Offical Grand-Am GT RX-8 Thread
06-24-2009, 07:18 AM
#976
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8's have been at or near the front of the pack in almost every race. This weekend the RacersEdge car led for a good chunk of the first hour of the race. The SpeedSource team wasn't able to tweek the car and get in a good run, due to weather, until Saturday morning when Sylvain managed some nice laps.
Both the 69 and 70 ran podium races but the 69 got bumped in the final laps and the 70 ran into what appeared to be engine issues.
Why are we protesting again? The 70 car has had more poles then any other car. They've had a crapload of bad luck starting with the 24 up to Saturday. Sure the RPM limit is stupid and really, really was unfair last year but SpeedSource has proven that they can win with this car with the limit (after an offseason of tweeking) and Grand Am has basically proven that any of the major teams have a chance to win regardless of the car manufacturer if the conditions are right, they run a good race, and they keep their car running good.
IF they removed that rev limit the 8's would be so dominate it wouldn't be funny. With Racers Edge driving so well this year I wouldn't doubt the 8's could manage all 3 spots on the podium.
Both the 69 and 70 ran podium races but the 69 got bumped in the final laps and the 70 ran into what appeared to be engine issues.
Why are we protesting again? The 70 car has had more poles then any other car. They've had a crapload of bad luck starting with the 24 up to Saturday. Sure the RPM limit is stupid and really, really was unfair last year but SpeedSource has proven that they can win with this car with the limit (after an offseason of tweeking) and Grand Am has basically proven that any of the major teams have a chance to win regardless of the car manufacturer if the conditions are right, they run a good race, and they keep their car running good.
IF they removed that rev limit the 8's would be so dominate it wouldn't be funny. With Racers Edge driving so well this year I wouldn't doubt the 8's could manage all 3 spots on the podium.
06-24-2009, 07:31 AM
#977
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06-24-2009, 05:46 PM
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Nick and Sylvain both stated that the RX-8s are really "momentum cars" and that they need to maintain speed to really be competitive. Shortly before the race, several of us were in the Speedsource tent where Nick told us to hope for clear weather and no cautions. Anything that forces them to slow down and lose their momentum is a set back due to relative lack of torque compared to the other makes in the field. The rev limit has really hampered them...they mentioned they really can no longer "stretch the gears".
Last edited by Groundrush; 06-30-2009 at 09:06 PM.
06-24-2009, 07:23 PM
#980
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06-30-2009, 02:13 PM
#981
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SpeedSource goes for three-in-a-row!
From www.grand-am.com/
Interview with Nick Ham and Sylvain Tremblay for the Brumos Porsche 250 at Daytona:
[EMBED]<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/omapFDa_F6k&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en& feature=player_embedded&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/omapFDa_F6k&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en& feature=player_embedded&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>[/EMBED]
Race will be aired live on Speed Channel this Saturday (7/4) at 2:00pm EST.
Sylvain Tremblay and Nick Ham, co-drivers of the No. 70 Castrol Syntec Mazda RX-8, talk about their attempt to become the first Rolex Series drivers to win the same class in the same event in three consecutive years at the Brumos Porsche 250 At Daytona.
[EMBED]<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/omapFDa_F6k&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en& feature=player_embedded&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/omapFDa_F6k&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en& feature=player_embedded&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>[/EMBED]
Race will be aired live on Speed Channel this Saturday (7/4) at 2:00pm EST.
Last edited by chiketkd; 06-30-2009 at 02:16 PM.
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07-04-2009, 03:42 PM
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07-04-2009, 03:47 PM
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Ah well, not like they did bad. So awesome to hear that 20b though. Can't help but think that the producers do too, since it is often the background in transfers to and from commercials, seemed like more than any other car.
07-05-2009, 01:48 PM
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There were only 4 GT cars on the GT "lead lap"- 2 Porsches and 2 Mazdas. I don't see Mazdas getting much of a break based on results. Why the Porsches got their rear tire tread coolers in May, I have no idea- but I'm not holding my breath for a repeal of the rev limit (although if it is causing engine damage that would concern me).
Last edited by shipdriver; 07-05-2009 at 01:53 PM.
07-05-2009, 02:07 PM
#988
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^^^ True, and Sylvain was in contention for the win goin into turn 1 when the rear locked up due to him not rev matching, makes ya wonder where he would have ended up if not were it for that spin going into the hairpin in the infield...
I do like how they spent alittle time talking about the great improvement in downforce gained from the new bumper...
One thing is for sure it is one hella viscious looking car....
I do like how they spent alittle time talking about the great improvement in downforce gained from the new bumper...
One thing is for sure it is one hella viscious looking car....
07-05-2009, 09:13 PM
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He missed a downshift causing the rear tires to lock up. But since they're using the DP transmission, you can blame it on the transmission acting up.
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Last edited by Renesis_8; 09-11-2011 at 03:16 PM.
07-05-2009, 09:37 PM
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I know it was Nick that spun, I just didnt elaborate that in my thought, sorry, It was wierd that they didnt choose tires on the yellow, it was such a conveniete time they could have swapped the driver within the mandated period and got some fresh stickies, probably wouldnt have soun on the infield with new slicks,,,
07-07-2009, 10:49 AM
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07-07-2009, 11:23 AM
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Now here's a question: would the SpeedSource cars' tires have maintained grip better if they were allowed rear tire blowers like the Porsche GT cars? -Especially since both Nick's spin and Sylvain's failed pass occurred late in the tire cycles significantly lessening the margin of error for the drivers. On fresh tires, Nick built up a huge lead of at least 16 sec.
07-07-2009, 01:48 PM
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Now here's a question: would the SpeedSource cars' tires have maintained grip better if they were allowed rear tire blowers like the Porsche GT cars? -Especially since both Nick's spin and Sylvain's failed pass occurred late in the tire cycles significantly lessening the margin of error for the drivers. On fresh tires, Nick built up a huge lead of at least 16 sec.
As for the RPM change to the DP cars it just shows that Rolex isn't just using RPM changes only Mazdas as a competitive balance. DP has absolutely no bearing on the GT balancing but I think it's absolutely foolish for people to continue to bitch about it. Had Sylvain been a little more patient those final laps he likely would have ended up on the first podium rather than the second. Can't fault him for what he did as it was just a racer racing but he did make a mistake as a driver by going in too deep to the brake zone after the straight. It wasn't tires, engines, or anything other than Sylvain's small mistake at the very end of the race that cost Mazda the top slot. I promise you that no one at Speedsource was bitching about it.
I do think it's a little silly that Grand-Am made any changes that would help the leading car manufacturer but all it did was even out some of the known advantage the RX8s had at Daytona where they've simply dominated the past 2 years.
07-19-2009, 09:23 AM
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Looks to be a great race today! Starting in P2-#40 Dempsey Racing, P3-#70 SpeedSource, P4-#69 SpeedSource, and in P9 #30 Racer's Edge. Race starts at 3pm on SPEED.
I've been keeping an eye on the live timing through all the practice sessions this weekend...all the Mazdas have been extremely strong. Maybe we may see a Mazda podium sweep? I doubt it, but it would be nice.
I've been keeping an eye on the live timing through all the practice sessions this weekend...all the Mazdas have been extremely strong. Maybe we may see a Mazda podium sweep? I doubt it, but it would be nice.
07-19-2009, 03:11 PM
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Gotta love the DP drivers, about time one of them got knocked around(#58) by a GT
They're always punting around GT cars,,,,
Still think Nick Ham and David Donahue are some of the best of the field, but no need to whine about it, thats just racing,,,
They're always punting around GT cars,,,,
Still think Nick Ham and David Donahue are some of the best of the field, but no need to whine about it, thats just racing,,,
07-19-2009, 06:47 PM
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Great racing by the Speedsource boys. DP was fun to watch too today. Ham wasn't really at fault in that pass by with the Brumos car but he probably could have avoided it. Like he said that's what he gets for trying to be nice and warning the Brumos car of a problem with the DP outside.
They're back in the standings too and if Werner & Co. have one major problem in a race then this series will become competitive again.
Gonna be a lot of fun in a couple weeks.
Oh and someone bitchslap that Porsche owner who was whining about being 4 seconds behind the pontiacs. Waaaaaahhh we only have setups that dominated 3 out of 4 tracks this year. Now we're on one where the Porsches tire abuse comes back to bite them in the ***. Wahhhhhh.
They're back in the standings too and if Werner & Co. have one major problem in a race then this series will become competitive again.
Gonna be a lot of fun in a couple weeks.
Oh and someone bitchslap that Porsche owner who was whining about being 4 seconds behind the pontiacs. Waaaaaahhh we only have setups that dominated 3 out of 4 tracks this year. Now we're on one where the Porsches tire abuse comes back to bite them in the ***. Wahhhhhh.
07-19-2009, 08:57 PM
#999
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Great racing by the Speedsource boys. DP was fun to watch too today. Ham wasn't really at fault in that pass by with the Brumos car but he probably could have avoided it. Like he said that's what he gets for trying to be nice and warning the Brumos car of a problem with the DP outside.
They're back in the standings too and if Werner & Co. have one major problem in a race then this series will become competitive again.
Gonna be a lot of fun in a couple weeks.
Oh and someone bitchslap that Porsche owner who was whining about being 4 seconds behind the pontiacs. Waaaaaahhh we only have setups that dominated 3 out of 4 tracks this year. Now we're on one where the Porsches tire abuse comes back to bite them in the ***. Wahhhhhh.
They're back in the standings too and if Werner & Co. have one major problem in a race then this series will become competitive again.
Gonna be a lot of fun in a couple weeks.
Oh and someone bitchslap that Porsche owner who was whining about being 4 seconds behind the pontiacs. Waaaaaahhh we only have setups that dominated 3 out of 4 tracks this year. Now we're on one where the Porsches tire abuse comes back to bite them in the ***. Wahhhhhh.
That was Leh Keen (Farnbacher Loles) whining in the GT class.
Hey, BTW:
I noticed some of your YouTube videos posted (subscribed, in fact). You just missed me in the 24hr Parade...
I fully agree, fun to watch this one.
Congrats to all the Mazda teams for a hard fought race!
*Special props to the Racer's Edge/Sahlen Corvette "crossover" driving Nonamaker brother. (Come over to the dark side)...
Mike
07-19-2009, 10:32 PM
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Its not the 1st time Leh Keen complained about others being faster than them.
I didn't watch today's race, but last year he mentioned more than once during interview that Mazdas are way faster than them. He does that every year.
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I didn't watch today's race, but last year he mentioned more than once during interview that Mazdas are way faster than them. He does that every year.
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Last edited by Renesis_8; 09-11-2011 at 03:16 PM.