You do! <img border="0" alt="[thumbsup]" title="" src="graemlins/bigok.gif" />

As far as I know lap records can only be set during the race so your 1:40.5 is tops.
I ran a 1:40:7 during the race on Saturday.

I did run a series of 1:40.x laps (4-5)during the sunday warm-up but these don't count! I'd have to check the timing sheet my Dad used to record the times to see exaclty what they were.

Could you send me a copy of your tape from sunday?

Email if you don't have my address!
<img border="0" alt="[byebye]" title="" src="graemlins/wave.gif" />

 

Guys,
I think the lap times will continue to drop as we get more experience on the track and the local guys get their cars dialed in.
I went from a 1:43:??(sat) to a 1:41:35(sun) in the race on Sunday. I think getting the times down will happen like they have at every other new track....
I think I am going to make the July race along with Glenn, Joe???
We are spoiled over here in Az with usually 2-30 minute practice sessions a day plus 30 minutes of qualifying before the race.
I was really amazed at how fast Joe was right out of the box. I was just trying not to get run over by the other 63 cars : )
Also on a side note- after talking to someone that has a lot of laps at WS he said that the summer time of year is slower at WS due to the wind and heat. I guess he also drove the Rick White car for a few laps and ran a 1:38 but seems to remember that it had Hoosiers(???).
Paul

 

Thanks. You're right. According to the NASA rules, lap records can only be set during a race. However, amongst ourselves, I want to count any lap timed by transponder and posted. That is an accurate assessment of performance and it's real enough for me. So then, did you turn a lap faster than my 1:40.528 which was posted?
Also, my tape is still on the Hi-8 cassette and the team took the camera up to Willow Springs for the "Tribute" weekend. It'll be a bit before I can launch copies.
I've had several conversations with Rick White about racing with us. We'll see.

 

Tim,
What class is Rick White's car? I think you said it had a full interior. Is the motor/gearing stock also?
It would be fantastic if you could get him to come to the July event. When ever the Phx group has raced with someone sustantially faster we all picked up time especially when learning a new track. Wasn't his record time something like 1:36:?? that is movin!
Anyway, I hope to get some new recruits to make the road trip in July.
Congrats on your lap record!!!
Paul

 

As I understand it Rick White's car was a 924S. He sold it and it was destroyed on the street by some idiot (not the new owner mind you). So it is gone for ever. Check out the "924S Owners" thread in th 924/924S forum for details and pics.

Here are my times

Best Time on Race Saturday
1:40.72 (Stopwatch)

Sunday Warm-up
1:46.77
1:44.94
1:40.50
1:40.84
1:40:52
1:45:53
1:40.44
1:40.44
1:40.81

These were stopwatch times My dad is usally good to +/- .1 sec

Official best time in that session was 1:40.408 as recored by the transponder.

My race lap times
Start lap (no time)
1:46.35
1:42.12
1:42.47
1:43.22
1:44.84
1:43.40
1:43.72
1:41.60
1:41:47
1:42:75
1:41:75
1:41:71

Official best by transponder 1:41:328

So there you go.

 

Ok, so 1:40.408 is the fastest officially recorded lap time for a 944-spec car at Willow Springs? Right?
So, amongst us, YOU have the track record!
Rick White's car was in GP class.POC.

 

I think 944-spec cars records should be with 944-spec car's. We run spec tires, shocks, ect....
IMHO we should compare apples to apples.

Lap times from races only count for "official records" for some good reasons! traffic, temps, subject to tech, ect.. are the same for everyone.
We have also been weighing and tech'ng the cars in AZ after qualifying and races.

The rulebook states

21.7
A lap record will only become official when the NASA national office publishes it as the "official lap record" A lap record will only be valid when set during a race. A lap record set with a vehicle that has been found illegal for that race, will not stand.

So Tim unless you are changing the rules in SoCal?

Joe is correct you have the current 944-SPEC record at WS.

Paul

 

I think "offical records" only should count during Qualfying or the Race. Qualfying records need to be stated as "qualfying" not the race.

Also only NASA sanctioned events should count.
For example
Paul has the track record at Arizona Motorsports Park at a 1.55.242 for the May 4th Race.

I have a docmumented 1:54.585 at AMP during an ASRA race. It does not count in my mind since NASA is our primary sanctioning body and where the rules are enfored. While spec cars may run with PCA, POC, ASRA, TCRA, SCCA, PAS only NASA races should be "official" since they are the only ones the fully honor our rules.

Heck I could slip in a 2.8 16V motor in to my car and run hoosiers for PCA and try to claim a track record. Heck PCA won't care, but the rest of us spec guys will.

Just makes things simpler!

Tim Comeau 1:40.528 Willow Springs 944-Spec track record holder!

The honor is yours!

 

Not too shabby, especially if it's the first time there for some people. Willow has a way of making people uncomfortable.

Yes, times are generally slower in the summer. Imagine how a brisk gusting crosswind would make you feel in turn 8. Check the difference in the OTC times from last year. It was run in April this year rather than May. Granted, many of the cars were improved, but times overall were quite a bit faster.

 

That was my first Time at Willow.
We only had 1 practice session, 1 Qualfying, and then the race so not much time to learn the track.

First Seession was not too bad except for learning the traffic. Nothing spookly about the track except for the bumps which I was not used to.

Qual session went well and although I still ran 1:43:x I was comfortable. By Race time I just followed the trail in front and gained 2.5 seconds.
Fun Place.

 

And one more post post makes an even 100 replies!
You guys are technically right about the track record. I acknowledged what the rules say and I don't want to change the rules with respect to that. I'm simply saying that I want to recognize the driver who has shown our spec cars potential the best. In other words, our cars are capable of going this fast because we've seen it recorded, even though it wasn't during a race. So the next time I go up to Willow, I won't be trying to beat my track record, I'll be trying to beat the best time ever posted by a 944-spec car.

 

Pardon if my earlier reply appears:

You guys have sucked me in! I live in Raleigh, NC and have a 1984 944 NA. It only has about 56k miles and is mechanically excellent. Unfortunately the cosmetics aren't all that great. The PO's son decided to try off-roading. A new spoiler is on the way...

After several seasons of autocross in various vehicles I want to start road racing. Spec 944 looks to be one of the best ways to start with its low costs, somewhat relaxed atmosphere, and apparently tight competition.

My question is:
Are the AZ region rules now national? I've looked at the NASA-VA spec 944 series rules and they are based on SCCA and/or PCA rules with weight limits based on different cars performance potential. I don't like that approach all that much. The AZ way with the pedestrian 944 NA only, all at the same weight, is much easier to handle.

--Kevin H.

 

The 944-spec rules are National so the Va region should honor them. Right now there are programs in Arizona and South California. Virgina does not have any other spec cars as far as I know. They are all built to SCCA/PCA rules and run in 944-cup.

 

Kevin,
Last I saw, you could prepare a 944 to POC, PCA SCCA or NASA rules and run it in the East Coast 944-cup series which is managed by Dave Derecola. A weight handicap will be assigned and then all the different cars will run together. It would be great if you could contact your local NASA chapter, get together with other 944 drivers, and start building cars to the 944-spec rules. <a href="http://www.944-spec.com" target="_blank">www.944-spec.com</a>

 

Next event for the 944-spec class is July 26-27 at Willow Springs International Raceway. I'm hoping for 10 race cars, plus other HPDE entries. Should be a good-sized gathering of 944's.
Cheers!
(Tim Comeau on John's computer)