Sunday, March 30, 2008

Let's Play Two

Shark Sandwich Racing has now officially entered a second 24 Hours of LeMons, the Detroit(ish) version scheduled for September 13-14, 2008 in Toledo. Unlike the South Carolina version, the Toledo round runs for 24 straight hours- adding a whole new dimension of night driving and pushing through the night without a stop to rest. The South Carolina version is two all-day sessions with an overnight break, while Toledo will run under the lights all night long.

The South Carolina race is still our full focus, but once we have all the gear, car (hopefully), and team in place after the first one, why not do another? Toledo isn't much farther from most of the team than Columbia SC anyway.

Sunday, March 9, 2008

We have wheels!

Or so I'm told. Team sources have verified the acquisition of a 1st generation Toyota MR2. At least 2 teams in the California versions have fielded MR2s with pretty good results and solid durability. Word is that ours has some crash damage, but is straight and, as far as I know, at least runs.

Here's a couple examples of prior MR2 entries into the LeMons:

Team Drift RWD



Motoring J-Style


Motoring J-Style's picture is after two 24 Hours of LeMons.

We'll assemble the team, such as it is, in May or June for a race prep weekend. I'll be in charge of paint and window cleanliness while the guys with actual mechanical skills will make the important pieces raceworthy.

Thursday, March 6, 2008

How far is all the way, and then if it stops, what's stopping it, and what's behind what's stopping it?

The timeline from here:

Now- we submit our official entry the the great and glorious event organizers. Finish securing a car, and refine our plans for the build. Add new team members, continue thinking of clever titles for each.

May 17- Official Entry deadline. Shortly thereafter, we find out if we have been selected by the bright, clever gentlemen who make those sorts of decisions

Then- The team will gather for a Vehicle Assembly Summit either in Huntsville or Oak Ridge, depending on where our heap, err, glorious machine resides at the time.

July 26 & 27- LeMons South! Carolina Motorsports Park, Kershaw, SC. Tentatively scheduled as 2 days of racing, 6-8 hours each day. Hopefully the car lasts long enough for everyone to get a turn. Try to avoid being tarred & feathered (really). Check the event website (to the right!) for all the details on the race events.

July 28- commence planning for the next one.

No one knows who they were or what they were doing...

So it begins. On Tuesday, March 4, sometime around noon, yours truly discovered the amazing world of the 24 Hours of Lemons. By 5, the team had grown to 2. By 8, a third was tentatively on board. Now we have 4, 2 days later. And maybe even a car or three. And we even have a plan.

The team as it stands now:

Josh, team Emperor, purveyor of bad ideas. Located at Central Command, Orlando, FL. Race experience: A couple of autocrosses. Success: none. Mechanical talent: minimal. Can change oil.

Daniel, team President, recruiter extraordinaire. Tactical Outpost Alpha, Oak Ridge, TN. Race experience: Also a couple of autocrosses. Success: indeterminate. Not enough to land an ALMS ride. Mechanical talent: far superior to that of Emperor Josh

Mystery Team Member A, title TBD (Prime Minister, General, Dictator-for-Life are options): Tactical Outpost Alpha, Oak Ridge, TN (but lives in a different house). Race experience: none that we know of. Mechanical talent: approximately equivalent to President Daniel

Mystery Team Member B, title TBD, ringer. Rocket City Station, Huntsville, AL. Race experience: Yes! Even with other cars on the track! Mechanical Talent: yes, substantial. Entirely overqualified in every category. Has a line on the cars we may use.

(The names have been changed to protect the innocent, in case they change their mind or something).

And of course, more to come...

Josh & Daniel grew up around sports car racing and have lugged tires, filled fuel tanks, and counted laps at tracks from Watkins Glen to Sears Point. And now, if their entry gets picked for the race, they will finally see what life is like INSIDE the race car. If you could really call it that. But we don't care.