Is anybody there????? Can you hear me now????

Just me Jay. Waiting to hear from Chuck. Can't even find any "mylaps" times. (????)

K

I heard VJ won handily, and Dadgar put up a bunch of photos here (http://www.justracing.com/galleries/thumbnails.php?album=313)

But, I am reporting from Central Idaho, so my info comes second hand.

I heard VJ won handily, and Dadgar put up a bunch of photos here (http://www.justracing.com/galleries/thumbnails.php?album=313)

But, I am reporting from Central Idaho, so my info comes second hand.

You're right next door. Come on over ;)

Jay

I was with talking with Matt Bell at Infineon.. apparently MarK Ghafouri was involved in an incident with Matt's brothers car.. I think the Bell car was a total loss.. I am in no way placing blame just reporting what I remember...

I was with talking with Matt Bell at Infineon.. apparently MarK Ghafouri was involved in an incident with Matt's brothers car.. I think the Bell car was a total loss.. I am in no way placing blame just reporting what I remember...

Yes, much more to this story however, and since I am getting info from a reputable source, I (like you) am not and probably will not place blame on either Ghafouri or Bell. There were apparently others on the track with them at the same time, in the same corner.

Sux! Maybe we'll get reports from other Bf.c members that were there.

I'm planning on doing Thunderhill in May.

Jay

Sux! Maybe we'll get reports from other Bf.c members that were there.

I'm planning on doing Thunderhill in May.

Jay

Jay,

They are not talking about Tom Bell I hope!

My photos are here:
http://flickr.com/photos/thenobot/sets/72157604529892043/
BMW CR starts about 1/3 of the way through.

Jay,

They are not talking about Tom Bell I hope!

No. Tim Bell I believe. There were 3 Bells at LS, Tom, Tim and Matt.

Jay

Team Nitto had a blast this weekend. The car performed fantastic! The new oil cooler has done the trick and the engine temps were normal. The car picked up a slight under-steer in Saturday's race but we dialed it out for Sunday.

We reset the HP record on Sat - then again on Sunday getting into the 1:39s. The Nittos performed flawlessly and it was awesome having HUGE StopTech brakes on the hardest braking track in the country (except Sebring).

Focusing on Sat race for now...

Saturday's race was probably the most fun I had on track in a long time. I qualified 3rd on track behind VJ and Scott Lang. With no practice, the 3 of us were able to come off the trailer set up well AND got an open lap at the right time to get up front for the start of the race.

There were a bunch of cars that either didn't get a good lap in, needed to make a small change, heat-cycled tires rather than beat on them, or took a few laps to get back up to speed at the track.

I knew there were at least 8 cars that would be fighting for - well.. 2nd at this point because VJ brought a HUGE can of whup-ass and kept spraying it on anyone he wanted - the big bully.

Sure enough, on the start VJ took off and left like 8 of us to battle. Plus a couple fast guys got nailed for sound and made their way up from the back in a matter of a couple laps.

The Claudio / Mickey rivalry continued this weekend with Claudio taking 2nd on Sat with Mickey a close 3rd.

Hans Kopecky drove better than I've ever seen and took 4th. I held him off for a good part of the race but he kept getting faster every lap.

Dave Lang in IP was quick and needed both of the two inches I gave in in turn 2 for a super late clean pass under braking - I was like DAMN, OK... go ahead and go off... but he made it stick - made me envious of light cars all over again.

I took 6th with Tim Bell on my ass - another couple laps and he may have got me.

The downtime gave us all a chance to check out some cool vintage cars, some other racing, enjoy the weather and just hang out.

Lots of great racing all around the track.

I'll report on Sunday's race and other great racing in the pack later - got to go. I'll be doing the report for the Roundel so I'll check this thread for "newsworthy" items...

Cheers,
-Ralph Warren

Here are the results...

Thanks for the results Ralph.

Congrats on the records.

Jay

I was looking at the blue e46 (motosports chassis?), that car was incredibly clean. How did it end up finishing?


Was Matt Bell at laguna, I didn't see his car there? He bought an old World Challenge Turner car correct? He was at the drivers school with me awhile back.

I was looking at the blue e46 (motosports chassis?), that car was incredibly clean. How did it end up finishing?


Was Matt Bell at laguna, I didn't see his car there? He bought an old World Challenge Turner car correct? He was at the drivers school with me awhile back.

Hans Kopecky has a blue e46. Carl Lagoni also has one but I don't believe any of the Evosport cars were there. Results are a few posts above.

I don't believe Matt was there. He's listed in the results but with no laps. He did buy an old Turner car. I believe he is co-driving for them this year along with VJ, another CCA club racer.

Jay

Hans Kopecky has a blue e46. Carl Lagoni also has one but I don't believe any of the Evosport cars were there. Results are a few posts above.

I don't believe Matt was there. He's listed in the results but with no laps. He did buy an old Turner car. I believe he is co-driving for them this year along with VJ, another CCA club racer.

JayCarl was not there and his is not a MS chassis. The car he saw was Hans I am sure.

Although Carl and Jon and myself were not there, we did have evosport cars and even one of our rigs there!

We were really proud of Scott to take his IP car in his second real outing and put it on the front row off of the trailer. Unfortuantely, he got a little behind on changes to the car (very easy in only two sessions a day - qualification and race) and could not keep the IP lead. However, he ran great times and the car ran pretty flawlessly after fixing the mechanical issues that plagued us at Cal Speedway. Scott has lots more to say (or at least he saw at lot more, we will see if he says it all) himself!

thanks
brad

We were really proud of Scott to take his IP car in his second real outing and put it on the front row off of the trailer.

Yeah, a big "congrats" to Scott. I heard he put down a rather blistering qualifying time on Saturday. Well done!!

We were really proud of Scott to take his IP car in his second real outing and put it on the front row off of the trailer.
That was impressive. I was, like, :eek: :D Bummer he got behind on the car setup, but still an awesome achievement.

I'll just say that once again I am impressed with the paddock friendship an camaraderie of this group.

Hans Kopecky has a blue e46. Carl Lagoni also has one but I don't believe any of the Evosport cars were there. Results are a few posts above.

I don't believe Matt was there. He's listed in the results but with no laps. He did buy an old Turner car. I believe he is co-driving for them this year along with VJ, another CCA club racer.

Jay

Co-driving for them in what, Grand-am? Turner doesn't race World Challenge anymore that I know of.

Scott was really fast...and a good guy to boot! Jim is right, it was really impressive how everyone pulled to together and got him back on track after the qualifying "issue". The only bummer was getting only 2 sessions a day more than 6 hours apart... On the other hand, I had time to find a miss I was experiencing Sat morning and Jim got back on track thanks to the time gap...

-Chuck

Although Carl and Jon and myself were not there, we did have evosport cars and even one of our rigs there!
thanks
brad

I knew that. At least I knew Scott was there. Sorry, didn't mean to short change Evosport.... or Scott.

Jay

Yup, it can't be denied that it's a great group to spend a weekend in the playground with.

Chuck, glad to see you made it back out there. How about a West coast SpecE36 report from you? :D

Co-driving for them in what, Grand-am? Turner doesn't race World Challenge anymore that I know of.

That might be it. I don't pay as much attention to the pro series as I do BMWCCA CR. IIRC, they run in ST but I may be wrong.

Jay

Interesting weekend to say the least....I'll put up a thread tonight about it.

I was probably more surprised than anyone about my front row start on Saturday. A few things played a big role...other normally faster cars had issues either with sound or mechanicals, the fact that the very first session was qualifying, but also the fact that for me, it's just such a great track....after the first 3 or 4 corners it feels like an old pair of confortable shoes...you just put 'em on and go!

Scott;

Great to see someone I know and respect doing well. Great job!

A little disappointed that "your" team doesn't consider PIR an offical event. I would have guessed that this was your 3rd event. We are the Rodney Dangerfield of BMWCCA CR. It is what it is.:stickoutt

Cheers,
K

Scott;

Great to see someone I know and respect doing well. Great job!

A little disappointed that "your" team doesn't consider PIR an offical event. I would have guessed that this was your 3rd event. We are the Rodney Dangerfield of BMWCCA CR. It is what it is.:stickoutt

Cheers,
K
Actually OUR TEAM does consider PIR an official event. Why would you think otherwise? :eyecrazy

That was Scott's first weekend out. Cal Speedway doesn't really count as he got so few laps due to a mechanical issue, that it was basically a throw away.

thanks
brad

Scott;

Great to see someone I know and respect doing well. Great job!

A little disappointed that "your" team doesn't consider PIR an offical event. I would have guessed that this was your 3rd event. We are the Rodney Dangerfield of BMWCCA CR. It is what it is.:stickoutt

Cheers,
K

My team definately considers PIR an official event!! I like PIR a lot and will return (eventhough my driving has cost me two motors coincidentally at PIR).

See you in October at PIR!!

So...... is anyone going to talk about what happened? Is there a period of mourning? ;)

Being nosey - Jay

Kelly, like Jon and Brad said.....PIR was the first event. CA Speedway was the second but with a DNF in the first race and a DNS in the second, I might have well just stayed home!

So...... is anyone going to talk about what happened? Is there a period of mourning? ;)

Being nosey - Jay
Don't ask, don't tell :nono

Kelly, like Jon and Brad said.....PIR was the first event. CA Speedway was the second but with a DNF in the first race and a DNS in the second, I might have well just stayed home!

I was only throwing crap out there and I am obviously aware that by the turn out (acknowledged in another thread) here at PIR that you guys take your trip out here seriously. I thought the Rod Dangerfield was a give away. Sorry.

I was also not aware that CAL Speedway was a washout for you. My bad! Nothing seriously wrong I hope.

I am very much looking forward to seeing you all in October and seriously hope by then there will be another SE36 car out there to run with. Otherwise, I hope to not be in the way for the rest of you.

:D:D:D

IIRC, they run in ST but I may be wrong.
Correct, they are running in the ST class in Koni Challenge (formerly Grand Am Cup).

And, Matt was at the track on Sat, just not racing.

Yeah, VJ and I are indeed in Koni Challenge and I WAS at Laguna Sat, but as Jim mentioned, I didn't race. I had some ECU troubles with my car and couldn't get it done in time!

Funny story... so most people here now know about the "incident" with my brother and the end result which is multiple damaged body panels. About 30 minutes before that happened and about 150 miles north at Infineon, I too was busy clobbering the turn 10 wall with a Honda! What are the chances that both Bell brothers would wreck at the same time but at different tracks!!??!

Anyway, both cars are mangled but not too bad-- all cosmetic-- or so it seems!

I REALLY wish I had raced with you guys last weekend, but next time for sure!

So Matt you go from the drivers school in 07 right into grand-am ST eh? Big step :)

May I ask how much that is costing you per weekend? 8k?

Well to be fair, he hardly went right in. Matt spent a very busy 07 racing BMW club and progressed an amazing amount!

So Matt you go from the drivers school in 07 right into grand-am ST eh? Big step :)

May I ask how much that is costing you per weekend? 8k?

One of my Thunderhill Street School Students went from HPDE to SCCA Rookie of the Year in a year's time. Talent will do that.
I rememeber telling him after our first session at Thunderhill that I had to find him a more experienced Instructor because I could not teach him anything he did not already demonstrate on the track (I limited myself to instructing rookies).

So Matt you go from the drivers school in 07 right into grand-am ST eh? Big step :)

May I ask how much that is costing you per weekend? 8k?

Haha, yeah, a fellow BMW Club racer named VJ Mirzayan asked me to join him in Grand Am. As Brad said, I received a TON of great instruction from all the guys at Evosport, VJ, and many other club racers. The group is awesome for that! I learned so much from all of them!

As far as the price... no comment :cool

The new oil cooler has done the trick and the engine temps were normal.
Cheers,
-Ralph Warren


Can you share some details on the oil cooler setup.

Thanks...