Schaut Speed Racing Blog

Its 9:48pm in Tulsa, OK.  Its One Lap.  And I feel like I don’t know if I’m really awake.  I mean, we supposedly left the track, drove a whole bunch of miles (route book said 480…), checked into a hotel with the sun still shinning, then went to go get a delicious sit-down dinner (mmmmm, BBQ ribs…….  dang it, I’m sorta hungry again!), and now I’m back at the hotel laying on my bed and blogging….  Someone pinch me, because usually at this time of night we are stopping for the 2nd time for either gas or food with 2-3 more hours of driving ahead of us!

But this IS reality.  And I love it!

Somewhere along the modified route (about 80 miles less than the suggested one…), Verizon finally decided to put some more cell towers up and I was able to check results.   I managed to take a mere 0.4 seconds off my time from this morning.  Had a few shifting issues as I fully get used to the car again (managed to shift into neutral a couple of times on one lap, loosing about 2 seconds….) and wasn’t completely happy with the grip balance between front and rear (we will try reducing the rear tire pressures a bit for tomorrow).  All said and done, other drivers found more time out there.  I ended up 16th overall, and once again 1st in class.

Times within the Luxury sedan class were pretty close, with less than 10 seconds (and 9 places) separating the SSR M3 and the #23 M3, with the Porsche splitting the difference.

This has given us a small lead of 10 points in class and puts us in 10th place overall.

With a LOT of time left and another 13 events, a lot can happen yet, so keep checking back for more details!.  We will be at Hallet tomorrow where Dan will be trying to continue our consistent good finished; followed by a low E.T. and Bracket drag tomorrow night before we head over to St. Louis for Tuesday.

And with that, I’m going to sleep!

I just realized how early it is! This is unprecedented, as we left the track about 1:30! That means that we can get BOTH a good sit-down meal and some decent sleep tonight! That is usually a choice, not an ala-carte menu, and the sleep usually wins (please, no more wrapped food!)

The sessions do tend to go quicker when there are less cars. I believe that we are down to 64 teams now. Not sure of the exact count since the Caddy team is back, and so is the Mitsubishi Evo (Lap puppies) that had the engine serpentine belt problem at Road America. Those guys were lucky enough to find a GREAT dealership down in Chicago that were able to locate a belt, tensioner and pulley (might just have come off of a car sitting in the showroom…). Some dealers are great in their willingness and ability to help One Lap teams along! I’m going to have to find out the name of that dealer and post it up here – if anyone is looking for a Mitsu or needs some service done, head there!

One the other end the count, it looks like The 2010 One Lap will not have a repeat winner, as the #1 Nissan GT-R of Steve Rankin and Will Taylor looks like it has an engine issue. From the sounds of it, their 3rd driver may be offering up his Subaru WRX to finish up the event in. We will see who and what shows up on Tuesday at Gateway for that team.

Since I’m waiting for a data signal and the results from the second MAM session, I can take a bit of time to tell you about the car. While the car is the same as last year, we have made a few small changes. Drivetrain is still bone stock. Suspension is the same TC Klien kit we used last year; stiffer springs, stronger (and adjustable) dampers, lowered and camber plates up front. Where we added some changes was in the addition of Data Acquisition and in the brakes.

With Schaut Speed Motorsports sponsoring again this year and now a Cobalt Friction Brake dealer, we switched over to the Cobalt Friction XR-series brake pads and added in a brake duct kit to get some cool air to hose front rotors. Hauling a 3600 lb car from 140+ down to 40-50 MPH takes some serious brake pads and creates a whole bunch of heat! The XR1 compound front pads and XR3 rear pads have added in better initial bite, great modulation and great ‘whoa’ power! After the 2 session, I feel this was an improvement over last year’s set-up. And the brake ducts seems to be helping keep the front rotor temps down.

We also added in data acquisition systems to the car this year. These are GPS based systems that can collect speed and lateral/longitudinal G-forces along with providing lap/sector times. I decided to install both a Race Technology DL1 and Traqmate systems (Schaut Speed Motorsports is an authorized dealer for both systems), give me a chance to play with the data in both of the analysis programs. With the data, we are able to see where exactly we can go faster out on track. Taking a close look at different lines and speed through certain corners from the morning session can give the driver the knowledge for what line to take, and when to hit the gas or brake to maximize the afternoon session. For example, Dan was able to pick up some time through the long carousel at Road America by slowing down his steering input and holding a slightly higher speed with an earlier throttle application.

Now time for the shameless plug – after all, it’s my blog, team and company! Cobalt Friction are some of the best brakes in the business for track use, and Data Acquisition is the most cost effective way to improve lap times. If you need some new race pads, are looking for more information on the DA systems or are ready to purchase one, head over to www.SchautSpeedMotorsports.com and contact me.

Now back to looking out the window as we cruise through some of Americas spectacular countryside!

It turns out that MAM is a deadzone for data service for Verizon. Time to file a complaint! Us track junkies need our internet too! So…. I couldn’t update the blog over lunch and you all get these back-to-back once I can get a signal. Oh, and if anyone has an idea about why I can’t upload my pics to my Wordpress blog, please email me….

We are on the road with Nick behind the wheel and the common site of me typing away in the back seat. With a relatively short 480 miles to go to somewhere in Oklahoma. I’m sure I’ll put some miles in later, but for now I get to hangout back here and tell the world whats up! Hopefully a bit later I can actually check out some of the other blogs from the event too (lots of teams are doing one this year – check out the One Lap homepage and take a look! Follow the Rochester guys with their great blog about their Mitsubishi Gallant, or “Nigel” the Mini.)

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Temperatures for the afternoon climbed a good 20 degrees or so to a beautiful 72 degrees. Still blue skies. What a great day for some on-track fun! After looking at the data, I was able to determine that I should be able to hold more speed through a few key corners. Hoping this knowledge would pay dividends, I headed out as the lead car of the 3rd run group. Being a bit more in-tune with the car, \my out lap was significantly faster than the morning session, equaling times from the faster laps from the AM. The car felt pretty good, with some freshly bleed brakes and a small tire pressure adjustment. We may not have taken enough pressure out to account for the higher ambient temps, as the car was sliding a bit more than the AM. End result was taking more than a second off my cumulative time, but most of that was in the first lap.

Since there are still cars out on track, official results are not up yet, but I’d expect a similar finish to this morning. I am sensing that we will be in a tight battle for overall position with the VW GTI as we have been running some very similar times (AM session I was just over 1/10th of a second faster, and it looked like they were catching me this afternoon)

Coming in and taking temps/pressures showed that we were a bit high, especially on the right hand side. If I can get video to post, you might get to see what that can do as I had a nice drift coming out of turn 4 on the opening lap…..

With the PM session done, we packed up and left Mid America once again. Clouds are rolling is as we move further south, and we just drive through about 15 seconds of rain. Should be clear sailing from here down to OK. More later once we get those results…

The Schaut Speed Racing team rolled into Council Bluffs Iowa about 11:30 last night. Being a little weary from the 500ish miles the night before (it was a nice easy drive, and HWY 151 through WI was great!), we only sort of realized that the hotel we were staying in had some resemblance to a castle. Complete with a knight in shiny(ish) armor out front! Too bad knights just don’t know how to make a good cup of coffee (Maybe it was just because the B&B was such a great experience, but I’m guessing that was the worst cup of joe for the week….). The bed sure felt nice to lay down in and I thought sleep would quickly come, but little did I know that they also roomed us with Gus the chainsaw (this one is for all you Yoopers out there, you know what I’m talking about….)! Oh wait, all that racket was Dan…. The search for ear plugs has begun!

Anyway, we woke up this morning to cool temps and sunny skies. A gorgeous day. And lots of excitement for me as today would be my first time behind the wheel. Today is Mid America Motorplex (MAM). I’ve run this course in past One Laps and am starting to get a good handle on it. Natural choice for the team, especially considering we are sitting in 13th overall and tied for 1st in class (we found out that the Panamara had an off during the second session at Road America, adding some time and a few new “livery” bits in the form of some tire scuffs….). Other notable news – the Drivers of the Caddy that had the off at RA showed up in a nice white Chrysler Crossfire (There seems to be a theme, since this isn’t the first time a Crossfire has become a replacement vehicle). That team may be out of the points now, but heck, why not finish what you started (and paid for)! The tenacity of these teams seems to be never ending!

Nick and I did a quick recon run (yup, Fred Flinstone style) around the track. It was nice to see that the front straight was not covered in water from torrential down-pours as in the past. With no track issues, and the layout now brought back to the front of my memory, its was time to go!

It took a few laps to remember what amazingness this car is capable of, but once I got back in the groove I started flying and once again, felt “one” with the car. 3 blistering laps, little bit of sliding, lots of glorious noise from that V8 under the hood and I found myself catching the car in front of me (one of the civics – heavily modified with a rather large turbo) and pulling away from the car behind (A newer BMW 335, also modified with a turbo).

Final result from this morning was 12th overall, and 1st in Luxury sedan (ahead of the Panamara and our one remaining other competitor, the ’98 M3). Awesome! Have I ever mentioned that I love this car?

The performance from the first session catapulted SSR up to 9th overall! Woo Hoo! Top 10! It’ll take a lot of work and continued consistency to stay up there, but we are definitely in a good position!

I also took a look at the top cars. Interesting list. Especially with the Mazda 5 in there! (granted, it does have a special “Mazda Performance Package” on it – says so right on the window sticker!)

1st overall – Nissan GT-R – modified, pro driver. Amazing to watch him effortlessly drive that car around the track.

2nd - Porsche GT2 – modified, pro driver. Equally amazing to watch the car control, so incredibly quickly!

3rd – Corvette ZO6 – modified, pro driver. $h!# ton of power. Lots of fun to watch!

4th – Corvette ZO6 – heavily modified – big ol’ turbos!

5th – Porsche GT3 RS – practically a race car - it even comes from factory with Michelin Pilot Cup tires - a race tire that is too sticky to be legal for this event (and wouldn’t last either…)

6th – 2010 Porsche Turbo – actually stock. With 500+ Hp

7th – Mitsubishi Evo X - some tasteful mods

8th – VW (er, Porsche?) GTI – Its stock. Honest. That’s what their shirts say!

9th – SSR BMW M3 – Stock drivetrain. Aftermarket Suspension, Michelin Pilot Sport tires, and some sweet Cobalt Friction Brakes! (Shamless plug – Schaut Speed Motorsports is an authorized dealer!)

10th – Mazda 5. Yes it’s a minivan. And no, minivans shouldn’t be able to go that fast, but it’s a jaw dropping site to see it happen!

So there’s the top 10.

Now to soak up some sun, check out the data acquisition to see where I can be faster and get ready for the afternoon session!

Today continued to be gorgeous out full of sunshine!  I even got rid of some of that pasty whiteness I tend to get over the winter…

Now if I can just get my photos uploaded, I can make this blog a bit more colorful…..

Dan once again slid in behind the steering wheel for the second session of the day and the 3rd event.  This time starting order would be based on the morning session.  Here’s a shot (once I get it posted…) of the top of the field.  Porsches, Corvettes, GTRs, Ferrari, BMWs.  Ah, what a glorious site to behold!!!  For this session, they shortened the track by using a cut-off road between turns 13 and turn 5, with the start/finish on this cutoff.  With a sea of cones to help guide (and slow) the competitors, event 3 started.  Just to give you an idea of what these guys had to deal with, here (eventually) is a shot of Leh Keen in his Porsche GT2 (fastest guy in the AM session) coming onto the start/finish straight.  Yikes - they do really get less than a foot from that wall!

Dan headed out on track for his recon, promptly putting the left tires in the dirt on turn 1 exit.  Hey, the whole track is paid for, why not use everything there is to offer?  Green flag falls and he’s off.  First lap finished and from my vantage point something looks odd about the front tires.  Lots of camber on the left front.  Maybe right front too.  Hum….  Does the car seem a bit off coming through the short chute?  I cant tell, but he keeps lapping; and keeping pace with the 2010 Porsche Turbo that started in front of him…..  All seems well but I’m concerned.  One Lap just isn’t about driving all-out-fast for 3 laps.  Its about being consistent and finishing the event.

Speaking of consistency, Dan finished a blistering 13th overall, and WAY up on the next Luxury Sedan (the Panamara).  His time of 5:28.858 for the 3 laps was right in a very tight mix of cars.  5 cars with times between 5:28.305 to 5:28.868 covering places 10 through 14!  Amazing how close these results can end up!

Nick and I meet Dan up at the paddock.  Driver indicates a  fairly solid run but some funny brake feel, like they were not as effective as they should be.  A quick visual inspection and I see too much camber, and a chunk of toe out (A likely cause of the brake feel - without the proper contact patch, the tires cant work to slow the car).  Um, not good!  How did this happen?  The culprit ended up being a slipped Caster setting.  2 small bolts hold a plate in place on the top of each front shock.  instead of being all the way in (arrowed in the picture), they are all the way out (line)….  Time to do a “quick” fix.  With some team work, an hour and some dirty hands, we get everything back to where its supposed to be….  Time to hit the road.

With the car fixed, and results in, we are now a “mere” 110 miles from our destination for tonight - Council Bluffs Iowa.

Schaut Speed Racing is sitting in13th overall.   Ties for 1st in class.

After putting in the first 300 miles or so of todays transit, I for one am ready for a good night sleep.  And getting behind the wheel of this spectacular car to run the Mid America events tomorrow….  Until then, good night!

We started our day 2 waking up in nice comfy beds to some delicious smells coming from the kitchen of a nice little Bed & Breakfast in Elkhart Lake, WI.  This was easily the best accommodations we will see for the next week of our lives!

With blue skies and a slight breeze, we headed out to Road America for the start of the first set of time trials at one of my favorite and gorgeous tracks in the world!  Being his ‘home’ track (with at least a few laps around….), Dan took to the wheel of the Bimmer to see what we can do against all the competition.  The starting order for the first run was based on car number.  So we lined up behind the Porsche Panamera (leading Luxury sedan going into today) and a slightly modified Dodge Viper coupe.  With the rest of the 7 car group lined up, they waved off the cars for the start of their hot laps one at a time with about 10 seconds gap (as is normal practice for the One Lap).

Dan was HAULIN’ out there!  at the end of the 3 laps, he was right off the rear bumper of that Viper.  If it hadn’t have been for the extra 330 horsepower (claimed 750 HP in that thing!), Dan would have beaten him up the hill and to the finish line.  He picked up a touch more than 10 seconds.  And more importantly, gained about 15 seconds on the Panamera.  Official results showed Dan bringing the #21 BMW M3 in at 10th overall and 1st in class!  Woo Hoo!

One Lappers are an interesting group of people.  Coming from all over, driving all sorts of cars and all just a bit crazy.  Part of this event is the fun.  And as you can see here, some guys just have too much space in their car!  (The Panamara is a cool car.  and its big.  I guess when you have a over 6ft father/son team, a larger car and a huge chair are in order….)

The first time trial event was not without some problems, drivers finding limits and some heartache.  One of the RX7s paddocked near us spent some time cleaning out a whole bunch of gravel that found its way into the car when the driver found his way off the track….  A Mitsubishi Evo lost his power steering coming into the track, with a broken pulley/belt - hopefully these lap puppies can get the car fixed and catch up with us at MAM!  A Corvette lost some engine accessory, and a bunch of oil on the track.

The big one, which we never ever want to see or hear about - The #69 Cadillac CTS-V (from our class) had a big issue going into Turn 12, Canada Corner, and went off.  This corner is at the end of one of the highest speed areas on the track (The M3 hit ~148 mph here).  With seemingly little to no brakes, the Caddy went off the end at high speed, rolled through the gravel and managed to get through the fence and into the woods.  Luckily, the driver is OK.   The car, not so much….  But in true One Lap spirit, the team got a ride into town to the local rental place to find a car they could use to run the rest of the event.  One Lappers prevail; we will see them again!