MTM powered S4 at California Speedway
03-26-2002, 05:29 AM
#1
AudiWorld Senior Member
Thread Starter
MTM powered S4 at California Speedway
<center><img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/1510/mvc-290f.jpg"></center><p>I want to give a big thanks to Josh Decker, Bob Pielock, Ben Moses and Jyoteen for coming out to California Speedway and crewing for us last Sunday. Our MTM equipped S4 again set the fastest race lap (4 out of last 5 races) by .7 seconds over the Speedsource 996. I must commend Alex Lince, my codriver from Bogata Columbia for the effort, as he was at the wheel at the time. Our second place finish moved us into fourth place in the points standing
The paddock was really cramped...IRL, ROLEX GRAND-AM cars, Ferrari Challenge, plus the GRAND-AM CUP........we had a little tiny paddock space....couldn't even put up our big awning.
We were 2nd fastest in the practice sessions by .1 second so we looked real good for the shot at the pole for the race...but it was not to be....a turbo boot coming off of the left turbo failed in the first lap of qualifying....we knew we had an oil leak putting oil on the boot, but due to the schedule...we were unable to repair it before qualifying....hence.....POP!! We knew though that it would not take long to get the S4 to the front.
After qualifying 35th overall, Alex moved the S4 into first in class within the first 30 minutes of the race. We held first until our pit stop for fuel and driver change, which then set us back in the field in 5th place. A full course caution put the pace car almost in front of us which enabled the first 3 cars in class to accelerate way out in front of us as we sat behind the slower moving pace car. At the green, with about 30 min. left in the race, we passed the 996 in front of us and eventually moved into second place, which is where we finished...not a moment to soon as I was really struggling with the gear box...no second and a lot of difficulty shifting...balky to go into any gear (we suspect the coupler at the transmission is failing).
The MTM/Hoppen Motorsports power was evident as we could easily pull any GSII car on the straights or out of the corners. Jo and Mike Hoppen have been a big help this season. Our StopTech brakes really held...pulling the car down from about 150 to about 30 mph for turn 3 coming off of the straightaway lap after lap. Our thanks to Ilya from StopTech for his support at the track. TURBOXS supplies us with our BOV's and they have made a difference in reducing our turbo lag on shifts....virtually nonexistent.
We had a scare in practice on thursday as we blew an oil line on the banking....putting a fear in my mind that we had lost an engine. We did lose oil pressure, but the lubricating properties of our ROYAL PURPLE motor oil kept the engine lubricated and we suffered no seizing problems...the engine held together just fine.
Our FIKSE WHEELS really took a pounding as I had to continually run over the berms on the track that had come loose and were blocking several sections through the corners. Several times...I was amazed that the didn't loose any air...as hard as I hit the berms.
If some of this sounds a little like an ad...well, it might be....but we believe in the products that we use and it takes all of it working together to put us up front...and we thank our sponsors for that. We have worked hard on this S4 for two years and with our new round of sponsors, things are really shaping up.
Our next race is at Phoenix International on Saturday, April 20th...we could use a couple of extra guys for crew that weekend, or just come on out to the track just to get acquainted.
Don Istook
The paddock was really cramped...IRL, ROLEX GRAND-AM cars, Ferrari Challenge, plus the GRAND-AM CUP........we had a little tiny paddock space....couldn't even put up our big awning.
We were 2nd fastest in the practice sessions by .1 second so we looked real good for the shot at the pole for the race...but it was not to be....a turbo boot coming off of the left turbo failed in the first lap of qualifying....we knew we had an oil leak putting oil on the boot, but due to the schedule...we were unable to repair it before qualifying....hence.....POP!! We knew though that it would not take long to get the S4 to the front.
After qualifying 35th overall, Alex moved the S4 into first in class within the first 30 minutes of the race. We held first until our pit stop for fuel and driver change, which then set us back in the field in 5th place. A full course caution put the pace car almost in front of us which enabled the first 3 cars in class to accelerate way out in front of us as we sat behind the slower moving pace car. At the green, with about 30 min. left in the race, we passed the 996 in front of us and eventually moved into second place, which is where we finished...not a moment to soon as I was really struggling with the gear box...no second and a lot of difficulty shifting...balky to go into any gear (we suspect the coupler at the transmission is failing).
The MTM/Hoppen Motorsports power was evident as we could easily pull any GSII car on the straights or out of the corners. Jo and Mike Hoppen have been a big help this season. Our StopTech brakes really held...pulling the car down from about 150 to about 30 mph for turn 3 coming off of the straightaway lap after lap. Our thanks to Ilya from StopTech for his support at the track. TURBOXS supplies us with our BOV's and they have made a difference in reducing our turbo lag on shifts....virtually nonexistent.
We had a scare in practice on thursday as we blew an oil line on the banking....putting a fear in my mind that we had lost an engine. We did lose oil pressure, but the lubricating properties of our ROYAL PURPLE motor oil kept the engine lubricated and we suffered no seizing problems...the engine held together just fine.
Our FIKSE WHEELS really took a pounding as I had to continually run over the berms on the track that had come loose and were blocking several sections through the corners. Several times...I was amazed that the didn't loose any air...as hard as I hit the berms.
If some of this sounds a little like an ad...well, it might be....but we believe in the products that we use and it takes all of it working together to put us up front...and we thank our sponsors for that. We have worked hard on this S4 for two years and with our new round of sponsors, things are really shaping up.
Our next race is at Phoenix International on Saturday, April 20th...we could use a couple of extra guys for crew that weekend, or just come on out to the track just to get acquainted.
Don Istook
Trending Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
aktif8
TT (Mk1) Discussion
1
09-23-2002 10:50 PM
donistook
S4 / RS4 (B5 Platform) Discussion
11
09-02-2002 10:07 PM
donistook
S4 / RS4 (B5 Platform) Discussion
10
04-22-2002 01:13 PM
Zsr31
S4 / RS4 (B5 Platform) Discussion
0
06-28-2001 02:41 PM