15. Mid-Ohio-Musings

Race Predictions:

The Serpent just wanted to weigh in with his Mid-Ohio predictions. The race is now over but the Serpent is doing his best to avoid all contact with the world until the Race is televised on NBC.

My predictions... Simon and Gil will win P1. Acura will take P2. The Spyder will get P3 (in class). The lizards will again Dominate GT2. The Vettes will place 3rd and 5th (but damn do they look good!!!).

Consider the above fact.

Post Race Analysis:

Pretty close with my predictions... but then this year is getting pretty predictable. At least the Vettes are hitting the ground running and may give the Lizards (edit... the 45) some competition (now that Farnbacher Loles is shifting resources to Satan's racing series). They sure do look good... they made me price Corvette's latest and greatest online. Alas, the consumer offering lacks the sexy wide stance. Plus, the race was not actually on Sunday, and a 911 won.

The Lizards continue to school GT2

Even a 50lbs weight penalty can't stop them. Does the 44 get the weight penalty too? They need to take 50 from the 44 and give it to the 45. Of note, well reputed contacts high within the series (whom I refer to on a first name basis because I am that important... email me any time Scott), told the Serpent that the weight added to the 911's was not for their questionable 4.0L engine block reinforcing... but rather a move by Obama to help promote American engineering. They need all the help they can get.

In response to the 911 engine complaints (notice how they had the same engine since mid season last year with not a peep of complaint?), Porsche removed the extra engine block reinforcement... and moved that mass to the front of the car to further improve balance. The 50lbs penalty ballast was then used to reinforce the engine block.

LMP1

Gliding Serpent's One Sidedly Positive View of all things ALMS does not cover LMP1. The Serpent gets his fill of two car racing from Pinks.

LMP2

Muscle milk should have placed 3rd like the Serpent said it should. Shame on Mazda. Of note... I wonder what Dyson has to say about their old car finishing ahead of them. All the serpent asks is that someone, anyone, beats that damn P2 Acura.

Why Youtube is not a good way to prepare for Mid-Ohio:

Kaffer and Risi. Mental note by Kaffer: Don't watch 13 year old kids drive around Mid-Ohio using a GT racing sim on their computers. A sober reminder of how tight money is this year.

Why Hybrids are all Hype:

Your neighbor... and his trendy hybrid SUV? Purely marketing. He gets 12 miles to the gallon. So does the Zytec P1 Hybrid.


Trading V's:

I should add that it is unfortunate to lose both the Viper and the Vici cars... but at least they are replaced by the very high quality Vettes, which look very competitive out of the box. Would Corvette have it any other way? The Serpent hopes that Audi and Acura returns next year. Expect Porsche and BMW in P1 for 2011... Toytota too. More of my chums in the inner circles of the ALMS told me so.

TV Coverage=AWESOME!!!

The Serpent would like to thank NBC for their great coverage of everything not race at Mid-Ohio. The pole on the official ALMS webpage last week asked it fans wanted more of 1. Interviews 2. Corvette 3. Crowd shots 4. On-track battles and actual racing or 5. Crashes and cars lapping on yellow.

Based on today's coverage we can see that clearly 1, 3, and 5 were the most popular with fans. Thank god the ALMS is catering to fan demand these days. Who actually wants to tune in to see racing anyway??? Who cares about grid counts... 5 cars or 50, I didn't get to see any of them.

The Serpent at Petit

Although not originally part of the team plan, Gliding Serpent Motorsports expects to be at Petit Le Mans this year. Official press release to come. Until then we are working night and day (and I am not talking online racing). Expect a new Gliding Serpent Motorsports Team Webpage soon.