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rice_classic · 05-31-2022, 10:42 AM

While the SCCA schedule continues rolling on - my participation for the year has concluded because there's no more Majors/HST local to me and I'm not going to the Runoffs because of A) what happened at the last one and B) what recently happened at VIR.

Going to spend the rest of the summer racing with the ICSCC which I recommend EVERYONE in the PacNW consider joining and racing with.

A quick recap and some takeaways:

CALIFORNIA

WSIR: Fast and fun. Track requires a great deal of high speed commitment but the racing surface is in really bad shape. I would not consider returning until it repaved due to how far away it is. Had to swap in spare engine. Got a 4th place and a 3rd place finish.

Thunderhill: Same problem this year as with last - the super slow, unaware FP car caused an off track excursion but thankfully this time it didn't result in significant damage. Got lucky with a competitor breaking an axle so I came away with a 1st and 3rd place finish.

Takeaway from California - leave the A7s at home. The cali tracks are hard on tires (how we use them) and while the A7s work well in the PacNW - they got destroyed in Cali. Like corded in a single session. Part of that is the SCCA only allows us to have max -3.5 degrees of camber on a car with Mac struts and 225 Hoosiers on 7" wide wheels. That's a recipe for short tire life but c'est la vie. Next year - sticker R7s.

PACIFIC NORTHWEST

The Ridge: Faster than ever! Mr. Oscar Jackson came up and raced in the NW with us and it was a lot of fun. He is very fast and clean it was nice to have door to door racing without contact (which is normal for us, but not typical in the SCCA). In the Sunday race, we were ALL in the 1:54's! The gearing of the RX8 really favored the track layout so I think the 2017+ 86 may be a better fit here due to the 4.3 diff. Fortunately we had dry races, despite most of the weekend being very wet and very cold. Came away with a 1st place and 3rd place.

Portland: Faster here as well, finally got a 1:28 in qualifying. That was a first for me. Saturday, Oscar took a big hit from an out of class car but he was lightning fast and finished 2nd. Sunday was WET, the 3 FRS's went out on A7s because the rain stopped and the sun was starting to peak through so we took the gamble. The track did dry, but too late so the cars on rain tires dominated. Restrictor plates were measured so while I finished 3rd, I was moved to 2nd. Came away with a 3rd and 2nd place.

Pacific Raceways Set the fastest time of the weekend in qualifying: 1:34.426. Oscar set the fastest race time. I was better set to compete with him here and once he got in front of me I was able to keep the pressure on.. well, until I missed my 2nd-to-3rd gear shift 3 times! Rev limit and a hurried shift is not copacetic. Sunday was the reverse of Portland - the race started wet so we opted for rain tires, but then it dried out surprisingly fast and the cars on dry tires had the advantage. I got 2nd on Saturday and on Sunday was penalized for a pass under yellow which dropped me to 5th. But at least the stewards cleared something up for me - it's OK to hit someone if they're passing you under yellow apparently.

SCCA: There's a new directive from the VP called "Green to Checker" which intended to promote cleaner racing. It's my view that not enough is being done to clean up the driving, especially in other parts of the country which is why I'm not planning on doing the Runoffs this year and likely not next year. VIR is so far away that it's not worth the trip to just get wrecked with no recourse.

I have spoken with the Colorado Region about doing a due diligence on hosting a Majors race at Utah Motorsports Campus. I'm hoping that between the cost/location/demand we might get an event at UMC next year. Fingers crossed.

THE CAR: The new engine (with the timing chain on correctly) runs great. I started this year with drivetrain (sans engine) untouched from indy. That means that I did Indy, WSIR, Thunderhill, Ridge and half of portland on the same rotors and pads. I changed my trans fluid once and after changing my diff fluid before Pacific and it looking like new. It's clear to me now that it's a once a year OCI, meaning the diff cover and heat shielding has really done its job. The same goes for the axle prep. I'm really digging this.

05-31-2022, 10:42 AM	#264
rice_classic Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Drives: Nevermorange FRS Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 4,173 Thanks: 757 Thanked 4,208 Times in 1,808 Posts Mentioned: 78 Post(s) Tagged: 1 Thread(s)	2022 SCCA Season has concluded While the SCCA schedule continues rolling on - my participation for the year has concluded because there's no more Majors/HST local to me and I'm not going to the Runoffs because of A) what happened at the last one and B) what recently happened at VIR. Going to spend the rest of the summer racing with the ICSCC which I recommend EVERYONE in the PacNW consider joining and racing with. A quick recap and some takeaways: CALIFORNIA WSIR: Fast and fun. Track requires a great deal of high speed commitment but the racing surface is in really bad shape. I would not consider returning until it repaved due to how far away it is. Had to swap in spare engine. Got a 4th place and a 3rd place finish. Thunderhill: Same problem this year as with last - the super slow, unaware FP car caused an off track excursion but thankfully this time it didn't result in significant damage. Got lucky with a competitor breaking an axle so I came away with a 1st and 3rd place finish. Takeaway from California - leave the A7s at home. The cali tracks are hard on tires (how we use them) and while the A7s work well in the PacNW - they got destroyed in Cali. Like corded in a single session. Part of that is the SCCA only allows us to have max -3.5 degrees of camber on a car with Mac struts and 225 Hoosiers on 7" wide wheels. That's a recipe for short tire life but c'est la vie. Next year - sticker R7s. PACIFIC NORTHWEST The Ridge: Faster than ever! Mr. Oscar Jackson came up and raced in the NW with us and it was a lot of fun. He is very fast and clean it was nice to have door to door racing without contact (which is normal for us, but not typical in the SCCA). In the Sunday race, we were ALL in the 1:54's! The gearing of the RX8 really favored the track layout so I think the 2017+ 86 may be a better fit here due to the 4.3 diff. Fortunately we had dry races, despite most of the weekend being very wet and very cold. Came away with a 1st place and 3rd place. Portland: Faster here as well, finally got a 1:28 in qualifying. That was a first for me. Saturday, Oscar took a big hit from an out of class car but he was lightning fast and finished 2nd. Sunday was WET, the 3 FRS's went out on A7s because the rain stopped and the sun was starting to peak through so we took the gamble. The track did dry, but too late so the cars on rain tires dominated. Restrictor plates were measured so while I finished 3rd, I was moved to 2nd. Came away with a 3rd and 2nd place. Pacific Raceways Set the fastest time of the weekend in qualifying: 1:34.426. Oscar set the fastest race time. I was better set to compete with him here and once he got in front of me I was able to keep the pressure on.. well, until I missed my 2nd-to-3rd gear shift 3 times! Rev limit and a hurried shift is not copacetic. Sunday was the reverse of Portland - the race started wet so we opted for rain tires, but then it dried out surprisingly fast and the cars on dry tires had the advantage. I got 2nd on Saturday and on Sunday was penalized for a pass under yellow which dropped me to 5th. But at least the stewards cleared something up for me - it's OK to hit someone if they're passing you under yellow apparently. SCCA: There's a new directive from the VP called "Green to Checker" which intended to promote cleaner racing. It's my view that not enough is being done to clean up the driving, especially in other parts of the country which is why I'm not planning on doing the Runoffs this year and likely not next year. VIR is so far away that it's not worth the trip to just get wrecked with no recourse. I have spoken with the Colorado Region about doing a due diligence on hosting a Majors race at Utah Motorsports Campus. I'm hoping that between the cost/location/demand we might get an event at UMC next year. Fingers crossed. THE CAR: The new engine (with the timing chain on correctly) runs great. I started this year with drivetrain (sans engine) untouched from indy. That means that I did Indy, WSIR, Thunderhill, Ridge and half of portland on the same rotors and pads. I changed my trans fluid once and after changing my diff fluid before Pacific and it looking like new. It's clear to me now that it's a once a year OCI, meaning the diff cover and heat shielding has really done its job. The same goes for the axle prep. I'm really digging this. __________________ SCCA T4 - FRS Last edited by rice_classic; 05-31-2022 at 10:56 AM.