914 Club Representin' at Watkins Glen, July 9 & 10th Come one come all. Options

[Thorshammer]

The 914 club east coast guys will be at Watkins Glen this weekend.

Madsen (EP), Foley (FP), Givler (FP), Burdge (FP) and Les Handly (FP).

If you want to see the race it will be on sunday.


Erik Madsen

[Thorshammer]

Race report:

Everything Chris said about the race was correct. Here's my point of view:

Firstly, The start for anyone not in the first 10 cars was an absolute joke. with 58 cars in the field, some cars weren't even in view of the green flag when it waved. I wish they would do the start on the back straight or something.

I started 6th after the Honda Prelude of John Schmidt broke during the morning warm up. Before I continue, a side note, it's hard to imagine that you can run with certain drivers when you never have been there before, so if this post sounds a little "aw shucks", it's because I can't believe I won yesterday, I was literally stunned. And I hope no one takes my comments as cavalier either, cause I'm not.

So, I am qualified behind, Jerry Hinkle (2:12.066), Lap record holder at this track, and at Lime Rock, and probably a couple others also previous top three Runoffs competitor. Ken Kannard (2:13.617), finished 5th at the Runoffs last year also in front of me. As was Don Girven 15th at the Runoffs and Charlie Vaccaro (2:14.28), then me at a 2:15.39 not bad for my first time there and in 6 laps, but I really thought the time was a mistake. So I was hoping to stay out of trouble and get some points, 5th place was looking good.

During the practice, I was still having the over rotation problem with the rear of the car. My ohlins shocks were supposed to be in the car and curing this issue. I did'nt have the correct springs for them and ended up using the Bilsteins for the weekend. I though about changing the rear ride height, but ended up changing the front sway bar one notch stiffer. It rained for the second qualifyer, so I knew no one would better their existing times. Sunday we had a warmup with 75 cars on the track at the same time.... STUPID!. Ever get passed by a crazed viper driver hell bent on winning practice, makes me think of that episode of Seinfeld when they were talking about shrinkage, it was a humbling experience. I did give a poorly driven T1 corvette a beat down on the brakes into the chicane, and he could'nt catch me til the straightaway. Then gave him the same beating in the same spot the next lap. I was giggling under my helmet.

Any way the sway bar change was the right one, and the car could be turned in much more aggressively without over rotation.

Race day, Better known as "Stink Day". Ya see, there are no showers at Watkins Glen, and a spritz bath just does'nt get the job done. Tire warmers on, pressures set, down to the grid, my pit bitch, or interim CREW CHIEF, Pete, had a towel handy to keep the sun off of me, it was really a nice day 87-88 sunny and a cool breeze.

Anyway, the grid got off and I was scrubbing my tires in , which were nice and warm already. The start was really weird, all of the 6 cars in the front were nut to butt (military term) and when the green flag flew, I got a good jump on Girven, Vaccaro, Wright and Hinkle. I was third into turn one behind Hinkle and Kannard, they were flying, and I was going pretty good too. I drafted past Hinkle into the Chicane, and exiting into the right hander, Hinkle made me his bitch, going by on the inside at better than 15 MPH different. (mental note, must follow Hinkle for a few laps) so I follow Jerry Hinkle (Lotus Super Seven) who is all over Ken Kannard in the 240 Z. I was learning. They pulled out about a three car lead, but I started to close on lap 3. Down the back straight I was within a car length of Hinkle but did not have the position to pass him. Don Girven (RX3 Mazda, very fast motor) was on me, ducking inside and outside, I think trying to rattle me, But I figured he would go by if he could. Anyway, heading into the boot downhill lefthander, Kannard was a little deep, Hinkle dove inside with a little too much wheel input trying to avoid hitting Kannard. and he spun. The real interesting part was after he spun, he let off the brakes and rolled backwards right in front of me, so I had to rollout of my line and go inside him. Kannard was gone, about 12-14 car lengths. But I kept getting closer, until on lap 8 going down the back straight, I was on his back bumper. One of the good things about the 914 is it's weight and the Goodyear tires I have seem to last better than other competitors tires. In my opinion, brand AND car weight play a mojor role in the this factor. The 240 Z is heavier 2270 vs 1950 and Kannard was sliding through alot of corners.

Back straight. as we entered the braking zone for the chicane, I pulled out as if to make a pass, but saw we would be balked by some traffic. I tucked back in, through the chicane, Kannard and I encountered my friend Ed Givler in his 914. Ed threw a pick on Kannard that would have made Shaq blush, and both Kannard and I went into the entrance to the boot nose to tail. He went really deep this time and got off line into the marbles, and I was able to sneak up the inside.

I really put my head down the next two laps. Posting my fastest lap on lap 9. 1 lap later Kannard spun, and Charlie Vaccaro passed him for second place. I was able to open up a little lead, and on lap 10 noticed some pretty major smoke coming out of the back of my car. it seemed to be worse after a long stright away, so I figured the over flow bottle was puking again (note to self, fix over flow so it works properly)
I kept looking for a black flag but it never came. A few yellow flags due to stopped and crashed cars, the worst I saw was the MGB of Mike Abraham. totally destroyed his car in the toe of the boot. A complete write off. Anyway the race was checkered two laps early due to the incidents all over. and I won my second National of the year.

Post race weight 1979 lbs, 29 pounds overweight. Margin of Victory 9.109 secs best lap 2:11.886, Lpa record 2:11. 32 by Hinkle. So the first time I was there I was within .5 of the lap record????? I'm still not sure I believe it. We'll see when I get my individual lap times, if they are all close to that , then maybe I did it, but if it seems alot lower than the rest, it's a fluke, which is what I think. But who knows, it is electronic timing, but it isn't infallable.

Breather hose had come out of the breather tank and blew oil all over the inside of the rear trunk. At least it won't rust anymore, or will it, it is a 914. Lime Rock in two weeks. Hope the breather thing is not from excessive blow by. We'll see.

I am trying to carry the 914 club decals on my car proudly, and hope you guys will come along for the ride at Mid Ohio. I hope I will do well as well as Chris and Ed and Tom. Chris covered the race report for his group. We all had a safe weekend and a good one.

And If you did not think that was enough, we helped a guy fix his F500 car on Saturday night, Me lending technical information, and Ed lending tools, the guy finished second in his race. So we helped someone this weekend as well. Someone besides the deodorant manufacturers.

Erik Madsen 914-6 EP