|
After much discussion about technical rules, the season opener of the Petron Treats Yokohama Miata Cup went off without a hitch on a blistering hot March Saturday morning. The paddock, dominated by Miatas, was a hive of activity. Some of the cars were fresh from emerging from their garages, their engines not having been broken in yet. Pocholo’s 1800cc Miata having shed its turbo was one of these. It’s motor still being lowered into the engine bay. Joselu’s and Joey’s cars just arrived from Manila, also having been worked on all night and through most of the morning. Dan’s car was having its wheels aligned, looking nice and neat without it’s Teriyaki Boy livery. Juny red slot car and Romy D.’s winged wonder were the only ones that looked calm and confident, ready to race. Practice was soon underway and immediately Junie sets the pace, clocking steady 1.21 lap times without missing a beat. Others struggle to match his pace. Soon there’s a discussion in the paddock about what the proper racing line and gearing is though certain corners. After all these years! It’s weird, this Miata Cup. It’s probably the only auto race in the world wherein competitors try to help each other get faster. Talk about camaraderie, it’s almost ridiculous. But if you know these guys as well as I do, it’s but normal and most of all, natural. Qualifying takes place in the usual SIR shotgun method: two Flying laps, one by one. The session confirms practice times, Juny clocking a blistering 1.21.3, Joey comes sets second fastest with a 1.22.8, Joselu 3rd with a 1.23.6. After weigh-in however, Juny and Pocholo are found to be underweight and are moved to the back of the grid accordingly. When the dust settles, the starting grid was set thus: P1. Joey Pery P2. Joselu Romero Salas P3. Romy David P4. Dan Ho P5. Juny Binamira P6. Pocholo Ramirez P7. John Camus P8. Rene Mapua P9. Romy Mercado P10. Chito Santiago P11. Allan Lavarro Keith Sundiang was on the scene with his talented daughter to act as herald to the Photography Club members who were scheduled to arrive the next day. At 7 PM the group totaling 14 people, including John Camus, Bubi Camus and Miguel Ramirez all have a sumptuous dinner at Hsin’s Cafe. Sunday The grid was enhanced by the street racers who drove up to Sunday morning to participate in the first race of the season: Rene Mapua in his red supercharged Miata, Romy Mercado, Chit Santiago and Allan Lavarro. The Camus brothers, John and Bubi were also present to take turns driving Jenny’s Blue race car. The mood on Sunday suddenly becomes festive as a hoard Miata Club members and photographers from the FPPF descend on the paddocks. The Miata Club members join the grid of race cars for two warm up laps to enhance the effect. All in all there were around 25 Miata on the grid, a sight to behold, reminiscent of earlier years. Race 1 On green Juny gets a good start passes Romy David and immediately slots into third. Joey leads the first group coming out of the first turn with Joselu in 2nd. The pack bunches up in groups with dicing up and down the field. The second group is comprised of Romy David, Dan, Pocholo, John, Rene and Romy Mercado. The lead groups of three cars break away and are soon racing by themselves nose to tail. On lap 3 Joselu’s brakes fade and he overshoots the hairpin. Despite being out of position he somehow makes the turn but his car is not at the optimum angle. Juny senses an opportunity and presses. Joselu, aware of Juny’s attack guns his throttle a bit too much and spins coming out of the hairpin. The new positions are now, Joey 1st, Juny 2nd, and Joselu 3rd. (Someone else will have to give the highlights of the second group as I was too busy keeping ahead of these two guys!) The race is tight between Joey and Junie for the next 5 laps, each one waiting for the other to make a mistake and take advantage. However Junyfs throttle body breaks on lap 8 and he is forced to idle the car for the rest of the race. Joselu’s passes the cripples red Miata and finishes in 2nd after all. Dan eventually leads the 2nd pack and Romy David DNF’s. The final results are as follows: Position (Race 1):
Race 2 After a hearty lunch courtesy of the Miata Club members, and more photo opportunities, the racers line up again for the second heat of the day. The start is almost a replay of the 1st race. Joey, Joselu and then Juny. Juny passes Joselu earlier though, this time in lap 2 but again out of the hairpin. Joselu mis-shifts and Juny gets through. Again Juny gives chase this time for almost 8 or 9 grueling laps. But alas his throttle body gives out again. His mechanics remark that he might be stomping on his gas pedal too hard! But that’s every racers right, isn’t it?! =) Anyway there’s more action in the back, Rene’s engine dies coming into the hairpin. He barrels through and Dan who is about to make the turn has go straight to avoid him. This gives opportunity to Pocholo and Romy David who both pass Dan. Dan gives chase and passes Romy David again. The two trade places three times with Dan coming out ahead in the end. (Or did this happen in the first race. I’m really not sure. Help.)
Rounds 3 and 4 of the Petron Treats Yokohama Miata Cup will be held on April 21 and 22. Don’t miss out on all the fun and excitement! See you guys there. On Racing a Normally Aspirated car versus a Turbo Personally I had to adjust a lot from driving a turbo. The main difference is that in a turbo you generally carry more speed into a corner and stay in a gear higher for that corner than if you would in an NA. For example in turn 1 I would enter fast on 3rd in my turbo and stay on third powering out. In the NA I now downshift into 2nd to try to get the maximum drive due to the lack of torque on 3rd gear. If I shift down to 2nd in a turbo I would have too much torque (about 210 ft/lbs as opposed to 110 in an NA) for turn 1 and it would be hard to keep from spinning out. Braking points are also much deeper in NA. In turbos you have higher tops speeds and therefore have to lift or brake earlier. In a turbo, you spend a lot of time trying to control the power. That’s what you concentrate on. Not to wipe out. In an NA your main concern is not to lose momentum and to have maximum torque all the time. Suspension setup is also different. In turbos you can afford softer suspension specially in the rear to help the car put the power to the ground. In an NA you need stiff suspension to be able to maintain higher cornering speeds. Joey Pery
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
