S197 3V Fabman's build; How did we get here? Build Thread

[302BOB]

When they say "GENTLEMEN start your engines".......they're giving every racer the benefit of the doubt, which clearly some don't deserve.........................

 

[Ludachris]

Here we go, he’s either blocking or just not paying attention. I guess he did this to several other cars as well, and when called on it, was a total dick about it.

 

[Fabman]

Geez, even though it has been years since I was running Spec Miata, that little incident would have never caused an official to call you out. Looked like a racing incident to me and Mr. Energizer Bunny was your typical " Blockhead " so many of us have encountered at many a race. Nice job dispatching him and it sounds like he will be on major notice at the next event. Do you have any races at Thunderhill before the end of the year?

I’m done for the year.

 

[Fabman]

Local track near me:
Madera Speedway Saturday night. 200 lap race and $10k to win.

Remind me again why I’m paying 1100.00 to race for free?

 

[Dave_W]

Remind me again why I’m paying 1100.00 to race for free?

For the $8 wooden plaque if you win, of course.

 

[Fabman]

For the $8 wooden plaque if you win, of course.

Not even wood anymore. I got a piece of plexiglass glass last time.



Still better than NASA where I got a plastic medallion.

 

[racer47]

Local track near me:
Madera Speedway Saturday night. 200 lap race and $10k to win.

Remind me again why I’m paying 1100.00 to race for free?

Looks like a good track, 1/3 mile, nice layout, maybe a bit flat but it looks like they can race 2 grooves. Payout drops off fast after 1st. But $1000 for 10th is still good for Pro Lates.

You seem to have way more patience than I do, especially after coming from the ovals. I know you were painted into the ITE box but getting out of scca regionals and into nationals would have resulted in better drivers, cars, racing etc. Regionals have lots of squirrels and way too many car classes on track at the same time.

SCCA has tried over the years to get more paying fans. The Showcase Nationals had some fan attendance but even the runoffs don't draw big enough crowds to lower the ridiculously high entry fees. I don't know where all that entry fee money goes but I know I'm not willing to pay it anymore. Sure its cool to run all the big tracks but after that novelty wears off, I realized that I'm paying a lot of money per lap to basically race alone 80% of the time.

My kid had more wheel to wheel racing in one year of Legends than I had in 10 years of GT1. We just got paid $515 for 5th place in the year ending big race on a $30 x 2 pit pass entry fee. Sometimes I get tired of the white trash / red neck crap that happens on ovals but I was also sick of the money parade on road courses. Its hard to find that middle ground, the sweet spot of fun, fair, competitive and cost contained racing.

 

[Fabman]

Looks like a good track, 1/3 mile, nice layout, maybe a bit flat but it looks like they can race 2 grooves. Payout drops off fast after 1st. But $1000 for 10th is still good for Pro Lates.

You seem to have way more patience than I do, especially after coming from the ovals. I know you were painted into the ITE box but getting out of scca regionals and into nationals would have resulted in better drivers, cars, racing etc. Regionals have lots of squirrels and way too many car classes on track at the same time.

SCCA has tried over the years to get more paying fans. The Showcase Nationals had some fan attendance but even the runoffs don't draw big enough crowds to lower the ridiculously high entry fees. I don't know where all that entry fee money goes but I know I'm not willing to pay it anymore. Sure its cool to run all the big tracks but after that novelty wears off, I realized that I'm paying a lot of money per lap to basically race alone 80% of the time.

My kid had more wheel to wheel racing in one year of Legends than I had in 10 years of GT1. We just got paid $515 for 5th place in the year ending big race on a $30 x 2 pit pass entry fee. Sometimes I get tired of the white trash / red neck crap that happens on ovals but I was also sick of the money parade on road courses. Its hard to find that middle ground, the sweet spot of fun, fair, competitive and cost contained racing.

I know the track, I won a lot of races there back in the day.
Never really had a good handle on that track until the last time I ran there, I tried a weird combination and the car was a rocket.
I retired right after that and it was the last time I climbed into a stock car.

 

[racer47]

I'm sure they would be happy to have you back in the pits. The 51FIFTY Jr. Late Models seem interesting.

Karma is way more instantaneous on ovals. Skip to 5:40 of this hobby stock race.

 

[Fabman]

I'm sure they would be happy to have you back in the pits. The 51FIFTY Jr. Late Models seem interesting.

Karma is way more instantaneous on ovals. Skip to 5:40 of this hobby stock race.

Yeah, I can do without that. This will be my last racecar.
Trying to decide if I should keep it for some track days (which I hate) or sell it while its notoriety is still worth something.

 

[Fabman]

I'm sure they would be happy to have you back in the pits. The 51FIFTY Jr. Late Models seem interesting.

Karma is way more instantaneous on ovals. Skip to 5:40 of this hobby stock race.

Been there:

 

[Fabman]

Clutch has been shipped. New ball joints just arrived. Just need a new tie rod and some fresh fluids and the car will be ready for whatever comes next. Probably do a track day to make sure everything is alright. Still no fire suit, helmet etc. so no racing at least for now….hmmm, what to do-what to do….to sell or to terrorize?

 

[EF1]

Clutch has been shipped. New ball joints just arrived. Just need a new tie rod and some fresh fluids and the car will be ready for whatever comes next. Probably do a track day to make sure everything is alright. Still no fire suit, helmet etc. so no racing at least for now….hmmm, what to do-what to do….to sell or to terrorize?

My vote is terrorize. You have put too much into Frankie to send him off.

 

[Fabman]

My vote is terrorize. You have put too much into Frankie to send him off.

I must admit, just walking by him in the shop gives me warm fuzzy feelings.

 

[Fabman]

Looks like a good track, 1/3 mile, nice layout, maybe a bit flat but it looks like they can race 2 grooves. Payout drops off fast after 1st. But $1000 for 10th is still good for Pro Lates.

You seem to have way more patience than I do, especially after coming from the ovals. I know you were painted into the ITE box but getting out of scca regionals and into nationals would have resulted in better drivers, cars, racing etc. Regionals have lots of squirrels and way too many car classes on track at the same time.

SCCA has tried over the years to get more paying fans. The Showcase Nationals had some fan attendance but even the runoffs don't draw big enough crowds to lower the ridiculously high entry fees. I don't know where all that entry fee money goes but I know I'm not willing to pay it anymore. Sure its cool to run all the big tracks but after that novelty wears off, I realized that I'm paying a lot of money per lap to basically race alone 80% of the time.

My kid had more wheel to wheel racing in one year of Legends than I had in 10 years of GT1. We just got paid $515 for 5th place in the year ending big race on a $30 x 2 pit pass entry fee. Sometimes I get tired of the white trash / red neck crap that happens on ovals but I was also sick of the money parade on road courses. Its hard to find that middle ground, the sweet spot of fun, fair, competitive and cost contained racing.

Here we go…the first race at Madera.
Damn announcer kept calling me “Scott” .

They laughed at my homemade car when I first got there.
Wasn't very funny by the end of the night.

Heat race we started dead last, a win transferred me to the pole for the main. Both races on the video in a short 6 minute edit.
(White #7 T Bird)

 

[Bouncing Soul]

Painful as it may be, this is it:
THE LAST LAGUNA

Boy that made me anxious not being in the car or there

 

[racer47]

Been there:

Damn jersey barriers. Who thought that it was a good idea to put a ramp on the bottom of a wall?

They laughed at my homemade car when I first got there.
Wasn't very funny by the end of the night.

Heat race we started dead last, a win transferred me to the pole for the main. Both races on the video in a short 6 minute edit.
(White #7 T Bird)

Nice race. If I was a tech official I'd be more interested in the motor than the car.

 

[Fabman]

Damn jersey barriers. Who thought that it was a good idea to put a ramp on the bottom of a wall?

Nice race. If I was a tech official I'd be more interested in the motor than the car.

All was perfectly legal, been the same rules for decades and nobody ever went that fast.
As I often say; "I will always be faster than you on the gas than you are on the brakes."
Braking early and late on the gas seems to be a common theme, I see it a LOT.

 

[Fabman]

disregard

 

[Fabman]

Finally stuck my last win sticker on the car....looks like I have the full set.

Now what?