Open Track Challenge, anyone competing?

[emcon5]

At the moment, it looks like Jack has the only air cooled car there and has T2 locked up.

Nobody else is going?

Tom

[rich22]

There's that guy with the 993 that's looking for a co-driver, but he would go into U2.

[Chuck Moreland]

Last year they had 6 cars in T2, this year there is....Jack. And nobody in U2.

Perhaps the addition of the race groups is fragmenting the field. Or perhaps participation is declining.

[Jack Olsen]

We scared off the M3 crowd, and no 911's stepped up to the plate.

It'll be more of a test-n-tune year, it looks like. But I think we've got a good chance of podiuming.

[ttweed]

Originally posted by rich22
There's that guy with the 993 that's looking for a co-driver, but he would go into U2.

I think that's Chris O'Conner from our club, PCA-SDR. He seems to have hooked up with Tim Comeau as a co-driver and may be making it to the event after all.

TT

[nein14-6]

Don't forget the Teener, that's air cooled....

[emcon5]

Originally posted by nein14-6
Don't forget the Teener, that's air cooled....

Missed the 914. Isn't that is the same guys that won the first time? Should be interesting.

I wanted to go to Sears Point to watch, but I won't be in town.

Tom

[rich22]

I thought I remembered them having a diary site where the motor was actually fairly mild, contrary to rumor. I can't find the site now. It could get very interesting if they pumped up the motor some.

Looking at pictures of their car, it seems like such a better platform for a race car than a 911. There's an enormous amount of room available for turbos and intercoolers and exhaust piping. Too bad it's such an aero brick.

[911ctS]

Some serious cars compete in OTC. I think if I took my car I would have my a$$ handed to me. Do they have any lower classes for say... non turbos below 2.5L.

[Jack Olsen]

Anything below 3 liters on a 911 puts you in T3/U3. This class has been invaded by Evo's this year, as well as the normal S2000 crowd.

[911ctS]

Hmmm... I bet an early 911 properly set up with a highly modified 3.0L would possibly whop some tail on the evo's and S2000's.
But who knows, those jap cars can suprise you sometimes.

[rich22]

It would have to be a highly, higly modified 3.0. Wayne Mello ran 1:35's at Willow at his first track day with his EVO on showroom tires. That's only a few seconds off Jack's times. More seat time, a little sorting, and some decent tires and he'll be under 1:30.

[bigrubberjeep]

How would a rookie do with a 85 3.2? Would it be an embarrasement?

[rich22]

No, you would come in second. Jacks's the only other car in the class.

There's still time to sign up. It starts Sunday in Vegas, test day on Saturday.

[Jack Olsen]

You can buy a discounted entry off of a guy with a Subaru who just crashed his car. See the opentrackchallenge.com forum for details.

Here's the current weather outlook:

Sunday - Las Vegas - 75°/52° 20% chance of rain
Monday - Willow Springs - 68°/48° 20% chance of rain
Tuesday - Thunderhill - 71°/47° 30% chance of rain
Wednesday - Sears Point - 68°/46° 30% chance of rain
Thursday - Buttonwillow - 80°/56° 10% chance of rain

Rain is good for the Evo's and WRX's.

[MMARSH]

I think T3 is where the fun will be this year. I don't think a streetable 911 with under three liters would stand a chance in T3. I would be surprised to see times under 130 but I think 131's or 132's is gonna happen.

[emcon5]

Originally posted by JackOlsen
Rain is good for the Evo's and WRX's.

Yes, but is reliability good for them?

I guess we will find out.

Tom

[rich22]

Originally posted by MMARSH
I think T3 is where the fun will be this year. I don't think a streetable 911 with under three liters would stand a chance in T3. I would be surprised to see times under 130 but I think 131's or 132's is gonna happen.

Let's break it down then. Wayne ran 1:35's on the stock tire, which in Car and Driver's road test was a Yoko Advan. I have to think he can pick up 2 seconds on good BF Goodriches or the like. He said it was pushing like crazy, so a good swaybar and alignment is probably worth another couple seconds. A couple more if he springs for the Penske triple-adjustables. And lastly, he was making only 120 on the straight because his engine was busy eating a piston. So, assuming his new engine stays in 1 piece I think under 1:30 is very possible if he got it sorted somewhat. Wayne knows his way around Willow. He beat everybody, including Mumford's Viper and the turbo 914-6, in the 2002 OTC in his 944 Turbo.

[bigrubberjeep]

Jack: what is the guy with the Subaru's phone number or email?

[Jack Olsen]

Charlie Buzzetti
805-466-3015 days

See this thread.