- 392
- Queens, New York City
I was able to get 200 A-spec points using the RX-7 LM Race Car, Stage 4 turbo with R1s and about 80 lbs. ballast on the Sarthe II 24 hours Endurance. I wish I could glamorize the race as Famine does, but honestly it was so easy that it's hardly worth talking about. Let's put it this way. I took the lead until the first pit stop. The Minolta Toyota took the lead back. I caught up and passed and that was the last time I ever relinquished first place. I rarely raced any AI competition one-on-one. I hardly ever saw them. I only caught a few drafts on Mulsanne. My top speed was equal or slightly faster than the AI competition. I usually passed them when they pitted. I'd have to say that the RX-7 was lousy on gas. A guzzler is more like it. I guess it isn't streamlined enough or rotary engines are gas-greedy.
My competition was the Minolta Toyota, Mazda 787B, Jaguar XJ-9, Nissan 89C and the Peugot 905.
At the end I lapped the lousy second place Minolta 7 times. I completed 442 laps running about 3:08 to 3:11 laps with a low lap time of about 3:05 with stickier tires and a draft. At the 6 hour mark I noted that my Mazda had completed 111 laps, so my projection was 444 laps at the 24 hour mark. I didn't make it. I got sloppy near the end due to boredom. The Mazda RX-7 had a top speed of 224 mph at the start and at the end it was about 222 mph.
The RX-7's steering went crappy (vague) at about the 11th hour into the race. That's with extra rigidity and after a chassis refresh. I had the chassis set up loose with mucho ride height. No chassis sparks at all. I didn't bother to get involved in any race shenanigans or deliberate rammings. I gave the AI cars plenty of space so they wouldn't ram me. I had slipped into the sand a couple of times. That's it. No major wall bashing early on in the race. Either the RX-7's suspension is crap or something else. The Honda 2000 LM Race Car I raced at Nurburgring 24 hours had a suspension that was tight and crisp through the finish.
I had the gearing set so that the engine wouldn't run at redline at top speed. I always shifted early so I wouldn't set off the rev light. The RX-7 got to the 22 hour mark before the oil light came on. The engine felt fresh and lap speed didn't diminish any amount that I could take note of.
So the only goal I set was to get to 444 laps, but I didn't make it. I got tired of racing over a week's period of a few hours here and there. I guess I should have gone with a less powerful car. I'll probably use some other car at Sarthe I 24 hours Endurance (My final 24 hour race but I don't think I'll enjoy it at all). The RX-8 LM Race Car is a likely candidate or Ford GT if it can get 200 A-spec points.
In my opinion, 24 hour races are too long without being able to save them mid-race. We had a couple of severe thunderstorms in the area and I was relieved that the electricity didn't go out on my block. I lucked out again. Another week of having to leave the PS2 on again and no problems.
So to sum the Sarthe II 24 Hour Endurance up I have to say that it was fairly boring. I started looking at the sky and scenery and then started daydreaming. No race should be that dull.
My competition was the Minolta Toyota, Mazda 787B, Jaguar XJ-9, Nissan 89C and the Peugot 905.
At the end I lapped the lousy second place Minolta 7 times. I completed 442 laps running about 3:08 to 3:11 laps with a low lap time of about 3:05 with stickier tires and a draft. At the 6 hour mark I noted that my Mazda had completed 111 laps, so my projection was 444 laps at the 24 hour mark. I didn't make it. I got sloppy near the end due to boredom. The Mazda RX-7 had a top speed of 224 mph at the start and at the end it was about 222 mph.
The RX-7's steering went crappy (vague) at about the 11th hour into the race. That's with extra rigidity and after a chassis refresh. I had the chassis set up loose with mucho ride height. No chassis sparks at all. I didn't bother to get involved in any race shenanigans or deliberate rammings. I gave the AI cars plenty of space so they wouldn't ram me. I had slipped into the sand a couple of times. That's it. No major wall bashing early on in the race. Either the RX-7's suspension is crap or something else. The Honda 2000 LM Race Car I raced at Nurburgring 24 hours had a suspension that was tight and crisp through the finish.
I had the gearing set so that the engine wouldn't run at redline at top speed. I always shifted early so I wouldn't set off the rev light. The RX-7 got to the 22 hour mark before the oil light came on. The engine felt fresh and lap speed didn't diminish any amount that I could take note of.
So the only goal I set was to get to 444 laps, but I didn't make it. I got tired of racing over a week's period of a few hours here and there. I guess I should have gone with a less powerful car. I'll probably use some other car at Sarthe I 24 hours Endurance (My final 24 hour race but I don't think I'll enjoy it at all). The RX-8 LM Race Car is a likely candidate or Ford GT if it can get 200 A-spec points.
In my opinion, 24 hour races are too long without being able to save them mid-race. We had a couple of severe thunderstorms in the area and I was relieved that the electricity didn't go out on my block. I lucked out again. Another week of having to leave the PS2 on again and no problems.
So to sum the Sarthe II 24 Hour Endurance up I have to say that it was fairly boring. I started looking at the sky and scenery and then started daydreaming. No race should be that dull.
