Topic: My First Experience with that *other* Crapcan Racing Series

Recently, Team Junk Male (some guys I used to work with down in SC) asked me to be their 5th driver at the Chump Car race in Road Atlanta this past weekend.  This was the "Santa in Atlanta" race. I've never done Chump before, and figured I'd give it a whirl.  I'd also heard a lot of really good things about Road Atlanta.  I was going to be in SC anyway picking up a load to bring back to Baltimore, so I figured, what's another 2 hours down the road to go for a race? 

The race was a 14 Hour format- Racing started at 8AM Saturday and ended at 10PM Saturday.  There were no breaks.  This means two things:

1) When the car breaks, you are really under the gun to get it fixed
2) Night Racing!!!

Katie and I arrived at the track Friday night around 8PM, with our camper and the dog.  We set up camp, poured some beers into plastic cups (R/A is a supposedly-alcohol-free venue) and wandered around for a bit to chat with the other racers, most of whom were openly drinking beers out of marked bottles.  Folks were generally pleasant, though there was none of the party atmosphere that you find at a Lemons event.  I did see several folks I recognized from Lemons, including some cars (Like the Battleship LTD and Sanford and Son truck) that did Lemons once and apparently are now just doing Chump.  The LTD, by the way, is now purple, has racing tires about a foot wide, and sounds like it has a NASCAR engine.  It also was off the track a lot, as was the truck.

As we were browsing the pits, we ended up chatting with a fellow who had a black Porsche 944.  He was showing me his Lexan work on the windshield and backlight, as well as the NASCAR tearoffs he'd scored supposedly *wink* on the cheap.  He asked me if I'd ever raced Road Atlanta before.  "No".  I replied.  Of course, then he and his team go into how this is one of the most challenging courses in the WORLD, how it's WORLD famous, etc etc etc.  Then he asked me if I'd raced it on a video simulation. "No, I don't have one." I replied.  He's starting to get a little weirded out now.  "Well, have you watched any of the in-car videos of the track?", he asked?  "Nope", I replied.  Now I can see they've gone beyond weirded out, and seem generally worried for my safety.  They're starting to scare Katie, even.  "Honestly", I said, "I haven't even really looked at a track map."  Now they're panicking for me.  (I hadn't walked the track either, as we arrived after dark.)  It was somewhat amusing, at least from my perspective. 

Well, I can now say that I _have_ looked at the track map.  Here it is:

http://www.roadatlanta.com/trackmap.lasso

The map, of course, doesn't really convey everything that there is about this track.  Because, you see, the map is, well, flat.  It might have some small curvature, depending on your computer monitor type, but it's still just in 2 dimensions.  But in real life, R/A is not flat.  It is, actually, very much not flat. 

My first stint wasn't until about 5 hours in on Saturday, so after the green flag fell, in between driver changes Katie and I and the dog and the team captain's wife crossed the footbridge over the start/finish line and walked the infield to check out the track.  We walked over to the "Esses", back over to the infield tunnel, and then back to the S/F line.  The racing action was very good, and vantage points were terrific.  We got some great pictures and I got at least a feel for the general layout of the track.  Over 100 cars had entered the race, though this was reduced somewhat by attrition to perhaps 60 or 70 cars by the time I went out around 1PM.  Around this time I suited up, wedged myself into the car, checked the mike, and headed off down pit road to join the action. 

A word about the car: Junk Male came up with their team name/ theme because of the vehicle they ended up with: a ex-postal delivery Subaru Legacy estate.  The most unique feature about this car was that, being an ex-postal vehicle, it was right-hand-drive.  Also, they had swapped out the automatic transmission with a 5 speed gearbox.  And the original 2.2 litre engine was gone, replaced by a torquier 2.5 boxster. 

So, I was going out into the thick of the racing action, in a car I'd never driven before, with right hand drive (which I've also never driven before), with a stick shift (which I've never done with my left hand, other than the few times shifting with my left when my right hand was holding a cheeseburger and I was steering with my knees- which is pretty much not equivalent at all, it turns out), on one of the most challenging road courses IN THE WORLD (!!!) that I'd never driven before.  Clearly, this was a recipe for success. 

The first 2 or 3 laps, I was holding on for dear life.  It felt surreal- my (left) hand was shifting gears and the steering wheel was moving and the car was going pretty fast, but I had no idea where I was on the track, or how I could prevent myself from being hit by all the other cars who were clearly much faster than I was.  But about 4 laps in, it was like a switch flipped.  I don't know if it was all the years of experience I'd had Lemons racing, or my awesome ;-) talent, or just sheer survival instinct, but I started actually racing, and realizing that I was racing.  And having a blast doing it.

You come out of the pits onto Turn 1.  Everyone is bunched up on the far left side of the track in preparation for the turn, all doing about 250 miles per hour coming down that front straight.  You are attempting to merge in front of them all, driving 25 miles per hour as you leave pit lane on the left.  You floor it up the hill towards the Esses.  Turn 2 is OK, but you have to exit and stay way to the left to set up for 3 and 4, which are tighter than they look on the map.  Especially 4.  Between 4 and 5 is downhill, and I realized soon that I could punch it to the floor in 4th gear down this hill with very little steering input.  It's crazy, fast, and definitely a pucker moment the first time you do it.  Turn 5 sucked.  You come into it with a big head of steam but need to slam on the brakes to avoid hitting the idiot in the Ford Escort who is slower than you and using up the entire turn.  Turn 5 heads off to the left, uphill, so you're downshifting into 3rd, and trying to stay off the gators on the right side.  There's _just_ enough straight between 5 and 6 that you have to upshift into 4th for 3 or 4 seconds before braking for 6.  After driving Turn 6 a few times, you realize it's not as sharp as 7, so you can kindof carry 4th through 6 and brake harder for 7, where half the drivers understeer and plow into the gators and into the dirt.  But this is Chump- no one gets flagged for 2 or even 4 off.  Being the exceptionally skilled Subaru driver that I am, I developed a habit of late-apexing 7, which sets you up nicely for 8 and 9, which are like the Kink at CMP, except you don't even think of lifting.  3rd gear takes you out of 7 and I was into 4th about where the "MAZDA" label is on the map, and drag racing through 9 in 4th, hitting about 5800 RPM.  Turn 9 ends up on a downhill towards 10A and 10B, the chicanes.  There was a huge sandbox at the runoff for 10A, and it collected it's share of duffers who got stuck in there and needed a pitching wedge.  I never quite built up the confidence to brake for 10A as late as I know the car could have- the brakes were absolutely fantastic, and I know I could have waited a marker or two later to start braking, but blasting down that hill at triple-digit speeds with those two 90 degree turns looming in front of me instilled just enough fear to brake cautiously. 

But, I also never ended up in the sand.

10B turned uphill towards a tunnel.  I was in third most of the way up the hill and usually grabbing 4th right out of the tunnel. 

Do you remember the first time you ever rode a roller-coaster?  Remember when it took you way up high, and then suddenly the tracks disappeared beneath you and everyone screams and throws their hands up as it plunges a few thousand feet down?  That's what it was like coming out of the tunnel.  You come into the light, and the road disappears.  Then, to compound matters, you have three choices- go to the right, which led to a dead end blocked- off road, go to the left, which took you into the pits, or go straight-ish and come careering down this huge, sweeping, slightly off-camber right hand turn under the YOKAHAMA start-finish line.  After a few laps of figuring _this_ out, I sort-of knew where to plant the car exiting the tunnel to apex Turn 12 just right as I came flying down the hill, WOT in 4th.  Usually I had to do a little confidence lift as I came around 12, but a few times I was flat out, and using up the entire track, ending up on the far, far left getting set up for Turn 1, doing about 250 miles per hour, trying to dodge all the idiots on their pit-outs. 

If CMP were the bunny slopes, Road Atlanta is the Black Diamond in March, after an ice storm.

Memorable moments:

-Coming down T12, full-bore in 4th gear, not lifting, and ending up with 2 wheels off on the left going 100+ under the S/F tower and thinking "The car is going to lose it now, and I'm going to spin out and crash into the concrete wall here, and probably die" and before I finish the thought, I've corrected and am back on the track heading towards T1. 

-Heading up T1, which I could do in 4th, when a Jaguar XJ6 spins in front of me.  This is a hugely-long car, and as it rotates it's taking up 3/4 of the track.  The Blitzen Benz was on my left, and he decides to take an off-road excursion to get around the spinning Jag.  There's 2 E30's behind me, and a Miata to my right.  The Miata brakes, which leaves me _just_ enough of a hole to floor the gas pedal and aim about 8 inches off of where I _think_ the front of the Jag is going to be (it's still moving, spinning, and sliding) when I pass it.  Which I did. Barely.  Don't ask me to repeat that little feat, because I'm not sure that I could.

-Battling for place a couple of times between 8 and 9, and 10 and 12, once with a Datsun and once with a Miata, both of whom tried to squeeze me into the grass as I passed them.  I held my line, and they bounced off, losing considerable ground. 

-Night racing.  Take everything I wrote above, and now imagine it illuminated by two small candles in two small mason jars attached to the front of the car with opaque tape.  The Subaru had just a pair of stock headlights.  Other cars had 100 million candlepower spots mounted on their bonnets (Sorry about the English-eeze.  I did spend all weekend driving a RHD vehicle).  My second stint was around 8PM, when it was not only dark, but raining.  At this point, everyone either decided to a) stop racing and pull into the pits, like sane people, b) drive around the course under heavy caution speeds, or c) continue driving like it was sunny and clear out.  Naturally, groups b) and c) did not coexist harmoniously on the track, and I spent fully half of my night stint either under caution flag or red flag- Red flag means you stop your car in place on the track and wait for a yellow to proceed.  Also, imagine coming out of that dark tunnel into blind darkness below, at Wide Open Throttle in 4th gear. 

After my night stint I walked back to the camper and saw that I had a text message.  It read, "Your car just did the most awesome drift up Turn 1!!"  I looked at the time stamp.  I'd been behind the wheel, and I remember that drift.  I remember thinking while doing it, "Hmm.  I've never gone uphill sideways before.  This sure is different."

We ended up finishing 31rst out of the hundred or so cars that entered.  We had two repairs- right at dusk a driver came in complaining about steering slop, which we traced to a loose ball joint in the tie rod end where it connects to the rack.  We decided it would "probably" last the race, so we zip-tied the dust boot on and sent the next driver out.  Who, thankfully, was not me.  I was next after him, though, but that driver said the front end felt "pretty good", so I proceeded to head out into the dark, rainy night, in the unfamiliar right-hand-drive shifter car with sketchy tires and a bad front tie rod ball joint and pass every car I could get around.  I think I set fast lap for the team, around 1:59, and I don't think I was much slower in the dark and the rain.  Which means, of course, I could have been MUCH faster in the daylight when it was dry!

The other repair involved a broken exhaust pipe right at the Y pipe of the engine after the driver before me at night came in.  It made a horrible racket, and was probably not too good for the valves. I welded it, and then proceeded to hop in for my night stint.

One of my favorite memories from the whole weekend: Remember that Porsche fellow I wrote about in the beginning?  After finding out I'd only raced Lemons before, he told me, "Well, I've never raced Lemons, but from what I understand- and don't take this the wrong way- Lemons is a bunch of idiots who think they are race car drivers, and Chump Car is a bunch of race car drivers who think they are idiots."  I let it slide, and we had a good laugh, at my expense presumably.  About 3 hours into Saturday one of our teammates pitted excitedly, saying how this black Porsche had spun while passing him and made a very close personal acquaintance with the concrete wall near the tunnel.  They were bringing the car in on the flatbed as he spoke.  The driver was unhurt, fortunately.

Yup.  That black Porsche.

Tunachuckers: 15 Years of Effluency
'08 - '10: 1966 Volvo 122, "Charlie"
'10 - '18: 1975 Ford LTD Landau --> 2018 - current: Converted into 1950 "Plymford"
'22 - current: 1967 Volvo 122, "Charlie ]["

2 (edited by psychoboy 2012-12-10 12:27 PM)

Re: My First Experience with that *other* Crapcan Racing Series

very nice write up, glad you were able to have a great weekend.


I've learned there are two types of "racers" on the track:
those who are very very good at racing their car, and those who can sit down in almost anything, anywhere, and still be damned competitive.

so long as there isn't money on the line, i'd always rather hang out with the latter group and try to learn from them.

we've got a couple of those clowns on our team. the kind of guys that will sit down in your car, turn three laps on a track they've never seen, and beat your best with two of them. during a race, i'm just happy if i can keep within 10% of them.

Team OK-Speed
Regularly losing in Class A
Soon to start losing in Class C

Re: My First Experience with that *other* Crapcan Racing Series

You were there?  I wish I knew, I would have said hi.  Or, of course, you could have see that the Schumachers were there and stopped over.

--Rob Leone Schumacher Taxi Service
We won the IOE at Southern Discomfort.
We got screwed at The Real Hoopties of New Jersey  and we took cars down with us.
We got the curse at Capitol Offense but they wouldn't let us destroy the car.

Re: My First Experience with that *other* Crapcan Racing Series

The Chumps take their Chumping very seriously.  i poked fun at how the winners of the last few chump races were all cars that started life as Lemons.  they didn't appreciate it.

That being said, i'll be happy to go back to VIR next season...

Glad you had fun, and got to race on what sounds like an awesome track.

Silent But Deadly Racing-  Ricky Bobby's Laughing Clown Malt Liquor Thunderbird , Datsun 510, 87 Mustang (The Race Team Formerly Known as Prince), 72 Pinto Squire waggy, Parnelli Jones 67 Galaxie, Turbo Coupe Surf wagon.(The Surfin Bird), Squatting Dogs In Tracksuits,  Space Pants!  Roy Fuckin Kent and The tribute to a tribute to a tribute THUNDERBIRD/ SUNDAHBADOH!

Re: My First Experience with that *other* Crapcan Racing Series

I saw your trailers, Rob.  Sorry I didn't come over to say hi.  In between racing, and dealing with a puppy who very much did not want to be at the track, fixing the car, and spending QT with the wife...I was also retrieving a spare Volvo B20 engine from Jason with the /6 E30 team- he'd pulled it from a junkyard Amazon for me a few months back.  We got to the track late Friday night and left early Sunday morning- I was in Baltimore by midnight.  And at work today.  Ugh. 

How did you guys do?  Damn that was a fun track!  Jay, can we haz Road Atlanta, pleeez?

Tunachuckers: 15 Years of Effluency
'08 - '10: 1966 Volvo 122, "Charlie"
'10 - '18: 1975 Ford LTD Landau --> 2018 - current: Converted into 1950 "Plymford"
'22 - current: 1967 Volvo 122, "Charlie ]["

Re: My First Experience with that *other* Crapcan Racing Series

mechimike wrote:

We got to the track late Friday night and left early Sunday morning- I was in Baltimore by midnight.  And at work today.  Ugh. 

How did you guys do?  Damn that was a fun track!  Jay, can we haz Road Atlanta, pleeez?

We got to the track early Friday and left Sunday morning too.  We were back to my place above Philadelphia at 9:00PM in time to tuck my kids in. 

Our car developed a bad stumble and wouldn't rev above 2000RPM two hours into the race.  Four hours later, it was finally diagnosed as oil in the crank position sensor wire connector.  Once that was solved, the car ran great.  We were one of those teams that kept going hard in the dark and rain.  Our dark laps were only 1-2 seconds slower than our light laps.

--Rob Leone Schumacher Taxi Service
We won the IOE at Southern Discomfort.
We got screwed at The Real Hoopties of New Jersey  and we took cars down with us.
We got the curse at Capitol Offense but they wouldn't let us destroy the car.

Re: My First Experience with that *other* Crapcan Racing Series

We didn't leave R/A until about 9AM, and then I had to get to the house in SC, unpack the camper, load up my truck, and head north to Baltimore.  I ended up slogging through VA in the dark and the rain on 360 from Danville to Richmond, then had a lot of traffic on I95.  Some jackbone in a Civic stuffed their car under an 18 wheeler.  Fun.    I was towing 2 more cars on my flatbed, too.

Tunachuckers: 15 Years of Effluency
'08 - '10: 1966 Volvo 122, "Charlie"
'10 - '18: 1975 Ford LTD Landau --> 2018 - current: Converted into 1950 "Plymford"
'22 - current: 1967 Volvo 122, "Charlie ]["

8 (edited by Team Infinniti 2012-12-10 01:23 PM)

Re: My First Experience with that *other* Crapcan Racing Series

Great write up, that car was really hauling the mail!
Medium light colored pooch?

Homestead Chump 5th-Sebring 6th-PBIR Lemons 9th - Charlotte Chump  CrashnBurn 9th
Sebring 6th again -NOLA Chump 1st -PBIR Chump Trans Fail 16th
Daytona 11th - Sebring 6th - Atlanta Motor Speedway 2nd - Road Atlanta Trans Fail 61st-Road Atlanta 5th
Daytona 13th - Charlotte 9th - Sebring 2nd-Charlotte 25th broken brakes - Road Atlanta 14 10th-Daytona 14  58th- Humid TT 19th Judges' Choice!

Re: My First Experience with that *other* Crapcan Racing Series

Wow, that was a great write-up.  Did you get a chance to let the Porsche guys know that you managed to out-wreck-free them?

Quad4 CRX - Wartburg 311 - Civic Wagovan - Parnelli Jones Galaxie - LS400 - Lancia MR2 - Boat - Sentra - 56 Ford Victoria
Known Associate of 3pedal Mafia, Speedycop, and the Russians.  Maybe even NSF.

Re: My First Experience with that *other* Crapcan Racing Series

Team Infinniti wrote:

Great write up, that car was really hauling the mail!
Medium light colored pooch?

yeah, mid-sized dog, ugly underbite, dirty blonde hair.  Usually attached to my wife with a leash.

I never saw that Porsche fellow after that.  I think they packed up.  By the time night fell less than half the field was still running.

Tunachuckers: 15 Years of Effluency
'08 - '10: 1966 Volvo 122, "Charlie"
'10 - '18: 1975 Ford LTD Landau --> 2018 - current: Converted into 1950 "Plymford"
'22 - current: 1967 Volvo 122, "Charlie ]["

11 (edited by Team Infinniti 2012-12-10 02:00 PM)

Re: My First Experience with that *other* Crapcan Racing Series

mechimike wrote:
Team Infinniti wrote:

Great write up, that car was really hauling the mail!
Medium light colored pooch?

yeah, mid-sized dog, ugly underbite, dirty blonde hair.  Usually attached to my wife with a leash.

Yup that was you 2!
For what it was I was impressed with the mail car, knew it was a lil more then a 2.2 wink
We failed @ hour 7 before everyone could really hone skills ( we don't sim or practice either, just walk the track)  our fast lap was 1:53ish
I think exactly half the field DNFed and while I did stop at Kroger for some beer it was for the NASCAR guys in trade for some ducting found scattered in a nascar discard pile, we fail at the party thing.

Homestead Chump 5th-Sebring 6th-PBIR Lemons 9th - Charlotte Chump  CrashnBurn 9th
Sebring 6th again -NOLA Chump 1st -PBIR Chump Trans Fail 16th
Daytona 11th - Sebring 6th - Atlanta Motor Speedway 2nd - Road Atlanta Trans Fail 61st-Road Atlanta 5th
Daytona 13th - Charlotte 9th - Sebring 2nd-Charlotte 25th broken brakes - Road Atlanta 14 10th-Daytona 14  58th- Humid TT 19th Judges' Choice!

Re: My First Experience with that *other* Crapcan Racing Series

I've spectated at Road Atlanta and really want to race there someday, but it's quite a haul from TX. Thanks for the amusing write-up, Mike.

ONSET/Tetanus Racing, est. 2008.
Guest drives: NSF, Rocket Surgery, Property Devaluation, Terminally Confused, Team Sputnik, The Syndicate, Pit Crew Revenge, Spank, Hella Shitty, Sir Jackie Stewart's Coin Purse, Nine Finger Drifters, Salty Thunder, Panting Polar Bear, Vistabeam, Hangar 13, and Escape Velocity.
74 races so far.

Re: My First Experience with that *other* Crapcan Racing Series

Ah, so that's where Pratt & Miller took those LS1 powered monsters, I had wondered where they went after the 2010 fall CMP race. And as I recall both cars were sporting those massive tires even back then.

Team Final Gear Crew Chief
#138 1997 Pontiac GTP - Supercharged 3800
#42   1999 Ford P71 Crown Vic

Re: My First Experience with that *other* Crapcan Racing Series

PunisherBass wrote:

Ah, so that's where Pratt & Miller took those LS1 powered monsters, I had wondered where they went after the 2010 fall CMP race. And as I recall both cars were sporting those massive tires even back then.

They were fast in a straight line but slooooowww in the corners.  They would roar past you on the straight just to be repassed in the braking zone.  Two turns later, you wouldn't see them again.  I loved the sounds.

My favorite car was the Jagginoff.  It was a series 1 Jaguar XJ6 that was constructed by a guy that builds choppers.  Inside and out the workmanship was incredible.  It sounded great (had a 302 and T5 in it).  They ran chrome wheels to complete the "look."  Very fun.

Tubby

Re: My First Experience with that *other* Crapcan Racing Series

I was told by a Chump racer if we ran that series we would be assured top 30 finishes.

_______________
#3 IROC MAIDEN

Re: My First Experience with that *other* Crapcan Racing Series

I was told by a Chump racer at an open track weekend that when we get serious about racing, we should build a new (faster) car and come Chump racing.  I took the comment as a compliment to the stealthiness of our diamond in the rough racer, and told him "I only do serious when there is a paycheck involved."

I passed his mustang in every session he ran that day.

2012 North Dallas Hooptie Judge's Choice Winners
If life gives you Lemons, install racing brakes!
https://www.facebook.com/JoBoRacing

Re: My First Experience with that *other* Crapcan Racing Series

Thanks for the excellent write-up.  Reminds me of my first (and thus far, only) Chump experience at VIR this summer - did an arrive and drive with ModSquad - great guys, great cars - hopped into the first mid-engined car I've ever driven on a track at dusk as the drizzle started to fall, had that same experience for the first few laps, then it got dark, and then I finally began to learn the track and started to have fun.  Good stuff!

Rally Baby 87 Audi 4KQ, Audi 90 Quattro Coupe, 1975 Mercedes R107, 87 E30s, E36s, the Whorenet, Rocco...
J. Phil: "Audis Never Win".  He might be right.But!, the K Dominates 2013 NJ and NH (not, but...). 
Stafford 2011 podium, 2nd NJMP 2013, Summit Point 2012 "WV ASSimilation award"
NJMP 2012 Organizer's Choice - R107, 2013 Monticello IOE Whorenet ! Organizers, CMP fall 2013 w/NSF

Re: My First Experience with that *other* Crapcan Racing Series

The Jagginoff was the XJ6 that spun in front of me.  Agreed, that car looked and sounded awesome, even my wife said it was one of the best looking cars out there.  There was an early 80's malibu rocking some heavenly-sounding SBC that pitted with us.  Every time that car came in I had to pause for just a second to take in that marvelous pushrod symphony. 

@Team Infinniti: Everyone there (including us) failed at the party thing.  After the awards it seemed like everyone either packed up and left, or went to bed and left early the next morning.  Most of the fun that was to be had there was on the track.  Much, much different vibe than Lemons. 

That Subaru is a heck of a car for the engine being nearly 100% ahead of the front wheels.  The beauty of All Wheel Drive.  Almost makes me want to go find one of my own, to re-drivetrain one of my Amazon wagons.

Tunachuckers: 15 Years of Effluency
'08 - '10: 1966 Volvo 122, "Charlie"
'10 - '18: 1975 Ford LTD Landau --> 2018 - current: Converted into 1950 "Plymford"
'22 - current: 1967 Volvo 122, "Charlie ]["

Re: My First Experience with that *other* Crapcan Racing Series

I'm wondering if the malibu was the Ghetto motorsports car that they sold.

Did it have 1/2 of a roof?

Silent But Deadly Racing-  Ricky Bobby's Laughing Clown Malt Liquor Thunderbird , Datsun 510, 87 Mustang (The Race Team Formerly Known as Prince), 72 Pinto Squire waggy, Parnelli Jones 67 Galaxie, Turbo Coupe Surf wagon.(The Surfin Bird), Squatting Dogs In Tracksuits,  Space Pants!  Roy Fuckin Kent and The tribute to a tribute to a tribute THUNDERBIRD/ SUNDAHBADOH!

Re: My First Experience with that *other* Crapcan Racing Series

Fun read.

I've run Chump twice at VIR. Jay/Nick, you MUST get us that track, and Road Atlanta as well. DO IT NOW.

Captain: Speedycop & The Gang Of Outlaws -'94 Mark VIII (Least Horrible Yank Tank Stafford '09, NOLA '10) '61 Caddy (Org Choice-NL '09) '63 Tbird (EPIC Repair Failure-Gingerman '10, I Got Screwed-Summit Pt '10, I.O.E. WINNER Stafford '10!) '77 Lancia Scorpion (I.O.E. WINNER Joliet 2010!) '67 Galaxie 500 (Judges Choice-CMP '11)
Future Fleet: 1957 Ford Prefect 1942 Buick 1959 Bugeye Project GLCOAT

Re: My First Experience with that *other* Crapcan Racing Series

RA will never happen if Nelson Ledges was removed from the lineup.  It's too fast and if someone makes a mistake they are going to be in a wall.  Not to mention that the blind crests and difference in closing speeds of the cars in Lemons would make this more dangerous than racing already is.

--Rob Leone Schumacher Taxi Service
We won the IOE at Southern Discomfort.
We got screwed at The Real Hoopties of New Jersey  and we took cars down with us.
We got the curse at Capitol Offense but they wouldn't let us destroy the car.

Re: My First Experience with that *other* Crapcan Racing Series

Sir Thomas Crapper wrote:

I'm wondering if the malibu was the Ghetto motorsports car that they sold.

Did it have 1/2 of a roof?

The white malibu was a beast.  I had a front row seat with it battling the chopped probe. 

I don't think it had a chopped top.  It looked and sounded mean.  Fast on the straights but not so much in the corners.  Although it handled much better than I thought is ever could.

Tubby

Re: My First Experience with that *other* Crapcan Racing Series

RobL wrote:

RA will never happen if Nelson Ledges was removed from the lineup.  It's too fast and if someone makes a mistake they are going to be in a wall.  Not to mention that the blind crests and difference in closing speeds of the cars in Lemons would make this more dangerous than racing already is.

I've heard there was a lot more to "no more NL" than it being fast and scary.

dead rabbit society: cultured 'n shit.

24 (edited by therood 2012-12-11 08:26 AM)

Re: My First Experience with that *other* Crapcan Racing Series

Tubby wrote:
Sir Thomas Crapper wrote:

I'm wondering if the malibu was the Ghetto motorsports car that they sold.

Did it have 1/2 of a roof?

The white malibu was a beast.  I had a front row seat with it battling the chopped probe. 

I don't think it had a chopped top.  It looked and sounded mean.  Fast on the straights but not so much in the corners.  Although it handled much better than I thought is ever could.

Was it the "One Piece at a Time" car? I'm pretty sure that's a different car from the Ghetto Malibu.  It's been running Chump for a few years and they've come close to winning a couple times.

Eric Rood
Everything Bagel, 24 Hours of Lemons
eric@24hoursoflemons.com

Re: My First Experience with that *other* Crapcan Racing Series

RobL wrote:

RA will never happen if Nelson Ledges was removed from the lineup.  It's too fast and if someone makes a mistake they are going to be in a wall.  Not to mention that the blind crests and difference in closing speeds of the cars in Lemons would make this more dangerous than racing already is.

I started in the first stint with 85 cars on track.  I didn't know the track and it was hair raising.  Once you get familiar, it's like riding a roller coaster.  One of our drivers kept hollering yeeee haawww in the radio.  Being from the midwest, the only elevation changes we get are Road America (some) and HPT (hardly any).  Most tracks are as flat as a kitchen floor.

Tubby