We had unresolved engine misfiring problems (Bent valves, MSD failure, AEM failure, faulty wiring, bad coil…?), but ultimately a simple $100 part put a pitiful close to our miserable season. We blew a radiator hose in practice… after getting towed in, we discovered that one of the head gaskets was leaking. We don’t know if the over heating from the ruptured hose was the cause of the gasket failure, or if the gasket failure lost enough water to over heat and blow the hose… either way we needed to pull the engine before we could race again. VIR was out and we soon found out that Barber was hopeless. California would be a loosing battle with the current rule configuration.
Over the past 5 races our luck has worked the Goodson staff extremely hard, so when we learned that it would be impossible to schedule this engine repair before Barber (on the following Wednesday), we hardly put up a fight.
Barber was our last big hope for this season. We expected a top 10 at VIR and a top 3 at Barber. Barber is a track that favors good handling and doesn’t accentuate high horsepower. Another benefit is the relative newness of this facility (It’s hard to beat 10 years of track knowledge) We tested here earlier in the year with our 3.0 5-speed configuration and were running times equal to last years Pole position. We since dialed in better with our suspension, we gained improved use of our HP with an ignition modification, improved our gearing, and increased our HP with this new 3.2 engine.
Despite our revised web site, newly released sponsor proposal, track experience, and tons of valuable research, design and knowledge with the NSX… I’m afraid were out of options. DAL will likely not continue to campaign the NSX next year without a small miracle. Were out of personal money, and don’t have a good track record to expect a sponsor. Even if we decided to stick it out and personally invest what it took to just get by, the rules for the NSX would make it non competitive for a points race. The NSX is a platform that neither Honda nor the Grand-Am association is willing to endorse or support. I may be redundant with previous posts, but we chose the NSX because of our pure opinion that this would be the best platform for winning races in a street stock class. And in true form it is the best, but in order for a racing association to thrive as a business they need to allow concessions to the less competitive cars for a more even field. This in theory is acceptable (I for one would rather the manufacturers step up and make better cars), unfortunately the current configuration allows the manipulation of results based on a number of potential variables, and can actually be used to control the outcome of race’s with more weight then a driver or even a team. We have learned a lot about pro racing and understand that any business including a race association, wants results that will most benefit the business. We also understand that it is better business for a series to support the manufacturers that advertise the most and will continue the growth of the race organization and the series following of supporters. As a racer we picked the best car, as a team and business it wouldn’t make sense to campaign a car that isn’t supported by the manufacturer. Were looking at other current (supported) Acura’s, but find it hard to give up on the better engineered car.
Oh- another error in our previous thinking was that to run a Porsche for instance would be foolish. We figured that we would get lost in the “Me Too” club of same old cars.
But where there is quantity there is an interest in keeping them happy… if 25% of the field were to disappear because they weren’t competitive, the series wouldn’t have a good venue to watch. Consequently the quality teams that are good can take those Porsche rules and race at less then 100% to stay competitive. The good teams sand bag to keep the rules from changing rather then step it up to be competitive again. Then theres the Cadillac… they were allowed enough concessions (before they ever raced) to actually win races? Ever track one?
I probably started to sound bitter a long time ago… I’m accustom to winning and work hard for it, quitting doesn’t sit so good either.
I will have to somehow share the sponsor proposal we put together. Eric is mainly responsible for it’s quality with minor input from the rest of the team. It’s awesome.
