KONI Challenge race this weekend at VIR - anyone?

Karl Shultz · **Posted:** Tue Sep 30, 2008 10:12 pm

Just curious if anyone's heading up. I'm thinking about it.

Donnie Barnes · **Posted:** Tue Sep 30, 2008 10:16 pm

I'm heading up. But that's because I'm driving in ST.

Look for the Team MER 67 RX-8. It's very orange and Jason usually knocks the nose off of it.

--Donnie

Wes Eargle · **Joined:** Mon Oct 27, 2003 9:47 am **Posts:** 3683

I've got a MER t-shirt from Drew, wonder if they'll let me in the hot pits (again)

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Vincent Keene · **Posted:** Wed Oct 01, 2008 8:00 am

Stephen, Ryan, and myself plan to be there Saturday.

Arthur McDonald · **Joined:** Fri Aug 29, 2003 1:54 am **Posts:** 2052

Thinking about it. Mustangs are racing Sunday.

Marty Howard · **Posted:** Wed Oct 01, 2008 8:58 am

Is it this weekend?

Donnie Barnes · **Posted:** Wed Oct 01, 2008 9:39 am

Marty Howard wrote:

Is it this weekend?

Yes. Six hour ST race on Saturday, six hour GS race on Sunday.

Wes, they might let you in the hot pits, but they'll put you to work.

--Donnie

David Spratte · **Posted:** Wed Oct 01, 2008 11:39 am

Hmm. . . might have to toss a camera and a couple lenses in the car and head up.

ChristineAllen · **Posted:** Wed Oct 01, 2008 12:55 pm

I'll be going.

Arthur McDonald · **Joined:** Fri Aug 29, 2003 1:54 am **Posts:** 2052

Anybody going up for Sunday's race? I have to be there to cheer for my "close personal friend" Dean Martin, who qualified 4th in the #59 Rehagan Racing/Roush Performance Parts Mustang.

I met Dean when he was the Ford SVT engineer assigned to work with THSCC when we hosted an autocross for reporters on the skidpad during an SVT press day at VIR in 2002. During set-up, he let Shawn, Matt and I test our course design with a Focus SVT and also the supercharged Mustang Cobra. At the end of the press day he left a Focus SVT for the club members to play with for a half hour, and Carl Fisher corded the tires before Mary got her turn. Just like always.

Donnie Barnes · **Posted:** Sun Oct 05, 2008 11:20 am

Well, after finishing 23rd at Three Rivers and then 20th at Miller we hoped to get the RX-8 into the top 20 at VIR. We were doing it, too, until the motor expired with me in the car at the 2:40 mark. No idea why it went as it wasn't ever over-revved or anything, but it was probably worked pretty hard.

We had the thing turning and braking insanely well. We figure we probably only had 194HP at the wheels whereas the other RX-8's were around 220HP and the Cobalts are near 260. :shock:

But even when a Cobalt when by me on the front straight, I'd close 1/3 of it under braking, 1/3 more in turn one, and then the rest of the gap I could close by the end of the lower esses. It would gap me again under the bridge, but I'd get that back by T10. I could almost get on its ass by Oak Tree, but then we were toast on the back straight. I had to shift to fifth gear in the middle of the uphill, and the car just dies in fifth. Pulls pretty good up to that point, but fifth kills it, especially on that hill. Ugh.

I saw 134MPH on the AiM dash at the end of the back straight and wasn't braking until the arrow, sometimes a hair after. Hit it hard on the uphill, fade off a little at the crest, back hard on the flat, downshift and turn in for roller coaster. Quite a ride.

I can't imagine how fast the Cobalt was going back there.

--Donnie

Ryan Holton · **Posted:** Sun Oct 05, 2008 11:24 am

Steven, Vincent and I were there yesterday and never could find your pit.

Watched some durning the race. Nice looking car.

Donnie Barnes · **Posted:** Sun Oct 05, 2008 11:27 am

Ryan Holton wrote:

Steven, Vincenta and I were there yesterday and never could find your pit.

Watched some durning the race. Nice looking car.

Sorry about that. MER has a plain white toter and we were on the second row VERY close to false grid (up past Hoosier). They packed us all in pretty tight, too, so the Koni and BSR trailers were right on top of us.

--Donnie

Kevin Butler · **Posted:** Sun Oct 05, 2008 1:01 pm

Ryan Holton wrote:

...Vincenta and I were there yesterday and never could find your pit.

New Girlfriend? :lol:

It seems things have "matured" since Broke Back Mountain!

MarcusMcRae · **Posted:** Sun Oct 05, 2008 7:35 pm

Is this going to be on TV? I did a quick search on the dvr and got nothing.

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KONI Challenge race this weekend at VIR - anyone?

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