We're going to totally mix things up in this first-ever mid-summer classic. We're going to run one of the DDRS races plus one each of the support races. It'll be great!
Date: Saturday, July 31. Room opens at 9:30pm EST. Qualifying begins at 10:00pm EST. Races follow immediately afterwards.
Venue: Mount Panarama Circuit, Bathust, Australia.
Schedule: Tonight's schedule is a bit complicated, so bear with me on this.
- 9:30PM EDT: Room opens, open practice for all race groups.
- 9:55PM EDT: Drivers meeting
- 10:00PM EDT (approx) DDRS Qualifying (10min)
- Race 1: 10 Minutes. Mini Miglia (specs below)
- Race 2: 15 Minutes. Spec Miata (specs below)
- Race 3: 6 Laps. Touring Car Masters
- Race 4: 10 Laps. DDRS Series Race
Event Format
The qualifying session will be for the DDRS race at the end of the evening. Qualifying will be in the '07 Nissan Fairlady Z, and all cars must conform to the DDRS series specifications.
The first race of the evening follows qualifying after a short break, and will be a 10 minute race for the Mini Miglia class. The grid will be set based on a random draw.
The second race will be a 15 minute race for Spec Miata. The SM grid will be another random draw.
Race 3 will be a Touring Car Masters race with yet another random grid. We'll take a short break after race 3, so that I can set the grid for the feature race.
The final race of the evening will be the feature race: DDRS Series with the Nissan Fairlady Zs. Remember the qualifying session from the start of the evening? That's the order we'll line up for the feature race.
In a rather surprising twist of physics, time, and space, ALL of the races will be taking place apparently simultaneously, just after lunch time at 13:30. Physicists tell me the math works out, I guess we'll just have to take their word for it.
Points will be awarded for each race according to the standard DDRS points system, with the final DDRS race counting double points. At the end of the evening the points will be tallied, the evening's podium will be announced, people will cheer, champagne1 will be sprayed, and much celebrating will be had by all.
Vehicle Specifications
Mini Miglia
Car: 65 Mini Cooper S
Weight: 1,474lbs / 670kg
Horsepower: 130hp
Tire: Sport Medium
Tuning: permitted2 Base setup
Other: full damage, track limits on, slip stream weak
Spec Miata
Car: '89 Mazda Eunos Roadster.
Minimum weight 2,275lbs.
Horsepower: 125hp.
Tire: Sport Soft.
Tuning: stock transmission; suspension and limited slip are free3
Base setup
Other: full damage, track limits on, slip stream weak
Touring Car Masters
Car: 1977 Pontiac Firebird/Trans Am
Weight: stock
Horsepower: stock
Tire: Sport Soft
Tuning: prohibited
Other: no damage, no track limits, slip stream real, livery required
DDRS Series
Car: Nissan '07 Fairlady Z Version S (Z33)
Weight: 3,263lb
Horsepower: 310hp
Tire: Any sport compound
Tuning: permitted according to series specifications
Other: full damage, track limits on, slip stream real
1 Champale, actually. But we're told it will be a quality vintage.
2 Pretty much required, unless you're keen on opening crank shaft inspection ports in your block when you hit Conrod Straight. Or within the first 100 yards after Hell Corner for that matter, because you'll never make Conrod Straight.
3 Ok, I get it, friends don't let friends drive Miatas. Get over it. I've posted a starter set-up for this car, too, so that you manly men afraid to drive a girly car won't be left in the dust by those of us secure in our masculinity.