Month: August 2006

  • Miller Motorsports Park Round 5 of the Speed World Challenge TC

    Miller Motorsports Round 5 of the SPEED World Challenge


    TC Race Report Through the Windshield of the Woodhouse/Kicker/Viosport/Alex’s Lemonade Dodge SRT-4


    by Brian Smith


     


     


    First, forgive me for being late with the report.  Frustration, SRT Nationals (where were all the Viper owners??) and a test session account for the lateness.  Am I allowed to cuss?  Talk about highs and lows of racing.  I think we experienced it all this weekend.


     


    It was around 100 degrees every day.  Combine this with high altitude and you have the ingredients for a large portion of our frustration.  NO POWER.  It was obvious early on that we only had full power for two laps at the most.  Coolant and charge temperatures were probably higher then you would want to know.  Also, we had a failed speed sensor which kept us from full boost on the promoter’s test day.


     


    Everyone spent a lot of time working and thinking about our cooling issues.  We moved coolers, modified the fascia slightly, etc.  We would find out in the race if all this work solved the problem.  Fingers were crossed.


     


    Before we discuss the race we should probably quickly cover qualifying.  With Miller being a long track (4.8 miles) we opted to do one flying lap.  We had a good qualifying lap going until about 4 turns (there were about 24 turns) from the end.  The driver made an error that cost about 0.6 seconds.  So, instead of qualifying 6th we were 12th.  However, optimism was high for the race as long as the power hung in there.


     


    After watching the GT race my plan was to go to the outside.  The standing start was on a 3500 foot straightway before turn 1.  As we pulled into position for the start I scouted the cars around me.  I was confident the Woodhouse/Kicker/Viosport/Alex’s Lemonade Dodge SRT-4 could get a good start compared to everyone except for the all wheel drive Audi behind me.  When the starting lights came on I was ready for them to go out quickly.  I was positive they would not hold us in this heat for long, but they did.  It seemed like a minute before the lights went out.  I had a decent start.  I started to the outside when a large hole on the inside opened up.  It was so enticing I had to go for it.  The only problem was that hole closed as I arrived.  So I quickly popped back out to the outside although I lost some momentum.  By the first turn I had picked up a couple of positions.  So far so good.


     


    Next was a great example of being lucky instead of good.  Coming into turn 5 (or was it called 4) which is about a 50 mph corner after about a 110 mph straight everyone broke much earlier then I anticipated.  In our tight racing quarters I was in big trouble because I was not going to stop in time.  A quick move to the outside under braking almost caused me to spin, but I missed everyone.  And I passed three or four cars in the process.  We were now up to 7th halfway through the first lap with only one bump on the nose, one bump on the rear fascia and tire mark on the right side of the car.  This was going to be good.


     


    It was for about a lap and half.  Then the temperatures went up and the power went down.  I found this out as I went to pass a Tri-Point Mazda and Bimmer World BMW out of a corner.  They had tangled with each other in the corner which allowed me to get inside them and have a great run onto the straight.  As I was beside them pulling away I started to lose power.  Now they were starting to pull me.  On the previous lap I had a car on the outside of me going into the upcoming corner.  He did not make the corner on the pavement.  Now I was on the outside with an extra car inside.  Unfortunately everyone else had a run on them also and were tucked in behind them.  I was in no man’s land.  So I worked myself to the inside in the corner but I was back to 11th with no power.


     


    So I proceed to run around in 11th for most of the race.  At the end we were pushing for 10th.  However, with a couple of laps left we had some type of bolt failure (a critical one since it held the tie rod to the knuckle).  So we ended up parked on the track with a tire pointed in the wrong direction.


     


    Since then another test session has improved our handling and we are working on the cooling issues.  I will go out on a limb and guarantee a top five qualifying or finish in each of the last four races of the year so stay tune.


     


    A big THANKS to Dave, Joel, Larry, Rick, Nancy and Dave for all the work in some conditions that was not ideal for working outside.


     


    Remember to go online at www.woodhouse.com to purchase your next vehicle no matter where you live, upgrade your car stereo system or purchase your SRT with Kicker products (www.kicker.com), utilize Viosport (www.viosport.com) for  your affordable rugged wearable video needs, visit www.turnonetrackevents.com for corporate and track day events and consider supporting www.alexslemonade.com in their fight against children’s cancer.

  • Miller Motorsports Park Round 6 of the Speed World Challenge GT


    Miller Motorsports Park, SLC 7/15/2006 Round Six of the Speed World Challenge GT.


    A race report from #13 Woodhouse Auto Family/Kicker/Viosport  Dodge Viper Competition Coupe.


     


     


    Before I share the race melodrama, let me say this fabulous new racing facility called Miller Motorsports Park is enough to make you like Larry Miller without knowing him.  Any person that commits 85 million to build a motor sports park this grand will make a “car guy” eternally grateful.  Located 30 minutes from the Salt Lake City Airport this facility boasts  a track of four and one half miles in length and 40 feet wide to make it the longest in the U.S.  The buildings, and amenities are world class putting this racing campus in the top 5 in the world.  The measure of  presentation put forth can be witnessed as you approach the main gate.  Among the 100 or so flags at the entrance, some are large enough to be used for a “car cover” on a 747 jetliner.   Race car garages number over 400.  A kiddy playground……, you get the picture.


     


    Hot? You bet, 105 degrees, and the faces of our people this week-end are full of color, beaten to brightness by the hot sun.   It has been two days of testing race car setups and attempts to peel open the can of speed secrets that the track gives reluctantly.  Now Friday; a lot of concerns exist among competitors on how to qualify well on a 4.5 mile track, about twice the distance of the average.   


     


    Due to the long out lap run the tires could be past their ideal tire temp and pressure.    On the grid a plan developed among the drivers, Andy Pilgrim, Ricardo Imory, James Sofranos and others agreed that we would roll our cars around slowly and put plenty of space between us in order to have tires at the proper temperature for a quick lap.  (You recall all cars qualify at the same time) 


     


    That plan lasted till turn three.  Half way through the out-lap I was passed by 10 cars. (guys must all think they are late for something.)  That little shenanigan left slower cars in front of me, geez…..  this is four and a half MILES, no crowding required.  Then comes Michael Galati, the other “G” name driver in the “At Speed” Volvo who head butts me between the taillights; what’s up with that?  Is everybody having an anxiety attack?  Testosterone levels at train derailment levels.  Forty feet wide here and this is the “warm up” lap.  Am I missing something?  Michael, a professional driver.  Maybe he hates me.  (actually the following day an apology took place) .  The timed lap starts (the one that will be fast due to tire temps,)  not one but two cars have to be overtaken to maintain the momentum, yup you guessed the Volvo is the first impediment.  But impede or no, we came away pleased with the second quickest Viper time, behind Tommy Archer and  8th in grid start position.


     


    Now high noon Saturday, the race is about to launch from it’s standing start on the front straight.  Crew Chief Rick Maxwell is next to my window doing the last minute checks, I’m listening as he asks me about start lights, switch positions, “being calm, smooth, not to rush the first lap” while in the back of my mind I ponder the start strategy.  Get to an inside line before corner one.  That could be bad.  Everybody has that same plan including the Cadillac’s.  We have a great chance of being left at the back of a Congo line.  Bam it hit me.  From this start position (cause the track is new) not one of us knows the ideal breaking point for turn one.   A crowded inside line could have issues.  We’re flippin to plan “B”. 


     


    The horns wail, the start light comes on then off and that slow motion phenomena pops out, you know, why am I waiting I know that light went out seconds ago. Finally we’re moving and as we pick up speed two lines are forming on driver left.  Nose to tail they slow for the corner, I resist the temptation to lift, and as they say on the Jefferson’s tv show, we’re ”movin on up”.  The corner arrives and we roll through the apex three wide, then two wide, then it blending into one as we turn back toward corner two feeling plan “B” was a success with three spots gained. 


     


    Corvettes of Giolotti and Reese are out front with the Lawson Porsche  and the Pilgrim Cadillac, here comes Tommy, I make room,  another lap, Tommy slows (likely to power issues he was fighting earlier in the week) and falls back, I lose track of him, full attention is needed here since the corners all have a separate personality, the car is pushing part of the time and getting loose part of the time.  (Later I blamed it on low tire pressures in the early going.)


     


    Every muscle in my scrawny body is tighter than banjo wire, I force a couple butt cheeks to relax when it happens:  In the middle of corner three an upshift becomes an event at 115 mph.  I release the clutch and my world busts loose like hell shot out of a cannon.   No longer moving forward on asphalt, but sideways on rocks and dust, looking like the plume from the liftoff of the shuttle it takes little time to realize my dysfunctional move to second gear may have just lost a top ten let alone an engine due to over-buzzing.  Now busy trying to plot a course back to asphalt, I feel like the captain of the Exxon Valdez trying to make a U-turn in a swimming pool. 


     


    The Woodhouse Viper arrives at the asphalt soon enough but with a small problem since direction of travel does not match the direction the car is pointed thus holding me hostage to one of the finer  “tank slappers” of my old but short career.  You know, left, correct the slide, right, correct the slide, then…….. yeah you got it.   The Viper and Cadillac behind me should be paying for this kind of entertainment.     As you might expect I am slowed for a few moments verifying I was screwed in the seat facing forward, checking driver suit for excessive residue etc before bringing the car back to full chat.    


     


    Grateful to just be headed in the right direction I  have little resistance to give the Caddy and Viper of Mike McCann.  A bit later Mike McCann and I have some great nose to tail running.  Being a smart racer he over slows his car mid corner on occasion to shake me loose and in doing so we both lose our chance to hang with the Caddy in front of him.  Mike left  a couple of passing opportunities but they were on the “very risky” menu.  As the checker fell Rick radioed my earpieces that we were  6th..  That certainly works thank you very much since it maintains our sixth position in drivers points so far this year.  Our drama man, Lou Giolotti slowed down to win the race.  Dear reader you are to interpret that as you wish.  Thanks for your wonderful support.  Watch it on SPEED this coming week end:


    SPEED Touring Car: Sat., July 22, 3 p.m.
    SPEED GT: Sat., July 22, 4 p.m.
    TV Times are Eastern


    The Woodhouse Auto Family/Kicker/Viosport/#13 Dodge Viper  and Dodge Neon SRT-4 are gratefully supported by these fine people.  Please consider their great products and services.


    Woodhouse Auto Family www.woodhouse.com  find 5000 new and used on line. Kicker www.kicker.com, Viosport www.viosport.com  


    See the hot line-up of SRT products www.dodge.com.


    If you want to feel good about yourself, then go to this web site and consider a serious donation. www.alexslemonade.com


     


    Bob Woodhouse


    for Woodhouse Auto Family and Woodhouse Performance.  800 889 1893

  • Infineon Raceway Round 5 of the Speed WOrld Challenge GT

    Infineon Raceway  6/24/2006 Round Five of the Speed World Challenge GT.


    A race report from #13 Woodhouse Auto Family/Kicker/Viosport  Dodge Viper Competition Coupe. That is a mouthful


     


    As I write, I am listening to Joe Namath on TV telling the audience he used to “throw up” before a big game.  I can identify.  I haven’t thrown up….. yet,  just don’t eat, but the tension, the self doubt, the question of outcome, all raise hell with inner calm as the final moments before the start of the race.  It drags on like molasses running uphill in January.  Competitors can’t hide it either; “How do you plan to start?”  “What if I am on your tail?” nervous questions to occupy their minds.  Handshakes and good lucks are passed around with a giddiness that tells you their gut feels it too.  It’s Saturday now, mid-afternoon and the TC race is about to end, most of the drivers are on the wall trying to stay cool, waiting to get in our cars for the GT race. 


     


    Fans are peppered throughout the half dozen huge grandstands of this massive upgraded facility called Infineon now, old timers still call it Sear Point.  I prefer to think they are all here for the World Challenge events;  we are but two of the many races this week-end culminating in the Dodge 350 Nextel Cup race.  These folks are hardcore, enduring the 100 degree heat but immersed in a terrific atmosphere that would make any Kicker enthusiast proud, good music wafting out over good equipment.   This place runs like a Swiss watch all day replacing one racing venue, the cars, equipment and pit crews with another in just minutes.


     


    The Race:


    It’s time; the presentation lap, flag girls, and start boxes are all complete and we watch Kathy drop the 5 second board while bringing  the rpm’s up to 4000 and glue to the official Whelen red lights for that first flicker of “off”.  Now it’s the zone, where focus forces time into slow motion.  Did I just see them dim?  No, oops yes, oh dang why did I wait that extra bit, why isn’t the clutch foot moving quicker, why is the car in front of me not moving yet, it sure is noisy right now, hey that wasn’t a bad launch.  We pull second gear with the nose of #13 at the door of Rob Foster’s #17 Lime Green Viper gridded 6th to our 7th.  Hmm looking mighty crowded as we approach the blind right hander at the top of the hill.  Rob falls back and makes room as most of the field negotiates two and three wide racing through the opening lap corners.


     


    As the laps begin to “melt” away I find two quick cars, the Sofranos GMG Porsche and Jon Grooms AXA Financial Porsche driven by Lawson Auschenbach on my back side.  “Ignore em and just drive like your on an island with your ass on fire” I tell myself.   That works until I make a slight bauble in turn three and Sofronas, who is driving like a rifle bullet sneaks up the inside en route to corner 4a. 


    Contact is eminent if I don’t yield, it’s time.  In his wake comes Lawson, closing the door would be risky and wrong.  Lawson is leading the driver points and I don’t want the responsibility of altering his destiny.  Lap 13, radio to Rick, “where did Rob Foster go?  He was in my mirrors a minute ago”.  Rick: “mechanical I think.”   No time to ponder as my cabin was alive with its own diversions.  The ice chest in the passenger side assigned to keep my cool shirt just that; started doing jumping jacks.  Now completely loose, it went crazy in turn three, as the car crested the hill, a lack of gravity and down hill braking made it attempt a kiss on the inside of the windshield.  Its acrobatic tendencies freed it from all appendages including the cold water tubing to the vest.  Stay positive Bob, saunas are healthy so why not this. 


     


    Then in turn seven the yellow Corvette of Greg Weigert has pulled off line and is blossoming with flames, the fire teams are on it like ants to a hill.  It is sure to bring a full coarse yellow and does, about three laps, long enough for the field to bunch, tires to cool and a plan to develop.  “Rick, keep a hard eye on that re-start, when the front goes green I want to be racin, not nappin.”  Rick did us proud and the throttle hit the wall sooner than Lawson’s AXA Porsche to put us side by side going up the hill into turn one.  You can’t take anything away from Lawson Auschenbach, easily anyway, as we ran door to door for the next three corners and at 4a he reluctantly handed the position back for the remainder of our adventure giving us a 7th position finish.  To make this result feel really fulfilling we managed to drop a valve keeper on the final practice session, the evening before race day.  The quickest way out was to change the engine, thanks go to Autohaus and 3R for their help.  Rick and Nancy stayed up until 1 AM getting the fire lit in the fresh engine.  You guys are incredible, thanks.


     


    There’s more drama but first a word for you devoted Viper people.


     


    Dodge made up 36% of the starting grid today and we qualified 5 cars in the top ten.  Tommy Archer and Mike McCann in the top 5.  Great news and as the politics of racing are there to be reckoned with, expect to have to defend these successes.  Other marques, not populating the top spots as heavily will have concern.  For that reason I want you to hear my opinion.  We are represented well because of the quality of preparation, the quality of drivers and obviously a reliable competitive car, and in that order.  Other whininess, er I mean reasons will undoubtedly be brought to the SCCA officials, we must trust in them for good and fair judgment in their decisions.


     


    Which brings me to the entertainment side of racing that I have come to enjoy and think you should too.  If you are a regular to my ramblings you will recall Lou Gigliotti #28 Corvette and I have had a colorful relationship that has recently turned toward mild camaraderie, and why not, we couldn’t go much further the other way.  Lou is a deep, multifaceted person, loves to race, to win, to be a showman, to be on stage, to act; all this and I still don’t know him well.  Recently Lou took a new approach.  Since SCCA judged his car to be a little too quick (dominating the competition by over one second a lap) they decided to size his air intake restrictor down a bit and take 400 rpm off of his motor. 


     


    Lou took it upon himself to set these deranged decision makers straight since they have over-slowed the Corvette and asked all of the Viper owners individually if they would consider his talent as a Viper driver in any of the remaining races this season, thus a point can be proven, Lou is the key to his winning ways, not the car.  So far, no takers.  Here’s the irony: during practice and qualifying the  #28 Corvette’s lap times were about mid-pack, you know, less motor, can’t expect too much.  So then…………..Lou sets the fastest lap of the entire race, gets the “coolest move” award for a couple of fabulous passes and finds himself making a stop and go for punching Rich Marziele in his White Viper CC mid corner on 11.  What’s up with that?  Geez maybe it is the driver.  Lou finished a commendable 10th after all that.   I don’t make this stuff up.    


    Rich is now a member in good standing of the “I’ve Been Crashed by LG Club”.  Where would we be without Lou , the drama, the twists, the posturing, it just makes sense, it all adds to the show. As official Pat Daniteli puts it:  “That’s just Lou”.


     


    Lets cut it off here, but stay on the edge of your seats, you can learn who won and all the real stuff June 8th on SPEED at 4pm est, Touring Car at 3pm eastern also. www.speedtv.com  or  www.world-challenge.com


     


    Our Woodhouse Auto Family/Kicker/Viosport/ Dodge SRT-4 completed the best result so far in the hands of our Brian Smith, 28 seconds back of the leader.  The team is resolving to the fact that we have a lot of development left even though we have come miles.  Brian will tell you the story.


     


    I would hate myself if I didn’t finish with some shameless hawking:  Remember the Kicker people www.kicker.com, Viosport www.viosport.com, and of course Woodhouse Auto Family www.woodhouse.com in fact, check em all out right here on line. www.dodge.com to see the hot line-up of SRT products.


    If you want to feel good about yourself, then go to this web site and consider a serious donation. www.alexslemonade.com


     


     Bob Woodhouse