Official OPTIMA results -- Penny after action report. [Archive]

Steve1968LS2

11-12-2009, 03:39 PM

Well, they finally cleared up all the mess and I'm a happy camper!

I'm I happy we didn't win? nope.. nobody ever is, but I'm very happy with how we did.

Fourth place overall (third amongst my peers) out of 50 cars

Second best time in the 0-60-0 (damn Cobra!)

My fun run in the autocross (42.89) was the second fastest behind the Cobra. Even with no PS pump we placed third officially.

You had to go all the way to 11 place overall to find a higher style score.

I was the only car in the top four where the owner was driving part of the event.

In a week we will start tearing down the car in preparation for next season.. a few suspension tweaks are planed and maybe a 427 for some more low and midrange torque. After all, done cars arn't any fun. :)

Congrats to the the other members that came in near the top of the pile like Brian Finch (6th place) and Yancy Johns (8th place). Even our 2010 driven by Nick Licata managed an 11th place finish.

Also, lets' not forget Kyle Tucker who finished 5th on KDW street tires!

And of course.. HUGE congrats to our top three: Jim in the Cobra, Ryan in the DSE '69 and Mark in the Jackass!

Great event and to those that finished higher than me this year.. see ya in 2010!

OFFICIAL RESULTS:

http://www.optimainvitational.com/media/results.html

6'9"Witha69

11-12-2009, 03:43 PM

So I take it the Cobra was the overall winner?

At least you have a great attitude Steve. I wish I was out there as much as you guys enjoying a 'finished' car. Someday soon, I hope.

Larry Callahan

11-12-2009, 03:45 PM

Great attitude and congrats!!

It was an awesome event and it's only going to get better.

I assume you will still be able to run next year?

1badchevelle

11-12-2009, 03:47 PM

yeh times are tuff if you gona put in a 427. What is funny is you click on the link for the results and you see Penny and the rest of the bow ties but no cobra.

6'9"Witha69

11-12-2009, 03:50 PM

I still don't get the winning first and second place thing.

Steve1968LS2

11-12-2009, 03:55 PM

So I take it the Cobra was the overall winner?

At least you have a great attitude Steve. I wish I was out there as much as you guys enjoying a 'finished' car. Someday soon, I hope.

Yea, the Cobra kicked our asses in every single event except style.

Hey, I'm happy they fixed this mess..

Big thanks to all that helped and especially to David Pozzi.

Steve1968LS2

11-12-2009, 03:57 PM

I still don't get the winning first and second place thing.

It's a GLITCH in thier rules.. which states "first and second will be awarded to the two fastest times in each catagory"

So, technically the Cobra had the two fastest times.. they know it doesn't make sense but after the first drama they are going EXACTLY by the rules.

They will fix it for next year.. which is good since Ryan at DSE should have gotten second for the Autox and I should have gotten second for the 0-60-0

Steve1968LS2

11-12-2009, 03:58 PM

yeh times are tuff if you gona put in a 427. What is funny is you click on the link for the results and you see Penny and the rest of the bow ties but no cobra.

Those are just links.. and pictures from last year.. lol

looking for controversy?

Bill Howell

11-12-2009, 03:59 PM

15th out of 51 or so cars? not too bad, I just hope Yancy doesn't see this.....haha
Between driver handicap and being a boat, I think the charger did good. I was hoping for at least top 15 so I am good with that.
BTW, check out my 0-60-0 times, maybe we know now why I broke a UCA...haha
We weighed the car when we got back to Brians to see what springs/sway bar I need. 3870#

Looks like Brian Finch was 6th overall, and that is great for a car that drove 4100 miles round trip to compete.

Steve1968LS2

11-12-2009, 04:07 PM

13th out of 47 or so cars? not too bad, I just hope Yancy doesn't see this.....haha
Between driver handicap and being a boat, I think the charger did good. I was hoping for at least top 15 so I am good with that.
BTW, check out my 0-60-0 times, maybe we know now why I broke a UCA...haha
We weighed the car when we got back to Brians to see what springs/sway bar I need. 3870#

Looks like Brian Finch was 6th overall, and that is great for a car that drove 4100 miles round trip to compete.

Great job Bill.. hell, you did one event with only three wheels.. lol

David Pozzi

11-12-2009, 04:13 PM

I'm glad they finally got the points added up right!
Congratulations to Bruce Cambern/ Jim Mckamey the new champions!

That was one heck of a long day, - but fun!
My hat's off to Cam, Jimi, and all the sponsors and workers who made this event possible for us.
David

Finch

11-12-2009, 04:57 PM

Steve1968LS2

11-12-2009, 05:30 PM

I am very happy with my overall results but also know I left alot on the table. I could not figure that dang 0-60-0 deal out, I kept over shooting it and not braking hard trying to work the clutch and brake at the same time.

I also really wish I had a couple more sessions on the road course. Was the first time for that car and only my second time ever being on one.

Next year baby!

Yea, my 0-60-0 was really a 0-64-0 event.. lol

More track time would definetly have paid off for everyone. Your 6th place finish out of so many cars is pretty damn good!

Finch

11-12-2009, 06:00 PM

When you look at the results it really shows that just finishing all the events is a major acomplishment. only 20 cars out of the 50+ entered did it. Not all were due to failure, some were DNF or DQ on 2 or more of the runs so they did not get a score.

YancyJohns

11-12-2009, 06:28 PM

Congrats to Everybody!!!!!!!:hail: We're all winner in my book!! Thanks everyone for a Great Event and a wonderful time!!! Here's one for the Boats...:headbang:

WEAVER

11-12-2009, 07:18 PM

Bill Howell

11-12-2009, 07:23 PM

Not bad at all Bill:1st:

After going back and reviewing the results Tracy I am really happy. Just look at the 0-60-0 times, I was pretty well in the top 5 or 6 and had a weight handicap of at least 500 pounds, car/driver over those that beat me, maybe more, plus I was on 888s not R-1s that should have stopped quicker. Remember, I drove it out to the event from here, plus can haul 4 good sized friends anytime I want, true street car IMO.

David Pozzi

11-12-2009, 08:55 PM

Steve,
Mary turned a 43.4 in the autox, so I think that's the 2nd fastest time. but her 1-2 shifter rod came loose in the 0-60-0 3rd run, and she didn't get credit for her 1st run because they unplugged the data box before it finished saving. She was only credited wtih her 2nd run.

Damn True

11-12-2009, 09:06 PM

Dammit people!

What about Ty?!?!?!?!?!

Steve1968LS2

11-12-2009, 09:11 PM

Dammit people!

What about Ty?!?!?!?!?!

We're afraid to talk about him...

TonyHuntimer

11-12-2009, 11:16 PM

The bigger cars performed really well. Bill had the biggest car by far. Yancy's was right behind him. :)

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/11/yancy-1.jpg

James OLC

11-13-2009, 05:58 AM

We're afraid to talk about him...

... we fear him

John Wright

11-13-2009, 06:30 AM

Dammit people!

What about Ty?!?!?!?!?!
....still waiting for the golf cart to finish the course so they can tally up his scores....NBL

Steve1968LS2

11-13-2009, 08:10 AM

I must say.. I'm really proud of my old Fairlane.. Yancy and the team at Bowler Trans have really done a great job!

YancyJohns

11-13-2009, 10:44 AM

The bigger cars performed really well. Bill had the biggest car by far. Yancy's was right behind him. :)

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/11/yancy-1.jpg
Great pic Tony, actually the Fairlane is longer than Bill's Charger and a longer wheel base. Yes, I very proud of Tom for his driving skills and building the suspension and Transmission. And Rupp your engine building skills paid off as well.

KEISLER

11-13-2009, 12:16 PM

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/11/IMG_5008-1.jpg

The Kuda finished in the top 20, drove over 4500 miles round trip to the event and back to Knoxville, and competed on the same street tires and brakes we drove there with (Nitto NT05, Ferodo pads).

It was fun and challenging day to say the least! The Kuda had a fuel pump failure on 2 of the 3 autocross events, turning in only 1 time where it halfway ran. We spent the next several hours getting the tank out and figuring out what fuel pump could be used to replace it ('96 Mustang it turns out). Our brakes were about NIL during all of the event (got our race pads the afternoon after the race due to a shipping error at Hawk, but it's OK).

Considering how much effort and luck it takes to get that far, and actually complete ... it is rewarding.

It was fun to haul a$$ 2300miles back to TN with Yancy, Bill, Brian and Albert.

I've got nearly 9,000 miles on the Kuda since June, and this was one heck of a great way to rack up half of those miles!!

:cheers:

KEISLER

11-13-2009, 12:32 PM

After going back and reviewing the results Tracy I am really happy. Just look at the 0-60-0 times, I was pretty well in the top 5 or 6 and had a weight handicap of at least 500 pounds, car/driver over those that beat me, maybe more, plus I was on 888s not R-1s that should have stopped quicker. Remember, I drove it out to the event from here, plus can haul 4 good sized friends anytime I want, true street car IMO.

Thanks to Brian's scales, we can put a number on what big really is:
Here's Bill car with him in it (4171 lbs)
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/11/IMG_5035-1.jpg

Here's the Kuda without me in it (add 175 for me = 3927 lbs)
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/11/IMG_5037-1.jpg

Steve1968LS2

11-15-2009, 09:31 AM

Something I just noticed..

Mary Pozzi, in her leaf spring equipped car, had the second fastest autocross time amongst the competitors.. lol

Way to go Mary!

Finch

11-15-2009, 10:54 AM

Something I just noticed..

Mary Pozzi, in her leaf spring equipped car, had the second fastest autocross time amongst the competitors.. lol

Way to go Mary!

Mary sets the bar for the rests of us and shows just how important a good driver is.

Steve1968LS2

11-15-2009, 11:18 AM

Mary sets the bar for the rests of us and shows just how important a good driver is.

Yep.. we should all let her wheel our cars though the autocross so we can see each car's true potential.

David Pozzi

11-15-2009, 12:22 PM

Guess where she is today?
Pleasanton Goodguys!
As of yesterday she was in 2nd place to Mike Mayer who is running a blue 65 mustang. She's still getting over her sore throat but won't let that stop her!
David

autoxcuda

11-15-2009, 02:44 PM

Originally Posted by Steve1968LS2 https://www.pro-touring.com/forum/images/buttons/viewpost.gif (https://www.pro-touring.com/forum/showthread.php?p=599691#post599691)
Something I just noticed..

Mary Pozzi, in her leaf spring equipped car, had the second fastest autocross time amongst the competitors.. lol

Way to go Mary!

Mary sets the bar for the rests of us and shows just how important a good driver is.

OR how capable a simple well thought out system is.

Steve1968LS2

11-15-2009, 03:26 PM

OR how capable a simple well thought out system is.

Sure.. a system has to be "capable" but it takes certain amount of skill to uncover that capability.

I would wager that Mary could turn in a faster time in just about any car here over the owner.

Just at Steilow could turn in a faster time on any road course.. The "pros" bring an important factor to any car's capability to perform.

By the way.. it was just announced the Mary had won the Goodguys autocross today.. lol

autoxcuda

11-15-2009, 03:41 PM

Steve1968LS2

11-15-2009, 05:16 PM

Very true, there aren't probably many national caliber autocross drivers here. They are all on the Solo II forums.

It's so hard to compare the cars themselves in some sort of quasi competition when the drivers are all at different levels.

That's why the best test of the "ultimate car" would be one where the same driver drove each car.

For example.. Mary drive all the cars in the autocross and Borris Said on the road course..

tazzz25906112

11-15-2009, 05:42 PM

Over 5,500 miles there and back, broke a motor seriously and had one of the best automotive times of my life ;-)

Congratulations to every competitor in the event, it was an honor spending the day with all of you at the track...... And to the Dirty Fun Run crew,,,, we're all huge winners in my mind as our memories will last a life time both on and off the track,,,,thanks for letting me join in on the fun...

P.S. Mary, I'll have a new motor in the white Camaro for the "Motor State" and would love to see you make it sing ;-)....

autoxcuda

11-15-2009, 05:56 PM

That's why the best test of the "ultimate car" would be one where the same driver drove each car.

For example.. Mary drive all the cars in the autocross and Borris Said on the road course..

I think even better would be three drivers from each genre. Pick from the top 10 placed Solo II National C-Prepared drivers (or even E-Street Prepared) and then three road race "shoes".

Subjective and Objective. Meaning elapsed times AND verbal driving/racing impressions.

But the "ultimate car" title is getting blurry to me nowadays.

Is it for RWD 4 passenger american sedans pre 1980 or some date?

And it's getting to be a blur to what the "car" that is competing actually is anymore. I mean what if you take a Ferrari F1 and hang a 67 Camaro body on it? What do you call the car that won?? -A really aerodynamically challenged Ferrari F1 maybe :dunno:

Should this test/competition be media covered by Car Craft or Kit Car Builder????

Charley Lillard

11-15-2009, 07:26 PM

The fun is driving your own car...And Mary cheats....

Steve1968LS2

11-15-2009, 09:36 PM

The fun is driving your own car...And Mary cheats....

I think he was talking about the best way to judge cars against each other, not the "fun factor"

79-TA

11-15-2009, 09:50 PM

But the "ultimate car" title is getting blurry to me nowadays.

Is it for RWD 4 passenger american sedans pre 1980 or some date?

It's the Ultimate Street Car Invitational. It's open to anything that is a street car. The blurry line between true purpose street car and thinly veiled racecar is already a topic of discussion in the other Optima thread, just in case you want to check that out.

autoxcuda

11-15-2009, 09:53 PM

I think he was talking about the best way to judge cars against each other, not the "fun factor"

True. But Charley is right it's a lot more fun driving your car then watch someone else drive it.

I just remember an article in the late 80's-early 90's in Car Craft? written by Brian Hatano? The article compared Guldstrand, H-O, Herb Adams, and one other company. I thought it was a great article. I still have it in special binder from all my other magazines.

The article had all cars running the same tires. They took them out to Pomona and ran them through a skid pad and slalom. The article didn't bash any company and pointed out the strengths, weaknesses, and applications for each system. A very open minded objective article. One of the reasons I'm interested in this stuff 20 years later.

I want to see articles and reviews like that again.

buickfunnycar.com

11-16-2009, 11:47 AM

The fun is driving your own car...And Mary cheats....

LOL...:yum:

She had absolutely ZERO BUSINESS driving yesterday as sick as she sounds and yet...another win for the leaf-spring wonder!

Simply amazing...:1st:

Neil B

11-16-2009, 12:48 PM

Sure.. a system has to be "capable" but it takes certain amount of skill to uncover that capability.

I would wager that Mary could turn in a faster time in just about any car here over the owner.

Just at Steilow could turn in a faster time on any road course.. The "pros" bring an important factor to any car's capability to perform.

By the way.. it was just announced the Mary had won the Goodguys autocross today.. lol

I can't speak for the autocross, but on a road course an experienced driver will be anywhere from 3 seconds to as much as 10 seconds faster than a novice in the same equipment. No amount of suspension upgrades or tuning will close that gap. The driver is everything. As an example, an experienced driver in a NASA CMC car can walk all over a novice driver in an American Iron car with upgraded suspension and 100 more horsepower. For people serious about these types of events, the best investment they could make would be track time and driving instruction.