[TPR] 2012 SSCC

[asajay at asajay.com]

Quoting Mad Dog Antenucci <teampantera at yahoo.com>:

> Sorry for delay....leaving Friday o'dark hours...See my comments   
> below after <<<<<<<<<
> ________________________________
> From: Asa Jay Laughton <asajay at asajay.com>
> To: tpr at teampanteraracing.com
> Sent: Monday, July 18, 2011 8:33 PM
> Subject: [TPR] 2012 SSCC
>
> For those who have been following my saga...
>
> My schedule for 2012 has me uncommitted (for work that is) during the
> Silver State Classic Challenge.  That means I can once again try to give
> it a shot.  To do that, I'm going to need to get a few things together
> and I better start now.
> <<<<<<<<<<Once again try to get vacation? You just need to do the   
> same thing everyone else does at work. Make it clear there is a   
> block of days you will be on vacation and will not be   
> available......its goof for bosses to know there are some things   
> that they can not affect. in a employees life.....the farther you   
> make it out the harder it will be for you to come up with excuses   
> why you didn't make it.

   It's not been a matter of scheduling vacation ahead of time.  I  
always have SSCC and NORC in my vacation schedule nearly a year ahead  
of time.  It's been a matter of keeping my job.  Last year I took a  
new job that requires me to attend our own conference, inconveniently  
held in September in 2010 and 2011.  If I don't go, I don't keep my  
job, pretty simple math.  My previous job with this company did not  
require me to attend this conference, but my new job does.  Our  
manager has told us a couple of times in recent staff meetings this is  
not an option and has told us do NOT try to schedule vacation over  
these dates because it will not be approved.

   To my bosses credit he has been working to help me know as soon as  
possible when the conference in 2012 would be.  He knows I want to  
make SSCC and has been just as anxious to find out the dates (which  
are out of his control).  It was just this last week he found out our  
company signed the contracts with the host hotel, so it's a done deal  
and he's given me permission to put SSCC vacation on my calendar since  
the dates don't interfere.  And he said if any -other- things come up,  
he will consider my vacation during that time to take precedence since  
it won't be our annual conference.

   My excuses prior to 2010 have been other than work related.  Things  
like not being ready in 2008 and Sam's surgery in 2009.  If I don't  
make it in 2012 it will again be due to lack of funding.

> Here is my short punch list:
> - New coil-over shocks:  Aldan, Koni or QA1 (figuring $800 at
>   the low
> all the way to $1400 at the top end depending on source)
> - New wheels:  17" or 18" or a combination of both.  Trouble is, you
> just about have to go to a 20" rim to get a 27" tire anymore. 
>  Sheesh!
> <<<<<<<<<<Not true.....you have some options on  
> tires....Continental  and BFG KDW and I believe Dunlap and Pirelli  
> all over 285/40/18's  for rear but I believe on BFG and Conti's  
> offer the fronts in 40  aspect high....others offer front tires that  
> are 45 aspect high and  it looks much worse then having a 19 or 20"  
> wheelon the  back.....Personally you really dod NOT NEED a 19-20  
> wheel and you  would have more options with 26" tires that are 18  
> rears....then  again I would consider finding out WHO has after  
> market wheels and  who made them.....(Kim Kucura and several others  
> did solo/single  buys and as I recall prices were not that bad.

   The Pope has a set of four 9x17 wheels he's willing to sell me for  
a good price.  Tire options aren't exactly plentiful but there -are-  
some options that get me close to 26" diameter in Y and W ratings so  
as long as I can afford it, I'll be in good shape.  Yes, I think 18"  
in the back would be better (though I will admit about 10 years ago I  
thought 18" was just way too big).

   > All four same width would be fine, 8" preferred if all four same,
> otherwise 8" front, 10" rear or even 9" front 11" rear.  I should
> probably go with 8's or 9's all around and save the staggered width for
> show wheels, like from Marino at Pantera East.  (I'm figuring anywhere
> from about $600 at the cheap end all the way up to about $2,000 on the
> high end.  I'm all for inexpensive right now.)
> - New Tires.  duh... (probably $200 each if not more, egad the price of
> rubber these days)
> <<<<<<<<<<<<YOU need to decide which wheels 1st knowing if you wait   
> a year to buy tires they may not be available...chose carefully   
> grasshopper...yea cheaper if sturday is better.,......you ain't   
> gonna be running 165-180 so why do you need 27" tires?   26" tire  
> at  140 is plenty fast fpr SS and 100 for SORC is WAAAAY fast.....I   
> drove close to my limit at SORC at 120.

   No I don't necessarily have to have 27" diameter, it would be nice,  
but not necessary.

> Other things further down the list are:
> - New race harness, drivers side.  This one, although in good shape will
> be beyond the expiration date required by SSCC. 
>   ($150, shoot that's one
> tank of gas, I just need to NOT DRIVE for a week).
> - New tie rod ends for the steering rack, (probably from Wikinson, $23
> each or something like that)
> - Remove the radiator and figure out where the leak is; have it
> repaired.  (Aluminum Fluidyne rad about 10 years old)
> - New brake pads (Porterfield)
> - Electronic ignition.  Looking to do a quick fix with a Pertronix
> unit.  Inexpensive and easy to drop in.  We're not shooting for max RPM
> or any speed records here.  MSD probably next choice, distributor, box,
> the full meal deal.
> - Fix the roll cage so I can get it installed; powder coat and install
> - New mirror since the roll cage won't allow the stock one.
>
> I need to start lining all this up now in order to make next year
> happen.  If anyone can help in any way, like with vendor
> recommendations, discount pricing, stuff you've got laying around the
> garage you've been meaning to take to the dump.....  please let me know.
>
> Oh, and wish me luck, like no more surgeries for Sam on a moments
> notice.  :)
> Asa Jay

   <<<<<<<<<<<<You have 13+ months to get ready!!! I wish I was so lucky ;-)
> Of course if you are not ready in Sept 2012 you will never hear the   
> end of it......don't forget to line up a truck and trailer.....its   
> too far to go and then break.
> I used to rent my trailers from Uhaul...great double axle   
> trailers....and would borrow a truck....thats what I did years  
> 98-99  before I bought a new truck in 2000 and a new trailer in  
> 2003...... 

   I'm thinking of changing the name to "Shoestring Budget Racing"

   Where's the fun in borrowing a truck and trailer?  Where's the  
challenge, the excitement?  Yea, I hear you about breakdowns but it's  
time for a nearly 40 year old car to kick some serious new Corvette  
ass.  :)  The best I may do is make sure I have a place to park it and  
fly home, depending on IF and where it breaks, but it's not going to  
break.

   If I win the lottery (if I only played it), then maybe I'd get me a  
nice class C motorhome and a good car trailer to go with it.  :)

   Well, I better find more stuff to put on ebay.

   Asa Jay

   >
> --
> Asa Jay Laughton, MSgt, USAFR, Retired
> &  Shelley Marie
> Spokane, WA
> ******************************
> http://www.racingagainstautism.com
> http://www.teampanteraracing.com
> http://facebook.com/racingagainstautism


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