2005 FORUM ARCHIVES

2005 FORUM ARCHIVES
This will open in a new window Click the Red X top right to return to FORUM

RECEIVED: September 19, 2005 10:06 (Ref, IT’S TIME!)
From the response so far there isn't much interest in doing anything.

RECEIVED: September 7, 2005 9:15 PM
Comment: IT’S TIME!
There is talk about combining with another club to increase our car count?
Well there is a club of cars that FIRA/MMRA has been running with and against since the beginning, NAMRA.
Look at the cars side by side? Only a very few can tell you what the differences are, they are minor!

LETS MEET, lets talk and lets agree on a way to become one, and LETS RACE!!!
If you have an idea, a suggestion, or just want to express your opinion, use the web link in this forum or
E-mail me, bwreitz@direcpc.com, please enter the subject as: "FIRA NAMRA"
Or call me at (815-436-8450)

I will not publish anything you say on this web without your approval.
We can do this.
LETS GIT-R-DONE!!!
Wally Reitz FIRA #8, FIRA webmaster and Barb’s husband.

RECEIVED: September 7, 2005 via phone.
Reply (Ref, IT’S TIME!): "I agree, Lets do it and race"
Neal Gillentine, FIRA #10, B.O.D.

RECEIVED: September 10, 2005 12:44 AM
Reply (Ref, IT’S TIME!): The Rascal Outlaws do run a good race, they seem to be very competitive and responsible drivers. They do appear to run comparative times as FIRA cars. However, I do not want to run with them. I would rather run with the NAMRA cars. Let's open a discussion with NAMRA and see what revisions would need to be made in each of our rules/regulations to make it happen. Even though CART and IRL do not seem to be able to work out a compromise, we should be able to make adjustments so that FIRA and NAMRA can run together.
Doug Farrell, FIRA #88, B.O.D.

RECEIVED: August 11, 2005 7:28 PM
Question: I would like to start raceing, and a friend told me about a car for sale. I don't know much about FIRA. Looked at the car and needs some work. I think just basic works needs done. I was wondering if someone could help.
Thanks, Rob Corwin
No E-mail address was given?

Surrey, B.C.

RECEIVED: July 25, 2005 9:35 AM
Reply: You are correct and there are several FIRA members who are currently trying their had at Road Racing their FIRA cars. Right now, the only sanction is Midwestern Council of Sports Cars which runs Blackhawk, Road America, Gingerman, Joliet among others. The FIRA car runs in Councils FC class. Neal Gillentine (neal24@aol.com) from Yorkville, Illinois, Anthony Wallace (samsonwal@aol.com) from West Chicago, Illinois, Mike Nelson (nelsonracing@elknet.net) from Darian, Wi and Pat Kevin from West Allis, Wi., whose email is on the FIRA site I believe, are all racing in Midwest council. You have to join one of several smaller clubs to compete and attend a mandatory drivers school. The class pretty much follows FIRA rules, not F500 as wings, various larger engines and larger tires are allows. All safety issues of FIRA are typically met. Those racing love the long amounts of seat time Vs overall cost as there are several events in a weekend. One weekend of road racing in terms of seat time can be an entire FIRA season so engines are built accordingly. Generally FIRA tires are Hoosiers but are for 10" rims in the back and 8" rims in the front and usually they have 19x10" in rear and 18x7 in front. Most FIRA racers just use oval tires in a LC05 or LC03 compound which is the same as a R25 and R30 (I think??) in their road tire. They have not had any problems with brakes, tires or overheating when converting to Road. Some have different shocks for road and oval as they run both venues. A suspension change with weight, roll bar preload and wheelbase and balance is also required. I hope this answers your question.

Philip Groebe

Predator Cars

Oval, Road and Vision DSR (www.Predatorvisiondsr.com)

RECEIVED: August 02, 2005 3:22 PM
Subject:Phil's reply: Hi Phil,
I must question the logic of your statement “Those racing love the long amounts of seat time Vs overall cost as there are several events in a weekend”.
You should get lots of track time for the amount you are paying in track rental. That’s the major difference between road racing and oval racing. Road racing is track rental and oval racing is being paid to race. For people with deep pockets road racing is great, for myself I prefer to be paid to race.

Yours, Jim
FIRA #99

RECEIVED: August 10, 2005 4:52 PM
Subject:Reply to Jim

All, please understand...I am not advocating any particular form of racing. Questioning my logic about costs of racing Vs being paid to race is really sort of silly. Jim is absolutely correct. FIRA oval racers get paid to play. I got paid to play from 1990 to 2002! I can remember the lowest check of $3.00 or $4.00 and the highest of $125 or so which I only made at the end of my involvement in FIRA. Toward the end of my oval participation, I spent about $80 for a Saturday night show at Rockford. That got me, my son, a truck and trailer and a race car into the track. It bought the fuel for towing and racing and a backstretch burger or two. If I won the big bucks ($125) that meant that I put $45 in my pocket to pay for tires, oil, chains, and anything else that my "known to be aggressive driver" broke bent or ruined. Most times I would be thrilled and happy to break even. So, I made $45 and got paid for about 15 minutes of seat time in one evening or about $3 per minute...if I won. If I got $4.00 that meant it cost me $76 for 15 minutes or a loss of about $5 per minute...all this assuming nuttun was broke. So, the last race we went to at Road America, we raced four events, each 30 minutes or a total of 2 hours of seat time for $250 (three days) or $2.08 per seat minute...actually cheaper than FIRA racing if you don't win it all which is the case for most racers. So, the logic is sound ... its just another form of racing and its all good. Also, this expenditure is once every two weeks so, I spent $80 then and $125 now per week. By the way, I still love FIRA oval racing...I am on a quest to take our FIRA technology to SCCA and try and kick some butt there! Having fun costs time if not money! Gosh I love racing...bring it on baby!

Phil Groebe

RECEIVED: July 24, 2005 7:25 AM
Question: I am Henk Bosch and I am 14 years old.
I have a question for you.
Do you have stuff or pin about " Formula Indy Racing Association " for me ?
Perhaps have you a old souvenir for me?
I am a great fan of Racing.
I collect everything over Racing.
Over the whole world.
I hope so that you can send me something.
You would make me very happy.
I hope to get an answer from you.

My English is not so good. It is the second year on school.

Thank you very much.
Best wishes Henk Bosch
Holland, Europa

Forwarded to appropriate personnel & PR Dept. July 24.
******************* New thread 2 ********************

Webmaster: June 19, 2005 10:10pm
Question: Anyone from NAMRA or any formula/Mini indy type associated club out there want to take the time to write me through the feedback link and tell me what is going on in NAMRA, or your club in general. Where are you racing, how is the club doing etc. I have not seen or heard anything and I would really like to know what everybody is up to?
Wally Reitz #8/FIRA webmaster

RECEIVED: June 18, 2005 9:15 PM
Comment: Anyone that will not be using all three of their pit passes at the Dell on June, 25 see me, as I have many friends and family living near the Dells.
Jim Bass #99

RECEIVED: May 19, 2005 4:06 PM
Question: I was reading your rules for a temporary permit it says that I can run 1 race by paying you 30 dollars then I was told to look at the the may news letter from the front page it say I have to join fira + the 30 so I end up paying you 130 dollars to run 1 time is that right.?

RECEIVED: May 20, 2005 8:46 AM
Reply: In reply to the question of Temporary Permit, Please check out the rule
on page 15, located under rule book. The clubs Secretary sums it quit nicely
Vern Brown President FIRA

RECEIVED: May 20, 200512:20 AM
Reply: I am under the impression that the money is not any different than before.
That is, if someone wants to run a race with us it will cost $30.00 for a temporary permit
If that person decides to join FIRA within one week any points earned will be applied, but not the $30.00.
Which would mean that person would still have to pay the full $100.00 (and not $70.00 if we were to apply the $30.00 from the temporary permit) to become a full member.

I understood the action taken at the Open Practice day was to allow a car to run with us one time only, even if they did not meet all of FIRA rules, except safety, as long as they run Hoosier tires, LC3 or 5 with maximum 10" width.
In other words, we would grant them a one race grace period to meet all FIRA specs and tech. This would allow them an opportunity to see if they wanted to run with us enough to do whatever would be necessary to meet our specs (i.e. add a rear bumper).

Others may not understand it the same way. But that would not be the first time I interpreted something differently than others.
Doug Farrell, FIRA Board Member Edited WAR

RECEIVED: May 21, 2005 7:36 AM
Question: Why "one time only" as long as the car is legal & safe?
You would still have to pay $30.00 for the TP at each event you run, maybe you arn't sure you could come back or maybe you just want to run a couple of races.
Wally Reitz #8
******************* A different thread 2 ********************

RECEIVED: Date: 4/11/2005 Time:10:01 PM
Question: One of the major reasons we have had a rookie day in the past has been for the annual tech inspection of the race cars. What has changed this year?
Jim Bass

RECEIVED: Date: 4/15/2005 Time:10:00 AM
Reply from John: In response to Jim Bass’ question regarding Rookie Day and Technical Inspections… There are two reasons why Technical Inspections are not a part of the scheduled activities during this year’s Rookie Day/Open practice; (1) There is not enough time; FIRA was able to get the track for only 4 hours, last year Technical Inspections took quite a bit of time, and (2) last year the Technical Inspectors (3 total) were busy most of the day performing technical inspections and assisting various members of the club as needed and were not able to participate in the on-track activities; I personally would like to drive and test my car this year. By requesting that the members contact me, I feel this makes it better for them as well as me; we can work around each others schedules as well as spend more time on each inspection than we could at Rookie Day this year. Also, there will be members that will need some assistance/guidance, and again this will allow for more time to answer those questions and assist them. Inspections will be at my shop ( Batavia , IL ) or at a mutually agreeable location; I am willing to come to you, but the longer the members wait the harder it will to be to accommodate all of the requests to meet at another locations than my shop.
I am not sure as to what the concern here truly is; I have received no calls from Jim nor any member from Wisconsin to schedule an inspection… time is running out, I ask that all members needing an inspection contact me as quickly as possible to schedule their inspection.
John Zeilinga
Technical Inspector

RECEIVED: Date: 4/17/2005 Time:10:35 AM
Reply from JIm: It is the responsibility of the elected officials of this club to serve it's members.     Sometimes those responsibilities need to be executed before the elected officials have their fun.      With that said it is also the responsibility of the members not to overburden it's elected officials.
Earlier this year I e-mailed you and offered to assist you by teching cars located in the Madison /Beaver Dam area.      As I received no response from you I could only assume that you would be doing tech at rookie day.     I had planned to offer to assist you on rookie day.
I will offer again to tech cars in this area.   By teching Vern, Grant and Darren's cars close to 1/3 of the registered cars will be done before rookie day, also these are cars that have raced in our series in past years and have never not pasted tech, so they are easy and quick.
If you also do some that are located close to you, then with the help of myself and others who have offered, the remaining cars could easily be done on rookie day.     Some people arrive early and some stay late.     I'm sure if we all work together we can get everyone teched and not cut into the track time.
The only cars/members that should take time are new members/cars, which will be very few (one?), all others should be very quick as we are working with cars that have all pasted tech in the past..
There should be no reason that you or members should need to waste a day or $2.30 a gal gas to travel somewhere to tech/have a car teched.
Jim Bass