Near Miss @ Rd Atlanta

[Jean]

Lucky you!

Stu - sucks for the s2k driver, the white car looked like was all over the place

[RangerGress]

I was about 100m behind Scott when this happened. This was a couple minutes after the first red flag. We all had started in 3 start groups. SpecE30, SpecMiata, and Other. Normally that spaces folks out enough that when the top Miata drivers come thru it is no big deal. But the first red flag created a restart of us all as a single group. And this time the fast Miatas came thru us rear and mid-pack E30's like in a solid phalanx of insanity. It was like being attacked by hornets.

I was in the rear of the E30's because a) I suck and b) it was only my second time at Road Atlanta. Scott was in the rear because he missed qual. So we were the ones that got hit by the Miatas.

The Miatas took incredible risks as they swarmed us in the S turns. The turns is where they get us because we have the hp, but they can get thru turns faster. They flew by us on both sides darting in front, and just assuming that we'd give way. It was some scary shit.

[itsbrokeagain]

wow that sounds hairy...I assume the SM guys have a reputation for driving like assholes?

[markseven]

wow that sounds hairy...I assume the SM guys have a reputation for driving like assholes?

I've heard it's cutthroat within their own class!

[whiltebeitel]

Hmm... Not too surprised. Metal-to-metal always sucks a big one for anyone involved...

I got a SM into my corner station the other weekend. Those guys just don't give a f**k!

[Scott///M]

Hmm... Not too surprised. Metal-to-metal always sucks a big one for anyone involved...

I got a SM into my corner station the other weekend. Those guys just don't give a f**k!

no kidding. here's some video from Sunday.



I was trying to give these guys the right of way. I lifted early going into 6 to let one get by and was leaving lots of track to the outside of T7 (where I got punted). WHile not all SM drivers are such @-holes, This race was full of really young drivers who didn't give 2 $hits about anybody.

[markseven]

I don't know much about the Spec Miata class, but how is it that those 110HP cars are so much faster than a 166HP E30?

[Stu]

I don't know much about the Spec Miata class, but how is it that those 110HP cars are so much faster than a 166HP E30?

I don't know the output on Spec Miatas (are they only 110hp?)...but weight and gearing are 2 of the big advantages.

JP? Scott? Ranger?

[Scott///M]

I don't know much about the Spec Miata class, but how is it that those 110HP cars are so much faster than a 166HP E30?

I don't know much about them either... but there's a handful of them that ran 1:46's, while there was only one e30 that ran a 1:45 the other front of the pack e30's were running 1:47 and 1:48+. They are lighter cars, they run on Hoosiers (big advantage over our Toyo R888), and cary a lot more speed through turns...

I'd say for the most part the cars are equal on lap times, with the Miatas having a slight advantage (IMO) at a track like Rd A.

And... because the Miatas that came up on me were the front of their group, I was backing off in that section to let them battle on

[m3_eater]

I know/expect/hope it wasn't, but from the video it looks like it's on purpose!

[Elephant]

I don't know much about the Spec Miata class, but how is it that those 110HP cars are so much faster than a 166HP E30?

A lot of it is weight. Min weight of the typical SM car is 2300 or 2350 depending on engine. That's 400-450 lbs less than a SpecE30 car. They also run coilovers and I'd guess their aero is better as well. Not sure about gearing.

I don't know what a typical SM car puts to the wheels but I'd guess 110 is pretty close. SE30 cars are generally 155. 45HP but 400lbs + suspension....I'd take the weight over the HP personally.

[Elephant]

They are lighter cars, they run on Hoosiers (big advantage over our Toyo R888), and cary a lot more speed through turns...

Hoosiers? I thought SM had the RA-1 or R888 as a spec tire. If they're running Hoosiers I don't think it's a legal SM car.

[alexd]

Glad you didn't get involved in that one Scott; can't imagine coming into a dust cloud like that. You must've felt like Cole Trickle for a moment!

Look at this incident coming out of 12 on lap 1 of the Thunder Race:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...62830253930046

Thats why you dont lift.

[155///MPH]

They do run Ra1's this year and will be on R888's next year. They are only faster in the turns. The fastest SE30 is almost always faster that the fastest Miata unless it is a very technical track.

JP

[Scott///M]

it's the 944 that are on the Hoosiers :?: