Over 100 drivers registered and drove at the first solo event of the 2018 Fall Series. Braving the heat, with recorded temperature up to 106 degrees, drivers enjoyed a grippy and fast racing surface! Racers stayed cool with umbrellas, worn big hats and drank lots of fluids. A new scoreboard and improved audio made the event easy to follow. The novice group was quite large and made up a significant percentage of the membership. For the most part, the novice members did very well finding their way around the well-designed, lined course and enjoyed the day in spite of the summer heat.

Lance Hamilton owns an extraordinary 1985 CAM- T Chevy Monte Carlo. He has owned this beauty for 11 years and during that time it has received the some impressive upgrades. The Monte Carlo is equipped with a 383 cu in Chevy stroker motor that produces 467 horsepower at the crank and 525 ft. lbs. of torque, and a T-56 six speed sits behind the motor that feeds a Ford 9 inch rear member. The car also features Ride Tech coil overs. This 33 year old classic rides on Bridgestone tires, and features A/C, Stop Tech Brakes, and a full roll cage. The most unusual feature of this classic beauty, is its beautiful bronze paint -- it is factory original! Nice ride Lance, and thanks for coming out and bringing this fine classic to our events!

Veteran driver Dennis Riehle shown standing beside his fan favorite ESP Camaro

ESP Camaro -- waiting his turn to run.

Fall Series Pylon Press Edition # 1 September 2018

First Fall Event Well Attended

Car of the Month

Chris Stele and his son Shawn have been faithful volunteers at the tech station for some 4 years now. Son Shawn, age 14, usually accompanies his Dad to the monthly solo events and helps out by running errands and watching and learning. When not auto crossing or doing track days in his D Stock 2012 Mini, Chris likes to watch and or play hockey. We are grateful to you Chris for keeping the tech lines moving smoothly and our cars safe and in sound level compliance. Thanks for your service! You are an important part of the AZ. Solo Scene.

Member Behind the Scenes Kim Kemper has been in the SCCA solo game for some 25 years now. His rides are a C7 Corvette Z06 and a very cool SSP Porsche GT3 RS. Kim also is very active as the Co-Chairman of the Phoenix Porsche Club, and a member of the Corvette Club of Arizona.

Kim enjoys an occasional track day with one of his cars; He also pursues a more calming hobby of photography when not zooming around the cones in a hot ride. His favorite work position at solo events is that of “Starter” where can easily see all the action. Kim brings years of experience to the SCCA solo scene, is always vigilant on safety procedure and a welcome veteran member of the SCCA solo community. Kim is active in Porsche Solo events too and indicated other car brands are welcome at the Phoenix Porsche Club events, however enrollment is limited to 40 cars -- so sign up early. On November 12th the Porsche Club is sponsoring an auto cross event on the track at AMP. Go to motorsportsreg.com for details.

Member of the Month

Fast Thoughts Straight roads are for fast cars -- Turns are for fast drivers. -- Colin Mcrae, British Rally Driver It is more fun to drive a slow car fast than to drive a fast car slow. -- Abner Perney, National SCCA Driver

Veteran auto crosser Steve Eymann, often a TTD contender, in his ever-quick Corvette ZO6 is seen relaxing in the shade at the September event in this photo. Steve is sharing solo stories and pointers in the photo with another ace driver, Dennis Riehle. Steve shares this go fast tip with us. “Don’t coast!” What? Coast? What are you talking about Steve?… we asked. “Easy “ he replied, “You are either on the gas or braking but never coasting.” Well, now that’s simple yet profound advice! Do you coast on the solo course? Steve’s point is simple: Its either a place for power or brakes, never neither. Thanks for a great tip Steve, and please start acting your age when competing in solo events so the rest of us have a chance to win, now and then!

Quiz Question of the Month The quickest car from 0-60 is the?

A Porsche Cayman, Corvette ZO7, Bugatti Chiron, Tesla Roadster,

Koenigsegg Regera or Ferrari 488 GTB (See the SCCA Solo Chat site for answer)

To keep engine temperatures under control on warm AZ days when auto crossing or at a track day event, a common practice is to avoid the use of antifreeze and substitute with the product Water Wetter or a similar product -- and combine it with water. This combination does definitely cause the motor to run cooler then when using a commercial antifreeze and water combo. It is also more track friendly to clean up if you do happen to boil over your radiator on a hot day. The tech tip is beware of the aluminum eating characteristics of this combination! I recently had to replace the Brodix aluminum cylinder heads on my 1967 vintage Camaro due to not knowing about the effects of the erosive combination of filtered water coming into contact with aluminum over a period of time. Seems that the minerals we take out of water, when we filter it, are replaced by the water when it encounters certain metals. The PH level of the water is critical in this scenario. Ouch, the water ate my aluminum heads, then leaked down into the cylinders and crashed the motor when it was started. (As you know, water does not compress, so stuff bends and breaks in the motor when it is rotated). So, lesson learned – If you use a Water Wetter type product in your performance car and mix it with water -- use good old tap water, not filtered or boiled water with a balanced PH and/or better yet -- mix in 25 to 50 % antifreeze as a precaution.

Brian Miller, Editor, Pylon Press Go to wwwtotalmateria.com and type in aluminum

corrosion for a scientific review

PS – Yes, my beloved vintage Camaro is FOR SALE! Moving to Carefree, AZ -- Must downsize! For more info call or text 480-250-2851

Editor’s Tech Tip of the Month

Driving Tip of the Month

For Sale

Speed costs! How fast do you want to go?

-- Unknown