Sebring 2011 SVRA

[csl177]

Not a bunch of pictures to show (my wife is no photographer, pics are from friends), and no in car because I stupidly didn't push the chip
all the way in before turning the camera on. Maybe a little nervous about running in front of 100,000 people in a field that included a Nissan GTP, Audi R8 and Porsche 962; they combined Historics with Vintage for a field of over 70 cars. After the start it was pretty cool and a great lesson in driving in heavy traffic. Nobody wants to be the idiot that turns in on Andy Wallace. The enduro was going great in spite of all that until a halfshaft let go 5 laps from the end, still 4th in class. Friday's sprint was better: 1st in class, 14 overall.
Not bad for a rookie with only 5 hours in the car so far. Still gathering the will to brake later...

EDIT: Audi R8 & Andy Wallace.

[Wouter Melissen]

Most have been quite terrifying seeing cars like R10s appear in your mirrors, however briefly ...

[Matra et Alpine]

nice

Forgotten to make sure camera running often ! Write an airline sryle checklist to remind and de-stress

[f6fhellcat13]

That looks like fun! Congrats on your 1st place.

Those Bosch graphics are fantastic. I seem to remember you saying that you were a graphic designer or something, did you design them?

[csl177]

Thankfully, there was only the one R8 and as you can see from the 3rd pic, a 962. Not terrifying, just took a mental snap of where they were way back from a glance in the mirrors, and held the line. Even when crowded it wasn't hard to point which side was best for them to pass. I actually enjoyed the experience, there aren't many chances in vintage to be on track with that many cars; it makes you drive fast with caution.

Peter, the pre-flight checklist is already being written... adding an interface to the telemetry system as well.

Thanks f6, the old style Bosch graphics have been on the car since it was built, Dave Schnorr did the livery. It looks right so aside from painting the front hood black, it'll stay the same. Next up is Road Atlanta for the Mitty. Really gonna enjoy that.

Got to do something more laid-back too: drove the wife into town in the historic parade and faux-tech in a well-known historic RS. The BHR 911 won it's class at Daytona twice (7th overall) and Sebring once. It's for sale and luckily, out of my budget... sure is tempting, though.

[henk4]

nice shots there, another Von Neumann MG TC Special? Will I loose if I bet that the GT40 is not one of the originals?

[Cobrafan427]

lol der pickle. Congrats on the class win! That's really impressive considering there was such a large field

[johnnynumfiv]

Some nice pics! Sucks about the half shaft, what are you running for CV's? We just converted our 240z to 911 TRE CV's. Unfortunately, the engine blew in the Z before friday's enduro.
Was that Travis Engen running the R10? I know he has an R8 and a bunch of other awesome toys.

I'm pretty sure that GT40 is a replica. He was parked across from us at Watkins Glen last year.

[csl177]

Hey Johnny, we're using TREs with Neo grease, but Sebring's curbs and rough transitions make for lots of inertia loading. My bad: with all the traffic I was a bit aggressive on some curbs and turn 17 sealed the fate of the one that let go.

The R8 was driven by Wallace, don't know who owns it. I'm not sure about the GT40, saw it close up at PBIR and it looks right... a replica was parked next to it and seemed obvious.

A few more snaps: the first is why I didn't get a qualifying time in... like driving on ice. Switched to shaved RA1s, the 888s don't cycle worth a damn. Do you know this Z car? It was fast... another shot of the RS, and check out the mechanical injection on the 2002.

[csl177]

lol der pickle. Congrats on the class win! That's really impressive considering there was such a large field

What was impressive was the amount of attrition in my class...

[csl177]

nice shots there, another Von Neumann MG TC Special? Will I loose if I bet that the GT40 is not one of the originals?

The TD is an old warhorse from the Northeast, and pretty fast to boot. Nice car. No bets yet on the GT40, will ask next time I see it.

[Cobrafan427]

What was impressive was the amount of attrition in my class...

Wouldn't doubt it, Sebring's as bumpy as an Ohio highway haha

[johnnynumfiv]

The R888's are very sensitive to over heating. If you run the pressures too high and they overheat, game over. You'll slip and slide for the rest of the session. We usually run starting 22lbs in 911's/ 914's and thhey end up about 30lbs. Shaved RA1's are a great tire when you can find them.

I haven't seen that Datsun before, looks like it'd go right to group 10 just from the body mods and wheels/tires. What does that have for an engine?

[NSXType-R]

Wow, that looks like a really cool event.

Thanks for sharing.

More photos please!

[csl177]

Started with 19psi Johnny, same as last run in similar heat, temp brings it up to 22. They'd cycled a few times and wouldn't come back... I'm not hard on tires, agree when they're fresh they feel good but that drop-off blows. Just not comfortable with them. The Z car motor is V6 twin turbo'd IIRC, sorry not to know more about it and can't find the entry list. Only saw him out twice, they might have DNF'd.

A few more snaps...