Race Report - NJMP Thunderbolt June 13-14, 2015

[johngeorge]

Playing with ST2 field, two 4th place finishes for #48. FFR#11 driven by Pat McMahon won ST2 both days!!

Pat McMahon and I signed up to race in the ST2 class at the NASA-NE TransAm weekend June 13-14, 2015. This is not a typical NASA weekend, as the show was run by TransAm, and NASA-NE along with Porsche Cup and Formula cars were the support races when TransAm was not on track. It was a wonderful experience being part of a bigger event to help entertain the fans.

We opted out of the Friday test day taking advantage to tow down from NH. My “31” year old Grandmother accompanied me on this trip, with my parents driving down separately. Fellow FFR Challenge series drivers Wayne Patterson and Carl Thompson made an appearance as they both live close to NJMP and were excited to watch both the TransAm race and us Factory Five cars challenge for the ST2 podium.

Saturday and Sunday schedules were Practice early AM, qualifying mid-day, and the race at the end of the day – 5:10pm Saturday and 4:50pm Sunday. The ST2 class has a weight/power of 8:1, with the rest of the rules wide open, very different from the FFR class I usually run, which specifies all components of the car making a ‘spec’ configuration. #48 to classify in ST2 has to get an additional 62lb of ballast bolted to the passenger floor, and with hope of using Hoosier race tires to gain the added performance needed to keep up with the Corvettes, Mustangs, etc. Pat McMahon’s FFR#11 race car is a little heavier (he initially built it for hill climbs,) has a full cage around the driver, along with other bits including a 347ci DSS engine (new for this year), opting to also run aerodynamic components to get more grip in the twisty bits. Both cars are right at the 8.0:1 ratio which should be competitive in the ST2 field. Saturday practice had the top 5 in ST2 covered by .465 seconds. Needless to say I was pumped, car seems to be competitive. In qualifying I had issues with the fuel system, in the fuel tank a fuel hose popped off causing my car to stop halfway through qualifying, and got towed back into the paddock. Pat qualified 2nd in class, pumped about his great result yet not all was well with the new engine, the oil pressure was lower than normal. Ford engines should have between 50-60psi at 5000rpm, yet Pat’s only made 35psi. He changed his oil and put in thicker weight oil, 15w50 hoping to resolve the issue. After fixing my fuel system the NASA race director came to inform me I was disqualified for not going through the scales after qualifying, and that I would be starting in the back of the first wave, P24. The race was very exciting, with me at the back of the pack working through traffic early, then a red flag suspending the race, then another restart I managed to get 4th in class. Pat had a great race up front, winning ST2!!!



Sunday we opted not to run the practice session as it rained the night before and track was still damp. Qualifying had Pat P2, with me P5. The race was exciting and frustrating at the same time, with me passing cars early then watching Pat and the other top running ST2 field slowly drive away from me (I was 1-2sec off the pace of the front runners the whole weekend.) Pat won again with me in P4! Great driving by Pat beating the very fast Corvettes and the Mustang!

Next event is Limerock July 3-4, in Lakeville CT, hoping to install some aero bits, front splitter, rear wing, etc.. to get me closer to the top running ST2 cars.

Pictures: http://www.johngeorgeracing.com/gall...une-13-14-2015

[johngeorge]

[johngeorge]

[FFRSpec72]

So, 818 ST2 or Challenge Car ST2, which one would you pick ?

[johngeorge]

Hah, quite the loaded question Tony! Having not driven a 818 ST2 hard for me to say. I think 818R would have a huge advantage in turns and under braking due to weight, but ST2 rules seem to favor the corvette forumula, 3200lb, 400hp.. and would get killed on the straights. Even my challenge car with 320hp got our run on the straights and not having the aero in turns meant I didnt have the time to make it up in the turns. We will see at Limerock as Im adding aero for that event July 4 weekend. The 818R would have to be at 250-270hp for 2000lb car depending on which tires you run, Id imagine on a long track like VIR you'd get killed on the straights, but may do great at short twisty tracks.

[Mike N]

Man that looks like fun coming through the field. I didn't realize that ST2 was a rally cross class

[Martin]

At about the 4 minute mark, I saw something I have never seen before, and didn't think I would see. You went off the track a little bit!

I love watching your videos John. You always make your way through the crowds so cleanly and consistent with your lap times. Looks like a LOT of fun.

Martin

[FFRSpec72]

Hah, quite the loaded question Tony! Having not driven a 818 ST2 hard for me to say. I think 818R would have a huge advantage in turns and under braking due to weight, but ST2 rules seem to favor the corvette forumula, 3200lb, 400hp.. and would get killed on the straights. Even my challenge car with 320hp got our run on the straights and not having the aero in turns meant I didnt have the time to make it up in the turns. We will see at Limerock as Im adding aero for that event July 4 weekend. The 818R would have to be at 250-270hp for 2000lb car depending on which tires you run, Id imagine on a long track like VIR you'd get killed on the straights, but may do great at short twisty tracks.

So what aero are you planning beside a front spoiler ?

[johngeorge]

Tony, a front spoiler, rear wing mounted to trunk, tonneau cover over passenger side.

[johngeorge]

At about the 4 minute mark, I saw something I have never seen before, and didn't think I would see. You went off the track a little bit!

I love watching your videos John. You always make your way through the crowds so cleanly and consistent with your lap times. Looks like a LOT of fun.

Martin

I was pushing quite hard and am not 100% used to the feel of the Hoosier tires. That and the red Corvette had a bobble and I did not want to make contact after turn 1 so decided to mow some grass.

[mhoward1]

John,
Do you happen to know what tire sizes Pat is running? I am really happy to see an FFR car run competitively in ST2.

[Doutie]

John, watching your video and I noticed your oil pressure drop to high teens on hard left hand corners. I know it is short lived but curious if it concerns you?
Great race footage, good job!!!!!!!!

[Martin]

I was pushing quite hard and am not 100% used to the feel of the Hoosier tires. That and the red Corvette had a bobble and I did not want to make contact after turn 1 so decided to mow some grass.

Deliberate off track - should have known!

Martin

[johngeorge]

John,
Do you happen to know what tire sizes Pat is running? I am really happy to see an FFR car run competitively in ST2.

Pats car is REALLY heavy compared to mine.. 200+lb more. So, he can afford not to have the -.3 deduction for tires bigger then 275. I think he runs Hoosier A6 275 font, 295 or 315 rear.

[johngeorge]

John, watching your video and I noticed your oil pressure drop to high teens on hard left hand corners. I know it is short lived but curious if it concerns you?
Great race footage, good job!!!!!!!!

Yes I know, if you look at Sunday's race I added more oil and it got slightly better. I dont worry about it because of its short nature, to resolve it I would have to add an accusump to the system, but I dont want the added complexity or added weight of the system so I just live with the oil pressure drop in really hard turns.

[mhoward1]

Pats car is REALLY heavy compared to mine.. 200+lb more. So, he can afford not to have the -.3 deduction for tires bigger then 275. I think he runs Hoosier A6 275 font, 295 or 315 rear.

I really think our cars can be a force in ST2. So I guess the question is "what is the balance needed" Do we add weight and tires? Will Aero be enough, so on and etc.

[johngeorge]

Marty, Ill let you know how it goes after Limerock July 3-4. Adding aero will see how competitive I get.