sfarrah

iTrader: (4)

NASA TX held their 4th race weekend at Hallett Motor Racing Circuit http://hallettracing.com/ in Oklahoma on June 13-14th. Had a great weekend besides the 8.5 hour drive there and back with no AC in the truck. Qualifying Sunday was wet but other than that the track was pretty much dry all weekend. Ron Farmer cleaned up in ST2 in his Z06 with 4 wins in class, one 1st overall and 3 second place overall. He ran 1:22-23's all weekend and ran a smoking 1:21.519 in the last race, beating last years class record by 3.2 seconds. My fastest lap of 1:23.914 in the 4th race would have been good for an ST2 record had it not been beaten repeatedly by Rob and Ron throughout the weekend.

Another weekend on the V2 SPL front camber arms and still going strong. Was an eye opening weekend to see the advantage of running quality shocks. Hallett has some pretty rough spots pavement wise and softening the Motons just a single click all around was good for a full second in back to back practice sessions. The added grip was immediately noticeable and I was able to dial in the balance of the car throughout the weekend with shock and wing/splitter adjustments. Money well spent for sure. The car just seems to get better every race and the lap times prove it.

Results:
Sat Qualifying - 7th of 17 with a 1:25.946. http://mylaps.com/results/showrun.jsp?id=1180056

Sat Race 1 - 2nd in ST2, 4th overall. Fastest lap of 1:24.972. Rob Lay spun twice in the Ferrari ending his race early. Apparently the first spin got mud in his wheels/hub and jacked up his ABS causing him to flat spot his brand new Pirelli's and head off track again. First time I have ever placed ahead of Rob in ST2. http://mylaps.com/results/showrun.jsp?id=1180057

<object width="800" height="460"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="movie" value="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=5235007&amp;server=vimeo.com&amp;show_ title=1&amp;show_byline=1&amp;show_portrait=0&amp;color=00AD EF&amp;fullscreen=1" /><embed src="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=5235007&amp;server=vimeo.com&amp;show_ title=1&amp;show_byline=1&amp;show_portrait=0&amp;color=00AD EF&amp;fullscreen=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="800" height="460"></embed></object><p><a href="http://vimeo.com/5235007">NASA TX Race#1 Hallett, OK</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user786756">Sean Farrah</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p>

Sat Race 2 - 2nd in ST2, 5th overall. Fastest lap of 1:25.589. Rob had to start from the back but he ran through the field and was chasing me down at the end. I had a reasonable cushion so just tried to drive clean and make sure I was ahead at the end. Video cut short for some unknown reason. http://mylaps.com/results/showrun.jsp?id=1180058

<object width="800" height="460"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="movie" value="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=5171939&amp;server=vimeo.com&amp;show_ title=1&amp;show_byline=1&amp;show_portrait=0&amp;color=00AD EF&amp;fullscreen=1" /><embed src="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=5171939&amp;server=vimeo.com&amp;show_ title=1&amp;show_byline=1&amp;show_portrait=0&amp;color=00AD EF&amp;fullscreen=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="800" height="460"></embed></object><p><a href="http://vimeo.com/5171939">NASA TX Race#2 Hallett, OK</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user786756">Sean Farrah</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p>

Sunday Qualifying in the wet. Ran the Hoosier Wets for the first time. Track was fairly dry at the end of the session and car pushing like mad. Luckily I qualified 4th of 11 cars with a 1:35.090. Rob was 6th, about a half second back so would start the 3rd race directly behind me. Ryan Logan noticed the night before he had a snapped alternator bolt on the AC Cobra so he dropped out leaving us 4 cars in ST2. http://mylaps.com/results/showrun.jsp?id=1180059

Sun Race 3 - 2nd in ST2, 4th overall of 13 cars with a fastest lap of 1:24.564 in the second last lap. Had a decent start and only lost one position to Kevin Mixon who shot from 5th to 1st by turn one in his ST1 z06. Rob got slowed in traffic for the first lap or two but wasn't long before he was chasing me down. Started to run out of gas with ~3-4 laps left so started to short shift into 4th. Video isn't bad in the last few laps as you can see the silver Ferrari in the mirror and see his pass attempts. Took everything I had to keep him behind me and was great experience racing a defensive line. I cooked it going into "the B1tch" 3 laps in a row and gave him 3 great chances to pass me. He ended up driving into the dirt trying to get the inside line into the last turn on the last lap so I was able to hold on for 2nd place. http://mylaps.com/results/showrun.jsp?id=1180060

<object width="800" height="460"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="movie" value="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=5235145&amp;server=vimeo.com&amp;show_ title=1&amp;show_byline=1&amp;show_portrait=0&amp;color=00AD EF&amp;fullscreen=1" /><embed src="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=5235145&amp;server=vimeo.com&amp;show_ title=1&amp;show_byline=1&amp;show_portrait=0&amp;color=00AD EF&amp;fullscreen=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="800" height="460"></embed></object><p><a href="http://vimeo.com/5235145">NASA TX Race#3, Hallett OK</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user786756">Sean Farrah</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p>

Sun Race 4 - 3rd in ST2, 5th of 13 overall with a fast lap of 1:23.914. I knew I was screwed at the start as Rob would be on the inside lane behind me. Lost the spot to him on the start and spent the entire race trying to chase him down. Got close a few times but he made very few mistakes. Video crapped out after a couple laps in for some reason. Really sucks as there would have been some decent footage of me trying to catch him. I actually ran in the dirt at almost the same place he did while try to chase him down after I went into the b1tch too hot again. We both drove like hell from start to finish but he got the better of me in that one. Had a blast! http://mylaps.com/results/showrun.jsp?id=1180061

<object width="800" height="450"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="movie" value="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=5169446&amp;server=vimeo.com&amp;show_ title=1&amp;show_byline=1&amp;show_portrait=0&amp;color=00AD EF&amp;fullscreen=1" /><embed src="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=5169446&amp;server=vimeo.com&amp;show_ title=1&amp;show_byline=1&amp;show_portrait=0&amp;color=00AD EF&amp;fullscreen=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="800" height="450"></embed></object><p><a href="http://vimeo.com/5169446">NASA TX Race#4 Hallett, OK</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user786756">Sean Farrah</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p>

Time Trials
I entered time trials since there were a few other TTA cars that showed up and I wanted to try to win some Hoosiers. I only ran one session each day with a 1:24.842 in the second session Sat and a 1:25.210 in the seventh session Sunday. I don't have all the results but think I was ahead by about 5 seconds so that should be good for 4 free tires and should be a track record for PTA. Thanks Hoosier!
Saturday run - http://mylaps.com/results/showrun.jsp?id=1180032
Sunday run - http://mylaps.com/results/showrun.jsp?id=1180037

Can't really think of a better way to spend my 37th birthday. My wife even flew in Friday to keep me company on the 8.5 hour drive home and treated me to a steak dinner Sat night.

Next race is TWS running Clockwise August 1-2. I've only ever run this direction one time before so hopefully I can make it for the Friday practice.
Thanks again to Kuah at SPL, Jim and Neill at Fulcrum and Andy at Torvec.

Here are some photos taken by the track photographer and thanks Rob for letting me post them here.

Sammy May in the #00 SU car with Rob following


Kevin Mixon in his ST1 Z06


Rob Lay in his ST2 Ferrari with Ron Farmer following in the Z06. My car is in the background.


My car with Rob following. Nice view of my new Fulcrum dry carbon fiber wing. They replaced the prototype I was running with a production spec wing. It's 2 inches wider and 2 more inches in chord (now 14) and gives me more downforce with less drag at the same angle of attack. Thanks Fulcrum, it looks great and performed even better.


Ryan Logan in his ST1/2 AC cobra. He ran less power and ran with us in ST2 for the weekend. Also Bill Woods in the Black 911. We had some fun racing over the weekend.


TIm Koncol in his ST2 cobra


Couple pics my wife took

sfarrah

iTrader: (4)

start of race#1


and an aerial shot of the track

3-fifty-WeEe

sick i want to track race my z, i need a big penguin wing too haha

350zDex

iTrader: (12)

Omgggggggg that wing is hugeeeeeeeee haha, sick track z though!!

BloMyS14

iTrader: (7)

Congrats on the finishes. Looks like the car is coming along nicely.

mthreat

iTrader: (16)

Awesome! Every time you post vids you make me want to start racing... I'd like to come hang out at one of your race weekends. I would come to the August 1-2 event but I'll be getting back from a 3-week vacation (including the Nurburgring!) on August 1 so I'll probably be too tired.

TWS clockwise is awesome, I think I like it better than CCW. I'm sure you'll figure it out, but here are some notes off the top of my head.

- On turn 15 (coming FAST off the main straight), many people are scared to trail brake, but do it and gain a LOT of time.

- Carousel - slowest turn, but a lot of time to be gained on slow turns. I honestly can't claim to know the best way around here, there are so many ways to take it. If you're datalogging, try lots of different lines through here.

- Turns 6 and 5 - If you turn in right, you can combine these into one turn, keeping your steering position almost constant and throttle steering. It kind of reminds me of the turns tombstone + boot hill at the back of MSR Cresson 1.7 CW (track map).

- Turn 4 - don't go off here - it can get ugly, and I bent a rim going across the part where the oval course crosses.

- Turns 2 & 1 - my favorite part, you can come out of here so fast it's crazy. Watch out for marbles if you get wide. Also watch out, there's a big bump somewhere in here, you may be able to alter the usual line to avoid this bump (not sure).


If I have any energy left, maybe I'll come out and see you on August 2.

sektor 11

iTrader: (4)

yes! reading your posts and seeing your pics and videos get me pumped on running! keep 'em coming!

twin001

iTrader: (3)

I love Hallett! It's a very tough course, especially "the *****". I wish I could have made it out there to watch. Nice times too.

VO...

iTrader: (25)

Awesome post!

300twinz

iTrader: (16)

Nice job Sean. Can't wait to get my new (to me) 350 on the track

AznSky

iTrader: (12)

awesome!!! Like I've said before, you're driving the 350Z community

*Boose*

iTrader: (3)

You're my idol. And your car is my cars idol. Check your PM's.

sfarrah

iTrader: (4)

Thanks for the kind words everyone.

Yes, it is a huge wing but completely functional. Anyone who is serious about putting some fast times should look into the Fulcrum gear. I am very happy with it to date. Love the adjustability and the spliiter has survived at least 4 off track excursions so far.

Chris, you're a roll cage and fire suit away from racing. Make the jump, you'll have a blast. Thanks for the tips and have fun at the Ring!! See you at TWS if you can make it.

Couple more pics my wife took






Here are a couple more pics taken by John Brewer.







Love the heat blur trailing behind the car in the shot above








Unfortunately Rob lost the motor in his Porsche that weekend.




Kevin getting sideways in "the b1tch"




Gallery of pics and high res versions found here http://guapozx.com/gallery/v/sfarrah...ett+June+2009/