Its no secret that I've raced here a lot and enjoyed the majority of my time here. I've been involved in some really great moments on and off the track and I wouldn't trade them. But, I've also been involved in some unhappy moments, and they have become more and more frequent recently. Whether its poor sportsmanship or poor administration, and even though it is the minority that have caused it, I've had enough of it and can find better places to pursue my hobby without this garbage.
Anyway, just wanted to say thank you and goodbye to all the people who have made the last two years (and more if you go back to the TM.net days) really enjoyable. Hopefully I'll see you all again in the future.
Cya
Scott
Disclaimer: This is not an attempt at a pitty parade or the formation of a rebellion. I'm merely trying to say goodbye to those who are nice enough to call [... more]
20 July 2005
WOSEC Round 4 - Sebring
How many times has an R4R car ever finished a race? Twice last year, Both in the same race, the SST le mans 4 hours, the only race I had ever entered 2 cars. We finished 1st and 5th in the GT class (and overall). How about this year? Once, the WOSEC Suzuka 3 hour pre season race. I drove solo and finished 3rd. the team has entered 10 other times, including the bullrun 1000, and not finished any of them. Not the best record, so a finish at the WOSEC Sebring 12 hours seemed no more than a dream.
Preperations for the big event went well enough. I managed to gather a group of 7 drivers of varying skills and experience. The first of the new boys was Parker Kligerman, who was totally new. He PMed me over RSC after I posted about last years Le Mans 24 Hours, we got talking, and I hired him as a new driver. Aged 13, American and eager [... more]
During the week ending February 10th, drivers, teams and transporters hauled themselves from all over the world to congregate at the annual Daytona 12 Hours for GTP cars, hosted by OATAS. This year, 19 teams would take the start of this gueling test of endurance over 2 classes, and it proved to be one of the most exciting to date, and a perfect way to kick off the 2008 endurance season.
The Renown 4 Racing team set up early in the week having made the short journey from the team's American HQ in St. Cloud, Florida, just 3 hours South of Daytona by road. The team planned to enter one Lights class Mazda 787b (#105 Momo R4R) for team owner Scott Michaels and Pennsylvania's Brendan Kaczmarek, but a late deal with Brazilian Pedro Toledo made a two car effort possible, so the #104 Mazdaspeed R4R car was quickly transported North to join the team mid week. Joining Pedro in t [... more]
He may be getting on a bit these days, but Jonathan Palmer still knows how to entertain 80 guests ;-)
On Saturday I had one of the best days of my life, at the Bedford Autodrome with the PalmerSport team. I was put at the wheel of 7 high performance cars (plus a kart and a Land Rover) and let loose on the track to see what I could get out of them. The cars were a Palmer Jaguar JP1 track car, a Formula Palmer Audi race car, a Renault Clio Cup Racer, a Porsche 911 JP3, two types of Caterham and a Jaguar XK-R GT3 race car.
We arrived in the morning and, while I was excited, I was also quite nervous. Not about having to drive these amazing cars, that was the exciting bit, but because there was a doubt over whether I would be allowed to drive the [... more]
04 August, 2007
OATAS 6 Hours of Karjala
The sun may be setting on the NR2003 GTP endurance racing era that has spanned the last 4 years for the Mazdaspeed branch of R4R, but the fire is still very much alive at the heart of this tight-knit team, and we arrived at Karjala after the disapointment of Le Mans with very clear intentions. Our streamlined effort - two cars and three drivers - wanted nothing but success, which we feel is long overdue for the team. With Karjala being a twisty circuit well suited to the Mazda, Vader Trophy Racing had entered a 3rd car under their banner using the Mazda chassis, and of course beating them and finishing as the best Mazda had to be the aim for the #04 Mazdaspeed R4R entry. As for the #104 Momo R4R entry, only victory in the lights class would do.
Throughout practice the team drivers - Brendan Kaczmarek, Joe Mudrak and myself - [... more]
15 July 2007
2nd Annual RACER rF3 International Sweepstakes - Brands Hatch
Broadcast available here
After a long time away from RACER, I felt it was time to make a return when I heard the 2nd Annual rF3 International Sweepstakes were being held, a race I competed in last year and finished 5th. I enjoy these cars and have always been pretty quick, and I have been wanting to have a race on the Brands Hatch 2005 circuit for a while now, so how could I refuse?
The entry was reletively small, but certainly full of talent. The 15 strong field was headlined by the likes of George Sandman, Laurent Vaisman, Theo Gort, and Jonas Steffans amoungst others, all extremely fast drivers who would take some beating, so going into the race my target was a top 5, a podium would be an excellent result.
Pre-qualify [... more]
09-10 June, 2007
OATAS 24 Heures du Mans
Ok, the countdown is on, less than a week before the biggest race of the enduro season!
As of now, there are 30 cars entered over the GTP and Lights classes (the lights class is for Mazda and Toyota teams who are not capable of lapping faster than a specified 'breakout time' for each track). R4R has entered two cars, both Mazdas, one in the Lights class and one in the GTP class. The GTP class car (named Mazdaspeed R4R), with Brendan Kaczmarek and myself as drivers, is the only non-Sauber in the GTP field, so we are really up against it! We expect to be as much as 6-7 seconds off the pace, but we are aiming to finish the race without a single incident (excluding spins), and we think if we can make it to the 15 hour mark with no damage, we will be in good shape to make up some places and perhaps get a podium finish!
The Lig [... more]
Do you ever find that you go through phases of liking certain things a certain way, then suddenly find them completely uninteresting?
I had a wierd experience in the GTX Estoril race today. I was going along just fine in my Lambo, climbing my way through the field, having some nice battles along the way. But I couldnt really get my head into it, I never got that rush of adrenaline you get when you are totally immersed in the game and just have to gain every tenth you possibly can... I just felt like some guy sitting in a desk chair logging laps on a computer game... ya know, been there, done that syndrome... and it was increadibly boring.
I remember back before R2P I was always a member of TM.net (precursor to R2P incase anyone didnt know), but I never really raced here that much becuase I was too busy practicing for my Super Endurance leagues (WOSEC & SSCA). I liked [... more]
16 December 2006
SST Lightning 750 - Fasturd Enduro
After the dissapointment of Le Mans, I really needed a good result to cheer me up, so I immediatley set my sights on the SSCA special event coming up in mid December: The SST Lightning 750. This race was to be held on the fast flowing fantasy track of Fasturd Enduro Night, which proved to be a very unique and challenging circuit, as well as one of the most enjoyable that I have ever driven.
As I mentioned, its nature is very fast, which immediatley put my Mazda out of contention for the win, especially with the 34 car strong entry, including the uber alien team of Richard Dickson and Jan Larson in the VTR1 Sauber. Not only this, but I was the only Mazda signed up for the race! So I would have to fight tooth and nail for every position above 34th... perfect!
But the prospect wasn't so bad... did I mention this tra [... more]
25 November 2006
WOSEC Le Mans 24 Hours
It seems there's no rest for the insane! After our glorious result at the Bullrun 1000, the R4R team had to skip the champagne celebrations (neither me or Sam drink anyway!), and turn our minds immediatley to Le Mans. While we sent our equipment over to north Italy for the Monza pre season Race2Play V8 Supercar event that was scheduled for a months time, the drivers caught the next flight to France, to meet up with our third driver Brendan Kaczmarek and begin another week of hard practice.
As expected, the Mazda 787b was miles off the pace. Brendan had barely managed to get within 7 seconds of the top of the time sheets (VTR1 where ripping up the competition with 3:26 lap times and 220mph top speeds, while the Mazdaspeed R4R 787b was barely topping 195mph on the straights, and looking at measly 1:33s at best), and it was look [... more]
