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Hello race fans, competitors, and track officials !
I am Jeff Bailey, this is my first year racing asphalt circle track and I would like to share my racing experiences with anyone that cares to listen or take the time to read my ramblings. I’m sure my first year will be interesting to say the least. I come to you from a road racing background in the SCCA. I’ve raced a tube frame Corvette and a few road race converted super late-models for about 7 years. I’ve considered circle track racing for quite some time and decided to jump in with both feet when FASCAR announced the
E-mod class last year. The minimal engine cost and the design of the open-wheel modified chassis is what made me decide on where to start.
My racecar - After studying the different open-wheel modified chassis and bodies available, I decided to have Bob at AMF Chassis build me a new car. AMF’s chassis construction is second to none….and their bodywork is very attractive and well thought out. The engine options for the e-mod class are the superstock engine or a 602 crate. The built engine vs. the crate engine is a debate for another day…but Byron Koury racing engines are the best I’ve ever had, so my choice to have Byron build my e-mod engine was a no-brainer. Everybody’s buddy, Buzzy at Funk Racing built my transmission and his racecar knowledge has helped me tremendously. Racecar Engineering has been my source for new parts for many years and they played a big part in the construction of my new e-mod.
Getting ready to race - Sean Bass who is working with Bob at AMF Chassis is out for a new adventure himself. He is assuming the role as my crew chief and driver coach. Sean, “my young wipper snapper” has already proven to me that he has what it takes to teach me how to race circle track. He has been working with me for only a couple of weeks and my lap times are getting closer and closer to running up front. There is no doubt in my mind that Sean will teach me to win.
My first race - Orlando Speed World 3-25-2011. The goal of my first race was to win…..not really but I am hopeful that “winning” will be the goal at some point during this 2011 racing season. I’ve got a great car, a great crew chief, and the only thing that is missing is driver experience. “Seat time” is the most valuable component in learning to race and we will be working on that as much as possible. We decided it best to start dead last in the heat race to see if I would be able to handle the pressure of door to door racing which is not so common in road racing….its more like a high speed parade for the most part. The green flag flew on a field of 11 e-mods and we set sail in our first race of the year. Surprising enough,I forgot all about the “butterflies” as soon as I rolled into the throttle. Being a racer at heart, dead last did not fit well with me so I quickly decided to attempt to move up in the field. With Sean’s guidance on the radio I was able to pass three cars in the 10 lap heat race. Mission accomplished….the car was still in one piece and as I crossed under the checkered flag in the eight position , NOW THIS IS RACING I THOUGHT !
We started the feature race in the same order as we finished the heat race. The pressure was on now….I had cars in front of me, behind me, and beside me. Woohoo ! ….this is gonna be fun I thought as we were getting ready to take the green. The start of the race was intense to say the least….getting up to speed in a closely packed group of cars is very thrilling. I was able to move up in the field pretty quickly because the car is just that good. I assumed the 5th place position. I made multiple attempts to move into fourth place over a few laps. I tried the low side and the high side but could never really get a good enough run to get beside him on the straight. Sean was coaching me on the radio about how to pass in circle track racing…it is nothing like passing in road racing. Every attempt I made at trying to pass the steering wheel got a little higher and a little higher…until it was over my head. Not really, just my attempt at using the old saying “ The driver is driving over his head”. Well, as I made an attempt to pass on the high side….it happened. The car got loose and I ran out of talent. The rear end came around and I lit up the rear tires to keep it off the wall. As I spun into the infield in a cloud of smoke, I realized…I need more seat time. When we restarted, I passed one car in turn one and two, the leaders checked up and I heard a crunching sound behind me. I made it through three and four and down the front stretch but spun like crazy in one. Sean was able to see the back of the car at this point said over the radio “the back of the car is gone“. Come to find out, I got run over just after the restart when the leaders checked up. Our race was over…..I finished dead last but had a blast doing it. The driver that made contact with the rear of my car came over after the race and said he was sorry for getting into the back of me. I have a respect for anyone that can apologize and I always accept. It’s racing and I knew from the beginning it would happen.
Next race - the 50 lap E-mod race at Orlando Speedworld on April the 8th.
Jeff Bailey
#10 E-mod
I am Jeff Bailey, this is my first year racing asphalt circle track and I would like to share my racing experiences with anyone that cares to listen or take the time to read my ramblings. I’m sure my first year will be interesting to say the least. I come to you from a road racing background in the SCCA. I’ve raced a tube frame Corvette and a few road race converted super late-models for about 7 years. I’ve considered circle track racing for quite some time and decided to jump in with both feet when FASCAR announced the
E-mod class last year. The minimal engine cost and the design of the open-wheel modified chassis is what made me decide on where to start.
My racecar - After studying the different open-wheel modified chassis and bodies available, I decided to have Bob at AMF Chassis build me a new car. AMF’s chassis construction is second to none….and their bodywork is very attractive and well thought out. The engine options for the e-mod class are the superstock engine or a 602 crate. The built engine vs. the crate engine is a debate for another day…but Byron Koury racing engines are the best I’ve ever had, so my choice to have Byron build my e-mod engine was a no-brainer. Everybody’s buddy, Buzzy at Funk Racing built my transmission and his racecar knowledge has helped me tremendously. Racecar Engineering has been my source for new parts for many years and they played a big part in the construction of my new e-mod.
Getting ready to race - Sean Bass who is working with Bob at AMF Chassis is out for a new adventure himself. He is assuming the role as my crew chief and driver coach. Sean, “my young wipper snapper” has already proven to me that he has what it takes to teach me how to race circle track. He has been working with me for only a couple of weeks and my lap times are getting closer and closer to running up front. There is no doubt in my mind that Sean will teach me to win.
My first race - Orlando Speed World 3-25-2011. The goal of my first race was to win…..not really but I am hopeful that “winning” will be the goal at some point during this 2011 racing season. I’ve got a great car, a great crew chief, and the only thing that is missing is driver experience. “Seat time” is the most valuable component in learning to race and we will be working on that as much as possible. We decided it best to start dead last in the heat race to see if I would be able to handle the pressure of door to door racing which is not so common in road racing….its more like a high speed parade for the most part. The green flag flew on a field of 11 e-mods and we set sail in our first race of the year. Surprising enough,I forgot all about the “butterflies” as soon as I rolled into the throttle. Being a racer at heart, dead last did not fit well with me so I quickly decided to attempt to move up in the field. With Sean’s guidance on the radio I was able to pass three cars in the 10 lap heat race. Mission accomplished….the car was still in one piece and as I crossed under the checkered flag in the eight position , NOW THIS IS RACING I THOUGHT !
We started the feature race in the same order as we finished the heat race. The pressure was on now….I had cars in front of me, behind me, and beside me. Woohoo ! ….this is gonna be fun I thought as we were getting ready to take the green. The start of the race was intense to say the least….getting up to speed in a closely packed group of cars is very thrilling. I was able to move up in the field pretty quickly because the car is just that good. I assumed the 5th place position. I made multiple attempts to move into fourth place over a few laps. I tried the low side and the high side but could never really get a good enough run to get beside him on the straight. Sean was coaching me on the radio about how to pass in circle track racing…it is nothing like passing in road racing. Every attempt I made at trying to pass the steering wheel got a little higher and a little higher…until it was over my head. Not really, just my attempt at using the old saying “ The driver is driving over his head”. Well, as I made an attempt to pass on the high side….it happened. The car got loose and I ran out of talent. The rear end came around and I lit up the rear tires to keep it off the wall. As I spun into the infield in a cloud of smoke, I realized…I need more seat time. When we restarted, I passed one car in turn one and two, the leaders checked up and I heard a crunching sound behind me. I made it through three and four and down the front stretch but spun like crazy in one. Sean was able to see the back of the car at this point said over the radio “the back of the car is gone“. Come to find out, I got run over just after the restart when the leaders checked up. Our race was over…..I finished dead last but had a blast doing it. The driver that made contact with the rear of my car came over after the race and said he was sorry for getting into the back of me. I have a respect for anyone that can apologize and I always accept. It’s racing and I knew from the beginning it would happen.
Next race - the 50 lap E-mod race at Orlando Speedworld on April the 8th.
Jeff Bailey
#10 E-mod
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