Gregg's Web Log

Category Four-wheeled toys

Well, after spending almost exactly one year, building two race cars, I finally made it out for my first SCCA race at Summit Point Raceway this weekend. With a shiny new coat of Maaco's best, I took the new #72 out for qualifying on Saturday.

Out of 31 cars in my run group and 26 in my class, I qualified 4^th for the race on Sunday. Considering we just got the leaky brake system fixed up, I've had no time to fine tune the suspension settings, the three guys ahead of me were the top three finishers in the series last year, and I qualified only 15/100's of a second behind the 3rd place starter,  I was extremely happy with my performance.



Except for the start and one of those five cars in the other class completely blowing any chance I had of keeping with the leaders--he dive-bombed me on the first turn and I couldn't get around him for 3/4 of a lap, allowing the leaders to quickly open a huge chasm between myself and them--I had a very uneventful race on Sunday, with nothing but open track in front and behind. Although I inched closer to the lead pack once we started encountering slower, lapped traffic, there was no way I would catch them unless the race was 40 laps instead of just 16. Nonetheless, I managed to keep my cool, keep up my concentration despite the horrific temperatures, and make it to the checkered flag with nary a scratch on the car.

I'll be heading down to Virginia International Raceway (VIR) this weekend for my second Honda-Challenge event with NASA, but will be back at Summit Point in two weeks for the next race in the MARRS series. I'd love for you all to come out and see me run on Sunday August 10th. Email or call for more details.



Finally, I want to thank Eddie Farrow, master mechanic and race car builder, for building two amazingly fast CRX's and not killing me when I destroyed the first one in March. He's an all-around great guy who I hated to see move down to SC. I'd also like to thank the Parkers, Dave & Terri, for egging me on when I didn't have the confidence and when I lost what little confidence I had, pushing me kicking and screaming into racing. If not for them I'd have some money in the bank.

Anyways, I've included a few photos taken by a racing buddy of mine, Bill Hollinger, who after just having finished his race in Spec Miata ran out to track side to cheer me on and take some amazing photos. If he ever stops racing he oughta look into making some money off of his hobby.

Posted by Gregg S Ginsberg At 12:36 AM Location Arlington, VA | Permalink | Comments (0)

Category Four-wheeled toys

It seems like Eddie and I have been building up one CRX or another for almost a year (actually this week does make one year). Well, after the disappointment of destroying our first effort, we finally got #72 out on track for its first races. Although registration for NASA's Hyperfest at Summit Point Motorsports Park was to start at 3pm on July 4^th, Eddie and I took that "shadetree mechanic" thing quite literally, working on gauges and miscellaneous other stuff in his front yard until about 5pm.

We had gotten the suspension moved over earlier in the week and although we determined that no suspension parts were mangled from my barrel roll in March, there just wasn't a chance to get the car painted up in time for the event. Thankfully a red car with a silver hood and one silver door fits the Honda Challenge definition of presentable.  




So the car looked fugly, but I knew after just two laps during Saturday's practice that the motor was still strong and the new custom Koni shocks were eons better than what I had before. The only thing I didn't count on was...

NO BRAKES!!!!

Actually, I had brakes for the first three laps or so but the one thing we didn't bring over from the other car was the master cylinder and it definitely appears as though the red car had a leaky one. There's nothing quite as scary as trying to haul down a car from 125mph and finding either a huge gravel trap or one of your competitors just feet in front of you. I never want to bleed brakes as much as I did this weekend and you can bet that this situation will be rectified before I head back to Summit for MARRS V at the end of the month.

So enough of the background. How'd I do?

Although the lack of brakes were holding me back a ton, I managed to come in second in class both days. Although it took me a day to get a handle on standing starts. I had a blast! Adding to the challenge was the 115 degree heat at ttrackside. Glad I didn't have a thermometer in the cockput. After a 20-lap race on Saturday you could practically pour me out of the car. Thankfully we had a much shorter race on Sunday (only 15 laps), but I struggled with the heat and the brakes too. My goal was to finish and I did. Got a nice kiss from a trophy girl too.

Here are links to the final results:

Saturday: http://www.ginsberg.org/echcresults/03/ECHC070503.html
Sunday: http://www.ginsberg.org/echcresults/03/ECHC070603.html

After Sunday's race I got a nice visit and a (desperately needed) bottle of water from Koni's Lee Grimes. After giving me some shock mounting tips earlier in the day, he critiqued my setup after watching me 'rounding the circuit. Since Lee is otherwise known as "CRX Lee" and it's his shock valving that currently suspends my car, it would be in my best interest to listen to him. He was right on about my car being slow to turn in. Although the car felt very safe, my base setup (as suggested by a fellow racer) was a bit too soft. Hopefully these changes as well as working brakes will make me a lot more competitive in the future. As long as I can keep the car on the track, I can only go up from here.

Posted by Gregg S Ginsberg At 12:36 AM Location Arlington, VA | Permalink | Comments (13)