Baumblog EST 1968 - A blog for the Baumbachs who originated in Syracuse, NY


	Posts tagged with "racing"

And That's What Makes You a Champion
posted by GJ on March 26, 2010 @ 11:39AM

Indeed.

2 comments | Tags: video, racing

Another Day at the Track
posted by Geoff on August 8, 2009 @ 12:05PM

Just thought I'd let you all know I commissioned the new engine to throw me down the 1/4 mile. It delivered. I crushed my previous best time of 13.7 by running my best (and last run of the night) with a 13.2!

I consistently beat my time each run...started with a 13.34, than ran a 13.27 and then finished off with a 13.21. Needless to say the new Challenger'S' were impressed. I whooped up on the R/T AND the SRT-8. R/T was running 14.1 and SRT couldn't get traction to save its life and was running 13.6. Though the guy who was running the SRT-8 decided to bring out his brother's SRT Viper. I didn't beat that. :) (that ran a 12.2)

Challengers seem to be having all sorts of traction issues. Neither one of them started off great. I'd blame the driver since I had no traction problems but the guy racing the SRT was pretty seasoned and had no troubles with the Viper. All in all, a good day!

6 comments | Tags: racing

Steve said 6 minutes later

Cool, sounds like fun Geoff! So, did you throw all the mods back on the G8, or just run it stock?

The Challenger R/T will have big problems off the line because it's probably running stock all season tires. The Challenger SRT may also be running all season Goodyear Eagle RS-As. That would definitely give them a disadvantage against your summer tires. The SRT-8 is available with summer tires, but it's not standard. With those summer tires, the Challengers jump of the line pretty well.

That said, the new Camaro SS definitely is faster than the Challenger R/T, and it would be a close race against a Challenger SRT8.

Were the Challengers manual or automatic?
Geoff said about 3 hours later

I put the mods back on. I figured they didn't cause the engine failure so hopefully I should be good here on out. With that said, I doubt I will make any major modifications in the near future.

The SRT was a manual for sure. Not sure what tires he was running, but I know they usually are good for a flat 13.0 run. Definitely a good match up for the Camaro assuming they are running some good tires. They must have been all seasons. The launches were quite pathetic haha.

It was a blast though. The Viper raced a tricked out GT500 and won the race (though it ran a slower 1/4 ET) 12.2 for the viper, 12.0 for the 'stang. I think this GT500 usually runs in the upper 11's. His has a LOT of work done to it though.

My last run I spanked an Evo 9...I was surprised. There were couple there running sick times. 11.8 for one, and the new Evo was running low 12s. My favorite was this late 80's Mustang that roared down the track at 8 seconds lol. I barely can run the 1/8th mile that quick!
Steve said about 8 hours later

Just be careful with that engine controller, I know you like it, but poor engine/transmission calibrations, even from reputable suppliers, have caused serious motor and transmission failures. Just ask my friend who blew his Neon motor up due to the AF/X engine controller. Turns out, he was not the only one that had problems with that engine controller. The aftermarket engine controllers get more power by pushing the engine closer to it's limits - and closer to the kaboom stage. They can have the same affect on automatic transmissions...

As I've said before, racing and modifing cars is fun, but does come with risks. I have pretty much only rallycrossed and autocrossed, because they are relatively low risk events. I haven't brought my daily driver out for a track day, or did any heavy modifications, just because they are high risk. When I have done "real" racing, it's been in a car that is paid for, and I have bought off on the idea that stuff happens, and the car may be a total write off because of some fluke incident (like someone else hitting you or blowing a motor and covering that corner you're about to enter at speed in oil).
Steve said about 8 hours later

Glad to hear you're having fun with the car again though. I'm not trying to disuade you from it, I just want to make sure you're aware of the risks. Of anyone, you know I love motorsports and encourage people that are interested in it to get involved. If you want to try circumnavigating your way around some cones, here's a link to your local SCCA region: http://www.flr-scca.com/solo/schedule.html
Geoff said about 10 hours later

Thanks Steve! Actually I didn't replace any controllers, just uploaded a different calibration for the ECM/TCM. But point taken!

I've gotten pretty close with my fellow tuner, and I think the fact that he has an identical car as me does help (since he basically runs all his tests on his own car).

Also, thanks for the helmet! It worked great! I did have to remove a few stickers though. Mopar performance and neon racing just wasn't going to fly in a Pontiac :)

I'll have to see about taping my car off before I smack cones. You know how anal I get with the appearance of my cars...though the cones are orange and so is my car ;)

Steve said 1 day later

Cones are orange but they leave black marks! Yes, you can tape the car if you want - get the front faschia and where it wraps around the side of the car. If you want to get really anal, getting the whole side of the carwould work too. All that said, I've never seen a cone mark that you couldn't buff out, though some did require a fair bit of work to buff them out.

Now this is racing...crazy
posted by Geoff on April 28, 2009 @ 9:11AM

11 comments | Tags: cars, racing

Marc said 19 minutes later

Dang those are fast. I just recently did some kart racing here with ones that go about 40-50 MPH and those were a blast. Can't imagine what it would be like in those things.
GJ said 39 minutes later

Best thing about cart racing is the turning. That, and bumping and thrashing other drivers (which, as it turns out, they don't tend to encourage at the track I raced at).

They actually had a "penalty box" and geez almighty did I spend a lot of time there. I still finished in 3rd anyhow. :)
Geoff said 40 minutes later

lol
GJ said about 1 hour later

WHAT WERE THOSE THINGS at 1:10 of the video??

Didn't realize this was a slalom event!
Geoff said about 1 hour later

Yeah really. I'm finding it hard to believe this video is in real time things are flying by so fast...?
Steve said 1 day later

It's real time. Trust me. I've driven a 125 cc shifter kart, and it was insanely fast. This is a 250 cc shifter kart. Formula 1 drivers keep in shape over the winter by driving 125 cc and 250 cc shifter karts.

You guys think the cornering forces are good at the "fast" go kart places? Keep in mind, they use the hardest tire compounds possibly to extend tire life. Put a super soft and sticky tire on, and you can pull g's.....2-3 lateral g's.....
Geoff said 1 day later

that is insane. Where do I sign? jk ;)
GJ said 2 days later

Yeah, there's a reason I wasn't interested in becoming a pilot for the Air Force, even though I could have made their pilot program. Just don't find g-forces all that much fun beyond 1-1.5 g. Getting hit with pucks, on the other hand....
Steve said 2 days later

Oh, believe me, you'd find the g forces fun for a short while, but probably not for an endurance race. That's why a lot of people autocross 125 cc shifter karts. They are cheap to buy and maintain (but with a fair bit of upkeep). And there really isn't anything faster. One of my friends set the fastest time overall at the Solo Nationals (autocross nationals) in his shifter kart - faster than any other vehicle out there, including some incredibly fast high downforce custom built open wheel cars.

I've been tempted again and again to buy one, but first I have to get my weight down to something reasonable, as weight is a HUGE factor when racing shifter karts (or anything light). That's why most heavy racers drive big cars, and why F1 drivers are usually 5'4" tall and weigh 120 lbs soaking wet. Also why a very petite woman is dominating the motorcycle class of NHRA drag racing....
GJ said 2 days later

I found the simulated g-forces fun for a few seconds during Disney's Mission to Mars...after that, it was pure hell.

I'll tell you, though--I'm such a sucker for spaceflight, I'd do it all over again. Those few seconds were AWESOME.
Geoff said 2 days later

Agreed.

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