[Jase007]

Racers / fans:

Hard to believe but ... it is that time of year again. 8)






Brian Redman's '05 Jefferson 500 at Summit Point is being co-run with their new partners HMSA. Is shaping up to be another large field of great vintage / historic cars.

Team SSPI will be there running 3 cars, '62, '66, '73 in the Cunningham, Marlboro, Wyer cup and Eiffel Trophy races. We will probably NOT be running on Sunday afternoon b/c have to get out of Dodge for Monday commitments.

As usual, I might have a few extra crew passes for returning and new crew members. Send me a PM if interested, especially for Saturday.

Jase

[Mackliet]

I have been to the Jefferson 500 several times. This is a great event and I can recommend it to those that have not been before. The racing is great, but just walking around the paddock is worth the price of admission.

In the past, they have offered driving time on the track during lunch time (on Sunday) for about $40 (for close to an hour's time, I think). Prime rule was that you could not pass any of the big BSR cruisers (which was never a problem for me ).

I'll be returning from China with an adopted daughter about a week before this year's race, so I don't know if I will be able to carve out the time this year.

[racer]

Sounds cool! For some reason I thought this event was held in the fall, not the spring. What kind of "crew" duties are involved? mmm Historics!

[Jase007]

What kind of "crew" duties are involved? mmm Historics!

1. A general penchant for BS and tall tales [defacto assumption if u r on this board ]
2. Ability to turn a wrench if needed [more likely a pry-bar and riveter with out track record ]
3. Ability to push, pull, tug broken / crashed car into trailer ... even if belly is on the ground.
4. Pour [and inhale if it is your thing ...] CAM2, air pressures, torque wheel nuts...
5. Know where the tub in T6 is, and how to get there for those that might run out of gas
6. Like alcohol, munchies, passing "scenery", quirky personalities, have a thick skin, don't mind non-PC banter, etc...

Jase

[APKhaos]

For a while there, the 944CUp schedule included the Jeff500. Then we got Watkins Glen with EMRA, and dropped the Jeff500. I wont be running, but will definitely come up over the weekend to participate in the ]6. Like alcohol, munchies, passing "scenery", quirky personalities, have a thick skin, don't mind non-PC banter, etc... bit.

[Jase007]

OK, here is an update. All three "free" crew passes are gone. I have three available "overcrew" passes for a discount versus the gate $ charge for those still interested.

Car & class(s) entered

'62 356 - Cunningham / Marlboro
'66 LH - Marlboro / Eiffel
'73 SH - Eiffel / Wyer

Tentative Schedule ( Jim and / or I will be driving on the bold marked classes).

FRIDAY
MAY 20

6:30 GATE OPENS
7:00 TECH & REGISTRATION OPEN
8:30 DRIVERS MEETING
9:00 MARLBORO CUP PRACTICE
9:25 PHIL HILL CUP PRACTICE
9:50 AUSTIN HEALEY CUP PRACTICE
10:15 EIFEL TROPHY PRACTICE
10:40 GIBSON CUP PRACTICE
11:05 BREAK
11:20 CUNNINGHAM CUP PRACTICE
11:45 JOHN WYER CUP PRACTICE
12:10 ARK PROJECT CUP PRACTICE
12:35 LUNCH
1:15 MARLBORO QUALIFYING
1:40 PHIL HILL CUP QUALIFYING
2:05 HEALEY CUP QUALIFYING
2:30 EIFEL TROPHY QUALIFYING
2:55 GIBSON CUP QUALIFYING
3:20 BREAK
3:30 CUNNINGHAM QUALIFYING
3:55 JOHN WYER CUP QUALIFYING
4:20 ARK PROJECT QUALIFYING

SATURDAY
MAY 21

7:00 GATE OPENS
8:30 EIFEL TROPHY PRACTICE
8:50 PHIL HILL CUP PRACTICE
9:10 MARLBORO CUP PRACTICE
9:30 ARK PROJECT CUP PRACTICE
9:50 CUNNINGHAM QUALIFYING 10 LAPS
10:10 WYER CUP QUALIFYING 10 LAPS
10:40 GIBSON CUP PRACTICE 10:30 BREAK
10:40 HEALEY CUP QUALIFYING 10 LAPS
11:05 GIBSON CUP QUALIFYING 10 LAPS
11:25 EIFEL QUALIFYING 10 LAPS
11:55 LUNCH
12:45 CUNNINGHAM ENDURO part 1
2:00 MARLBORO QUALIFYING 10 laps
2:20 GIBSON CUP qualifying 10 laps
2:40 PHIL HILL CUP QUALIFYING 10 LAPS
3:05 WYER ENDURO part 1
4:15 HEALEY CUP QUALIFYING 10 LAPS
4:35 ARK PROJECT CUP QUALIFYING 10 LAPS

SUNDAY
MAY 22

7:00 GATE OPENS
8:00 HARDSHIP PRACTICE ARK PROJECT
8:25 HARDSHIP PRACTICE GROUP A
8:50 HARDSHIP PRACTICE GROUP B
9:15 ARK PROJECT CUP 18 LAPS
9:45 PHIL HILL CUP A 18 LAPS
10:15 EIFEL TROPHY 18 LAPS
10:45 BREAK
11:00 CHARLIE GIBSON CUP RACE A 18 LAPS
11:25 MARLBORO CUP 1 HOUR
12:30 LUNCH
1:30 AUSTIN HEALEY CUP RACE 18 LAPS
1:55 CHARLIE GIBSON CUP B 18 laps
2:20 JOHN WYER CUP part 2
3:30 PHIL HILL CUP B 18 laps
3:55 CUNNINGHAM CUP part 2


Of course, this schedule can change if the organizers want to [and they will depending on entrants]. They even have a Thursday open track day but ... three days of practice / qualifying and racing is enough ... I hope.

Stop by if you can. We'll have both trailers parked next to each other somehow.

Jase

[racer]

Good times!

Saw upclose the McLaren SLR.... huge ceramic brakes... gullwing like doos..Amazingly flat bottom/undercarraige.

Saw the "tub" and the "rsr" out and about. I was only there on saturday. Saw the "enduro" that the tub was in. Looked great out there. I was spectating mostly in the carousel. Watch a sports racer break its right rear and the Elva loose its left front while braking for turn five.

I hadn't seen so many Healey's before in one place. Lots of cool stuff.. I was hoping for a 910 or 908 but no such luck

[Trak Ratt]

Jase, lets hear the "dirt" I mean after action report :P

[Jase007]

Finally had a moment to sit down and do a write-up on the weekend. Phew ...

First things first ... all three cars went home in the same condition they arrived. No mechanicals except for the tub. Jim S. drove the '73 RSR mostly, we shared the '66 2.0L and I drove my 356.

Friday was a wash out b/c of standing water, Saturday and Sunday were terrific. Many, many thanks to Mark W., Jim R. and Chris Martin. for helping out in the pits on Saturday. It was very much appreciated.

Saturday:

Bill Scott addressing the committed [I mean drivers ] with Brian Redman in support:



If you drive SP and have never met, talked to or listened to Bill [the owner] and Brian's stories about the place ... you should find the time.

Practice and qualifying went well for all three cars. I had the 1st hour of a 2 hour enduro for the tub right after lunch … even had thoughts of trying the SP chilli for some extra speed. My enduro was going great … new transaxle felt good, was running newer shaved Toyo RA-1s 205/50/15s all around and running out of revs but the track was slower than normal and everyone was off pace a couple of seconds trying to find grip. Was only turning 1:36s [should be 1:34 or lower] At about the 45 min mark [with no idea where I was P-?] I decided to come in for my 5 min mandatory pit and … in the T7-T8 upshift … clutch went to the floor. Now, having replaced the cable a few times already …. I knew exactly what was what. Came in to the pits … popped it out of gear … waved off my re-fuel crew and sat and stewed, and cursed [inside helmet] and stewed… done for this race. We rolled it back to the trailer. I carry 3 extra cables with me so once I dug them out, I went to work under the car and Jim R. and Chris M. dove into the foot-well area. I give Jim R. credit for spending the most time in there upside down and inverted … not easy. I moved some suspect metal edges from the tunnel away from the cable but … I think the real problem is s-t-r-e-t-c-h and break. Will be fabbing a clutch pedal stop in the near future.

Jim S. went out and qualified the ’66 for the Marlboro a little off pace at around 1:30 ish. The track was not grippy and everyone was complaining.

Next up was the 1st hour of the enduro for the ’73 RSR. Jim S. drove the first 40 minutes staying ahead of our friend and nemesis in a ’79 930 bodied as a 993 with PCA CR bodywork [read: field filler – not eligible for trophy]. I jumped in with about 15 minutes to go. We came in P1 and left in P1 but the P2 930 was a couple of hundred yards back. Well … that changed quickly most likely with the turn of an in-cockpit knob. My 2-300 yard lead was gone by the time I hit T1 at the start of my second lap. I was turning 1:22-23s. Soo …. I chased him around for a couple of laps … making up a little ground in the corners … and then … on the penultimate lap …he is out in T8 [electrical] and we come around for the checkered!!!! What do they say … better to be lucky than good? Nothing like getting into a warmed up track car with hot slicks … very nice. 8)

Here is a shot of Jim on the grid w/ 930 behind:



There was an Australian v. US Austin Healey Challenge and they turned out in force for the weekend:



and another in the Paddock:



Here is the 356 in T8 chasing … something ….




Sunday

Eifel all Porsche race: Jim S. did well in the ’73 and won overall [behind the 930 – not eligible]. Got a little interview and podium time [see pics]. I won my class in the ’66, finished mid-pack overall and cracked into the 1:29s [should be in the 1:27-28s]. It was fun to see / hear Jim S., Prescott Kelly and Dave Coleman being interviewed. I have raced with [grown – up with Prescott and Jim S.] them and truly respect them all as great drivers. Coleman … bless his heart … must have missed qualifying b/c he was gridded two rows behind me [doing 1:25-26] so I KNEW to watch my mirrors. At the start … I get a good jump … on the inside … and here he comes. Now, I don’t mean I can see him back there behind the guy behind me. Picture this if you will … I am hugging the inside asphalt edge [T1 is a right hander] and I see him coming … ON THE GRASS!!!. Craaaazy MOFO. I move left, a little, in self-preservation, he passes me AND the guy in front of me … half on the grass, jumps the apex [better yet launches the car off of its belly]…. and away he goes. Bon Chance, Bon Voyage I said.

Later in the race I was chasing down a ’73 911 –something … and it just so happens that Jim S. comes on through under the bridge and into T10. Well … my guy moves over too much, trying to be courteous to the fast guys coming. Hell, I know the fast guy so … I stick it inside in T10 and take the spot, blocking Jim S. a little … and away we go. Worked out perfect… even got a little tow from pops down to T1. We need to get our radios working to better choreograph this sh$t.

Jim on podium with Prescott and Coleman:



Marlboro:

I ran the 356 and Jim S. ran the ’66. He was gone at the start and had a good fight with a group 44 colored triumph who had no regard for his cars appearance. Our little red ’66 is purdy so … Jim S. backed off the position. I ran among saabs, alfas, triumphs, Renaults and a few other types but … I must admit really screwed the pooch a little. My shifter went out of adjustment and it was a crap shoot if I had 1st and 2nd after T1. Could run the rest in 3rd and 4th and for whatever reason had no problem getting the 1-2 gate into / after T5 but … crimped my race a little. Was able to keep it down around the 1:36s but was easily giving up a couple of seconds a lap playing "guess which gear you’re in now." At least the dorki repaired clutch cable / action felt great I will say the 225/50/15s looked GOOD under the rear fenders 8). Eliminated my 3-4-3 shifting from T9-T10 [picked up ~3-- rpm every gear]. now I can run it to red and hold for a mississippi before T10. Talk about sliding .... tons -o- fun!!!

Was a good weekend. Learned some things … avoided some loonies … saw some crazy on-track sports racer brawlin’ [and avoided the ensuing carnage]. No-one balled up their cars although there was plenty of oil left at / on the track. Looking forward to next year.

Jase

[Doug E]

Good recap Jase ... felt like we were there with you

Thanks for sharing and glad to hear all the cars went home in the shape they arrived.

Sorry I wasn't there this year with my Dorki brothers but I'll be back next year