I just registered for the COTA event with SVRA in october
anyone else going to be there?
would love to meet up

I think it will be a REALLY hard track to learn well with the limited amount of track time given at this event

I expect about 4 sessions on track total

so many cars and so many run groups
I will have to do some you tube surfing before hand.

can't wait though!
brant

I have been to COTA a bunch. Let me know if you need any info on the track or surrounding areas.

We would love to go, but I think we have some conflicts at that time.

gracias....

I think I'm covered for most things
will need to learn the track

if your plans change, I would love to see you
there should be 600 or so vintage cars, and some really really rare and fabulous ones too.

Brant,

How do you determine your gearing setup for the 1st time at a new track? Just curious on your process...

Would love to come down. Checking my calendar, etc now....

Greg

I'd love to go just to see some race prepped teeners. Is there a list anywhere on who signed up yet?
Shane

Greg,
no system
my current box covers long and short tracks both pretty well
so I'll not do anything different this year
I have a little bit longer box with a welded diff I could go to, but in the interest of not changing things (different driving style required) I will likely not re-gear this year.

so no system unfortunately and I'm not helping much unfortunately...
boy it would be cool to see you there if you do attend

I looked on their website and didn't find an attendance list yet
there will likely be a roster the month before... I can update then

I looked over some of last years results though
not a ton of teeners... but a lot of nice cars
Frank Beck should be there and that is a car worth seeing in and of itself
he honestly has the fastest (best driven) 914 in the country by my estimation

the guy is amazing and I believe still required to run a 2.5L against 3.0L - 5.0L
the smallest motor in his run group and he finished 4th overall !

2013 results group6, with Frank Beck

I checked the website after my post. I'd love to run that track. Even just a DE.
How about those old open wheel cars?! WOW.

'
Brant, We're going to attend as spectators! Just booked flights and hotel.. Car has to stay home this time... Let me know if you need an extra crew member : ) Greg

I have been around it in a Boxster Spyder and in my wife's street 914. You are going to need some tall gears for the long straight leading up to turn 12.

And I am going to discuss going down for Saturday with the Wife.

Just asked her... she wants to go too.

You need me to bring anything?

I live in Austin and went to this event as a spectator last year. This is a great event to attend. I will be there this year for sure.

would love to put some names and faces together
it would be great to see all of you

please come by the pits and say hello

Clay, I hope I'm covered... (no breaking down allowed)
Greg, I'll send you a pm.
iamracing... hope to meet!
Shane, I don't know how long your drive would be... but would love to meet!


I've heard they are very uptight about paddock/track rules. (they charge you if you spill oil). But if they allow a BBQ, I can grill for folks at lunch or something.

brant

Yes, they are uptight. They have to be. The godfather of F1 (Berine E) has them over a barrel. They even had to paint over the white stars on the runoff area in the S-esses because he didn't like them. So they are really picky about the paddock.

I don't know if they will let you BBQ either.

And don't hit the wall. They will charge YOU directly for repairs.

I've never been to Austin and my wife is interested too. Could make her happy and hang out at the same time. Took her to the Collier Museum to gauge her interest the other day. She was mildly entertained. Would love to watch some teeners hit that track. I'll start researching hotels.
Shane

I might be able to run up there that weekend..... would be good to see the track (better to drive it though )

FYI - if you hit a barrier you have to pay for the repair

Hey Brant,

How is all of the race prep going? You all set to go?

Greg

only partially ready
spent last weekend painting a new engine lid, valves, oil, head studs...
also did most of the tow vehicle service

found an alignment issue (toe) on the race car I need to address still and then all of the rest of the routine list, nuts/bolt checks, and brakes once over.

I will wrench again this coming weekend and should be ready
its going to be about a 5 day commute, for 3 days of racing...
long drive!

I'll pm you
brant

Can't believe it's next week!

Tricia and I are both getting excited about coming out to see you.

Going to be an action packed vacation between watching you on the track, the Saturday night BBQ and "Asleep at the Wheel" concert, and seeing Austin in between! We have a kayak river tour scheduled to watch the Congress Avenue Bridge Bats Thursday night, and will probably go see Jesse James' 'Austin Speed Shop' if we have the time. Tricia worked at Apple in the Bay Area and has some friends that moved to Austin when they opened an office in Austin so she'll get to see them too...

Can't wait to meet you and your Dad in person.

Have a Safe and Uneventful Tow down....

We fly in Wednesday PM so see you Thursday

Sounds great Greg!
can't wait to meet.

I'll have to pick your brain for some off track activities..
lots of down time between runs with the schedule they have out
5 days of racing is new to me...

hitting the highway monday
see you there!

brant

Anyone else coming to support Brant?

If so, let's hook up for some 914 group support at COTA!

Made it to Austin late afternoon. F1 billboards everywhere!

Found the Hotel, then ran down 6th Street for a Texas Steakburger.

Off to COTA in the morning to find Brant.

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My BIL has his '64 Falcon TransAm car there.....only Falcon at the Indy SVRA meet in June. For the racing, Frank Beck's teener is the top dog.....wish I was there....

Got home from the 5 day event in Austin at COTA! Wow, what a fantastic Vintage event.

SVRA completely overflowed the track facilities with Over 400 entrants

Pits were spread out in 4 areas: The paddock and Garages, the area outside of turn 13, the area between turns 12 & 13, then parking lot "A" outside of the main grandstands.

I attached an annotated map with green rectangles showing where all the cars were pitted.

To help explain how big the pits were, Out of all of the 914s that I did photograph, I saw several 914s on track, and even with combing the pits several times, never found their pit area...??

Brant came with two other Colorado entrants (both Super Vees with Type IV power). To pit together, they were in the Main Grand Stands, Parking lot A.

The COTA facility is so large they have multiple shuttles running to take you back and forth around to the track. We walked everywhere the 1st day, then gave up and rode the shuttles. Just the walk from Brant's pit area, through tunnel one, then down to the media center where timing was setup was a LONG walk.... Big Place. And to get back to the pit area between turn 12 & 13, where Frank Beck was pitted, was definitely a hike.

They also were setting up all of the temporary facilities for F1 so that was interesting to see...

Pics are on my camera so I have to download them now so I can post....

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Brant's car is absolutely spectacular.

It looks fantastic in all of the pics posted on 914world, but trust me, they don't do his car justice. So well engineered and constructed. The quality is outstanding.

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It was in the 90s up through Friday, then it rained on Saturday and dropped down into the upper 60s.... You can see the clouds moving in, in the first pic...

Getting ready for a run session on Thursday.

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Pit neighbor behind Brant is Alan Johnson from Grand Junction, CO, which might be a familiar name to some here....



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I saw the 64 Falcon! It was fly'n!!

So cool these historic cars have new homes and still show their stuff!

Frank Beck #59

Another name some of you racers might know.

He ran GTU class and placed 8th out of 50+ Big Block V-8 cars..

2.5 Short Stroke 6

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Another 914-6 in Frank Beck's stable.

Saw it run in practice sessions but not the Sunday races

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Zotz Racing #33 took 1st place in the Sunday Group 8 race

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I Love the VW logo on the trunk lid. Just 'twisting the knife' into the big V8 cars behind him.

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Betty and I were there on Sunday. Got to see some really nice cars run, including the Trans Am cars.

Sorry we missed y'all in the paddock.

That Trans Am race was awesome. We were on the starting grid when they opened it up to see all of the cars just before the race.

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Sorry we missed you guys.

Brant on the straight headed up to turn 1. Boy does his car sound great with his new pipe. (Best shot I could get with our pocket camera....)

That's the F1 Podium on the 2nd story. The 1st open garage below will be Vettle....

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Here's a couple 914s that I could not find in the pits. Really wanted to check them out.

Big Bore group. This 914 held of the V8 Panoz the entire race.

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This 914 ran in Group 8 with Brant. Saw him spin in the esses during practice finding the limit.

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Tricia starting singing "I Like Big Butts and I can not Lie" when we walked up to this one

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THE TOWER.....

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Lap around COTA in a 919 Hybrid

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D8Dmrb1vo5w

Brant's pics are here!

http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?showtopic=244167

Great pix-- gonna be there in less than 2 weeks for the F1 race. Can't wait!!!