daytona practice seccions best time 1:52.704 for gt class

speedsource # 70 rx-8 1:54.299
golding bros # 08 rx-8 1:58.650

looks like the guys at speed source are doing really good!!!!

Is practice over? what are the golding bros doing? what type of problems are they having. Is the 1:52 a Porsche time?

practice was january 5-7, dont have a lot of info, just saw the times today

tafel racing porche gt3 cup

I hope Pettit gets their car ready in time, having 3 new GT cars to shoot pics of would be awesome! I'll be there week of the 24hours btw if anybody wants to meet up.

and hope the golding bros car gets up to speed

Well, looks like Pettit won't have their car ready in time ... Cam said that they've been set back by rules changes, and have really been having a tough time making the sanctioning body happy. But the car is ready he says, on the dyno right now. I'll try to get him to at least bring the car up to Daytona and maybe do a few practice laps. I know a lot of people would like to see what they've done.

boost7 got any pictures of cam's car? hope they can make it if only for a few practice laps

I heard of the guys at tamborine working on a car? any info on this?

if only I could be there :mad:

There is a rumor that there one or two more RX-8 GT's being prepp'd for Daytona beyond these mentioned... let's hope this happens!

Kudos to SpeedSpource!

-Bern

some pics from testing:

http://www.daytona24hr.com/24hr2006/rolex24hr010506/image/010506test208.jpg

http://www.daytona24hr.com/24hr2006/rolex24hr010506/image/010506test273.jpg

http://www.daytona24hr.com/24hr2006/rolex24hr010506/image/010506test383.jpg

Is practice over? what are the golding bros doing? what type of problems are they having. Is the 1:52 a Porsche time?

YUP...

Wolf Henzler made it three days in-a-row for the No. 74 Tafel Racing Porsche GT3 atop the GT time charts after posting a class-best lap at 1:52.704 (113.714 mph) The No. 74 machine will be driven by Andrew Davis, Eric Lux, Graham Rahal and Charles Espenlaub in the Rolex 24 At Daytona

Practice 1 (01-05-2006)
-Tremblay/ Haskell SpeedSource Mazda RX-8 1:58.347 108.292
-Goldin/ Goldin/ Finlay Goldin Brothers Racing Mazda RX-8 No Time
-TBA Team Spencer Motorsports Mazda RX-8 No Time

Practice 2 (01-05-2006)
-Tremblay/ Haskell SpeedSource Mazda RX-8 1:58.347 108.292
-Goldin/ Goldin/ Finlay Goldin Brothers Racing Mazda RX-8 No Time
-TBA Team Spencer Motorsports Mazda RX-8 No Time

Practice 3 (01-05-2006)
-Tremblay/ Haskell SpeedSource Mazda RX-8 1:57.017 109.523
-Goldin/ Goldin/ Finlay Goldin Brothers Racing Mazda RX-8 2:03.368 103.884
-TBA Team Spencer Motorsports Mazda RX-8 No Time

Practice 4 (01-05-2006)
-Tremblay/ Haskell SpeedSource Mazda RX-8 1:59.066 107.638
-Goldin/ Goldin/ Finlay Goldin Brothers Racing Mazda RX-8 2:03.266 103.970
-TBA Team Spencer Motorsports Mazda RX-8 No Time

Practice 5 (01-06-2006)
-Tremblay/ Haskell SpeedSource Mazda RX-8 1:56.059 110.427
-Goldin/ Goldin/ Finlay Goldin Brothers Racing Mazda RX-8 2:07.229 100.732
-TBA Team Spencer Motorsports Mazda RX-8 No Time

Practice 6 (01-06-2006)
-Tremblay/ Haskell SpeedSource Mazda RX-8 1:55.543 110.920
-Goldin/ Goldin/ Finlay Goldin Brothers Racing Mazda RX-8 2:07.031 100.889
-TBA Team Spencer Motorsports Mazda RX-8 No Time

Practice 7 (01-07-2006)
-Tremblay/ Haskell SpeedSource Mazda RX-8 1:54.299 112.127
-Goldin/ Goldin/ Finlay Goldin Brothers Racing Mazda RX-8 1:58.650 108.015
-TBA Team Spencer Motorsports Mazda RX-8 No Time

Practice 8 (01-07-2006)
-Tremblay/ Haskell SpeedSource Mazda RX-8 1:56.234 110.260
-Goldin/ Goldin/ Finlay Goldin Brothers Racing Mazda RX-8 2:06.038 101.684
-TBA Team Spencer Motorsports Mazda RX-8 No Time


-Bern

It's Dannis Spencers car ready? was it on the track?

thanks for all the info Bern!

These RX-8 GT cars are running under the new prep2 rules with tubeframe chasis?

And they have the 20B powerplant?

Yes. Tubeframe and 20B.

Yes. Tubeframe and 20B.holy cow, that's awesome! :rock:

I heard they can make 400+ rwhp :rock

with this performance if they can last the 24 hrs they will be in the top 10

It's David Spencers car ready? was it on the track?

thanks for all the info Bern!

If you mean Dennis Spencer, yes it is ready and Team Spencer will be there for sure. Be prepared to see areal contender. I am heading down on Friday am for the Grand Am cup race and will stay for the duration of the 24.

I just noticed the little article in GRM that talks about the Speedsource cars. It mentions that it has carbon fiber body panels and that you can buy a complete car from Speedsource from $280,000.

sorry I meant Dennis!

thats great news so we are going to see 3 rx-8!

wish I could be there :mad:

holy cow, that's awesome! :rock:
It may be awesome, but, they are hardly rx-8's anymore. And they are competing against unibody cars, which is lame.

It may be awesome, but, they are hardly rx-8's anymore. And they are competing against unibody cars, which is lame.true, but it still promotes the rotary engine and mazda. what i wonder is whether they will still run the regular 8 in the ST class.

too bad the TV coverage always focusses on the Daytona Prototypes. But hopefully with a 24 hour race, we can get some nice action of the RX-8.

How about a rotary powered Daytona Prototype? That would be sweet.
Can a 20B be tuned to produce 500 hp without a turbo or supercharger? :)


Manufacturers are welcome to submit any production-based engine for approval in the series but turbos and superchargers are not permitted. Engines that are currently approved for competition include powerplants from Pontiac (5-liter V-8), Lexus (4.3 liter V-8), BMW (5-liter V-8), Porsche (3.9 liter flat six), Ford (5-liter V-8) and Infiniti (4.3 liter V-8). All engines are tuned to produce around 500 horsepower and each is capable of being mated to any of the approved Daytona Prototype chassis which creates an interesting variety of chassis/engine combinations

It may be awesome, but, they are hardly rx-8's anymore. And they are competing against unibody cars, which is lame.Maybe you didn't look carefully at which cars it runs against:
Pontiac GTO-R - :The car is designed around a GM LS2 small-block V-8 engine, and is comprised of a purpose-built tube-frame chassis. " Link (http://www.theracersgroup.com/team/gto_r/cars.htm).
The Porsche 911 GT3 Cup car looks to be based on a 911 but it is a thoroughbred racer. Keep in mind Porsche has been building and racing and developing this beast for many more years than Mazda RX8s, Pontiac GTOs etc. It aint a street car.
The same can be said of all the cars in the GT class. Rolex is run by Nascar so there are rules to equalize the field. Specs are specs and this is a reality in racing. Ever watch Speed World Challenge? Those cars are not even close to the production version.
In Grand Am Cup, the cars are closest to stock and there will be plenty of RX-8s to support.

Ever watch Speed World Challenge? Those cars are not even close to the production version.
Watched, among other things.

I know all about the cars competing in GAC, and there organizing body. I don't like that Porsche runs unibody while everyone else gets to skip the hard part and slap together a tube frame car.

why? its not like Porsche is handicapped, they still place quite well for a unibody car

You're right, Porsche isn't handicapped. It just seems like they;re giving other teams the easy way out. Building a tube fram car is a lot easier than a unibody. The attitude seems to be, "Well, nobody wants to/can put the effort in to beating Porsche on the equal ground, so here, we'll give them the easy way out"

Part of the challenge, and part of the appeal of GT racing is seeing what a car is capable of. I really don't care to see what some steel tubes with an engine is capable of.

You're right, Porsche isn't handicapped. It just seems like they;re giving other teams the easy way out. Building a tube fram car is a lot easier than a unibody. The attitude seems to be, "Well, nobody wants to/can put the effort in to beating Porsche on the equal ground, so here, we'll give them the easy way out"

Part of the challenge, and part of the appeal of GT racing is seeing what a car is capable of. I really don't care to see what some steel tubes with an engine is capable of.
I can't argue with what interests you. I also like to see the cars in as stock a form as possible. That is why watching the ST cars is so excting for me. I recommend showroom stock racing or the various Touring classes (T1/T2/T3)? That is about as pure as you are gonna get. The only coverage that gets on TV is the Runoffs. You can go watch SCCA races at your local roadcourse thoughout the year. Heck slap a cage in your car, put in a fuel cell, and a fire system and you can go bang fenders in T3 this year.
All that being said I am very excited about the GT cars. I look forward to watching the different RX8s built by 3 different teams and see how they do against each other as well as against everyone else in their class. I think the cars look awesome and will have sound and performance to match. Maybe I'll get a Calvin pissing on Porsche sticker for the back window of my RX8.

I agree that the ST class is also very exciting. I also really like the SCCA World Challenge Touring cars, where I root for the Mazda6 and the (almost no remaining of these) Mazda Protege.

porche can develop their own tube frame car

true, but it still promotes the rotary engine and mazda. what i wonder is whether they will still run the regular 8 in the ST class.
Yes, SS will be running the ST cars. The ST cars do not run in the 24-hour, but in a shorter support race run previous to the 24-hour, IIRC.

-Bern

If you mean Dennis Spencer, yes it is ready and Team Spencer will be there for sure. Be prepared to see areal contender. I am heading down on Friday am for the Grand Am cup race and will stay for the duration of the 24.
Unfortunately, Team Spencer didn't get much practice or testing time in, but I do look for them to run good.

-Bern

too bad the TV coverage always focusses on the Daytona Prototypes. But hopefully with a 24 hour race, we can get some nice action of the RX-8.

How about a rotary powered Daytona Prototype? That would be sweet.
Can a 20B be tuned to produce 500 hp without a turbo or supercharger? :)


Manufacturers are welcome to submit any production-based engine for approval in the series but turbos and superchargers are not permitted. Engines that are currently approved for competition include powerplants from Pontiac (5-liter V-8), Lexus (4.3 liter V-8), BMW (5-liter V-8), Porsche (3.9 liter flat six), Ford (5-liter V-8) and Infiniti (4.3 liter V-8). All engines are tuned to produce around 500 horsepower and each is capable of being mated to any of the approved Daytona Prototype chassis which creates an interesting variety of chassis/engine combinations
Unfortunately, it would take a 4-rotor Rotary (500+ hp in NA form) in Prototypes, and Grand-Am is not interested in letting this "race" motor into the class. They were petitioned, but showed NO interest, and Mazda has no other "production-based engine" suitable!

N/A 20B would struggle mightly to get close to 500hp level needed... :crying: and Grand-Am was not ready to give any extreme weight breaks.

-Bern

Thats bad news, it would have been great to see a 4 rotor DP.

Well, it's a different ball game in ALMS ;)

Well, it's a different ball game in ALMS ;)
Well in the top ALMS (P1 - Protoype1) class, they would have to compete against the mighty Audi team and super quick Lolas... in (P2 - Protoype2) the B-K Motorsports (3-rotor) team is getting killed by the Porsche-Penske Team.

ALMS Sebring Test the last few days:

American Le Mans Series Winter Test at Sebring International Raceway

Monday
#6 Penske Racing's Porsche RS Spyder: 1:49.93 (LMP2)
(0.1 seconds off the pole-sitting time from last year's Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring, set by JJ Lehto in an Audi R8)

#9 Highcroft Racing Lola EX257-AER: 1:50.747 (LMP1)
Duncan Dayton, Rick Knoop, Gregor Fisken and Andy Wallace

#37 Lola B05/40-AER: 1:50.840 (LMP1)
Clint and Jon Field, and Liz Halliday

#16 Dyson Lola B06/10: 1:51.545 (LMP1)
James Weaver

#2 Audi Sport North America's Audi R10: 1:54.25 (LMP1)
Rinaldo Capello

#1 Audi Sport North America's Audi R10: 1:54.547 (LMP1)
Frank Biela

#8 B-K Motorsports' Mazda-powered Courage C65: 1:57.304. (LMP2)


Tuesday
Session 4
1. Maassen/Luhr/Collard, 1:49.477 (121.669 mph), Porsche RS Spyder (LMP2)

2. Dyson/Weaver, 1:50.665 (120.363 mph), Lola B06/10-AER (LMP1)

3. Capello, 1:51.808 (119.133 mph), Audi R10 (LMP1)

4. Dayton/Knoop/Fisken/Wallace, 1:52.168 (118.750 mph), Lola EX257-AER (LMP1)

5. Field/Field/Halliday, 1:53.826 (117.021 mph), Lola B05/40-AER (LMP2)

6. Cosmo/Matos, 1:55.960 (114.867 mph), Courage C65-Mazda (LMP2)

14. Biela, no time, Audi R10 (LMP1)


Session 5
1. Capello, 1:48.816 (122.408 mph), Audi R10 (LMP1)

2. Dyson/Weaver, 1:52.288 (118.624 mph), Lola B06/10-AER (LMP1)

3. Field/Field/Halliday, 1:52.676 (118.215 mph), Lola B05/40-AER (LMP2)

4. Biela, 1:54.037 (116.804 mph), Audi R10 (LMP1)

5. Dayton/Knoop/Fisken/Wallace, 1:57.101 (113.748 mph), Lola EX257-AER (LMP1)

6. Cosmo/Matos, 1:57.244 (113.609 mph), Courage C65-Mazda (LMP2)

14. Maassen/Luhr/Collard, 2:18.603 (96.102 mph), Porsche RS Spyder (LMP2)


Session 6
1. Dayton/Knoop/Fisken/Wallace, 1:49.547 (121.592 mph), Lola EX257-AER (LMP1)

2. Field/Field/Halliday, 1:50.231 (120.837 mph), Lola B05/40-AER (LMP2)

3. Maassen/Luhr/Collard, 1:50.313 (120.747 mph), Porsche RS Spyder (LMP2)

4. Dyson/Weaver, 1:50.359 (120.697 mph), Lola B06/10-AER (LMP1)

5. Cosmo/Matos, 1:56.696 (114.143 mph), Courage C65-Mazda (LMP2)




NOTE: B-K Motorsports will take delivery on their new Lola "in a couple of months." Let's hope this helps.

I dint know they were going to change the chasis I heard some rumors that they wanted a lola but the problem is torque they need to get more out of the coner, they need to go 4 rotor or FI.

the porche is running as fast as a lmp1, they need to restric that car.

I heard one of the porche's blew an angine is this true?

I can't wait to see the R10 being driven in anger. Holy diesel batman

I dint know they were going to change the chasis I heard some rumors that they wanted a lola but the problem is torque they need to get more out of the coner, they need to go 4 rotor or FI.

the porche is running as fast as a lmp1, they need to restric that car.

I heard one of the porche's blew an an engine, is this true?

On the Courage chassis, the one that B-K Motorsports team is using is overweight and oversized. It's actually a LeMans style (V-10) chassis and gearbox. Way to big for the LMP2 class. I think the the car is over weight by some 300lbs or so. The X-Trac box is way overkill for this application. Also the current C65 chassis being used by the team is a sort of a hybrid that was put together from C65 front-end and older C60 rear-end parts. So, it's really not been the ideal set-up. Hopefully a proper LOLA chassis will help. The funny thing is that Courage has just released a new LMP2 chassis also.

http://www.lmsr.net/sitebuilder/images/lc751-604x307.jpg
http://www.lmsr.net/sitebuilder/images/lc752-603x192.jpg

More Info on the new Courage Chassis:
http://www.lmsr.net/jan20.html

On the Porsche, they went through at least 3 motors in testing the last few days. As for their speed, the writing was on the wall at the season final at Laguna last season. In it's first race out, it almost won it overall. Porsche has said they would like to move up to LMP1 when they get the car reliable. They will continue with their LMP2 customer program too.

-Bern

Can't wait to see B-K at Road America this summer! hopefully they have all their issues sorted out and can find some speed.

Results from Qualifying today:

30 72 GT 1 Henzler/ Liddell/ van Overbeek Tafel Racing / Porsche GT3 Cup 1:53.336 113.080 NEC/ Rembrandt Charms

31 74 GT 2 Davis/ Lux/ Espenlaub/ Tafel/ Tafel Racing / Porsche GT3 Cup 1:53.461 112.955 NEC/ Rembrandt Charms

32 82 GT 3 Werner/ Peter/ Quester/ Riccit Farnbacher Racing/ Farnbacher Loles / Porsche GT3 Cup 1:53.726 112.692 Red Bull

33 70 GT 4 Tremblay/ Haskell/ Altenburg/ SpeedSource / Mazda RX-8 1:53.846 112.573 Mazdaspeed Motorsports/ Mazda USA

more Porsches

54 08 GT 25 K Goldin/ S Goldin/ Finlay/ Ri Goldin Brothers Racing / Mazda RX-8 1:59.458 107.285 CCM Cellular

more Porsches

67 63 GT 38 Spencer/ Spencer/ Mandeville/ Team Spencer Motorsports / Mazda RX-8 No Time --- Team Spencer Motorsports





It looks like the Team Spencer ride didn't make qualifying! :(


-Bern

Does this mean they won't be able to race or will they start back of the pack?
Paul.

I hope they can star, even from the back, I saw a pic of their car and it is hot.

speedsource is doing a great job!!!

Bern: that courage chasis is beutifull, but I think they do better with the lola it is a more tested platform

theres still hope for spencer racing theres another practice seccion and another qualifayng seccion, in practice they dit a 2:05.xx

Speedsource is the only chance of being competitive - the Goldin ans Spencer teams both qualified but are waaaayyyyy off the pace

Update: Speedsource is running extremely well. They are currently 3rd in class. Those of you with Speed Channel check them out. White # 70.

Make that 2nd in class now. Go Speedsource!

Sylvain is rocking some Porsches, reminiscent of Mazda during the IMSA GTU days. Was watching... only about 22 hours to go! I'll be getting back to it later on.

Mazda has taken the lead. This is truly cool and indeed reminiscent of the good old IMSA glory days.

My former room-mate is presently in 31st in class in the #63 Dennis Spencer RX8 also. He's a very decent driver.

I'm sorry for not mentioning his name. That would be Rich Grupp and there is a full course caution due to their car having a rear suspension problem out on the track.

the #80 is out. the driver said they must have had a hole in the radiator as it was overheating.

what they don't have the rb screens? no I dont' think they do


http://img92.imageshack.us/img92/4217/rolex6qw.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Damn, they were doing so well. Hopefully they get that radiator replaced quickly.
Looks like they're down to 17th (GT) / 3 laps down as of now.

As I understand it they quit. They will not come back and finish the rest of the race.

Found a picture of another 8 on the site, but according to the standings they're also out.

http://www.daytona24hr.com/24hr2006/trackaction4/image/go9o7773.jpg

2:16 am ... I just woke up from a cat-nap in my Impala rental. After the last rotary, the 70 Speedsource car had to retire, I lost all my steam and had to crash. It's pretty hard for me to stay awake now that all rotaries are out of the race.

The good news is that the Speedsource car was absolutely ripping off some laps for a LONG time. They just overheated around midnight and couldn't go on. But that car will for sure be a force to be reconed with this year in Grand-Am!

That calls for a picture.

How about one of the Spencer car too :)

what sarted out a good 24 ended for only rx8 that was running near the front. hope stays together for the next round because the car def has the speed to win just need to work out the bug :(

Short video of the #70 car here. (http://www.rx8club.com/showthread.php?p=1219734#post1219734)

you know I meant to say #70 above duh. thanks for those pictures Ryan being stuck home working that makes it easier :-) damn that mazdaspeed front end looks awesome.

I'm not sure what bums me out more. The fact that #70 retired after leading, or that the SpeedSource car isn't painted in Lightning Yellow livery anymore. :crying:


http://www.rx8club.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=68806

i like the white better, i think the black wheels go much better with it. i didn't like the yellow/black combination before that.

I'm sure you guys realize this is not the same car right?

I can't believe this... the spencer car retires with a rear suspension failure and the goldin car retires with a broken axle in a 24hr race????

This was a 24hr race - your allowed to replace everything except the engine block and chassis for crying out loud. The GTO.R replaced its rear suspension, numerous cars replaced half shafts (including the overall winner), hell some people repaired their cars after crashing...

ugg.. either show up prepared and wanting to win or don't even enter (assuming the stated problems for the car exits were correct)

Isn't the Grand Am GT RX-8 an RX-8 in sheetmetal only?

Isn't the Grand Am GT RX-8 an RX-8 in sheetmetal only?

yup... speed source is using a tube chassis designed/buily by Riley and a 3 rotor engine... bodywork is close but has wider fender flares... i think the headlights and tailights might be real -shrug-

i'm actually glad that Porsche won despite grand-am's best efforts to make them loose with letting tube chassis cars in

Isn't the Grand Am GT RX-8 an RX-8 in sheetmetal only?


On this one (Rolex Series), it's a carbon fiber body and weighs 'bout 98 pounds....pretty awesome work!!!!

Had a good time at Daytona. English, nice to meet you out there.

Hey whiterex...very good to meet you also. I had a blast out there. I'll PM you and see if you're up for Sebring in March.

Isn't the Grand Am GT RX-8 an RX-8 in sheetmetal only?

Yep. But it's great to see any well run rotary racing effort. Speedsource is running both neaar-stock ST cars and tube-chassis GT cars in Grand AM and doing both very well.

Kudos Speedsource.

--R.

the car show its potential, it was its firt race and was allways up front .

the spencer car #63 its a real good car but it needs development time, the car was finish last week.

Any way this was the most exiting 24 daytona in the last 4-5 years, everyone is tired of the porche parade.