Wednesday Night Trans-Am Support Races

Okay then, I guess the competitive juice is still flowing among our ranks especially on Wed nights.  What was supposed to be a more laid back event than the main event on Saturday's has gradually (or suddenly) gotten a lot more gritty lately.  This is good to see, to a point.  We like hard-charging but it needs to be tempered with civility and courtesy still.  Long Beach East doesn't lend very well to this I admit with its close quarters and all.  But here's the deal, we can't penalize a driver in an event that carries no season points very well.  Because of this fact it is really up to you the driver to maintain a certain level of respect out there rather than roughly take advantage of someone.  I understand rating points are on the line which are significant, but our honor is more significant. So please keep cool, and stay clean.  Oh, and apologies to all those I had contact with. Except to Nova and Kane. lol jk

On a side note, this is an ancillary reason to have clubs and in particular a Club Grudge match format.  It becomes an opportunity to get real revenge on someone who may have gotten the better of you in another race at some other event.  Payback is a powerful motivator and properly directed can actually be a lot of fun or at least very satisfying.  In fact much more satisfying than taking ratings points from them or season points, or even seeing them get a penalty.  In November you will be able to do just that, exact revenge!  Because payback as we all know is a b*****!  In our Club Grudge format, you can Call Out a rival, and if you win, take some points from him and force him out of Forza for a week!  This can be highly entertaining and motivating.  And, it offers us a way to release some of the negative pressure that may be building up within us too.

Club Grudge match format here:
https://ifca.forumotion.com/t6686-ifca-club-grudge-match-format-leader-board

		Prerace	Expected	Actual	Performed	Postrace	Gained/
Plc	Racer	Rating	Finish	Finish	Like	Rating	Lost
1	D1mien	1963.342	6	1	2076	1989.276	26
2	StatedF1	2001.107	2	2	2001	2004.506	3
3	Latte Speed	1975.004	4	3	1996	1979.811	5
4	Zach The One	1960.461	7	4	1983	1965.612	5
5	STAFFY9000	1954.763	12	5	1973	1958.862	4
6	DinoGrumps	2003.453	1	6	1967	1983.266	-20
7	GTDon2	1990.694	3	7	1962	1974.858	-16
8	APX TREMEC	1970.155	5	8	1960	1964.582	-6
9	GoSox2000	1959.582	8	9	1959	1959.260	0
10	EarnedCarrot925	1958.412	9	10	1958	1958.335	0
11	Papa creech172	1958.131	10	11	1957	1957.676	0
12	Midnite Rider	1952.629	15	12	1956	1953.317	1
13	EZT TomCat7	1954.408	13	13	1954	1954.408	0
14	Poennaninova	1956.476	11	14	1954	1954.952	-2
15	SirKane2	1953.002	14	15	1953	1952.899	0

If anyone is interested, I was thinking I might create a team or am happy to join anyone else who is thinking in creating one.

Midnite Rider wrote:If anyone is interested, I was thinking I might create a team or am happy to join anyone else who is thinking in  creating one.

It should be noted this is a chance to get with friends regardless of skill and compete equally.  Meaning that the format isn't about how many fast guys are in your club.  It's about being smart with your negotiations, car selections,  and builds more than anything.

In fact, with a wide swath of skill levels you will be able to offer and accept a greater number of possible proposals.   So it behooves everyone to have a wade range of drivers and especially some Bronze level drivers for best results.

Privateer Build (driver rating 1955.000 or higher)
1962 Ferrari 250 GTO
300hp/216tq/2375lbs A638


Race flywheel
Race brakes
Sport suspension
Race anti-roll bars
Race roll cage
Race clutch
Sport transmission
Race driveline
Race diff
Race tires
295/55R15 - 245/55R15
Wheels Compomotive ML


Factory Build (driver rating 1954.999 or less)
1962 Ferrari 250 GTO
309p/223tq/2350lbs A653

Sport pistons
Race flywheel
Race brakes
Sport suspension
Race anti-roll bars
Race roll cage
Race clutch
Sport transmission
Race driveline
Race diff
Race tires
305/50R15 - 255/55R15
Lightest Wheels

		Prerace	Expected	Actual	Performed	Postrace	Gained/
Plc	Racer	Rating	Finish	Finish	Like	Rating	Lost
1	StatedF1	1999.399	1	1	1999	2001.132	2
2	D1mien	1985.020	2	2	1985	1986.983	2
3	DinoGrumps	1976.099	3	3	1976	1978.159	2
4	Zach The One	1968.005	6	4	1973	1968.621	1
5	GTDon2	1969.489	4	5	1969	1969.357	0
6	STAFFY9000	1958.862	8	6	1969	1960.102	1
7	GoSox2000	1959.260	7	7	1959	1959.260	0
8	GR Redneck	1953.681	10	8	1959	1954.373	1
9	Papa creech172	1957.905	9	9	1958	1957.905	0
10	Midnite Rider	1953.595	11	10	1956	1953.878	0
11	APX TREMEC	1969.009	5	11	1954	1960.555	-8

The experiment seemed to show that using the penalty system is more good than bad if we only use the track cut option.  The unspoken idea here is to prevent the faster drivers from cutting the track and being even faster.  

Faster drivers tend to maximize the track limits more than slower drivers so the thought is this will slow them down a little.  In actual practice, the only drivers that were affected in this race were creech and Rider.  Their race time was the same but Rider had 5.250sec penalty to creech's 1.250sec.

I think it does slow everyone down a lot, and not just the fast guys.  The fast guys do have to change their lines more than the slower drivers.  And passing without going off and collecting an undeserved penalty is very difficult.  To compensate for this we will try the back marker ghost feature in addition to the penalty system for Saturday and see what people think.

I saw fast guys with 8 second penalties. It's not like I benefitted when I was penalized. They should also put time back for perfect and good turns. I would have been on the other side of the penal system. LOL

This is the Daytona Wed car



Privateer Build (driver rating 1957.000 or higher)
1973 Porsche 911 Carrera RS
294hp/267tq/2288lbs A642

-- the one Porsche everyone wants to drive, if it will only cooperate.  And now we finally have. The 911 is perhaps the winning-est car in automobile history despite its bad balancing act.  Properly tuned the rear-engined flat-6 911 is hard to beat and fun to drive.  It has good top speed, acceleration, and handling, but weak brakes.  Dial the roll-bars in and suddenly the 911 is no longer an uncontrollable fool and becomes a reliable weapon. We had to help it out a little more due to the bounce in the stock suspension or it would have been wheelie-ing from corner to corner.  This latest build has done a lot to settle the car down and give it the carfree driveability it deserves.


Race air filter
Race intake
Race fuel system
Race ignition
Race exhaust
Race valves
Race pistons
Race flywheel
Race brakes
Sport suspension
Race anti-roll bars
Race roll cage
Race weight reduction
Race clutch
Race trans
Race driveline
Race diff
Race tires
255/50R15 - 225/60R15
Wheels Compomotive ML

Factory Build (driver rating 1956.999 or less)
1973 Porsche 911 Carrera RS
307hp/278tq/2267lbs A659

Race air filter
Race intake
Race fuel system
Race ignition
Race exhaust
Race valves
Sport engine block
Race pistons
Race flywheel
Race brakes
Sport suspension
Race anti-roll bars
Race roll cage
Race weight reduction
Race clutch
Race trans
Race driveline
Race diff
Race tires
275/45R15 - 225/60R15
Lightest wheels

If you haven't checked out the cars and tracks and details for the 2nd Annual IFCA Triple Crown on Oct 24th you probably should.  Of particular note is the lifting of the Factory rating dividing line to 1958.999.  This should help supply plenty of Factory eligible drivers.  As you all know you have to have at least 1 on your 3 man team.

Go here:
https://ifca.forumotion.com/t6690-2nd-annual-ifca-triple-crown-oct-24th

GTDon2 wrote:If you haven't checked out the cars and tracks and details for the 2nd Annual IFCA Triple Crown on Oct 24th you probably should.  Of particular note is the lifting of the Factory rating dividing line to 1958.999.  This should help supply plenty of Factory eligible drivers.  As you all know you have to have at least 1 on your 3 man team.

Go here:
https://ifca.forumotion.com/t6690-2nd-annual-ifca-triple-crown-oct-24th

We will be racing 9pm EST Wed Oct 21st, 40laps and 2 pits @ Road Atlanta.  Everyone will be in the 1957 Maserati 300 S.







Privateer Build (driver rating 1959.000 or higher)
1957 Maserati 300 S
292hp/277tq/1896lbs A645

Sport air filter
Race exhaust
Street engine block
Street pistons
Race flywheel
Race brakes
Race suspension
Race anti-roll bars
Sport roll cage
Race weight reduction
Race clutch
Race trans
Race driveline
Race diff
Race tires
245/65R16 - 225/65R16
Stock wheels

Factory Build (driver rating 1958.999 or less)
1957 Maserati 300 S
300hp/285tq/1875lbs A660

Sport air filter
Sport intake
Race exhaust
Street engine block
Street pistons
Race flywheel
Race brakes
Race suspension
Race anti-roll bars
Sport roll cage
Race weight reduction
Race clutch
Race trans
Race driveline
Race diff
Race tires
255/65R16 - 235/65R16
Lightest wheels

Privateer Build (driver rating 1959.000 or higher)
1955 Porsche 550 Spyder
203hp/178tq/1491lbs A642

Race air filter
Sport intake
Race carburetor
Race ignition
Race exhaust
Race valves
Street engine block
Race pistons
Race flywheel
Race brakes
Race suspension
Race anti-roll bars
Race roll cage
Race clutch
Race trans
Race driveline
Race diff
Race tires
225/55R16 - 205/55R16
Stock wheels

Factory Build (driver rating 1958.999 or less)
1955 Porsche 550 Spyder
208hp/182tq/1463lbs A658

Race air filter
Race intake
Race carburetor
Race ignition
Race exhaust
Race valves
Street engine block
Race pistons
Race flywheel
Race brakes
Race suspension
Race anti-roll bars
Race roll cage
Race clutch
Race trans
Race driveline
Race diff
Race tires
235/55R16 - 215/55R16
Lightest wheels

Tunes are up for the 550 on le mans! Privateer hit a 4:04.6 with a rewind (call it a theoretical lap), Factory hit a 4:02.8 second lap but it should hit 4:01's on a good line.

So i didn't realize i wasn't hard wired into the internet last night. Sorry if my lag on the first lap screwed anyone up.

Privateer Build (driver rating 1959.000 or higher)
1957 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa
313hp/233tq/2099lbs A649

Race air filter
Sport valves
Race pistons
Sport oil cooler
Race flywheel
Race brakes
Race suspension
Race anti-roll bars
Race roll cage
Race clutch
Race trans
Race driveline
Race diff
Race tires
285/45R16 - 245/50R16
Stock wheels

Factory Build (driver rating 1958.999 or less)
1957 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa
318hp/236tq/2047lbs A663

Race air filter
Race intake
Sport valves
Race pistons
Sport oil cooler
Race flywheel
Race brakes
Race suspension
Race anti-roll bars
Race roll cage
Race clutch
Race trans
Race driveline
Race diff
Race tires
295/45R16 - 255/45R16
Lightest wheels

Ferrari tunes are up. "Privateer soft" is for people who aren't seasoned on nurb, more forgiving if you catch a curb. "Privateer cray" is a more aggressive damping setup, more responsive but less forgiving on the bumps. Factory tune is more forgiving but very capable. Dan ran a 7:24 with soft, I've hit a 7:25 with cray, and Factory hit a 7:28 standing on the tuning lap. Good luck!

Zach The One wrote:Ferrari tunes are up. "Privateer soft" is for people who aren't seasoned on nurb, more forgiving if you catch a curb. "Privateer cray" is a more aggressive damping setup, more responsive but less forgiving on the bumps. Factory tune is more forgiving but very capable. Dan ran a 7:24 with soft, I've hit a 7:25 with cray, and Factory hit a 7:28 standing on the tuning lap. Good luck!

Holy crap, I have work to do if I'm running wednesday night

We will be doing a new Wed Forza Masters unrated mock race at the usual time of 9pm EST.  This is a chance to see what people are driving and introduce new drivers to the format.

https://ifca.forumotion.com/t6699-ifca-forza-masters

Greetings to all you Forza Masters competitors out there!  

We will conduct a fun run tonight at the usual 9pm EST time slot.  This will be as earlier noted an unrated event.  

The track is Homestead Alt Full, and the division is Sport GT icons in S-Class.  Any car and build from this division in S-Class are legal, as long as you put on the widest race tires with stock wheels and no downforce parts. 

*Bronze level drivers and below (1958.999-) are allowed to use any wheel size or wheel weight as well as downforce parts that they want.

Race length 40laps and 2 pit stops.  If your car blows past your pit box and doesn't stop you will be penalized 8sec. This can happen with the first 3 boxes.  So slow down going into the pits.

GTDon2 wrote:

Greetings to all you Forza Masters competitors out there!  

We will conduct a fun run tonight at the usual 9pm EST time slot.  This will be as earlier noted an unrated event.  

The track is Homestead Alt Full, and the division is Sport GT icons in S-Class.  Any car and build from this division in S-Class are legal, as long as you put on the widest race tires with stock wheels and no downforce parts. 

*Bronze level drivers and below (1958.999-) are allowed to use any wheel size or wheel weight as well as downforce parts that they want.

Race length 40laps and 2 pit stops.  If your car blows past your pit box and doesn't stop you will be penalized 8sec. This can happen with the first 3 boxes.  So slow down going into the pits.

Small turn out as expected for the first Wed nighter with a new format.  But the racing was closer than expected with a diverse range of cars. ZHP managed a good clean win in his NSX with everyone running in the 1:15s-16s mostly.  It was good to see what cars were being favored so that everyone can get in a competitive ride come race day.  And this is the point of the Wed night race.  To give everyone some sense for which cars are best to use each week.

Unfortunately for ZHP the race was not rated.  We will not be rating the Wed night races mainly to thwart drivers from trying to tank their rating to get a better build on race day.

We will conduct the same race next Wed prior to the opening round on Saturday, Dec 12th 7pm EST.  Yes, Saturday.  It was going to be Sunday but after hearing from a few displeased drivers who didn't want Sunday we have capitulated back to Saturdays.

But so far so good. The format is simple and provides for a diverse field of fun cars generated by individual driver preferences rather than the IFCA testers.  This places a premium on the driver's skill and talent to pick the right car, build, and tune for the best results.  And this is in keeping with the theme of this series called the "Forza Masters."  It's a chance to show how much you really know about Forza and to what degree you have mastered it compared to others.

I don't know about you guys but I have had a lot of fun trying out all the different cars in my attempt to discover which one works best for me.  Honestly, I haven't had this much FM7 entertainment since it was first released.  

The open build format, or at least semi-open build, forces you to explore many cars you would not otherwise try.  Then, you have to figure out which type of build is going to work for you, a lightweight low power build, a heavyweight high power build, or something in the middle.  And it is always a slightly different answer for each car.

Once you think you have the right car it then comes down to tuning it correctly which if you are like me can be an easy 3hrs of tweaking unless you get lucky.  But for most, if you aren't spending some time tuning you are missing out on perhaps as much as a full second per lap or more depending on your skill as a driver and tuner.

With so many car options we are not likely to see many drivers in the same cars.  I have at least 4 cars that run the same low 1:15 lap times for me at present.

The Wed night race 9pm EST should be yet another good indicator of performance before the opening round on Saturday 7pm EST.

Good luck!

Looks as if we will have a number of drivers showing up tonight which is great.  I think this is true because of all the people who I have talked to, not one said they didn't like the format or the cars or the track.  This is really rare not to have at least a few drivers say they won't race for these reasons.  It tells me that the format is very accomodating with its open build concept.  It tells me people have a harder time rejecting a format that consists of their own build and tunes too.

In the past various open build solutions were tried with varying shades of success.  Most had something to do with power/weight formulas that didn't always level the playing field and made the cars behave funny. It usually meant you had to trade traction for power and cars without a lot of power ended up having too much traction while cars with enormous power had no traction.  

In this Forza Masters format, traction is set at a maximum in such a way that you can go either with a higher power car or a better handling car and have nearly the same results.  This means that many more cars can compete in a given Division.  It all depends on your skill as a builder/tuner and driver.  And this is the point of the series; to challenge everyone's Forza skills.  

We've had the game for 3 years and we are itching for a new release as FM7 continues to grow long in the tooth.  The solution at this point is to put your vast Forza knowledge to the ultimate test.  You build the car your way, you tune it how you like, you do the testing, and you show everyone how much you know about Forza, for the win!

Very few restrictions or exceptions; for the faster drivers stock wheels, and no downforce parts.  For the slower guys, any size wheels and downforce is allowed.  Everyone runs on widest race tires.  The rest is up to you Forza Master.

GTDon2 wrote:Looks as if we will have a number of drivers showing up tonight which is great.  I think this is true because of all the people who I have talked to, not one said they didn't like the format or the cars or the track.  This is really rare not to have at least a few drivers say they won't race for these reasons.  It tells me that the format is very accomodating with its open build concept.  It tells me people have a harder time rejecting a format that consists of their own build and tunes too.

In the past various open build solutions were tried with varying shades of success.  Most had something to do with power/weight formulas that didn't always level the playing field and made the cars behave funny. It usually meant you had to trade traction for power and cars without a lot of power ended up having too much traction while cars with enormous power had no traction.  

In this Forza Masters format, traction is set at a maximum in such a way that you can go either with a higher power car or a better handling car and have nearly the same results.  This means that many more cars can compete in a given Division.  It all depends on your skill as a builder/tuner and driver.  And this is the point of the series; to challenge everyone's Forza skills.  

We've had the game for 3 years and we are itching for a new release as FM7 continues to grow long in the tooth.  The solution at this point is to put your vast Forza knowledge to the ultimate test.  You build the car your way, you tune it how you like, you do the testing, and you show everyone how much you know about Forza, for the win!

Very few restrictions or exceptions; for the faster drivers stock wheels, and no downforce parts.  For the slower guys, any size wheels and downforce is allowed.  Everyone runs on widest race tires.  The rest is up to you Forza Master.

Just want to thank everyone for coming out last night and having a go at the new format.  Afterwards, I talked with several of you about whether we should rate the Wed night practice race or not.  Everyone seemed to agree it should be left as is, just a practice race for fun mostly.  By doing so it takes away the temptation to tank your rating to gain a better build for the following Saturday main event.  It is also a good race to introduce new drivers to the format without it affecting the ratings of veteran drivers.

As for the race, we had a good turnout of 17 drivers.  The cars of choice were NSX's and Vipers.  The 05 NSX finished 1st and 2nd with a 92 NSX taking 3rd. 

Pole went to VNX ZT1's NSX with a 1:14.900, 2nd on the grid went to Apolo's Viper with a 1:15.067, and a surprising 3rd went to EarnedCarrot925's NSX with a 1:15.094. 

Fastest race lap went to VNX ZT1 (Zach The One) with a 1:14.369 in 2nd place.  

The win again for the second week in a row went to ZHP 2004!  His fastest lap was 1:14.803 which was a tenth slower than last week. 

3rd place went to GTDon in a widebody kit 92 NSX setting a PB of 1:14.446.  

APX TREMEC was the fastest Viper with a 1:15.114 taking 5th place behind the 4th place Viper of Apolo with a 1:15.177.

The fastest non-Viper-NSX was that of D1mien in his Ferrari 288 GTO with a 1:14.974.

Good clean and fast racing all around, we hope to see all of you on Saturday at 7pm EST