Monday, May 31, 2010
Happy Memorial Day everyone!
I am blessed to be in this country and know that some gave everything to let us have this freedom.
Friday, May 28, 2010
Planning for the holiday weekend
The racecar (still working on a name for it) is sitting peacefully in the garage.....and leaking water...I think it is the rad hose. So, that is the plan for the weekend. Fix that. And add the oil pressure gauge line and gauge, a little vacuuming, and finishing up the decals. And get some tires mounted for my co-driver for next weekend....my secret weapon.
I also need to work on the tow vehicle, the serpintine belt is getting way too loud. I will enjoy the weekend and relax and work on all those other things I should have done while working on the racecar. There is a bonfire and a fishing trip planned (probably will skip out on the drag racing trip though, sorry Scott)
I did watch the videos last night (thanks Al). I have much room for improvement. Oh and a big sorry for getting into Dave C. at the start of the Sunday class race. I thought I was more square then I was and he made a good save, all three times....oops. I saw the green flag and hit the gas pedal but I the inside line is limiting on the start sometimes.
That is all for now. Here are some pictures from the Waterford Hills website that have popped up after last weekend.
I also need to work on the tow vehicle, the serpintine belt is getting way too loud. I will enjoy the weekend and relax and work on all those other things I should have done while working on the racecar. There is a bonfire and a fishing trip planned (probably will skip out on the drag racing trip though, sorry Scott)
I did watch the videos last night (thanks Al). I have much room for improvement. Oh and a big sorry for getting into Dave C. at the start of the Sunday class race. I thought I was more square then I was and he made a good save, all three times....oops. I saw the green flag and hit the gas pedal but I the inside line is limiting on the start sometimes.
That is all for now. Here are some pictures from the Waterford Hills website that have popped up after last weekend.
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
WH Race #1 (The unofficial press release)
Holy smokes, the car is fast and I better learn how to drive this thing quick! I ran a personal best during the last race of the weekend. And the car passed tech with a weight of……no, you actually thought I would give you the weight of the car….LOL. But the driver does need to lose some weight. Overall a great first weekend. Everything went according to plan. The car didn’t leak, the old tires held up and it was racy. Everyone liked the paint scheme (even if it isn’t finished) and I had a great crew and support at the racetrack. It was a great first weekend. I can’t wait to get back on the track in two weeks!
Waterford Hills Race #1 Recap (Press Release)
It was a great weekend to be racing. The TF American Racing ITB Ford Mustang performed beyond expectations. Even the driver is starting to figure out what he was doing.
Friday afternoon for practice started out a little slow. Tom had the wrong tires on when the track opened up so after a quick change from rains to slicks he got it on the track. Tom came up to speed slowly, but some unofficial stopwatches had him running decent lap times. A total of three practice sessions were run with the last one heat cycling a brand new set of Hoosiers.
Saturday brought the rain early. After qualifying a poor 22nd in the rain on old slick tires Tom was anxious to have the track dry up and get the 2010 racing season under way. It was an exciting start to the season, Tom passed three cars through the first three turns. Then the #90 ITC Plymouth Arrow of Steve Steeb and the #8 ITB Fiero of Dale Mudd spun about three cars ahead of Tom between turn 4 & 5. Dale’s car ended up quite wet in the swamp. Tom didn’t hit anything but was worried he might have flat spotted the tires, quickly hitting the brakes so hard.
Full course caution came out and then the red flag to clean up the mess.
On the restart Tom moved up a few positions due to the crash and a few penalties handed out (Do not pass under yellow). He got a good start leaving #73 Kimi in the dust, albeit temporarily. Tom quickly caught the #32 of Franz in his Fiero and followed him in passing the #1 (Joe) and #2 (rookie Liz) ITS Miatas. Tom then had a mirror full of Kimi and her Dad, #47 Dave. #90 Steve , coming through the pack and recovering from the crash quickly sprinted into the rearview mirror. Once Steve got pass Tom, Franz made contact with Steve missing him in the rear view mirror. After the slight contact, Tom took advantage and got by both. Steve then pass Tom back a few laps later and then Kimi was back in the rear view mirror as she and her Dad got by Franz.
After holding off Kimi and Dave for a few more laps, #77 Merritt showed up through the windshield. Tom made quick work in getting around Merritt’s Porsche. Then Kimi a lap later got the inside line coming out of eight and got by, with her Dad in tow. Going into turn one on the last lap, Tom made a slight…..kinda big…..ok major mistake by shifting into fifth and not third going into turn one. By the time Tom got the car in the correct gear, Franz was in the process of passing Tom and finished the pass going into turn five.
Tom finished 14th and seventh in class in this 11 lap race (Not sure how we got an extra lap in but we did). Not too bad for starting 22nd
Congrats to Kenny on his win in class and charge from 18th to 8th overall.
The Sunday class race was much less eventful. Starting the same way he finished on Saturday 14th overall and 7th in class. Tom couldn’t keep up with Franz in this 10 lap race. And finished 14th overall and 7th in class. Tom did make a slight tire pressure adjustment and a slight suspension adjustment for this race and went 0.2 seconds quicker in lap time.
The Sunday 12 lap feature was a little more exciting. Tom made a bigger suspension adjustment and started 17th overall and 8th in class. The start is based on the best lap time from the previous two races of the weekend. Tom got another excellent start and passed the #41 Prizm and Liz in the #2 Miata. Tom quickly caught Franz and passed him too…and started to pull away. Tom then was trailing a pack of cars that included Kimi, Dave, Kenny and #88 Bob. Tom kept up with them for a few laps but they began to slowly pull away. The tires on the car began to fall off late in the race with the #41 starting to reel the #00 Moonbeam Massage ITB Ford Mustang back in but it wasn’t enough. Tom ran a personal best lap time 1:24.4 in the feature race. He finished 12th overall and 6th in class.
Thanks to all the crew and support Tom had this weekend. Thanks to Moonbeam Massage and Tom’s check book for sponsoring the car this weekend…and for the 2010 season. Tom picked up two trophies (well he is holding them for Kenny when he returns in two weeks) and is looking forward to racing June 5th & 6th.
Friday afternoon for practice started out a little slow. Tom had the wrong tires on when the track opened up so after a quick change from rains to slicks he got it on the track. Tom came up to speed slowly, but some unofficial stopwatches had him running decent lap times. A total of three practice sessions were run with the last one heat cycling a brand new set of Hoosiers.
Saturday brought the rain early. After qualifying a poor 22nd in the rain on old slick tires Tom was anxious to have the track dry up and get the 2010 racing season under way. It was an exciting start to the season, Tom passed three cars through the first three turns. Then the #90 ITC Plymouth Arrow of Steve Steeb and the #8 ITB Fiero of Dale Mudd spun about three cars ahead of Tom between turn 4 & 5. Dale’s car ended up quite wet in the swamp. Tom didn’t hit anything but was worried he might have flat spotted the tires, quickly hitting the brakes so hard.
Full course caution came out and then the red flag to clean up the mess.
On the restart Tom moved up a few positions due to the crash and a few penalties handed out (Do not pass under yellow). He got a good start leaving #73 Kimi in the dust, albeit temporarily. Tom quickly caught the #32 of Franz in his Fiero and followed him in passing the #1 (Joe) and #2 (rookie Liz) ITS Miatas. Tom then had a mirror full of Kimi and her Dad, #47 Dave. #90 Steve , coming through the pack and recovering from the crash quickly sprinted into the rearview mirror. Once Steve got pass Tom, Franz made contact with Steve missing him in the rear view mirror. After the slight contact, Tom took advantage and got by both. Steve then pass Tom back a few laps later and then Kimi was back in the rear view mirror as she and her Dad got by Franz.
After holding off Kimi and Dave for a few more laps, #77 Merritt showed up through the windshield. Tom made quick work in getting around Merritt’s Porsche. Then Kimi a lap later got the inside line coming out of eight and got by, with her Dad in tow. Going into turn one on the last lap, Tom made a slight…..kinda big…..ok major mistake by shifting into fifth and not third going into turn one. By the time Tom got the car in the correct gear, Franz was in the process of passing Tom and finished the pass going into turn five.
Tom finished 14th and seventh in class in this 11 lap race (Not sure how we got an extra lap in but we did). Not too bad for starting 22nd
Congrats to Kenny on his win in class and charge from 18th to 8th overall.
The Sunday class race was much less eventful. Starting the same way he finished on Saturday 14th overall and 7th in class. Tom couldn’t keep up with Franz in this 10 lap race. And finished 14th overall and 7th in class. Tom did make a slight tire pressure adjustment and a slight suspension adjustment for this race and went 0.2 seconds quicker in lap time.
The Sunday 12 lap feature was a little more exciting. Tom made a bigger suspension adjustment and started 17th overall and 8th in class. The start is based on the best lap time from the previous two races of the weekend. Tom got another excellent start and passed the #41 Prizm and Liz in the #2 Miata. Tom quickly caught Franz and passed him too…and started to pull away. Tom then was trailing a pack of cars that included Kimi, Dave, Kenny and #88 Bob. Tom kept up with them for a few laps but they began to slowly pull away. The tires on the car began to fall off late in the race with the #41 starting to reel the #00 Moonbeam Massage ITB Ford Mustang back in but it wasn’t enough. Tom ran a personal best lap time 1:24.4 in the feature race. He finished 12th overall and 6th in class.
Thanks to all the crew and support Tom had this weekend. Thanks to Moonbeam Massage and Tom’s check book for sponsoring the car this weekend…and for the 2010 season. Tom picked up two trophies (well he is holding them for Kenny when he returns in two weeks) and is looking forward to racing June 5th & 6th.
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Sunday races
Started 14th overall and 7th in class for the first race and finished there too.
For the Feature I started 17th. Finished 13th overall and 6th in class. Also turn my fastest lap ever 1:24.4.
I had a great weekend and was so happy and excited to have all the support out there. But now I can barely keep my eyes open. Work tomorrow so I can rest up for racing in two weeks!
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Saturday, May 22, 2010
Saturday Race #1
Well the car is in one piece and I went from 22nd to 14th. There was a crash on the first lap and I avoid it and passed 5 cars at the end of the lap. Now packing up and heading to Mom's for dinner soon.
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Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T
Qualifying
I qualified 21st out 22 cars. Unfortunately I went out on slicks and then it started raining harder. Came in early because the window fogged up and I couldn't see.
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Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T
Good morning!
I ran 3 practice sessions learning the new car. A LOT different then the old car. I also heat cycled the brand new set of tires.
Nothing broke. That was a good thing. The only issue I had was a piece of roll bar foam coming off.
I will update more later!
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Thursday, May 20, 2010
Ready!
I am ready to go...the car...its very, very close. The car currently is sitting at Angry Sheep Motorsports getting an expert setup adjusted to maximum racing performance. Ok, maybe just a setup so the car goes straight and the wheels are aligned. But I do know Chris will take care of it and I will be pushing....LOL....the ITB track record....LOL....in no time....I can't even type that with a straight face. I just want to keep the car pointed straight (no trips to the sand traps, especially the new one they build where I tried taking out the guard rail, hopefully they don't name it after me).
The car is all together for the most part. I have a few minor adjustments (The mirror is never in the same place twice, some trim and a minor seat belt adjustment) and some optional stuff to do. Oh...and all the decals have to be put on after Ann puts the final touches to the paint.
I will pick the car up tonight, probably won't sleep because I am so excited to get out on the track tomorrow....or putting decals on with my Dad (he is a trooper, and I am quite sure three months ago he said he didn't want to be putting decals on at the last minute or in the dark. See I gave him a whole 12 hours or so before I hit the track and a whole about 40 before it hits the track and requires the decals!
On a side note. I am missing the NODRT (North Oakland Disaster Relief Team) trip. Check them out here -> http://www.facebook.com/people/No-Drt/1752650395?ref=search
They left yesterday from St. Daniel's in Clarkston and drove to Northwest Indiana to help rebuild some flooded houses. I have gone on many trips with the group but this time it fell on a race weekend. So a big hello and prayers sent to Lisa, Dave, Bruce, Paul, Nancy, Stan, Kathy and Wayne. Have a great trip and I can't wait for the next trip.
To end this post I can't thank Billy Bob, my Dad and Ann enough for the help and expert skills to get this car together. Chris, thank you so much for selling the car to me, I hope to make you proud. And thanks to everyone else (especially my Mom, Kelly & Jason) for encouragement, prayers and a helpful hand while I worked on the racecar and didn't do much else the last month.
Until next time...keep the wheels on the road.
PS Watch the blog for weekend updates! I will be running only ITB this weekend and that is Group 5! Qualifying and race Saturday, two races on Sunday!
The car is all together for the most part. I have a few minor adjustments (The mirror is never in the same place twice, some trim and a minor seat belt adjustment) and some optional stuff to do. Oh...and all the decals have to be put on after Ann puts the final touches to the paint.
I will pick the car up tonight, probably won't sleep because I am so excited to get out on the track tomorrow....or putting decals on with my Dad (he is a trooper, and I am quite sure three months ago he said he didn't want to be putting decals on at the last minute or in the dark. See I gave him a whole 12 hours or so before I hit the track and a whole about 40 before it hits the track and requires the decals!
On a side note. I am missing the NODRT (North Oakland Disaster Relief Team) trip. Check them out here -> http://www.facebook.com/people/No-Drt/1752650395?ref=search
They left yesterday from St. Daniel's in Clarkston and drove to Northwest Indiana to help rebuild some flooded houses. I have gone on many trips with the group but this time it fell on a race weekend. So a big hello and prayers sent to Lisa, Dave, Bruce, Paul, Nancy, Stan, Kathy and Wayne. Have a great trip and I can't wait for the next trip.
To end this post I can't thank Billy Bob, my Dad and Ann enough for the help and expert skills to get this car together. Chris, thank you so much for selling the car to me, I hope to make you proud. And thanks to everyone else (especially my Mom, Kelly & Jason) for encouragement, prayers and a helpful hand while I worked on the racecar and didn't do much else the last month.
Until next time...keep the wheels on the road.
PS Watch the blog for weekend updates! I will be running only ITB this weekend and that is Group 5! Qualifying and race Saturday, two races on Sunday!
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Testing
Testing, one, two...testing.
Well not testing on the track, that will be Friday.
Just seeing if the blog can be update via e-mail. Hope this works. If it does I will be using this to keep you updated of all the happens thru the race weekend. Pictures too!
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Two Days
Two more days until this car is on the track!!!!!
A well balanced breakfast during the weekend.
A properly secured battery!
Looking great!
A well balanced breakfast during the weekend.
A properly secured battery!
Looking great!
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Monday, May 17, 2010
Official Sponsorship Announcement for TF American Racing
TF American Racing is proud to announce Moonbeam Massage as a sponsor for the 2010 race season. The team is very excited to have this local business on the rear quarter panel of the racecar this year. Moonlight Massage is located in Clarkston, Michigan. More information can be found at www.moonbeam-massage.com.
More sponsorship opportunities are still available, contact TF American Racing owner/driver Tom Forst at tmforst (at) gmail (dot) com
More sponsorship opportunities are still available, contact TF American Racing owner/driver Tom Forst at tmforst (at) gmail (dot) com
Four Days!
I can not tell you how excited I am! Racing is only five days away and the racecar will be on the track in four. Here are some pictures from this weekend. I will update more soon!
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Crazy Eights
Ahhh, the days for figure eight racing....crazy...and I miss it.
Only 8 days until the TF American Racing ITB/STU Ford Mustang hits the track! Sponsorship announcement coming very soon!
Only 8 days until the TF American Racing ITB/STU Ford Mustang hits the track! Sponsorship announcement coming very soon!
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Monday, May 10, 2010
Getting to crunch time
Well the project at GM end today (no more 45 minute drives and 11 hour days) and I start at Chrysler tomorrow. Bet not a whole lot of people could say that.
Anyway, back to the reason we our here....racing!
I got the paint for the car on Saturday morning, so glad we pushed the painting until Thursday, Saturday was too cold and winding to paint. I went to Wiltse’s Auto Paint on Dixie in Waterford, nice place. I invited the guy behind the counter out to Waterford for an open track day (he is a fellow OCSC member). He stated he won't do it because he knows he will push it too hard and wreck his Cobra.
I had a visitor in the morning too. Fellow racer Bill W. picked up some wheels from me for his new ITB Mustang ride.
I finished up some of the wiring, tied it into place and installed the gauge panel. The water temperature gauge was also hooked up. The only one I am missing that has to be installed is the oil pressure now.
I collected all the trim for the car, made sure I had everything (I had to borrow only one piece from the parts car), and labeled which will be blue and which will be white. Oops, maybe too much information on the paint scheme.
I installed a rod to the the driver's side door latch. Now I can get in and out of the vehicle a lot easier.
All the work was done on Saturday. On Sunday I hung out with my Moms and the family.
Between now and painting time, I need to finish changing some fluids, weld the core support and get the new oil pressure line installed (Like to do this, but not a have too). The IP cover has to be installed sometime soon too. Once painted the trim will be installed, along with the front fenders, headlight assembly and front bumper. Also the windows and all the beautiful decals.
I think I should have enough time. You know me, never a dull moment. ;-)
Anyway, back to the reason we our here....racing!
I got the paint for the car on Saturday morning, so glad we pushed the painting until Thursday, Saturday was too cold and winding to paint. I went to Wiltse’s Auto Paint on Dixie in Waterford, nice place. I invited the guy behind the counter out to Waterford for an open track day (he is a fellow OCSC member). He stated he won't do it because he knows he will push it too hard and wreck his Cobra.
I had a visitor in the morning too. Fellow racer Bill W. picked up some wheels from me for his new ITB Mustang ride.
I finished up some of the wiring, tied it into place and installed the gauge panel. The water temperature gauge was also hooked up. The only one I am missing that has to be installed is the oil pressure now.
I collected all the trim for the car, made sure I had everything (I had to borrow only one piece from the parts car), and labeled which will be blue and which will be white. Oops, maybe too much information on the paint scheme.
I installed a rod to the the driver's side door latch. Now I can get in and out of the vehicle a lot easier.
All the work was done on Saturday. On Sunday I hung out with my Moms and the family.
Between now and painting time, I need to finish changing some fluids, weld the core support and get the new oil pressure line installed (Like to do this, but not a have too). The IP cover has to be installed sometime soon too. Once painted the trim will be installed, along with the front fenders, headlight assembly and front bumper. Also the windows and all the beautiful decals.
I think I should have enough time. You know me, never a dull moment. ;-)
Sunday, May 9, 2010
Saturday, May 8, 2010
Friday, May 7, 2010
Extra and extra...read all about it!
Sponsorship is found, to be announced soon. More sponsorship opportunities are still available.
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
She is alive!
Only 16 days left. She is alive!
The car started this weekend! Billy Bob has all the electrical setup and ready to go. I definitely couldn’t have done it without him. There is some minor work to finish packaging the wiring under the dashboard and installing the gauge panel. Still need to figure out the water and oil temperature gauges and the oil pressure gauge needs a new line.
Thursday will begin the painting process. I talked to the painter on Sunday afternoon (5/2), she use to work for Ford and painted Mustang Saleens. So thankful my neighbor came over a few weekends ago and asked who was painting my car. Such a blessing to find a painter to help me out. We will start the sanding on Thursday and hopefully paint on Saturday. The paint scheme isn’t that much of a secret, but I will not say much on here about it. I cannot wait to unveil the car. And it will be debut right here on the blog. Of course it might not be until practice day…LOL.
I also hope to announce some sponsorship soon.
A lot did get done this weekend
Starting Saturday morning I picked up the new windshield for the car. I think I might be going back to the place and to get it installed along with the rear windshield. I am quickly running out of time and I am no expert in installing windows
As I continue to get the car ready for the season, I am finding things not working! The radiator fan was replaced with a fan from a 1987 Chevy Nova. The starter was replaced, I had received an extra one with the car so it should work find. The flywheel might need to be replaced, but it depends how the car sounds after I start it up again. Did I mention the alternator was sparking while the car was running. We think it just has a little rust from sitting a little while. It was charging, so it should be good to go.
I also found a large rusted crack in the core support of the radiator, time to get the welder out again.
The seat belts are installed and look pretty. The double wide mirror is installed; my Dad did a great job putting it together. I also adjusted some of the foam on the roll cage.
My Dad took my new trailer ramps home to make some modifications to them so they can be used. They are aluminum (i.e. lighter) and longer so the bottom of the car doesn’t get stuck on the trailer.
On Sunday after church I went to Waterford Hills to check out how driver’s school was going. My step-brother was going through re-school. He was running good times with his ITB CRX. He will probably even go faster because he will upgrade the size of his tires to fit the car better. (Yes my step-brother and I will be racing in the same class this year, my Mom and sisters are already freaking out)
Kenny’s Florida ITB CRX will race against my ITB Mustang…family mental breakdown not included.
The car started this weekend! Billy Bob has all the electrical setup and ready to go. I definitely couldn’t have done it without him. There is some minor work to finish packaging the wiring under the dashboard and installing the gauge panel. Still need to figure out the water and oil temperature gauges and the oil pressure gauge needs a new line.
Thursday will begin the painting process. I talked to the painter on Sunday afternoon (5/2), she use to work for Ford and painted Mustang Saleens. So thankful my neighbor came over a few weekends ago and asked who was painting my car. Such a blessing to find a painter to help me out. We will start the sanding on Thursday and hopefully paint on Saturday. The paint scheme isn’t that much of a secret, but I will not say much on here about it. I cannot wait to unveil the car. And it will be debut right here on the blog. Of course it might not be until practice day…LOL.
I also hope to announce some sponsorship soon.
A lot did get done this weekend
Starting Saturday morning I picked up the new windshield for the car. I think I might be going back to the place and to get it installed along with the rear windshield. I am quickly running out of time and I am no expert in installing windows
As I continue to get the car ready for the season, I am finding things not working! The radiator fan was replaced with a fan from a 1987 Chevy Nova. The starter was replaced, I had received an extra one with the car so it should work find. The flywheel might need to be replaced, but it depends how the car sounds after I start it up again. Did I mention the alternator was sparking while the car was running. We think it just has a little rust from sitting a little while. It was charging, so it should be good to go.
I also found a large rusted crack in the core support of the radiator, time to get the welder out again.
The seat belts are installed and look pretty. The double wide mirror is installed; my Dad did a great job putting it together. I also adjusted some of the foam on the roll cage.
My Dad took my new trailer ramps home to make some modifications to them so they can be used. They are aluminum (i.e. lighter) and longer so the bottom of the car doesn’t get stuck on the trailer.
On Sunday after church I went to Waterford Hills to check out how driver’s school was going. My step-brother was going through re-school. He was running good times with his ITB CRX. He will probably even go faster because he will upgrade the size of his tires to fit the car better. (Yes my step-brother and I will be racing in the same class this year, my Mom and sisters are already freaking out)
Kenny’s Florida ITB CRX will race against my ITB Mustang…family mental breakdown not included.
Monday, May 3, 2010
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Saturday, May 1, 2010
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