Gratten Report June5-6, 09 - The Ford Focus Forum

**SVTBuckeye** · 06-07-2009, 02:10 PM

Added photo's below today

Weather, perfect. 45-50 morning, 75 hi, clear sky, light breeze, Paradise.

Racing exciting, close, and FUN

Friday practice went well, and qualifying saw Craig C lead with 1:34.098, Lowell 1:36.089, C Money 1:36.773 and Mark 1:39.788.
The race was one of three this weekend of Fri & Sat only as Sunday was rented for Cycles. This race was 40 minutes, and folks that is a long time, especially when a guy is doging you.

There were a number of classes or single car classes in race group A. SM's started behind several single car classes, SF behind the SM, and three more singles including a Spec E30 and FFR in the rear.

One green flag for the race with some spacing for classes. Craig and Lowell getting a huge start going right and left of the SM class with Chris behind Lowell and Mark behind Craig. Lowell was able to pass almost four rows of SF's on the left/outside, around turn one and into turn two with only a few cars ahead. YES, that meant that Craig Capaldi was in second place. Now this is FUN.!!

Not for long of couse as he motored by Lowell on the second lap never to be seen again. Then Lowell, Chris, and Mark had a tremendous race for a number of laps . Chris would pull right up behind Lowell braking into one, Lowell would gain several car lengths around the track and bang, Chris was on his A$$ going into one again, lap after lap. "won't that Sonic Blue car just go away?" Then Chris's powersteering fluid all leaked out about 14 of 22 laps. End of his race. Results were Craig, Lowell, Mark. Good Stuff!! Chris was able to get the leak fixed late Friday and was back for more Sat AM. (bad sending unit)

Saturday, Craig did some coaching on the line during warmup, and the qualifying was as close as possible. Except for Craig of course who went out and broke Leo's Grattan SF record with a 1:33.131 besting Leo's by .004 sec.

,...

Lowell qualified at 1:36.595.. Chris 1:36.671.. and Mark 1:36.795. Less than two tenths covered the three. ( if your paying attention here that is 3 sec improvement for Mark.)

Would this be a race!!

THe SF's were started in front of the SM's for both of Sat races. Lowell didn't start very well, Craig motored off with Chris right behind leaving Lowell and Mark to follow. As the traffic presented itself, Lowell got around Chris but Sonic Blue was right on Big Reds tail lap after lap. Then after a good run out of 11, Chris motored by Lowell on the straight.

"what's that about? However the TTE Miata and FFR were just ahead. The TTE was running in the middle of the track?? presenting Chris with a block. Lowell was able to move behind the Miata and then to the inside and squeeze into one ahead of both. This time Lowell was able to get some space as the SM's presented traffic issues to be solved. The #125 was always back there but with a SM between doing a good blocking job. I should have thanked him?? Again Chris's PS leaked, from a different place, but he motored on without it for several laps to bring home third. big

(note, PR's for Lowell in the race with a 1:35.798 as well as Mr. Chris "C Money" Kisner at 1:36.063) My,what competition will do for you.

This was enough fun for Chris and he left a little early to get #125 ready for Mid Ohio. This leaving Craig, Mark and Lowell to have more fun at 4:40 Sat PM.

The start for race three was the same as two, this time with Mark motoring behind Craig past Lowell. ?? This could get old...Mark and Lowell was the order for several laps until the fastest SM's went by Lowell, then Lowell was back right behind Mark as the SM's went past him. Here comes the SM field, let um by...cause when they get to Mark..ha ha . Mark was presented with the whole SM field at the end of the 3200 ft straight and they ALL wanted by. Lowell jumped on the back of the train and slipped by Mark as he was outside of one slowed big time by "those darn red cars". Lowell and Mark had a good race for several laps until more traffic broke up the fun. Same results as Friday for 1,2,3.

Only thing left to do was pack up and get ready for July 12.13 & MO. Be there or be square.

I'm the only guy that was lucky enough to drive home in an SVTF.

5hr 20 min,
328 miles, 32mpg. 61.5 mph average and looking good too.

**ckisner** · 06-07-2009, 08:29 PM

awesome report lowell! wish i could have been there for the second race on saturday. i have to come up with a solution for my PS leak.

i'm uploading a video of the start of the friday race right now. i'll post the link as soon as its done. its fun to watch a train of foci motor by the Spec miatas.

ok here's the link to the first lap of fridays race. check out lowell on the outside!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kOYwVAEf0Aw

**sleeperlove** · 06-08-2009, 08:27 AM

Chris what camera are you using?

**mzemnickas** · 06-08-2009, 08:53 AM

We're all using Go pro Cameras.
Mark

**68 Touring Car** · 06-08-2009, 09:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sleeperlove

Chris what camera are you using?

Here is some info on them

http://www.capaldiracing.com/isell3/product.php?id=676

**SVTBuckeye** · 06-18-2009, 08:22 PM

Bump,
photo's added.
Foci all in a row...and 'C Money" with Sonic Blue

**Ted7rns** · 06-18-2009, 08:27 PM

Wow Great Start Lowell!!!

**lepak91** · 06-20-2009, 08:36 PM

Glad to see you were able to get the photo's posted. Looks great!

06-07-2009, 02:10 PM	#1 (permalink)
SVTBuckeye TEAM Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Pataskala Ohio Posts: 792	Gratten Report June5-6, 09 Added photo's below today Weather, perfect. 45-50 morning, 75 hi, clear sky, light breeze, Paradise. Racing exciting, close, and FUN Friday practice went well, and qualifying saw Craig C lead with 1:34.098, Lowell 1:36.089, C Money 1:36.773 and Mark 1:39.788. The race was one of three this weekend of Fri & Sat only as Sunday was rented for Cycles. This race was 40 minutes, and folks that is a long time, especially when a guy is doging you. There were a number of classes or single car classes in race group A. SM's started behind several single car classes, SF behind the SM, and three more singles including a Spec E30 and FFR in the rear. One green flag for the race with some spacing for classes. Craig and Lowell getting a huge start going right and left of the SM class with Chris behind Lowell and Mark behind Craig. Lowell was able to pass almost four rows of SF's on the left/outside, around turn one and into turn two with only a few cars ahead. YES, that meant that Craig Capaldi was in second place. Now this is FUN.!! Not for long of couse as he motored by Lowell on the second lap never to be seen again. Then Lowell, Chris, and Mark had a tremendous race for a number of laps . Chris would pull right up behind Lowell braking into one, Lowell would gain several car lengths around the track and bang, Chris was on his A$$ going into one again, lap after lap. "won't that Sonic Blue car just go away?" Then Chris's powersteering fluid all leaked out about 14 of 22 laps. End of his race. Results were Craig, Lowell, Mark. Good Stuff!! Chris was able to get the leak fixed late Friday and was back for more Sat AM. (bad sending unit) Saturday, Craig did some coaching on the line during warmup, and the qualifying was as close as possible. Except for Craig of course who went out and broke Leo's Grattan SF record with a 1:33.131 besting Leo's by .004 sec. ,... Lowell qualified at 1:36.595.. Chris 1:36.671.. and Mark 1:36.795. Less than two tenths covered the three. ( if your paying attention here that is 3 sec improvement for Mark.) Would this be a race!! THe SF's were started in front of the SM's for both of Sat races. Lowell didn't start very well, Craig motored off with Chris right behind leaving Lowell and Mark to follow. As the traffic presented itself, Lowell got around Chris but Sonic Blue was right on Big Reds tail lap after lap. Then after a good run out of 11, Chris motored by Lowell on the straight. "what's that about? However the TTE Miata and FFR were just ahead. The TTE was running in the middle of the track?? presenting Chris with a block. Lowell was able to move behind the Miata and then to the inside and squeeze into one ahead of both. This time Lowell was able to get some space as the SM's presented traffic issues to be solved. The #125 was always back there but with a SM between doing a good blocking job. I should have thanked him?? Again Chris's PS leaked, from a different place, but he motored on without it for several laps to bring home third. big (note, PR's for Lowell in the race with a 1:35.798 as well as Mr. Chris "C Money" Kisner at 1:36.063) My,what competition will do for you. This was enough fun for Chris and he left a little early to get #125 ready for Mid Ohio. This leaving Craig, Mark and Lowell to have more fun at 4:40 Sat PM. The start for race three was the same as two, this time with Mark motoring behind Craig past Lowell. ?? This could get old...Mark and Lowell was the order for several laps until the fastest SM's went by Lowell, then Lowell was back right behind Mark as the SM's went past him. Here comes the SM field, let um by...cause when they get to Mark..ha ha . Mark was presented with the whole SM field at the end of the 3200 ft straight and they ALL wanted by. Lowell jumped on the back of the train and slipped by Mark as he was outside of one slowed big time by "those darn red cars". Lowell and Mark had a good race for several laps until more traffic broke up the fun. Same results as Friday for 1,2,3. Only thing left to do was pack up and get ready for July 12.13 & MO. Be there or be square. I'm the only guy that was lucky enough to drive home in an SVTF. 5hr 20 min, 328 miles, 32mpg. 61.5 mph average and looking good too. __________________ LEM 2007,2008, 2009 NASA Spec Focus racer w/ LCR racing 2002 SVT, Sonic Blue, NO options, vehicle 896 of 4788 Held at the factory Apr-June 02 Last edited by SVTBuckeye; 06-18-2009 at 08:20 PM.

06-07-2009, 08:29 PM	#2 (permalink)
ckisner TEAM Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Detroit, MI Posts: 306	Re: Gratten Report June5-6, 09 awesome report lowell! wish i could have been there for the second race on saturday. i have to come up with a solution for my PS leak. i'm uploading a video of the start of the friday race right now. i'll post the link as soon as its done. its fun to watch a train of foci motor by the Spec miatas. ok here's the link to the first lap of fridays race. check out lowell on the outside!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kOYwVAEf0Aw __________________ '02 Sonic Blue Focus SVT (Spec Foci) Last edited by ckisner; 06-07-2009 at 08:34 PM.

06-08-2009, 08:27 AM	#3 (permalink)
sleeperlove You wouldn't like me when I'm angry. Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Apex hunting Posts: 9,823	Re: Gratten Report June5-6, 09 Chris what camera are you using? __________________ “Empty your mind, be formless, shapeless - like water. Now you put water into a cup, it becomes the cup, you put water into a bottle, it becomes the bottle, you put it in a teapot, it becomes the teapot. Now water can flow or it can crash. Be water, my friend.” - Bruce Lee

06-08-2009, 08:53 AM	#4 (permalink)
mzemnickas Rookie Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Farmington Hills, MI Posts: 25	Re: Gratten Report June5-6, 09 We're all using Go pro Cameras. Mark

06-18-2009, 08:22 PM	#6 (permalink)
SVTBuckeye TEAM Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Pataskala Ohio Posts: 792	Re: Gratten Report June5-6, 09 Bump, photo's added. Foci all in a row...and 'C Money" with Sonic Blue __________________ LEM 2007,2008, 2009 NASA Spec Focus racer w/ LCR racing 2002 SVT, Sonic Blue, NO options, vehicle 896 of 4788 Held at the factory Apr-June 02

06-18-2009, 08:27 PM	#7 (permalink)
Ted7rns Moderator Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Thousand Oaks, California Posts: 4,646	Re: Gratten Report June5-6, 09 Wow Great Start Lowell!!! __________________ 2002 Ford Focus ZX3 Malibu Blue

06-20-2009, 08:36 PM	#8 (permalink)
lepak91 TEAM Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Redford, MI Posts: 389	Re: Gratten Report June5-6, 09 Glad to see you were able to get the photo's posted. Looks great!

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