engine builder,  maybe today would be a good day to do that.

Auto swap meet at Hershey, PA

Traveled out to Hershey the other day on my annual trip in search of racing memorabilia. When it comes to old car stuff this is the biggest.  1000 of dealers, but none had what I was looking for.  Still a lot of fun and it's good to see the car hobby doing so well.

Foggy and rainy, not what the weather folks predicted.

Surprised to see the JB logo on this golf cart.

Don't know what made me think that this would make a real fine Lola race call hauler?  (sorry, not for sale)

More Photos

A few more Lime Rock photos from Motorsport.com (also from WG and Road Atlanta)
Click here

Pilot Tricks

Being a pilot, I thought this was a clever idea.

Back in February, Pilot Ryan Thompson decided to propose to his girlfriend in the air, while flying a Diamond DA40 (or similar) near Chicago, but the proposal wasn't the only drama Thompson had planned and all of it was caught on video. While the actual flight took place months ago, the edited video only appeared on the Internet this month and it is making headlines, including Good Morning America. Thompson's preflight planning for the flight included mounting a GoPro camera to the glareshield and printing a special checklist. Once airborne with then-girlfriend Carlie, the two enjoyed some sightseeing before Thompson unleashed his plan.

Lime Rock Park Historic Festival 30 Video

These guys doing the filming are starting a new production company. 

 I think there off to a good start.  

Victory Lane race report, Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh race report in "Victory Lane Magazine", September's 2012 issue. Story by Floyd Ash.

I'd say that pretty much sums it up.

Watkins Glen Photos

Photos taken by Steve and Mitch Bedford. Enjoy!
2012 Watkins Glen F5000 photos. Click here.
2012 Watkins Glen photos. Click here.

What's next?

This year's racing started on a high note and ended flat.  We did enjoy the Pittsburgh event,  really nice people at a low key event.  For the first race of the year, it was fine.  Not sure if I would go back, the track is a little tight and no real competition.  But did get a lot of track time.
Lime Rock, what can I say.  I now consider it the best event we have attended since returning to racing.  Well run, great cars and lots of people.  I sure would like to go back, and plan too. 
Watkins Glen, don't have to dive to deep.  Pretty much expressed my opinion and lack of enthusiasm on this event in a previous post.
Looking at next year, I have decided the engine will need overhauling.  Had put faith in getting another year on the engine, but it's time.  Lots of little things also need attention.

For now I'll just continue to work on the car and see where it lands me in 2013.

Caught this at a truck stop coming back from Geneva last night.
  "Mixed Emotions" A super unlimited 46' long Catamaran with twin 1200hp engines.

Engine

Yesterday started to unload the truck and store the support equipment away for the winter.  I did preform a compression test on the engine.  Cylinder pressure range from 150-110psi, down from last year.  Close examination of the spark plugs reveled all were fouled.  Many laps under the yellow can be the cause, but this has been seen in past events. This winter I'll remove the engine and have Jim(engine builder)place it on the dyno and see what horse power it's making and go from there. 

Our Watkins Glen F5000 support crew and photographers(L-R) Chip, Mitch(Steve's son), Steve and Ken.  Always ready to help in anyway. This event would not be the same without these folks. Thanks guys.

Under the F5000 tent, a good thing to have this year.

Sunday Watkins Glen

I can tell you right now, the weekend did not improve for me.  We did dodge the rain for the race, but not the yellow flags.  For the race I started 5th out of 7 cars.  This was a split start, the other group consisted of Indy cars and Indy lights.  I still don't understand what a 2002 indy car is doing in Historic Racing.  So at the start I expected to drop back, but instead I made up a position.  We didn't have more than 2 race laps completed before the yellow flags came out.   A Indy lights car made heavy contract with the wall.  It must have taken 3 or 4 laps to clean up the mess.  When the green flag came out, I started to loose positions.  It was like I was standing still, the engine didn't seem to have the power to keep up.  Within a lap and a half I was dead last and that's where I finishd.  The expected end to a not so good weekend. 
More stories and photos to follow.

With only 3 cars in your class, dead last does get you a third place finish.




Saturday Watkins Glen

A wash  out.  It started raining around 10:30 and didn''t stop until 3pm.  The F5000 group was to be out at 1pm. With my rain tires installed I was ready.   Just before 1:00 it really started to rain heavy, all on track activity stopped.  The track was officially closed.  I waited for the next hour but it wasn't going to happen.  We covered the car and back to the hotel we went.
Sunday has 30% chance of rain.

Everyone else took the option not to go out in the rain and placed their cars in the trailers before the storm hit.  I chose to ride it out.   I guess it's the LBI(Long Beach Island) in me.



Friday Watkins Glen

Friday had qualifying in the morning and a qualify race in the afternoon.  My driving in the morning session was ragged.  I just could not concentrate on driving.  Did around 6 or 7 laps but still slower than last year.  The afternoon session went full course yellow after only 2 laps.  Rick spun and stalled in the middle of a turn.  After a couple of laps they stopped the race and that was Friday.   Today we are predicted to have bad weather.  So far this looks to be a lost weekend.  I think in hindsight, Lime Rock should have been my last event.

Eight cars showed up, only seven running now,  not a very good turnout.

If I can't go fast, at least I can look good.  Crew Chief working hard.

Thursday Watkins Glen

Made it to Watkins Glen before 5pm.   Unloaded the car  and now just waiting for tomorrow.  Looks like it's going to be a nice day.