Was this worth a $35 trophy?
Discussion
Just got back home at 5 a.m. this morning after a 600 mile drive from Mosport park, Canada.
For my overseas friends, Mosport was built in the early 60's, (I was a member of the club at the time that built it, "BEMC" [British Empire Motor Club]), and it did host the Canadian F1 Championship at one time.
This was one of the several sad happenings that occurred on the competition portion of the 2 day event.
http://home.attbi.com/~rosenracing5/wsb/html/view.cgi-photo.html--SiteID-741786.html
The car is more bent and damaged than the photo shows.
This owner, and two other Lotuses (Lotii?), drove a full day to get to the track which was new to them. This particular club I belong to, COM Sports Car Club is a very safety oriented group, and all drivers have to attend multiple sessions at the tracks with an instructor, both driving and classroom, before they can get their license to solo. Usually the first day and a half is driving practice, the second half day solo,if the instructor feels the student is capable. Each student has a log book with instructor notes and comments. This will also allow the student to compete in the 3 hot lap time trial. After 3 or 4 solo sign-offs, the student usually gets his time trial license. It's not unusual for a licensed driver to ask for some laps with an instructor if the track is new to them.
At the drivers meeting before the time trial competition, it is stressed NOT to drive any harder, or try anything different then what you have done in practice. We were not able to complete the competition because our track time expired due to cleaning up this accident, and the one just after it.
Why am I posting this?
Our Ultima's (I can say that now since I have about 250 miles on mine), possess a lot more potential for speed than a Lotus, therefore they have a lot more potential for disaster a lot quicker. This driver did ALMOST everything right; went to drivers school,did multiple track events, got his license, practiced carefully, then went over his head in the trials.
Did I have the Ultima there? Hell NO!!. I use this club to get a lot of seat time in the F2000 in preparing for SCCA Racing, where you get very little seat time.
Will I take the Ultima to the track when it's track ready, Hell Yes!!,(at least once) but I hope I can keep the message of this post I've just written in my head.
You all know what I'm trying to say.
Drive safe
Jack
>>> Edited by USCANAM on Wednesday 18th June 18:32
For my overseas friends, Mosport was built in the early 60's, (I was a member of the club at the time that built it, "BEMC" [British Empire Motor Club]), and it did host the Canadian F1 Championship at one time.
This was one of the several sad happenings that occurred on the competition portion of the 2 day event.
http://home.attbi.com/~rosenracing5/wsb/html/view.cgi-photo.html--SiteID-741786.html
The car is more bent and damaged than the photo shows.
This owner, and two other Lotuses (Lotii?), drove a full day to get to the track which was new to them. This particular club I belong to, COM Sports Car Club is a very safety oriented group, and all drivers have to attend multiple sessions at the tracks with an instructor, both driving and classroom, before they can get their license to solo. Usually the first day and a half is driving practice, the second half day solo,if the instructor feels the student is capable. Each student has a log book with instructor notes and comments. This will also allow the student to compete in the 3 hot lap time trial. After 3 or 4 solo sign-offs, the student usually gets his time trial license. It's not unusual for a licensed driver to ask for some laps with an instructor if the track is new to them.
At the drivers meeting before the time trial competition, it is stressed NOT to drive any harder, or try anything different then what you have done in practice. We were not able to complete the competition because our track time expired due to cleaning up this accident, and the one just after it.
Why am I posting this?
Our Ultima's (I can say that now since I have about 250 miles on mine), possess a lot more potential for speed than a Lotus, therefore they have a lot more potential for disaster a lot quicker. This driver did ALMOST everything right; went to drivers school,did multiple track events, got his license, practiced carefully, then went over his head in the trials.
Did I have the Ultima there? Hell NO!!. I use this club to get a lot of seat time in the F2000 in preparing for SCCA Racing, where you get very little seat time.
Will I take the Ultima to the track when it's track ready, Hell Yes!!,(at least once) but I hope I can keep the message of this post I've just written in my head.
You all know what I'm trying to say.
Drive safe
Jack
>>> Edited by USCANAM on Wednesday 18th June 18:32
[quote=JCof T.O.]Sad to see a car end up like that. It sounds like the driver is ok wich is good. To bad the event was not next weekend thou, I will be heading up there on Sunday. Next time your back up here message me especially if you bring the Ultima 
JC
Will do.
I'm sure you know what turn 5 is like. It's a 180' double apex right turn that you come up a slope to get to the first apex. If you carry too much speed up the hill, you don't brake because the car gets light, and it continues across the track into the wall. The Lotus did a header, the Audi did a sider.
When I get back from Russia at the end of the month, if it looks like there'll be 4 clear days in a row, we plan on driving the CanAm up to Toronto. Will let you know. There's fueling stations about every 40 miles on the New York Thruway, so we should be OK.
regards
Jack
JC
Will do.
I'm sure you know what turn 5 is like. It's a 180' double apex right turn that you come up a slope to get to the first apex. If you carry too much speed up the hill, you don't brake because the car gets light, and it continues across the track into the wall. The Lotus did a header, the Audi did a sider.
When I get back from Russia at the end of the month, if it looks like there'll be 4 clear days in a row, we plan on driving the CanAm up to Toronto. Will let you know. There's fueling stations about every 40 miles on the New York Thruway, so we should be OK.
regards
Jack
Great to here you will be up here so soon. I look forward to seeing how well your car performs on the track. I would also like to see your fit and finish, from your website it seems you have done an incredible job.
As a side note we just added a small trailer hitch to my brothers track car. I was surprised how well it fit considering its 4" clearance. I now think I may attach a hitch to my car when I get it. It will make those road trips more manageable allowing space for tires, a jack, tools, a cooler and clothing. I was thinking either make a small opening in the back grill or have the same sort of setup we used to use on our 72 Lemans. Its license plate was spring loaded and when pulled down the fuel filler was behind it. I will need to check with the transport ministry on that.
P.S. I know turn 5 it is actually one of my favourite spots to be as a spectator.
As a side note we just added a small trailer hitch to my brothers track car. I was surprised how well it fit considering its 4" clearance. I now think I may attach a hitch to my car when I get it. It will make those road trips more manageable allowing space for tires, a jack, tools, a cooler and clothing. I was thinking either make a small opening in the back grill or have the same sort of setup we used to use on our 72 Lemans. Its license plate was spring loaded and when pulled down the fuel filler was behind it. I will need to check with the transport ministry on that.
P.S. I know turn 5 it is actually one of my favourite spots to be as a spectator.
J.C.
This will be a pleasure trip. Probably the first time it will hit the track will be at my home track, New Hampshire International Speedway, and it will go up in the trailer.
Despite what I'd like to do, and knowing my competative nature, I think we'll only track it once if I don't need the points in the class I'm in now, and that would be near the end of the season.
I've got too much time, money and effort into the car to risk destroying it by one mistake.
However, that could change in the future. Right now I'm enjoying the car too much driving it on the street.
Will let you know my schedule.
Regards
Jack
This will be a pleasure trip. Probably the first time it will hit the track will be at my home track, New Hampshire International Speedway, and it will go up in the trailer.
Despite what I'd like to do, and knowing my competative nature, I think we'll only track it once if I don't need the points in the class I'm in now, and that would be near the end of the season.
I've got too much time, money and effort into the car to risk destroying it by one mistake.
However, that could change in the future. Right now I'm enjoying the car too much driving it on the street.
Will let you know my schedule.
Regards
Jack
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