Laguna... Tell us what happened?

[JHPGT3]

Re the timed runs.
I know the suspense is killing everyone and sorry for the delay --possibly tomorrow!
In the meantime, this is what I have, in order (and wouldn't you know it, I'm missing Tawfik!)
I'm including a couple others from SDR who have been with POC for a while just FYI.

Kris U 1:40.762
Kary Clements 1:39.226***
Martin R 1:41.663
Dave Gardener 1:42.011
Bernie B 1:42.181
Jeff Schmidt 1:45.056
Paul Young 1:48.372
Tim Souza 1:48.558
Rick S. 1:48.926
Jackie 1:50.112
Chuck S. 1:50.458
Ted M. 1:54.218
Leigh R. 1:54.874
Mark R. (thanks again for the pics!)


Bernie and Rick came within a small fraction of setting a new track record --maybe next time.
Kary now has the POC track record for Laguna Seca --Congrats, Dude!!!!

[Ted Myrus]

John, after running the DE at the "Q", 100+ db. I bought some really expensive high tech mufflers($19 each) from PepBoys, header flanges from a muffler shop and welded it all up. Did a sound check at the last AX. Not yet satisfied I borrowed a pair of Super Traps from David Quesnel and your special foam intake restrictors. Sound at Laguna was not an issue for me. I also have finally solved my chronic oil leak. The car ran well but down on power with all that junk tacked on.

After 4 run sessions on Friday and one on Saturday they decided I sat too high in the car. Got out the broom stick and found I was 1 1/2 inches above the cage. The cure was to weld on a really ugly appendage on top of the cage. Looked like the handle for a suitcase. Not to worry, as I just got the car back from Autopower today with a proper remedy.

Laguna is great. Worth the trip and expense. POC treated us well.

[Jackie C]

Thank you for posting our times, John. We're kind of an instant gratification crowd here at SDR, thanks to Martin and the rest of our timing people. (Usually posted the same weekend as the race-crazy good). What a track. Can't really relate this experience in words, but will drive it every year I am able. Took me 2 full days to stop holding my breath in the cork screw. In addition to some competitive driving with the POC, these folks can throw a party. It would appear some serious money was raised for the JDRF and a great time had by all. If you are qualified to drive here, do it. You won't regret it. Thanks to all the efforts by so many but particularly John Payne for his time in helping his fellow PCAers step up to the next level.

[Tim Souza]

This track and the the way we were treated by the POC was awesome! I will definitely attend next year. A special thanks to John Payne for all of his efforts in assisting us with registration as well as making sure we felt welcome

It should also be noted that Phil and Jackie were the most gracious of host. They provided (3) meals a day to those of us who wanted (Ithink it was Jackies idea to help add wieght to our cars) and I really appreciate their efforts.

Paul Young...nice job getting me in the timed runs. For those of you who were not there, Paul and I were going back and forth every run session and actually had the exact time in one of the sessions (1:48.945 or something similar), it was great to use each other as a "rabbit".

Josh Yaeger also ran with us (Speed Ventures) and was able to put down a very nice lap time of 1:51.4 in his 944, he was certainly putting the heat on Jackie and Chuck...

[JHPGT3]

Seen this a.m. on the POC WEB site. The post was from Paul (timing guru) in response to a post that said the TT Times seemed to be missing)

*****************************************************************************************************************************************
"The one merge should have not been posted. It was for Jeff for griding the cars.

I am finishing the TT stuff and sending it out To Dylan this weekend. There were some transponder errors (more than usual) that I am still fixing.

Sorry for the delay, I have had 3 running events this week that I have timed or are preparing for. Thanks all."

Paul

[Gunter]

What a great weekend! Thank you John for everything and congratulations. What a race!!. 1:32.2 WOW!!
Jackie,Phil thank you for your hospitality. Tim- I know I need to bring the Spec next year if I want to hang out with you again...
Kris, Dave and Martin..
Tawfik-it was turn 7 and yes now we know-flat out in 4th may be a little to much...but thanks for trying..
I will be there next year

[martinreinhardt]

Laguna Seca lap record set with a Toyota F1 (1:06.309) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_bWOdY6mbU

[Gunter]

1.06. Wow! I was in turn 6 at 1.06....

[bernieb1]

Great videos Martin, both your drive and the Toyota. Thanks to John for the times and all the hospitality, he was very gracious in introducing me around to POC folks who were very friendly. I'd encourage anyone who can possibly make it work to go next year, just watching the races knowing some of the players John, Roland, Keri, Mark Foley, Bill Dawson, Jim Richmond etc...from up near the corkscrew was exciting enough. Chasing Kurt, Martin and David for 3 days was another great experience, lots of the usual comeraderie and helpfulness in the paddock.

[Tawfik]

Laguna Seca lap record set with a Toyota F1 (1:06.309) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_bWOdY6mbU

Track record is actually held by Bourdais ina champ car.

"The record was re-taken by a Champ Car on March 10, 2007 by Sébastien Bourdais, who lapped in 1'05.880 during Champ Car Spring Training."

[Gunter]

O.K. So that would put me a little before turn 6.....

[993Panzer]

O.K. So that would put me a little before turn 6.....

I'm right there with you Gunter.....

[MVZ944T]

Glad you all had fun. I would like to try the track again someday, but the DB limit is rediculous. I tried running there 4 years ago, got black flagged 3 times in a row and gave it up. I had 2 large mufflers, a 90 degree diverter, and on my third run I wired a soup can with holes in it which worked for about 4 laps until it melted and came off. Too bad, it is an awesome track.

[pdy]

In practice, I worked my way down to 1:48.849 on old Toyo RA-1 225 & 205 - identical time to Tim Souza - wow!
Though the car (Snickers) is ideal for PCA class IS, it is unfavorable in POC IP (5 points out of 13). Still, I was thrilled
to be within 1.7 of the POC class record, so I switched to Hoosier A-6 for the last few practice laps, and timed runs.
Thinking was that the Hoosiers are probably good for 1.5 seconds - worth a shot. The car fishtailed so bad, I though
was gonna die! It eventually settled out somewhat, but the best I could do was 1:48.372 (semi-official results from John).
Next time, I'll use fresh A-6s if I'm serious about a record, otherwise the old Toyos were just fine.

First time driving the track, and it is indeed a superb surface, with many elevation changes and subtleties that will
take a lifetime to explore. POC folks were very welcoming, and special thanks to John for his hard work setting this
all up. I love this track. Between Laguna Seca and Watkins Glen, not sure which is my favorite. It was indeed very
difficult getting back to reality, more so than any other event...

All the PCA folks did REALLY well - clean driving AND superb times. Tim - you were definitely one of the brighter stars,
having improved a LOT recently. It was a genuine treat (and challenge!) running with you.

I sweated the noise issue, as did a bunch of others. With my sport muffler, I added soup cans to the outlets, and put
steel wool behind them.

Artistic Cans

Pork-N-Beans.jpg (152.54 KiB) Viewed 1896 times

Never got busted, thankfully, though I suspect it was close.

Others took more drastic measures - check out the five (5) huge external mufflers;

Attempt at 92dB

Mufflerx5.jpg (157.44 KiB) Viewed 1896 times

Will do more POC events, and definitely Laguna Seca.

[mrondeau]

The noise limit wasn't that much of an issue. We were in the 90 db range with our Bullit stainless 2 1/2" muffler. Didn't have to do anything to it. Some of the muffler systems were crazy. 4 mufflers stacked and pointed up and to the drivers side about 2 feet off of the back of the car. IMHO it's worth the effort to get your car below 92db just to drive this track. I will be back next year.