Patron GT 3 Challenge On Speed
#16
Rennlist Member
On the upside, the capability of the people in the top 1/3 to 1/2 of the grin in Patron is generally higher than at even the largest PCA racing.
Qualifying times are closer together, and the racing is generally tighter.
And, some people actually like "rubbin paint" as long as it doesnt end in disaster.
I may do Petit and Road America IMSA races as these are two tracks I know and would probably do OK in the Gold class.
Qualifying times are closer together, and the racing is generally tighter.
And, some people actually like "rubbin paint" as long as it doesnt end in disaster.
I may do Petit and Road America IMSA races as these are two tracks I know and would probably do OK in the Gold class.
#17
Burning Brakes
Join Date: Jul 2004
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I was hoping they'd come back to Mosport this year and I'd give it a go. And if they had have forked up the $$$ for the F1 in Montreal, I'd definitely have gone to that. But the $20k for the fuel cell is also an issue.
#18
Rennlist Member
Would that fuel cell be legal in PCA? or would you have to retrofit back and forth if choosing to run both?
#20
Rennlist Member
I wish I wouldnt have spun in the same place in both races. It literally cost me 5 places in both races. I would have finished 7th or 8th in the first race starting from close the very back (my qualifying was not good - I just couldnt put a decent lap together in the beginning) - I think 22nd in class out of 24 gold class cars. But I was doing fairly well until I spun. Still managed to pass some more cars but finished 13th in class. If I hadnt spun I think I would have won the hard charger. The 2nd race I finished 10th but again I had lost 5 places due to my bonehead spin. Oh well, i just need to keep working at improving.
In the second race I got rammed pretty hard in the back at the start going into turn 5. It was a bottleneck and everyone had to slow way down but the guy behind me didnt react in time. Well during the race I kept feeling like I was way down on power. I was thinking "why are these guys pulling away from me" when I knew they didnt have a run on me out of the corner.
Well after the race Greg Jones from 3G Motorsports (they do my support) said I was probably down 30-40 HP because when the guy hit me my muffler got smashed and bent pretty good and closed off the left exhaust outlet about 75% and the j-pipe that connects the header to the muffler was bent and closed off about 80-90%.
I dont feel like that really had any bearing on where I finished but it was certainly frustrating - especially when I got the bill for it!!!
#21
Rennlist Member
It is every bit of $25K per event! It can be more too!
Because of the "rubbing" is one part of the cost, entry fee is higher and support as well - just as Chris mentions.
The "bump" that I experienced from someone hitting me in the back - new muffler from PMNA is over $6K, the little j-pipe that connect the header to the muffler is $421, and a new rear bumper - not even sure how much. I had a spare for this time that I bought used for $750. (plus paint and vinyl).
When you factor in ALL expenses incurred - including your own travel costs and what not - figure $30K
I am working on sponsorship right now. Otherwise I am out for the rest of the year. Business is tough now and there is no way I can afford to do this.
But I will say it is much more fun in my opinion than PCA. Competition is tighter as mentioned so I MUST continue to improve if I want to do well. I think I was getting complacent in PCA to some degree. (The guy that won in the gold class both races was turning the same times during this race as Wolf Henzler when Wolf drove his car in January at Sebring!! 2:09.4 - Very impressive! And he was a very nice guy - not cocky or arrogant at all! (Keep in mind the Yokohama spec tire is about 2.5 to 3 seconds slower than the Michelin at Sebring! That was confirmed by back to back testing in January by Patrick Long in a 2010 Cup car!)
And to have the TV coverage is very cool too.
Plus when you are lined up on the front straight and you see all the RV's and spectators and what not - it is just cool! This is the real deal. I am glad that Darrel C. convinced me to give it a try!
#22
Rennlist Member
On the upside, the capability of the people in the top 1/3 to 1/2 of the grin in Patron is generally higher than at even the largest PCA racing.
Qualifying times are closer together, and the racing is generally tighter.
And, some people actually like "rubbin paint" as long as it doesnt end in disaster.
I may do Petit and Road America IMSA races as these are two tracks I know and would probably do OK in the Gold class.
Qualifying times are closer together, and the racing is generally tighter.
And, some people actually like "rubbin paint" as long as it doesnt end in disaster.
I may do Petit and Road America IMSA races as these are two tracks I know and would probably do OK in the Gold class.
#23
Rennlist Member
I just hope I can be there too!!!
#24
Burning Brakes
Join Date: Jul 2004
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I think you're right though in terms of competition with the Patron series. I did a GrandAm test at Daytona with TRG in December, the first test for the 24hr. I was 24th out of 24 cars. But man, did I learn a lot that weekend. Then I looked at my times vs. PCA GTA times and my best time would have been good enough for 2nd, and that was after about 75 mins of time over the 2 days (and first time in a GA car, and first time in a Cup at Daytona). So, I'm confident I can get there, with time and effort (and lotsa $$$!).
#25
Addict
Rennlist Member
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I've done a few IMSA races. They are way more expensive then PCA. Support is usually two to three times as much. Most teams realign the cars between every session. Race engineers are the norm as are pro coaches. At Miller last year we went through 5 sets of Yoks and you need to buy insurance for each race at around 4500 per weekend. And damage is the norm. It's a lot of fun but painfully expensive.
Good job Matt.
Good job Matt.
Last edited by JimB; 04-21-2010 at 11:21 PM.
#27
Race Car
just watched the Patron GT3 challenge at NJMP. Cool racing.
are these racers all amateurs? well funded amateurs? any prize money? do you pay the costs up front out of your own pocket unless you have sponsorship? is it basically the top levels of gentleman racing, or more a stepping-stone to higher levels of racing?
are these racers all amateurs? well funded amateurs? any prize money? do you pay the costs up front out of your own pocket unless you have sponsorship? is it basically the top levels of gentleman racing, or more a stepping-stone to higher levels of racing?
#28
just watched the Patron GT3 challenge at NJMP. Cool racing.
are these racers all amateurs? well funded amateurs? any prize money? do you pay the costs up front out of your own pocket unless you have sponsorship? is it basically the top levels of gentleman racing, or more a stepping-stone to higher levels of racing?
are these racers all amateurs? well funded amateurs? any prize money? do you pay the costs up front out of your own pocket unless you have sponsorship? is it basically the top levels of gentleman racing, or more a stepping-stone to higher levels of racing?
#30
Drifting