Racer Chris is on Speed TV right now. Mid-Ohio I think, several other 914s in the race too.

I gotta grab a beer or 3 and sit back and watch this.

Go Chris !!!

Ed

i dont get speed tv

b

Caught the last few minutes. A black 914 pulled in the checked flag. Who's car was that? Club member?

QUOTE (bd1308 @ Dec 18 2005, 10:23 AM)

i dont get speed tv b

Me neither.

It's the Kirby car from California, driven by Mark Hotchkiss, a family friend and son of a man who co-drove with Kirby in some endurance races throughout their careers. The car was fully rebuild and immaculately prepared for the runoffs as a tribute to Mr. Kirby, who recently died.

Can any insiders give us some info regarding the rebuild (suspension modifications) and the engine preparation?

thanks,

tough break Chris, getting rear ended like that

The black 22 was a past E Prod winner (in the 80s maybe?). They actually did a whole segment on the car and they family that ownes it.(Kirby).

Does anyone know anything about the 06 car driven by Anderson?. It finished somewhere in the high 20's, but I noticed its sponser was DC Racing. They are a local shop here in DFW area (Dan Cashman).

cool stuff

QUOTE (Rleog @ Dec 18 2005, 12:44 PM)

Can any insiders give us some info regarding the rebuild (suspension modifications) and the engine preparation? thanks,

You could contact David Finch at RaeTech, (sp?)
who the winner thanked for (re)building the 914, the WINNING 914

Only if you have 150-200 K laying around.

Mark Hotchkiss has previous Indy Lights experience and is a really good shoe. As for Mr Kirbys car, it is rumered to have had 60k in parts alone in the three months prior to the Runoffs. Mr Finch himself does the engine work, However MR Raby provides parts and equipment to Finch as does Mr Andruk (Circle Performance BRockton MA) The suspension is modified. the front end of the car has tubular arms and coil overs, and the rear has the pick up points moved up and the trailing arms are modified to change roll center I believe, Kevin Groot spent some time with Mr Finch and he would have all the details. Maybe.

Erik Madsen

Thanks, Erik (and congratulations, again)

It really makes one wonder how guys like you, Chris, and many others can compete with teams so well funded and prepared. Is Kirby's car clearly an exception, or are most of the frontrunners fielding cars with deep pockets?

Just the same, it was fun watching a 914 in the limelight, and a great human interest story.

Don't be surprised to see that 914 in front again, either.

Finch knows his stuff and had the resources to really develop that car. It first raced in 1978 and a few years later Finch sold it to Kirby. Kirby won the 1984 EP runoffs with it. Finch also mentioned that in the late 80s he won a bet with Kirby and won the car back (something about going 2 seconds faster than Kirby around Road Atlanta in the same car), but didn't keep the car.

It runs a welded diff in a 901 box, btw. Lots of top shelf stuff in the engine, including some Len Hoffman heads. The suspension geometry is remarkably stock in the front, but the rear has the points moved and the trailing arm modified, but nothing too radical, just the right stuff.

QUOTE (jr91472 @ Dec 18 2005, 03:46 PM)

Does anyone know anything about the 06 car driven by Anderson?. It finished somewhere in the high 20's, but I noticed its sponser was DC Racing. They are a local shop here in DFW area (Dan Cashman).

I spent some time talking with Ray Anderson and his crew chief (Dan Cashman I think).
Ray works for Bruton Smith who runs the Speedway Childrens Charities. The proceeds from my bumper raffle went to SCC.
That car is for sale in the SCCA classifieds for $20K right now. It's a pretty good car but doesn't have as much development as mine, or as much engine either I think.


BTW, I gave the race winner a black 914 Club hat in honor of his victory.

QUOTE (Rleog @ Dec 18 2005, 05:13 PM)

Is Kirby's car clearly an exception, or are most of the frontrunners fielding cars with deep pockets?

Most of the frontrunners at the Runoffs have some sort of advantage. Usually it's either deep pockets or a relationship with some top car preparation shop. Sometimes the car owner/driver has his own engine building facility and does nothing else in his spare time but R&D on his car. One of the biggest advantages of big $$ is on track test time.

The Kirby car was running a few RAT parts... The heads were NOT done by Len, however.... The engine for the car was not that special- it was basically the same package that the car had been raced with for years including the heads... Dave made a cam change and that bvasically it. The engine is not developed as far asit could be for sure, BUT it is certainly good enough!

This car is unreal underneath. No stone was left untouched and everything is over built. Most nuits and bolts safety wired or cotter keyed- this car is not even in the class as most cars that were at the event that are driven/ prepped by "enthusiast". It was very apparent when Len and I crawled around unfder the car that these guys were not after anything but a win with the car.

They did an outstanding job and it was really nice to see someone a 914 seriously for a change...

Sorry, Jake. I thought Len supplied those heads.

BTW... just an example of the budget and resources that went into that car....
I asked Dave Finch about the valve spring retainers they used because I hadn't seen any like it before. Dave said they drew them up in CAD and had them CNC'ed out of titanium. In the grand scheme of things, not a huge expense, but one of many that really adds up in the end.

Hey Kevin mark you calendar, Cen Div 1st National race at Gingerman is April 22nd & 23rd. See ya there?? Bring your snow shovel

QUOTE (bd1308 @ Dec 18 2005, 10:23 AM)

i dont get speed tv b

What good is a TV without speed

Garold,

Calendar is marked, I'll be there. I sure hope the weather is better this year.

QUOTE (srbliss @ Dec 19 2005, 04:42 PM)

QUOTE (bd1308 @ Dec 18 2005, 10:23 AM) i dont get speed tv b What good is a TV without speed

it looks nice on my desk....


b

Man! I can't wait until they run it again! I didn't have it on until 7 laps left!

Kevin...

Your retainers make those look like 10 pound book ends...

.... and that will lead to

I missed the F-prod race...only was able to find and Tivo the E-prod race....some yahoo named Erik Madsen took 2nd in that race (just messing with you....awesome racing!!!).