2010 Dixie National Tour

I'm pretty sure he's off the message board for the weekend, so I won't be jinxing Per when I predict he's about to win a National Tour trophy this weekend with the LeGrand project car. Per's gotten the car to be faster and better sorted at every event, and he's a great driver to boot.

I'll be there too, co-driving the Warbird Miata with fellow SSM-class contender Chris Swearingen. The pool is a little shallower than at the Solo Nationals last year, so I hope to have a good day and end up in the trophies as well. It's still a daily driver, so to expect a win is probably unrealistic...or is it? The RX-7s that seem to dominate the class are awfully tough to beat.

Who else is going to be there? I'm bringing my camera, so smile and wave if you see me! Better yet, come see us in the paddock so you can renew your subscription and pick up a free Mitty poster or some stickers.

There will be some hongs there in a white CSP miater. Best of luck!

dam, wish I could make the drive down but I'm already committed. I sure did want to go and play photographer...

I'm in the ESP Camaro.

Good running thus far Tom. Hoping you caught some nice pics the Hamfist Racing RX7. Post 'em if you got 'em... please.

-Jake

Per got his win. Nicely done sir!

congrats per on your win....

HamfistRacing wrote: Good running thus far Tom. Hoping you caught some nice pics the Hamfist Racing RX7. Post 'em if you got 'em... please. -Jake

It was a fun event; I love the super competitive National / National Tour / ProSolo events. Even though I'm typically a mid-pack driver, I always learn a lot when racing against top competition. At least I got my act together enough on day 2 to finish ahead of my co-driver, but I really wish I could have gone .112 faster and been in 4th for the weekend. Next time, perhaps.

Photos? Get a sandwich if you're on dialup, but here's a few. You can see the rest on on my photobucket account.

I love the expression on the driver's face in this one...

Wow. Very cool to see pics of the guys I'm used to running with. The sound that '65 Mustang makes is audio pornography at its finest.

Who is in the 28 CP???

bigwrench wrote: Who is in the 28 CP???

The best way to find who drove what and how they finished is by clicking here.

Nice pictures Tom! The overcast sky (with just a hint of actual sky) really made for some nice lighting conditions.

It was an expensive and frustrating win. coned a 51 on Sunday and then spun a bearing on run #3. Good thing motorcycle engines are cheap.

Per Schroeder wrote: It was an expensive and frustrating win. coned a 51 on Sunday and then spun a bearing on run #3. Good thing motorcycle engines are cheap.

Uhg. I was in the announce car for your heat, so I saw the push off course, but never heard the cause. That sucks. Bad motor or G-induced? In other words - do you replace it as is, or are you now hunting down a dry sump?

Tom Heath wrote:

bigwrench wrote: Who is in the 28 CP???

The best way to find who drove what and how they finished is by clicking here.

not working

Replace engine, but also rework the oil pan with better baffling and improve the breather set up. Maybe run a breather hose that can allow oil to drain back into the engine when things calm down..instead of just losing it to the puke tank.

Per Schroeder wrote: Replace engine, but also rework the oil pan with better baffling and improve the breather set up. Maybe run a breather hose that can allow oil to drain back into the engine when things calm down..instead of just losing it to the puke tank.

Perhaps an accusump is in order as a buffer?

It was a good time at the event, but I wish I had driven better. I was in 2nd in ESP after Saturday but drove badly on Sunday and fell to third.

Tom, I know we ran in the same heat, but is there anyone who was there who has pics of the blue ESP Camaro #46 (Penske tribute)?

Will wrote: It was a good time at the event, but I wish I had driven better. I was in 2nd in ESP after Saturday but drove badly on Sunday and fell to third. Tom, I know we ran in the same heat, but is there anyone who was there who has pics of the blue ESP Camaro #46 (Penske tribute)?

I feel your pain - I manged to drop from 1st to 3rd.

My second run on Sunday, a dirty 51 (you can see the cone-smack right before the big slalom) Much more satisfying than the next one where you can hear the rod bearing starting to chirp in the second 180.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M588KhGCUR4

Nice to see the Blue Max on course. The builder decided a DZ16a6 would make a nice addition to pull the car along at insanely fast speeds. A few years ago, this was the fastest FWD car at the Solo Nats.

Even cooler, the builder/owner/driver is/was (IDK if he still owns or drives) a septugenarian and edging the octo area!

Alright All the pictures are up now!

Day 1 Gallery 1: http://picasaweb.google.com/atlantamx3/2010DixieNationalTourDay1Gallery1#

Day 1 Gallery 2: http://picasaweb.google.com/atlantamx3/2010DixieNationalTourDay1Gallery2#

Day 1 Gallery 3: http://picasaweb.google.com/atlantamx3/2010DixieNationalTourDay1Gallery3#

Day 2 Gallery 1: http://picasaweb.google.com/atlantamx3/2010DixieNationalTourDay2Gallery1#

Day 2 Gallery 2: http://picasaweb.google.com/atlantamx3/2010DixieNationalTourDay2Gallery2#

Ummmm, seriously? Short of a 50-caliber on the roof, I can't see how you could make that car any more bad ass!

In reply to pinchvalve:

A manual transmission would do the trick.

So GoRacingTV.com hinted at a TireRack/GRM collaboration regarding a NC Miata being built for STR. Any more info you can give out?