hell yeah I ve already put it on my calender...

 

is there somewhere on the internet i can watch or download some of these races that ive missed?

 

Looks like we got a 3rd in the series, guys, just where they wanted us...
Great Job, Speedsource!!

I'll see ya there.


I'll see ya there.

Try youtube.com first. Then enter "Rolex Grand-Am" in the search.
Lots of us have DVR'ed copies of the entire events.

 

congratulations Speedcource. 3rd is great and you had a great season. cant wait for next year hopefully officals wont restrict the 8 as much.

 

Rolex-Grand Am, re-named.

"Rolex-Grand GM GT Series".

Sylvain made it clear the RPM restriction costs them a second or more per lap.

I guess the creeps at Rolex just could not stand to see a rotary excell and push the pistons nose in the dirt.

Really sad.

 

The 69 car had an engine let go on about lap 8. I missed it the first time watching the show live. This morning I went to the recording on the DVR specifically to see what happened.

 

Yeah. Even the announcers were in awe to see his engine go. They kept repeating 'this isn't like blowing a piston - this just doesn't happen' and they noted that had it been a piston engine parts would be all over the course. Flashed up a graphic indicating how the 8's dominated all the enduro events this year.

They said there were problems with the engine even before it lost a rotor. I'm assuming a seal just let go.

 

Grand-Am should be ashamed for letting this happen.
I will begin my email deluge to protest the rev restriction.

 

No idea if the blown engine has anything at all to do with the rev reduction. We know that they could tell something was off with the car even before the race started (or just after) but that may or may not have been from the rev limiter changes and might be just a seal giving way from normal (heh) usage.

We know SpeedSource was indicating issues with exhaust not getting pushed out so they were seeing some significant heat buildup over the last few races. The 70 car noted that in traffic this past race they were seeing higher than normal oil and water temps (they made some passes they didn't want to make to find some cleaner air).

But yeah if this was more engine problems because of the rev limiter then Mazda should be the ones contacting Rolex. It's one thing to try to balance out cars with weight. It's another to break cars.

 

I agree with you totally. Sylvain just took these restrictions in stride vesting confidence in the decision making process of Rolex Grand Am. Speed Source and that part of Mazda that supports racing should be speaking out. Lets face it Mazda spends a lot of sponsorship monies supporting road racing. Look at how many of their commercials run during one of these events alone on Speed Vision Television. Maybe the tail wagging the dog (Us Fans) needs to see Mazda do something to defend themselves. We know the RX-8 is competitive and was restricted to a non-compete status. I will continue to express myself to the officials at Rolex Grand Am but want to see Mazda defend themselves as well.
Sylvain, are you reading this?????

 

What a sad ending to a wonderful season. All of the Pontiacs dominated the last race (and the season). Just as another poster said, 3rd place is where GA wants us to be, and the crazy restriction and weight penalty sure did the job.

This is the same as last season, the RX-8 wins a few, they put a penalty on us that makes the Mazda non-competitive, then lifts the penalty AFTER the season. I forsee GA will lift the RPM restriction after this season as well. They let us have a great beginning then screw us over and let the other makes win.

I was suprised to see the #69 blow an engine as well, it is most likely related to the RPM restriction they put on them.
________
Head Shop

 

Well said, guys!

 

I'd imagine that Sylvain would periodically poke around here and read these posts, but he seems to be a very politically-correct and diplomatic guy so I doubt he'd EVER state what he's really thinking about this restriction foolishness...unless he did it under an alias.

Clearly though, he took a little jab at Grand Am when he stated during an interview in this last race that "Grand Am wanted to slow us down...and they did." What a sad way to end the season. Did anyone else hear him say that they hit the rev limit SEVEN times in each lap, with no higher gear to go to?

There's a bit of a conspiracy theory going on over on the GA forums indicating that perhaps GA placed the restrictions on the Mazdas to ensure Pontiac won the series, thereby solidifying Pontiac factory support (which is allegedly on the rocks due to cutbacks at GM) and perhaps looking more favorable in the eyes of NASCAR, with a domestic make winning the series. I have no idea as to whether there's any truth to that, and I don't believe Pontiacs run in NASCAR anymore, but the timing of the restrictions along with the recent announcement re: NASCAR sure makes the timing seem suspicious.

 

Well, the domestic car makers have got to be thinking about all the money they are flushing down the toilet by competing in NASCAR. Its not like they have any sort of brand recognition in that series anymore, with the Car of Long Ago body.

 

True, but even now some of Nascars top teams are Toyota....ie Waltrip

 

I also heard his comments.
I felt his frustration as well.

 

Yeah I watched this past race and I was very fustrated,it was gut wrenching to see the RX-8 not able to stretch there legs....
Then the rotary going out in the 69 car.....

Oh well I still give them respect due for placing 3rd overall in the season with so much restrictions placed on them. Looking forward to the 24 at Daytona.....by the way i will be there again! We should have a RX-8 meet there....

I wonder why the SpeedSource boys don't leave the Gran Am series and go to the ALMS and race in the Gt2 class.With these restrictions, i don't think the ALMS would be as stringent on them since the RX-8 would have some serious competition and greater challenges in the ALMS. Compuserve Corvette team, stated next year there going to run the Gt2 class in the 2nd part of the season due to the fact that there is no competition for them in the GT1 class. I read that GM has begged other manufactures to participate , but they all kindly turned down GM offer to run the GT1 class. LOL!

Next year is going to be great for the GT2 class in the ALMS,BMW,Ford,GM, Porsche,Ferrari,Dodge,Aston will all be running in that class, its going to be one helluva time on the track not to forget mentioning Acura will be running there new P1 car the P1 series! Good times ahead!

 

i have asked my self the same question. I think speedsource should also do GT2 class. they dont have to deal with BS that GA keeps spitting out.

also PLEASE PENSKE WIN NEXT SESSION, PLEASE.

 

Unless they ran a turbo 3 rotor, they wouldn't be competitive in ALMS GT2. Plus those rules aren't written by the ALMS. They come from Europe and they don't want another rotary dominating LeMans.

 

oh how i can forget about that. NO ROTARY IN LEMANS RULES. thanks alnielsen for the reminder

 

That has never been a rule. The rotary has never been banned from LeMans. As always, it has been restricted to the point of being noncompetitive though.

 

A virtual ban.

 

so did any1 record a couple of races for me to watch?

ill pay :D

 

Grand-Am is not the only race series that make competitive adjustments. ALMS does that too, but not to the extent that Grand-Am does.

 

In the end isnt that the same thing?