So I'm trying to get back to my routine of posting a race preview. Let's be honest here, it's tough to blog about things when you are sitting on the sidelines for two years. So here we go.
While our plan is to use this race as a shake-down test just to make sure nothing falls off the car, everything works right and it does what it's supposed to do, that doesn't mean we aren't serious about going fast. But what are the odds really? This race is not really our class, we're taking our car, built to a specific rule set, to a different group's event and trying it against their rules. This event is being put on by the Vintage Modified Racing Association (VMRA). Our car is built to the South sound Speedway rules. So what's the differences? I spent some time looking over rules and it boils down to a couple things.
The first thing is weights. VMRA has a minimum weight rule of 2950. Our rules allow us to be 2900 with a weight break of 10lbs per corner if we use a non-rebuildable, non-adjustable steel body shock, which we did. So our car can weigh in at 2860, 90lbs lighter.
The next key point of difference is the front suspension and steering. VMRA only allows stock OEM spindles, while our rules allow fabricated spindles. VMRA also does not allow rack and pinion steering, while our rules do. Lastly is the biggest one, the tires. VMRA runs on what is commonly referred to as "take-off tires". They use Hoosier 10" wide racing slicks that they buy used from the Late Model classes. So these are tires that have been "taken off" of a Late Model after use. Our rules run the American Racer 9" treaded tire. So we are giving up an inch of width and we have tread instead of a racing slick. But we do get new tires, so there's that.
Now, we're also headed to Evergreen Speedway for the 3/8ths mile oval. I've struggled with this track, I can never seem to find "the line", I'm just not that good here. It's a strange track with odd places like the off-camber section entering turn 1 and the huge bump at the apex of 3 and 4. The back straight is very straight, while the front straight is almost D shaped. I just never can figure it out. It's been a thorn in my side ever since my first visit there in 2009. Having not even sat in the driver's seat for a solid two and a half years is also another issue. I'm rusty, for sure. So I need to get back in a groove quickly and efficiently, wasting time fiddling around with "things" isn't gonna be good. We have work to do, and I have even more work to do.
Are these things enough to make a difference? Can our front suspension make up for what we lose in tires? Can I find my way around this track with a new car? I'm not sure. I guess we will find out this weekend!
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