Semi OT: how many of you race in RL?

This might be a funny way to learn more about each other. So here is the question: What are your real life racing experiences? I'll start with mine: I have been autocrossing for five years and have participated in the Solo 2 natoinals at Topeka for the last two years. I also started solo 1 this year (it's a form of time attack) and go lapping at the nearby racetrack once a month. My only wheel to wheel experience comes from go kart racing (mostly indoor during the winter). Your turn now.

On Fri, 23 Sep 2005 12:03:22 -0400, "Groo the Wanderer" <[email hidden]> wrote:

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>This might be a funny way to learn more about each other. So here is the >question: >What are your real life racing experiences? > >I'll start with mine: >I have been autocrossing for five years and have participated in the Solo 2 >natoinals at Topeka for the last two years. >I also started solo 1 this year (it's a form of time attack) and go lapping >at the nearby racetrack once a month. My only wheel to wheel experience >comes from go kart racing (mostly indoor during the winter). > >Your turn now. >

I was lucky enough to be able to go to the Skip Barber Racing School in June 2000. My only other 'racing' experience has been indoor go-karts a few times. I've never been able to afford to do any real racing. Oh, for a winning lotto ticket...<g> Eldred

same here, just indoor / outdoor karting and a driver safety training at the Nordschleife in rental cars, including two laps on my own and one lap with Frank "Stippi" Stippler in his Alfa (he's currently driving a DTM Audi). Cheers, uwe -- GPG Fingerprint: 2E 13 20 22 9A 3F 63 7F 67 6F E9 B1 A8 36 A4 61

Groo the Wanderer wrote in news:YGVYe.6278$[email hidden]:

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> This might be a funny way to learn more about each other. So > here is the question: > What are your real life racing experiences? > > I'll start with mine: > I have been autocrossing for five years and have participated in > the Solo 2 natoinals at Topeka for the last two years. > I also started solo 1 this year (it's a form of time attack) and > go lapping at the nearby racetrack once a month. My only wheel > to wheel experience comes from go kart racing (mostly indoor > during the winter). > > Your turn now. > >

I did some Formula Ford racing back in the late 60's, and a bit of GT3 racing in the 70's. Mosport Park, Shannonville, Harewood (no longer in existence). Once every year or so, I go to Mosport to _watch_ real life racing. Does that count? <grin> -- Darryl (no better in RL than in sims, however)

I've been racing dirt oval karts for five years. Prior to that I logged thousands of indoor kart laps. Also went through a Formula Renault racing school and did a few autocross events. Currently tired of the "rubbin' is racin'" mentality of the dirt track crowd. I'll probably go sprint kart racing next year, or move up to IMCA modifieds if I can find a ride. Truthfully, though, rFactor has me asking "why?" It's too expensive and too much work to do real life racing. I haven't had much fun with karts this year. There is a kart race tonight I'm planning to go to, but it seems like I'm just looking for an excuse to stay home and drive on the computer. Pat Dotson

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> What are your real life racing experiences? > >I spent a year and a half and almost all my spare money preparing a >street-stock to run at a local paved high banked 1/3 mile track....Had a >sponsor and a partner that allowed a 3 way split for the cost, and use of a >pickup and trailer to move the car. Full bodied stocks with 2 barrel V-8's >and street tires, 30 of us on the track at one time, what a splendid >racket.

1/2 a season later, car was torn up, money was gone, motivation was non-existent, and before we could build another car, the partner bolted, I found a girl, and everything was sold. The End Sure was fun while it lasted, though...... Ed

[email hidden] wrote: > > Truthfully, though, rFactor has me asking "why?" It's too expensive > and too much work to do real life racing. I haven't had much fun with > karts this year. There is a kart race tonight I'm planning to go to, > but it seems like I'm just looking for an excuse to stay home and drive > on the computer. Agreed, on-line racing is more accessible and way cheaper.

"Groo the Wanderer" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:YGVYe.6278$[email hidden]...

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> This might be a funny way to learn more about each other. So here is the > question: > What are your real life racing experiences? > > I'll start with mine: > I have been autocrossing for five years and have participated in the Solo > 2 natoinals at Topeka for the last two years. > I also started solo 1 this year (it's a form of time attack) and go > lapping at the nearby racetrack once a month. My only wheel to wheel > experience comes from go kart racing (mostly indoor during the winter). > > Your turn now. >

SCCA Amature in the 60s, mostly Elkhart and Milwaukee Mile infield road course and a few trips to Mid-Ohio with my club. There were several other road courses in the Midwest then that no longer exist that we visited for club races. I did another stint in an RX4 in the 70s but it got far too expensive and the "true" amateurs had all but disappeared. The entire cost of getting started in the mid 60s was about $2,000, including my car........:-) (TR3 in great shape, $850), safety items (roll bar, belts, suit, kill switch and moving battery), and SCCA school at club's rates. Those were great days for amateurs, especially if you were in a club. I would hate to try and get into a TR3 today.........:-) Ed

I competed in autocross, circuit sprints and rallying for 15 years in Australia. I'm now living in London, where its just way to expensive for regular motorsport. Also, there are no dirt roads to go rallying on in England! "Groo the Wanderer" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:YGVYe.6278$[email hidden]...

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> This might be a funny way to learn more about each other. So here is the > question: > What are your real life racing experiences? > > I'll start with mine: > I have been autocrossing for five years and have participated in the Solo > 2 natoinals at Topeka for the last two years. > I also started solo 1 this year (it's a form of time attack) and go > lapping at the nearby racetrack once a month. My only wheel to wheel > experience comes from go kart racing (mostly indoor during the winter). > > Your turn now. >

Went to the Richazd Petty NASCAR school twice. 30 laps at Atlanta 157 top speed, and 8 laps at Talladega 166 top speed, other than having to follow the pacing car it was great. Just makes you want more and more... If I was only 20 years younger, I would be doing what ever I had to do to do that for a living.. I feel it in my bones, that is what I was suppose to have done with my life; "Ed Medlin" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:UxfZe.1307$[email hidden]...

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> > "Groo the Wanderer" <[email hidden]> wrote in message > news:YGVYe.6278$[email hidden]... >> This might be a funny way to learn more about each other. So here is the >> question: >> What are your real life racing experiences? >> >> I'll start with mine: >> I have been autocrossing for five years and have participated in the Solo >> 2 natoinals at Topeka for the last two years. >> I also started solo 1 this year (it's a form of time attack) and go >> lapping at the nearby racetrack once a month. My only wheel to wheel >> experience comes from go kart racing (mostly indoor during the winter). >> >> Your turn now. >> > SCCA Amature in the 60s, mostly Elkhart and Milwaukee Mile infield road > course and a few trips to Mid-Ohio with my club. There were several other > road courses in the Midwest then that no longer exist that we visited for > club races. I did another stint in an RX4 in the 70s but it got far too > expensive and the "true" amateurs had all but disappeared. The entire cost > of getting started in the mid 60s was about $2,000, including my > car........:-) (TR3 in great shape, $850), safety items (roll bar, belts, > suit, kill switch and moving battery), and SCCA school at club's rates. > Those were great days for amateurs, especially if you were in a club. I > would hate to try and get into a TR3 today.........:-) > > Ed >

I drive on the Belt Parkway in NYC. It's a road race, it's a demo derby, autocross, and sometimes a shooting gallery.... anything less is just a game.

Am running in PCA (Porsche Club of America), Limerock, Watkins Glen, etc. Run a Porsche 911 set up to meet G-Stock Class in PCA Club Racing. Here she is at rest - http://lrg.zorpia.com/0/892/5709900.1e97ae.jpg and attacking the uphill at LRP - http://lrg.zorpia.com/0/913/5844679.caa741.jpg G Patricks

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>n Fri, 23 Sep 2005 12:03:22 -0400, "Groo the Wanderer" <[email hidden]> wrote: >This might be a funny way to learn more about each other. So here is the >question: >What are your real life racing experiences? > >I'll start with mine: >I have been autocrossing for five years and have participated in the Solo 2 >natoinals at Topeka for the last two years. >I also started solo 1 this year (it's a form of time attack) and go lapping >at the nearby racetrack once a month. My only wheel to wheel experience >comes from go kart racing (mostly indoor during the winter). > >Your turn now. >

"btgoss" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:DLIZe.15866$i%[email hidden]... >I drive on the Belt Parkway in NYC. > It's a road race, it's a demo derby, autocross, and sometimes a shooting > gallery.... anything less is just a game. Good luck........lol........ Ed

"G. Patricks" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...

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> Am running in PCA (Porsche Club of America), Limerock, Watkins Glen, > etc. Run a Porsche 911 set up to meet G-Stock Class in PCA Club > Racing. > > Here she is at rest - http://lrg.zorpia.com/0/892/5709900.1e97ae.jpg > and attacking the uphill at LRP - > http://lrg.zorpia.com/0/913/5844679.caa741.jpg > > G Patricks >

Beautiful ride there G. Does the old long course at LRP still exist? Our old club went out there many years ago (didn't make the trip myself) and it seems to me that it was much longer then. You gotta love the PCA. They have been around a long time and have always been a class act. Ed

In the late 70's I won a couple of trophies racing my 1967 GTO at Manassas raceway in Manassas, VA. It was a 1/8 mile drag strip. I beat the hell out of a Vette one day. Boy, was that guy pissed! I had one of the rarest GTO's made that year (one of 252 with factory disc brakes from what I understand), and for some bizarre reason it came from the factory with an open-diff. He got beat by a car with an open diff. LOL! I fixed that problem evenually :) -Larry "Groo the Wanderer" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:YGVYe.6278$[email hidden]...

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> This might be a funny way to learn more about each other. So here is the > question: > What are your real life racing experiences? > > I'll start with mine: > I have been autocrossing for five years and have participated in the Solo > 2 natoinals at Topeka for the last two years. > I also started solo 1 this year (it's a form of time attack) and go > lapping at the nearby racetrack once a month. My only wheel to wheel > experience comes from go kart racing (mostly indoor during the winter). > > Your turn now. >

Oh, and I also ran my '87 Firebird GTA Trans Am in a couple of SCCA Fun-Runs at the Stadium in San Diego. It sucked when they stopped allowing them from lining the course, and made them use cones instead. Talk about tunnel vision! You run what you brung, and for safety you only had to have a Helmet and and extra throttle-return-spring installed (which was inspected). I also did a couple of off-road fun-runs in the Borrego desert in my Pickup. I went on a midnight run, and my damned co-pilot got drunk before we started. That made things interesting as hell :) -Larry "Groo the Wanderer" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:YGVYe.6278$[email hidden]...

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> This might be a funny way to learn more about each other. So here is the > question: > What are your real life racing experiences? > > I'll start with mine: > I have been autocrossing for five years and have participated in the Solo > 2 natoinals at Topeka for the last two years. > I also started solo 1 this year (it's a form of time attack) and go > lapping at the nearby racetrack once a month. My only wheel to wheel > experience comes from go kart racing (mostly indoor during the winter). > > Your turn now. >

Larry wrote: > You run what you brung, and for safety you only had to have a Helmet and and > extra throttle-return-spring installed (which was inspected). Brings back memories. I used to road rally an old Avenger back in the days when road rallying was allowed on public roads in the UK. The only required additional feature was the same extra throttle spring although there were limitations on carbs and camshafts to keep off the BDA Escort stage rally cars etc. from the streets. After some moderate results keeping up with the slower RS2000s I took the plunge and bought an Opel Kadette GT/E, left hand drive with the engine in bits in the boot. The car was potentially ideal as it had fuel injection to bypass the carb limits and was a proper ex stage rally car. However, the injection cost an absolute fortune to fix up, and after a few small 12 car events I blew it up after 30 miles into the first full rally. By this point I had met my soon to be wife and funds and inclination dried up. Hardly an extensive motor racing career but at least I had done it. Road rallying changed dramatically to reduce speeds and my comeback rally was in a hired 1100cc Peugeot which we took to second through good navigation rather than my (incredibly) skillful driving. So I guess I am satisfied with online racing for another year now most of the seats have been snapped up for next years F1... Cheers Tony

Not sure how far back that was Ed, the current course is 1.54 miles, as far as I know this is how it has always been for the last 30 years. Pit out onto main straight, through big bend, through the esses, down no-name straight, right up the uphill down the back straight, around west bend, under the bridge and dive into the right hander onto the main straight to do it all over again! Gary

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>n Mon, 26 Sep 2005 14:41:18 GMT, "Ed Medlin" <[email hidden]> wrote: > >"G. Patricks" <[email hidden]> wrote in message >news:[email hidden]... >> Am running in PCA (Porsche Club of America), Limerock, Watkins Glen, >> etc. Run a Porsche 911 set up to meet G-Stock Class in PCA Club >> Racing. >> >> Here she is at rest - http://lrg.zorpia.com/0/892/5709900.1e97ae.jpg >> and attacking the uphill at LRP - >> http://lrg.zorpia.com/0/913/5844679.caa741.jpg >> >> G Patricks >> > Beautiful ride there G. Does the old long course at LRP still exist? Our >old club went out there many years ago (didn't make the trip myself) and it >seems to me that it was much longer then. You gotta love the PCA. They have >been around a long time and have always been a class act. > >Ed >

I wish someone could get the downhill after the bridge right in sims, along with the berm placements and the banking (yes, the corners ARE banked slightly at LRP!). Yhe great thing about GPL is the ability to throttle steer through Big Bend, a lot like RL in a 911!! Gary

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>On Mon, 26 Sep 2005 15:20:42 -0400, G. Patricks <[email hidden]> wrote: >Not sure how far back that was Ed, the current course is 1.54 miles, >as far as I know this is how it has always been for the last 30 years. > >Pit out onto main straight, through big bend, through the esses, down >no-name straight, right up the uphill down the back straight, around >west bend, under the bridge and dive into the right hander onto the >main straight to do it all over again! > >Gary >

"G. Patricks" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...

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> Not sure how far back that was Ed, the current course is 1.54 miles, > as far as I know this is how it has always been for the last 30 years. > > Pit out onto main straight, through big bend, through the esses, down > no-name straight, right up the uphill down the back straight, around > west bend, under the bridge and dive into the right hander onto the > main straight to do it all over again! > > Gary >

This was almost 40yrs ago so my memory might not be right on.......:-). I may be confusing it with somewhere else. I was just thinking that there was an older course that continued straight where turn-1 presently is and joined the present course just before the chicane going up the hill. I have never been there IRL so I am going on memory of photos and pamphlets from the club back in the 60s and my memory isn't what it once was. I love the present course in sims and wish I had made the trip back then, rookie stripes and all.......:-) Ed

That would be out into the forest so my guess is you have it mixed up with another track. Gary

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>On Wed, 28 Sep 2005 16:59:40 GMT, "Ed Medlin" <[email hidden]> wrote: > >"G. Patricks" <[email hidden]> wrote in message >news:[email hidden]... >> Not sure how far back that was Ed, the current course is 1.54 miles, >> as far as I know this is how it has always been for the last 30 years. >> >> Pit out onto main straight, through big bend, through the esses, down >> no-name straight, right up the uphill down the back straight, around >> west bend, under the bridge and dive into the right hander onto the >> main straight to do it all over again! >> >> Gary >> >This was almost 40yrs ago so my memory might not be right on.......:-). I >may be confusing it with somewhere else. I was just thinking that there was >an older course that continued straight where turn-1 presently is and joined >the present course just before the chicane going up the hill. I have never >been there IRL so I am going on memory of photos and pamphlets from the club >back in the 60s and my memory isn't what it once was. I love the present >course in sims and wish I had made the trip back then, rookie stripes and >all.......:-) > >Ed >

"G. Patricks" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]... > That would be out into the forest so my guess is you have it mixed up > with another track. > > Gary Damn, I hate getting old..........:-) Ed

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> > >On Wed, 28 Sep 2005 16:59:40 GMT, "Ed Medlin" <[email hidden]> wrote: > > > >"G. Patricks" <[email hidden]> wrote in message > >news:[email hidden]... > >> Not sure how far back that was Ed, the current course is 1.54 miles, > >> as far as I know this is how it has always been for the last 30 years. > >> > >> Pit out onto main straight, through big bend, through the esses, down > >> no-name straight, right up the uphill down the back straight, around > >> west bend, under the bridge and dive into the right hander onto the > >> main straight to do it all over again! > >> > >> Gary > >> > >This was almost 40yrs ago so my memory might not be right on.......:-). I > >may be confusing it with somewhere else. I was just thinking that there

was > >an older course that continued straight where turn-1 presently is andjoined > >the present course just before the chicane going up the hill. I havenever > >been there IRL so I am going on memory of photos and pamphlets from theclub

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> >back in the 60s and my memory isn't what it once was. I love the present > >course in sims and wish I had made the trip back then, rookie stripes and > >all.......:-) > > > >Ed > > >

"Groo the Wanderer" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:YGVYe.6278$[email hidden]... > This might be a funny way to learn more about each other. So here is the > question: > What are your real life racing experiences? In my younger days I raced street stocks at the local short tracks. In my much younger days I raced karts on just about every racing surface known to man. Dirt, indoor, road courses, and street courses. The street courses were always my favorite. Kyle

On Sat, 24 Sep 2005 11:45:07 GMT, Sidney H Bridge <[email hidden]> wrote:

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>[email hidden] wrote: > >> >> Truthfully, though, rFactor has me asking "why?" It's too expensive >> and too much work to do real life racing. I haven't had much fun with >> karts this year. There is a kart race tonight I'm planning to go to, >> but it seems like I'm just looking for an excuse to stay home and drive >> on the computer. > >Agreed, on-line racing is more accessible and way cheaper.

So is whacking off compared to getting a date, but it's just not the same. :) No car racing here, just motorcycle enduro and dabbling in MX.