Hi gang,
Sounds like you all had a really good time. I just got back from the UK so only just got all the reports and messages. FYI, I was at Lotus's factory in Hethel drooling over the Elise and Esprit V8

I was disappointed that I could not make it. I managed to get my VR4 back on the road and was set to go but my brother and his wife had a baby so family duties came first.

Great to hear that nobody got too bent. You all did better than me - I span into the wall in T10 at 110MPH in a Spec Racer Ford on the previous week end (SCCA Regional Final Weekend). I tore the rear body work off along with the suspension, and drive shaft. Fortunately no injuries thanks to a full role cage and 6pt harness.

Jim, your turn by turn driving notes are pretty much on the money. There is not much that I could add for street cars. Sears Point (OK
Infineon) is a really fun track at >9/10ths but brutally dangerous at 10/10ths. We had six serious wrecks during the SCCA regional in our group alone.

- -----Original Message-----
From: fastmax [mailto:fastmax@cox.net]
Sent: Tuesday, October 15, 2002 11:27 AM
Subject: Sears Point track report

As mentioned in some of the testimonials on the 3SI.org site a great time was had by most --- events have shown that testosterone and youthful exuberance can win wars and bend cars [ name of the party withheld to protect the guilty ]. Us old guys try to prevent barrier assisted stops because of the damage they can do to body parts [ mine, not the cars ]. 'sigh' --- to be 10' tall and bulletproof again.

All in all a great weekend --- on the downside NASA had too damn many cars in the HPDE groups on Saturday, Sunday was much better but still pushing the limit as far as I'm concerned. The first two sessions on Saturday were timed at 12 minutes each --- that's ridiculous and I'll be sending a nastygram to NASA.

The new facility is really 1st class and apparently they'll be re-paving the track before the next NASCAR race. It's nice to be at a facility that has indoor plumbing and hot and cold water --- hell, back when I was a kid ---- well never mind.

Nothing like a little low speed push to get your attention as you slide towards the tire barrier, your tires shuddering and clawing for traction
- --- that occurs right after braking from 100+ while aimed straight at another barrier that forms the perimeter for the turn 11. Once your tires hook up again you're headed off down the front 'straight' [ actually a dogleg left ] --- full throttle, a foot from the wall at the dogleg looking at a long black streak on the track and a big tire mark on the outside wall, damn, somebody did it wrong !!

You can carry a ton of speed into 1, a fast uphill left hand sweeper --- pucker factor kept me slow there both days. Done wrong you go off track into the hillside, done too fast, you carry too much speed into 2 [ see paragraph 1 ]. Done right it probably feels great although I never felt close to optimum there. 2 through 8a form the portion of the track I'm familiar with, it was the shortened version that resulted while the $50 million renovation was taking place.

Coming out of 1 you brake hard and downshift for 2, clip the berm and head towards the hillside grandstands at track out --- last year I managed a nifty little 90 degree reorientation after getting too much berm. From track out at 2 there's a nice short straight that allows us higher HP guys blow by the wannabes, hard downhill braking into the uphill left known as turn 3. Late apex 3a and a fast down hill run into 4, a medium speed 90º right that flows into a fairly high speed right hand sweeper done at WOT in 3rd.

The 270º downhill known as the carousel is another of those turns that I have never taken at what I consider optimum speed. Next is a 110 mph run to the turn 7 hairpin --- hard braking and downshifting to make the big 'U' turn. Several methods recommended --- double apex it or run in deep and do a single apex. I just go a little deep and do a constant radius turn with a lot of throttle about half way through, it slides a little wide but there's plenty of room to work with.

Next are the esses, and I finally feel in control of that mess --- last year the walls scared the poop out of me but now that the construction is done there is more room for error, while driving I like to repeat the mantra --- you have to drive it home dummy.

New to me but part of the original track is the 8a, 9, 10 complex ---- much speed can be carried through here and I got better as track time accumulated. 9 is 100+ with some room for error but that damn 10 is a high speed right with walls where you'd be if you screw it up. There are also a lot of marbles [ balled up rubber ] all over the area and if you get off line you're off track. 10 takes you to that 100+ run up to 11 where you hope to hell you didn't overcook your brakes during the preceding 10 turns. Heading towards a wall at 100 mph is no time to find out you've got brake fade --- for the most part I left a lot of leeway for error here.

That's the track, it's fun, it's fast, it's challenging, but the best part of the weekend was meeting with and being with friends who share a common bond --- not just 3S people but people who like cars and driving and having a good time. Bonds and memories formed like that are not soon forgotten. My condolences to those who could attend and didn't, and to those who wanted to and couldn't [ e.g. Bob and ET, you were missed ]

Date: Mon, 21 Oct 2002 06:38:06 -0500 (Central Daylight Time)
From: "Dennis Blake" <dblake@charter.net>
Subject: Team3S: selling 1993 blue stealth rt/tt

Hi all
I am selling a stealth 1993 RT/TT runs great int in great shape. no dents or dings tires only little mileage on them about ten thousand. I am second owner and as far as i know never raced. great car good price needing to sell to get into something bigger. asking $8500. Thanks
Dennis
Please e-mail me at dblake@charter.net

Date: Mon, 21 Oct 2002 08:11:53 -0500
From: "Mark and Brenda" <mebmark@cablerocket.com>
Subject: Team3S: First generation and second generation.

Hi gang. I'm getting ready to pull my engine for rebuild. I was wondering how do you know the difference between first generation and second generation engines? Also what is a 6G72 block? I only have a 92 NA. I searched the archives but could not find anything on this. Thanks in advance. Mark.

Mike: I have a 93 Firestorm Red Stealth TT AWD in very good shape with 117k miles on it. It has every option except chrome wheels. It is for sale for 13k and runs like a clock. I had it at Sears Point two weekends ago (Not to race - just to watch. As far as I know it has never been raced or on a track). I am in Placerville CA if you want to take it for a drive.

Andy
- ----- Original Message -----
From: <M3000GTSL84@aol.com>
Sent: Friday, October 18, 2002 5:26 PM
Subject: Team3S: VR-4 value question

Date: Mon, 21 Oct 2002 12:01:50 -0400
From: "Alex Pedenko" <alex@kolosy.com>
Subject: RE: Team3S: First generation and second generation.

6g72 is the 3/s block. The differences that I know of is that the 1st gen block is a 2 bolt main, as opposed to a 4 bolt for the 2nd gen. I believe the 1st gen has a CAS and the 2nd gen has a camshaft angle sensor, but I might have those the other way around.

- -----Original Message-----
From: Mark and Brenda
Sent: Monday, October 21, 2002 9:12 AM
Subject: Team3S: First generation and second generation.

Date: Mon, 21 Oct 2002 11:10:36 -0500
From: "cody" <overclck@satx.rr.com>
Subject: RE: Team3S: First generation and second generation.

Let me add a couple things... The block change (as well as cam angle sensor to crank angle sensor) happened in mid '93 (production date of 5/92 and later, IIRC, have the crank angle sensor and the slightly better block...

- -----Original Message-----
From: Mark and Brenda
Sent: Monday, October 21, 2002 9:12 AM
To: Team3S@stealth-3000gt.st
Subject: Team3S: First generation and second generation.