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Sorry to hear about the weekend going that way. I hear that Mosport is an incredible track to drive, but I suppose that sword cuts both ways.
Variety isn't such a bad thing anyway. Maybe next year you'll be able to try a track that's new to you?
I tried drag racing, but kept blowing the apex for turn 2...
Andre - Sorry to hear you had a rough weekend...but if it's any consolation...you were not alone... I'm sure you know of Jeff's GT6 weekend (engine failure Friday)... well I can add that Dan had a similar weekend as you with the MGB - we missed the Sunday feature too (clutch failure). And I won't describe his drive to the track other than to say what should have been a 4 hour run down the 401 became a 17 hour trip. Can't really blame the track - although I have heard grumblings about a "Mosport black cloud". 
I spent most of my races alone.
There seem to be no one to play with this year.
I matched my best time from last year during the Sunday morning race. Great recovery after Saturday's issues.
Would have built on that, but the 2nd race on Sunday I noticed the clutch issues and opted to take it back down a notch to finish the race.
Just never regained my momentum from Friday.
1968 Triumph GT6 Mk1
Sorry to hear things didn't work out. In case you change your mind, we have a very nice Fall event at the Glen (after the "big" event.....which is great, but our's is more low-key. And cheaper).
The Glen is a neat venue in the Fall.....I've been running Fall events there for over 10 year. Sometimes it's cold and sometimes we even get snow. But it's all part of the deal.
Enjoy Every Sandwich ~ W.Z.
In reply to AndreGT6: Hey Andre' it was great to see you at Mosport, sorry about the clutch. Hopefully I'll be able to at least stay in your rear view mirror next year as I learn the course.
Cheers
Vince
In reply to aeronca65t: Once I've run Mosport a few times and have my feet wet the GLEN is my next stop.. Maybe next fall if I'm lucky.
Vince
One day I'll do the Glen. When I did the reenactment I was hooked.
Yeah Vince you saw my issues with the weekend first hand.
I'd be more then happy to run with you next year.
For the time being I'm going to order parts and sort out the car.
Going to town on the suspension. The car is clearly fast, minus the back straight. Stops well enough and steers very cleanly, its just the loose feeling over the concrete patches I can't stand.
Very bad through 2, 3 and 9/10. Key corners you do not want to mess up.
I'll work on the videos tonight.
A.
1968 Triumph GT6 Mk1
Sorry you didn't have fun last weekend Andre but problems are part of racing, especially in Vintage cars. Our cars were running right on the edge of technology and materials science in the day and unless you're redesigning and forging your own hardware, with modern materials, things are going to break when pushed to the hard.
Fixing broken parts is no fun and doing it at the track, under the gun to get back out sucks. On the flip side I have some great stories about heroic efforts by my friends (and competitors) to swap a tranny or repair an exhaust (with parts off my trailer) between runs, just to have something else fall off. Most racers will give you the shirt (fireproof suit actually, happened to a friend last weekend) off their back or the skin off their knuckles to get you on track.
We've all been there, all the prep in the world won't guarantee a win, just look at how many F1 cars are listed as DNF - Mechanical on any given weekend.
You're doing what you love, racing cars and being at the track. If so, appreciate how cool it is when everything goes right. The weekend ends up with the car on the trailer, all set for the next event. It will happen, don't get discouraged.
mike
63 Spitfire
In reply to AndreGT6: I'll look forward to the videos Andre'.
Your car looked pretty good out there for handling from what I could see you were around corner 5 pretty nice. Have fun in the garage...
Vince
I snapped this photo at turn 5b not even realing it was Andre at the time. I'll check my files and see if I have any others.
Sorry to hear about your mechanical problems, but back in the old days we had an expression when bad things happen - "that's racin'"
Yes racin' is a cruel friend.
I am starting to feel better, but have lots of work to do.
A.
1968 Triumph GT6 Mk1
Andre, The new class structure at VARAC is good for some and not so good for others. To be more certain of having someone to run with, come to the regional races at Mosport. I'm fairly certain the "small bore" and "large bore" will run together, so there should be a better spread of times. I got my Novice license this spring, but our car isn't ready so I'll be sharing a car at the regionals. I'll probably be bringing up the rear for a while!
Ken Lee Novice Alfa Dog
1968 Triumph GT6 Mk1
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Andre -
At least the track looked dry. I drove 10hrs from Portland OR's rain to end up with 4 days of rain in NoCal at Infineon Raceway for the Sonoma Historics. On the final lap of our final main Sunday race I kissed the tire wall and ended my whole 2011 season as repairs must now be made which take will take "time & money". Here's what it looked like on our Saturday qualifier, finish 2nd out of 30.
Dougie
Nice video! I recognize some of those cars (I know some of my friends were there). When I first started racing with VRG, I was classed with the faster MGBs, TR6s, etc (because my car had a 1500) and was getting murdered. I pointed out that my laptimes would place me midpack with the smaller engine Sprite, Midgets, Spits, etc. So they moved me down to that group. I don't know if VARAC with "negotiate" like that. Judging from how some of those MGBs were pulling away, your car is about as fast as mine. I wonder how long the engine lasts in that FIAT 850? (seen around 9 min). Anything that goes like that with an engine that small, probably has a "hand grenade" engine.
Dougie: Sorry to hear about your car. That sucks!
Enjoy Every Sandwich ~ W.Z.
Dougie I can relate to the tire wall thing.
As per the class its a 1.8L car.
My friends in the same car are coasting by me.
So its time for suspension work and maybe new tires. I've felt the car's pace and know I can be quick, just struggled thats all.
Feeling better about the weekend.
I will being tearing the car down this weekend and see what I need to buy.
A.
I bet if the setup was stiffer she'd be tripoding.
1968 Triumph GT6 Mk1
In reply to AndreGT6: Nice Video Andre' thanks for sharing... I'm curious what your topping out at for RPMs and MPH in your runs.
I'll have to make sure I'm set up to video my first run around Mosport....
When are you out again? Will you make it to Celebration in the fall? I should have Brutus out by then for a little test and tune and maybe scrutineering and elegibility..
Vince
Depends on the corner. I dont have low end grunt like you will. So my goal is to bomb around at between 5-7K in the turns.
That said.
I am done for the season.
I want to redo the whole spring and shock setup so that is rather $$$$.
We dont know what the spring rates are and those shocks are pretty worn out.
So doing 4 corners is the Fall Classic at MT.
So I will aim for Mosport in 2012.
BTW CAA credited me for the pain they caused me last Sunday.
Thats what I pulled out of the tire.
1968 Triumph GT6 Mk1
In reply to AndreGT6: Holy tire issue batman!! Nice that CASC gave you some credit at least.
Ya, grunt I guess is true.. Actually, I've done some research and found the GT6 was lab tested years ago with the stock manifold versus a performance header and the performance curves showed the stock manifold outperforms at mid rpm say 2500 to 4500, so I figure my first upgrade will be a mid range cam and some compression rather than over building the engine for high RPMs and I'll run no higher than normal red line. I figure it will be more reliable and mildly competitive with about 130HP. Next year however I'm running bone stock..
Good luck with the suspension work. I've got the 1" lower springs in Brutus and picked up a 1" lowering block I'll be dropping in shortly. I think I'll have to do more with the rear set up but it's a start.
Cheers
Vince
Vince wrote: In reply to AndreGT6: Holy tire issue batman!! Nice that CASC gave you some credit at least. Ya, grunt I guess is true.. Actually, I've done some research and found the GT6 was lab tested years ago with the stock manifold versus a performance header and the performance curves showed the stock manifold outperforms at mid rpm say 2500 to 4500, so I figure my first upgrade will be a mid range cam and some compression rather than over building the engine for high RPMs and I'll run no higher than normal red line. I figure it will be more reliable and mildly competitive with about 130HP. Next year however I'm running bone stock.. Good luck with the suspension work. I've got the 1" lower springs in Brutus and picked up a 1" lowering block I'll be dropping in shortly. I think I'll have to do more with the rear set up but it's a start. Have fun at M.T.
Vince
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