2010 Solo Nationals Results

[Chris Reinhardt]

Screw Sports Car Mag, ask Rob if you can do one for Formula Car Mag...

OK, Formula Car Mag is no more....


I guess posting here as suggested would be best..
_________________
CR2 Welding and Fabrication
www.cr2fabrication.webs.com

[Steve Garnjobst]

[Steven Mosley]

Thanks Steve for doing this thankless job. Maybe an unedited post could be done here.

[Jim Murphy]

[Steve Brueck]

I can tell you what happened to me, went from 4th before the first run on Friday, dropped to DFL by the 1st or 2nd run, and back to 5th on the 3rd. Talking about stress...
_________________
Steve Brueck
#140 FM F500
#144 EM 914 V8
http://www.daculaweather.com
http://www.crystalridge.net

[Jeff Blumenthal]

My story...and I'm sticking to it...
Thursday:
I noticed belt squeal while driving in grid but couldn't think of any reason for it. The car felt sluggish during my runs. I finished the first day in 12th place and pretty disappointed.
While preparing the car for Michelle Quinn's 5th heat runs , I noticed a unique bolt with nut in the cockpit. Immediately I knew it was the belt deflection adjuster fom the Team Industries secondary clutch. Bingo! The secondary was completely closed and the belt tension was like a piano string. I replaced it with a standard 1/4-20 bolt and was back in business. Except I had a big hill to climb if I wanted to trophy.
Friday:
Gary Kramar found a cracked axle on his car so he became my co-driver for the day. Everyone knows about the rain, the oil, and the long delay. It was apparent that FMod would come down to a one run shootout. Because I picked up a co-driver, it was my good fortune to be the last FMod driver to compete as the course continued to dry out. The result was good, moving from 12th to 3rd.
I'll never know what might have been if the clutch bolt hadn't broken. But everyone has similar stories of "would have", "could have", "should have"...to win requires skill and a lot of good luck.

In FMod Ladies, Michelle Quinn drove my car for the first time except for 4 practice course runs. Jane Willis took the lead after first runs. Because of timer problems on 2nd runs, Michelle got a rerun and took advantage. As she got more comfortable her times got faster and faster, holding the day 1 lead. On Friday, in overcast but dry conditions, Michelle continued to go fast and took the win.
_________________
- Jeff Blumenthal
FMod #96
F500 #03 temporary

[Jeff Colegrove]

Here's my story.....


In the car Saturday morning at 6am (Rochester NY, east of buffalo). Drove into a 30mph headwind for 17 and a half hours. Slept just outside of Omaha. Visited the Omaha Cabela's store at 10am. Very cool store. Got to compare a lot of different handguns that have been on my short list...
Back in the car by noon to make the 1 hour trip into lincoln.

Arrive sunday afternoon, met Murphy and Steve. Battle the wind to get the cars unpacked from the 12' trailer. Yes I said cars, plural. See below:



Sunday: fixed a few things on the car. Moved the fuel pump, installed DEI Cool-tube and heat rejecting shielding on fuel lines and pump. Vapor locking + engine bog fixed.

Monday: did some more minor stuff. Full nut and bolt of the car ahead of testing.

Tuesday: Testing. Made some runs on our trusty takeoffs, then scrubbed in the new rubber.

Wednesday: Bought Steve's extra timeslot and went testing again on the takeoffs to stay fresh. Finished up the day with another thorough inspecting of the car ahead of game day.

Thursday morning: Up at 5:30am, got in one last walk before we work on the car a bit. Fashioned a rain shield just in case - to stop any rainfall from hitting the filters directly in the event of rain. Made an oil injection reservoir to meet the letter of the rules. Brought the tires and tools to grid, brought the car to grid.

Run 1 - disaster! out braked my self at every major braking zone. Went too deep before applying the binders in each situation. 56.2

Run 2- much better. Pulled back the braking points a few feet and carried a bit more mid corner speed. Still room for improvement in the back half of the course. 55.2

Run 3 - was really good, i was up 2-3 tenths on stefans 3rd run time of 54.9 until I brake just a little too deep and slid a little wide in the last corner before the finish. Threw away any progress i made there and wound up with a 55.3. Very disappointed in myself with my last run.

This put me in 6th just behind stefan (my brother and co-driver) by .27 or so. Stefan was 5th behind Steve by .040. If he farted on course we would have passed him. I was about 1.1 off Glen who was leading. Too far to challenge for the lead on day two, but I resigned myself to try to improve 2 places on day two. Steve was definitely in range. I called grandma before going to bed and asked her to pray for us... we definitely needed it!

And it seemed to work, if only temporarily!

As everyone knows, it started raining. We tried to make the right call on tires ahead of stefan's first run, but got it wrong. I asked a number of drivers in various classes what kind of tires they were on, and what they would chose if they were going to make another run. They were almost exclusively on slicks.

So we went slicks for stefan's first run, and it was obviously too wet for them. He was pissed, really pissed. So naturally we switched to rains for my first run.

Run 1 - an abomination of driving! I was all over the place! In the first 5 pin slalom, i left the slalom still well in the throttle looking for the pin which marked the turn in to the long left had sweeper. It dawned on me almost too late that the last pin in the slalom was the turn in point! I jumped on the brakes hard and the car rotated and was sliding sideways at the cone wall (a long way after the end of the slalom). Luckily, the car stopped sliding a few feet short of the wall and I was back on my way to completing this awful run. Crossed the line with a 68.6. Strangely enough, I think this put me into the lead temporarily.

Second runs start, and Stefan winds up bumping me out of 1st.

Run 2 - I focus on improving the exit of the slalom and my braking to keep the car a little quiter. Put in a pretty respectable run, with a big tank slapper both ways under power accelerating away from the slow RH hairpin before the longer straightaway. 65.7. Initially i thought I had only made a minor improvement, because the times guy wrote down a 67.7. One of our friends got out their phone and showed us that we were leading 1-2 after 2nd runs. A pretty amazing turnaround from the previous day. I had Stefan by 1.5 seconds total, and Glen by 2.1 total (2 days).

At this point I was pretty darn happy with how the car was driving in the rain. We seemed to be in the power more than the 500's, and the car was still very very neutral except in the areas where the water was running across the course.

Runs 3 start - Stefan doesn't go faster. First driver runs are almost done and nobody has gone faster. It turns out some were hampered by the oil slick that was laid down.

To make a long story short, lots of oil went down. This necessitated a very lengthy cleanup, during which it stopped raining. Kittly litter was actually bought at local stores and brought in to clean up the volume of oil that was on course. Between the cessation of rain, wind, kitty litter, and the street sweepers making laps around the course, it was significantly dryer than during runs 1 & 2.

Soo, all of the work we put in getting good rain runs was for naught - erased. Everyone was going to get 1 more or less dry run. The people earlier in the group had to deal with some slicker conditions than those of us who were fortunate enough to run late in the group. Stefan, Paul, and one other spun in the same spot in the transition from the RH sweeper to the left then right near the finish.

I went out and made my run. I was doing very well until I clipped a cone. At this point, I freaked out and drove the rest of my run in full rage mode... I decided I would hold full throttle as deep as I could into the RH sweeper after the RH hairpin and straight. I succeeded. I went very deep before lifting and transitioning to the left. The back end immediately stepped out, not happy with my bravado (and stupid) attempt to conquer the sweeper at as high a speed as possible. I gave up on it and went off course here. I definitely should have just continued on course hard, but I was driving with my head way too far up my ass after hitting the cone. I coasted for a bit, then got on it through the finish 66.x + 1 cone and off. Once I get the videos edited I'll know exactly how far up on my wet run I was. I have a feeling if I'd have just finished up hard after the cone, I would have been higher up in the results even with the cone. How much? I'll know once I edit the video.

I came in 12th and Stefan was 13th, both standing on our wet times for Friday. One big mental mistake on my last run cost me dearly... Not something I'll soon forget.


All in all, I was very happy to be able to hang with all the 500's, and finish first out of all the 440's, especially considering I was tipping the scales at 760-770. Short wheelbase kawi's are still fast! This car will be even faster if the new owner decides to drop in a rotax....

[Steve Brueck]

Ok, my turn I guess!

Thursday went great. The car, for the most part, was working. I entered all the times in a spreadsheet last night and discovered this: I had the 2nd fastest 1st run, 4th fastest 2nd run and 3rd fastest 3rd run. I was even proud of the 13th PAX out of 1,167 drivers on the West Course. I ended up in 4th that day, right behind Magee. I don't think anyone was going to catch Glen in the dry, him and his car were dialed in just right. I felt pretty good where I ended up and was looking forward to the East Course in the dry.

A few videos:
http://www.youtube.com/bruecksteve
And a few pictures:
http://picasaweb.google.com/stephenrbrueck

But Friday was almost a total disaster. It started raining right before our runs. Jim made a run on slicks and came back in and we immediately swapped to rain tires. So I go out my first run and miss the first gate and get a DNF. Ok, that was my fault.

My next run I take off from the starting line and about 30 feet into it the car shoots off to the left without warning. Apparently the right rear tire got enough grip to launch me left. DNF #2.

Well, at this point I'm dead last out of 26 drivers. Not the way this was suppose to go and especially the last time in the car. I thought it was all over. I couldn't get the car to do anything I wanted it to do, it would push in every turn and I figured I would be near the bottom of the class when it was said and done.

At some point during the 3rd runs a Solo Vee decided to barf oil all over the course. I mean everywhere. It took almost an hour and a half to get it all cleaned up. But by that time the rain had stopped. The course still had some water on it but was dry in many places. I immediately changed back to slicks. Because of the unusual circumstances, they decided to give the entire class (and several others that were running with us) the 3rd runs over. So what it came down to was a one run National Championship.

So I go out on the third run knowing I HAD to have a clean run with no mistakes. I had to go fast but be conservative at the same time just to get a time. But finally it all worked as I tip-toed through small rivers of water in the midst of dry patches and I ended up moving from 26th to 5th on that one run. I was actually in first for a few moments until the last four drivers crossed the line. The entire class was turned upside down by the last runs and the people that were in the lead dropped out of the trophy positions. Needless to say there were a lot of happy and unhappy people afterwards. I was just extremely lucky to be able to salvage a somewhat respectable finish.

A few things I learned the hard way, maybe someone can learn from my mistakes.

1. A true National Champion never drives 9/10's. That's exactly what I did on my 3rd run. I needed a time after two DNF's and I played the conservative card. Never ever should have done that. I actually thought I was out of it so I just went for a time. BIG mistake. As it was, I ended up .454 out of 2nd place which would have been my best finish at the Nationals (I've trophied 4 out of the 5 times I've run Jim's car at the Nationals). Just .4540000, a blink of an eye and I drove 9/10's. ALWAYS go for it no matter what, no matter what the situation or circumstances, you'll never win at 9/10's. Give it your all and never look back.

2. Related to #1, never give up - I thought I was toast. I was actually in shock thinking "this is the way the last time in the car is going to end, DFL". NEVER give up. Strange things happen (I'm living proof) and cars break, weather changes, you put in a miracle run, etc. You've got to fight to the very end. Again, give it your all and don't look back. At least you'll have the satisfaction that you left nothing on the course.

Had I done those two things, there is no doubt in my mind I would have been at least 2nd. Now I'll never know. Plus I know I left a lot of time out there so I don't have the satisfaction of knowing I did my best that day. Instead I tip-toed around just trying to get a time and not hit a cone, which I did. But the satisfaction would have been much greater had I really gone for it and made it.
_________________
Steve Brueck
#140 FM F500
#144 EM 914 V8
http://www.daculaweather.com
http://www.crystalridge.net

[Steve Brueck]

Finally got the Friday results in the spreadsheet. The finishing order of the final 3rd run on Friday, was the overall finishing order, at least through the first 5 spots.

It truly did come down to a one run Nationals.
_________________
Steve Brueck
#140 FM F500
#144 EM 914 V8
http://www.daculaweather.com
http://www.crystalridge.net

[Steven Mosley]

Here is the story of my year. - Edited political correctness.

Last Year
Coning my last run in 09 gave someone else a trophy I was ready to take revenge. This was Chris's year to move up from 2nd to 1st. I put in a ton of seat time to crush the field and was ready to rock. I looked at Glenn as the man to beat.

July
The one event I did before registering I was shaking off rust in chunks. Was mostly clean and my last and 5th run of the day put me in top 5 in PAX at our local event. Was thinking I need to be fast in 3 not 5.

August
Register for Nationals. Someone took my number from last year. I thought people looked at the years prior results for numbers. I guess it is first come first serve moving forward. No running Paul's # this year.

The local event before Nats I coned 4 of 6 runs. Laid down the fastest raw
time in the afternoon (coned) Got it done in 4 instead of 5. Almost there.

September
Drove to Nats. Stopped at Fanasty's in Omaha. Cleanest, nicest, freshest. slushy bar in gas station in NE.

TNT
I'm feeling on my game with 11 runs in he car for the year. The car was completely different after the MN FM alignment clinic and this was a chance to feel it out. Coned and DNF'd all of my runs but felt I was getting to know the car on the LAP surface. Later we found something screwy with the brakes.

Day 1
15 runs in and 6 to go on the season.

Run 1
Wanted to warm up the tires for Chris. I wanted to be clean and somewhat fast. Mission accomplished. Time to drive.

Run 2
I went out and Chirs was .6 seconds behind. Not normal and he was in a funk. My 56.0 was a garbage run by now. Glenn was taking a flame thrower to the field making us all his bitches. Moved into 3rd with my 54.7. I had left a lot of time out there butchering the first 180 and playing with my sunglasses that were coming off during the run. Chris came in .4 behind but had a cone. I was sure he was going to leap frog me on the next run. Things were on track.

Run 3
Butchered 2 corners and somehow improved time to a 54.3 putting the heat on Paul and Glenn. Glenn upped the bar to 54.1. I knew Chris had a second in him and it was going to be a good run. Keith and Mark would come knocking and put 5 of 6 good old MN boys in the Trophy's on day 1. Then Paul striked vengeance upon the wears of his number.
Accidents happen. Nationals ruined for me when the rain feel since Chris was screwed. Glenn had the lead and I was worrying about having to shave my head and have an ape hanger mustache for the banquet when he won.

We grilled and talked about the days events and possible events for tomorrow. The discussion came up several times about someone making a poor judgement call for day 2. Chris was stuck in 18th because he coned his fast run and his last run was a throw away.

Day 2

What I didn't want to happen happens in Grid. My talk didn't turn to action and I focused on driving. Deja Vu! And I'm not talking about the gentlemens club in MN. It is raining. Colgrove's got their wish and it was a new game. Which tires do we run? I watched the heat 1 cars run and made up my mind it was a day for the rains. Switched to rains. Glenn got f'd running rains last year and I told him it was the right thing to do today. He mounted them up. Alex and Mark went dry.

Run 1
DNF - The distractions got to me and I missed the first gate. Good thing was the finish guy said I was crushing the field, but need to clean it up. Warmed the tires for Chirs and he could make up a lot of time. He jumped from 18th to trophy's after first runs.

Run 2
Was thinking keep it clean. Matched my time with the DNF and was sitting in 3rd. I laid the foundation with a safe run to go after it on my last. Conditions were not improving and it was the right thing to do.
Chris improved slightly and was holding 7th. Glenn was 4th and he was telling me about the mess in his grid spot. I was feeling very annoyed with the situation.

Run 3
This was Wreck or Checker time. While on course traction was way down. I was thinking it was raining. 4 seconds off my first two runs. I thought conditions turned for the worse. I was holding my hand out on the scales feeling for rain. Paul struck again.

Run 4
It was turning into a 1 run nationals again. The big debate happened. The officials felt it was fine to rerun the whole field of FM. I felt it was a poor call after the events of Thursday since the people effected there didn't have the same choice. Consistency was not upheld, but I understand their point. Now I would have to run on cold tires. I figured I need a 62. First corner the cold tires didn't take and I lost confidence in being aggressive with the car. I drove safe and it cost me a lot of time. Some how I was in 1st after the first drivers finished. Then SM cars went out and dried it some more and the second drivers passed finished ahead of me one by one. First it was Mark and then it was Keith. I couldn't have been happier. Nobody deserved this more then Keith. The expression on his face was worth the drive.

Summary
22 runs with a roller coaster of emotions. This will go down as the year of the 7 for me. 7th place, 7th in pax on the west course, and not being able to run 77 for my friend Paul that passed.
_________________
Steven

93 Toyota MR2T - SSM
97 Red Devil - 2010
Glen Barnhouse's Co Driver - 2011

[Steve Brueck]

If anyone would like the spreadsheet I've done, let me know and I'll post it on my website. I need to update the car info but otherwise, names, runs, finishing position, etc are all correct.
_________________
Steve Brueck
#140 FM F500
#144 EM 914 V8
http://www.daculaweather.com
http://www.crystalridge.net

[Chris Eckles]

[Steven Mosley]

[Jeff Blumenthal]

[Steve Brueck]

It really does, it's very interesting seeing how things changed from run to run.

Here's the link: http://www.daculaweather.com/stuff/2010_fm_nationals_results.xlxs

If anyone has a problem opening the file, let me know and I'll re-save in an older Excel format.

Never mind, here it is anyway...
http://www.daculaweather.com/stuff/2010_fm_nationals_results.xls
_________________
Steve Brueck
#140 FM F500
#144 EM 914 V8
http://www.daculaweather.com
http://www.crystalridge.net