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Posted by: Dave_Darling Jun 21 2004, 02:25 PM

I went up to Sears Point on Friday to watch the third day of a Russel Racing School (now ESPN Russel Racing School) and take pics. I'll comment on the individual pics as I post them. Yes, they're small to save email bandwidth and storage, and because I'm too lazy to make intermediate-sized ones just for posting up here. Full-size are available on request, as usual.

On the way north, I got passed by a Miata just north of the Golden Gate bridge. Why did I take a picture? Check his license plate...


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Posted by: Dave_Darling Jun 21 2004, 02:27 PM

The Formula Mitsu cars that you get in the basic "techniques" class.


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Posted by: Dave_Darling Jun 21 2004, 02:28 PM

Dry-sumped, single-carb'ed, making about 100-120 HP. Inboard rear disk brakes, even...


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Posted by: Dave_Darling Jun 21 2004, 02:29 PM

Supertrapps or equivalent. (Some had the real thing, some had the equivalent.)


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Posted by: Dave_Darling Jun 21 2004, 02:29 PM

Four-into-one header.


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Posted by: Dave_Darling Jun 21 2004, 02:30 PM

Introducing my attorney, Lisa.


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Posted by: Dave_Darling Jun 21 2004, 02:31 PM

Buttoned up and ready to go!!


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Posted by: Dave_Darling Jun 21 2004, 02:32 PM

On the front straight, between Turn 11 and Start-Finish.


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Posted by: Dave_Darling Jun 21 2004, 02:33 PM

Setting up for Turn 11.


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Posted by: SirAndy Jun 21 2004, 02:33 PM

Posted by: Dave_Darling Jun 21 2004, 02:34 PM

In the Carousel. By the end of the morning sessions, she had finally figured the Carousel out.


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Posted by: Dave_Darling Jun 21 2004, 02:38 PM

More between 10 and 11.


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Posted by: Dave_Darling Jun 21 2004, 02:38 PM

Time for another session!


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Posted by: Dave_Darling Jun 21 2004, 02:39 PM

Suited up and ready to go!


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Posted by: aircooledboy Jun 21 2004, 02:40 PM

Posted by: Dave_Darling Jun 21 2004, 02:40 PM

Turn four. Instructor comment--"There ya go! She's finally got to the apex on this one."


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Posted by: Dave_Darling Jun 21 2004, 02:41 PM

What happens when you hit the apex and get on the throttle--you use all of the track!


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Posted by: Dave_Darling Jun 21 2004, 02:42 PM

Leading a pack into the Carousel. Temporarily...


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Posted by: Dave_Darling Jun 21 2004, 02:43 PM

Into Turn 7, as viewed from the instructor's truck.


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Posted by: Dave_Darling Jun 21 2004, 02:44 PM

Well, yes... They do get by her between 11 and 1...


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Posted by: Dave_Darling Jun 21 2004, 02:46 PM

A 1973 Six conversion. Owned by some guy named Memo Gidley.

...Yeah, the ex CHAMP car driver. He's now an instructor at Russel. Didn't get a chance to talk 914s with him, sad to say. The chief instructor asked if I knew it was "a fake"--and when I replied that I did, he asked how I knew... Heh heh heh... He probably didn't know who he was talking to.


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Posted by: Dave_Darling Jun 21 2004, 02:47 PM

Got a 1974 rear bumper, even though it's a 73. Yeah, and a pre-73 front bumper, and pre-73 engine lid letters.


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Posted by: Dave_Darling Jun 21 2004, 02:48 PM

Now, if you take the three-day "Techniques" course and are good little boys and girls, they give you one run session in the "Advanced" cars.


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Posted by: Dave_Darling Jun 21 2004, 02:48 PM

Mazda rotary powered, full slicks and wings and everything. Much much faster!!


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Posted by: Dave_Darling Jun 21 2004, 02:49 PM

And a Bug gearbox! Somewhat beefed up, of course...


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Posted by: mike_the_man Jun 21 2004, 02:49 PM

QUOTE(Dave_Darling @ Jun 21 2004, 01:25 PM)

Why did I take a picture?  Check his license plate...

i don't get it, what does it mean?

Andy

Posted by: Dave_Darling Jun 21 2004, 02:50 PM

Ready to head out!


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Posted by: Dave_Darling Jun 21 2004, 02:51 PM

Yeah, they move a lot faster on the straights. They also backfire like gunshots on decel. And sometimes they spit fireballs while doing so! (Sadly, I didn't get any pics of that.)


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Posted by: Dave_Darling Jun 21 2004, 02:52 PM

Done so soon... Pit lane, ready to park it.


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Posted by: Dave_Darling Jun 21 2004, 02:55 PM

The Miata? I was mostly amused that he was really trying hard to pass my 914 (weaving in and out of traffic like a madman!), when he couldn't outrun the "914" on his license plate. Made me snicker.

As to needing an attorney? Uhh, just this one, thanks!

The rest of the weekend was great. Driving around from winery to winery in Sonoma...

--DD

Posted by: Toast Jun 21 2004, 03:56 PM

Sounds like you had a fun weekend with the law firm.

Posted by: skline Jun 21 2004, 04:55 PM

Posted by: RocknRollFrenzy Jun 21 2004, 05:40 PM

actually, i wouldn't be suprised if that license plate is just luck of the draw. the format is standard california format. ie: number, three letters, three numbers.

Posted by: grantsfo Jun 21 2004, 06:10 PM

Bet she had a good time. The Mitsubishi's are a blast to drive. I took the 3 day course earlier this year. Spent the first day driving in the rain and learning how to be smooth. The last session in the rotory was the best - much, much faster than the formula Mitsu's. They rev limited us to about 6,000 rpm in the rotaries but they were still very fast - I was doing well over 100 MPH by start/finish and on the rev limiter just as I approached the end of the straight. Rotories allowed me to brake much deeper too. I'm saving my pennies to go to the advance session later this year. Russell does a good job with this school. I just wish it was more affordable.