Volume 9 Issue 1 - January/February 2002

FCA Goes to Go Kart Racing School

it was at an american aviation base in 1951 that the first go-kart appeared. with some tubes, wheels, and lawn-mower engines the teams on the ground tinkered the first go-kart.

the go-kart is a tremendous school to make pilots of high level, as prost, schumacher, truli, verstappen, fisichella and so many others have proven. the late ayrton senna was twice world champion of go-karting.

so on sunday, november 18th we arrived at the adams go kart track in riverside, ca at 7:45 a.m. for what would be one of the most fun events organized by the club in a long time. we had rented the track for half a day and all 29 of us were ready to test our skills.

the adams kart track has one of the longest straights in the country measuring an impressive 700 feet, with 14 different turns that challenge even the most veteran drivers. they say that "if you race well here, you race well everywhere."  this track hosts the annual california state championships and has a large pit and control tower overlooking the whole area.

excitement filled the cold morning air as the crew prepared the go karts. this is what michael schumacher does when he is not driving his ferrari f1 car, and we were about to experience it first-hand ourselves!

after a brief drivers meeting, we were directed to the race track where two of the instructors walked us around the track to show us the racing line and explain the basic reference points. we were divided into groups of 10 and provided with gloves, helmets and neck restraints. each session lasted between 7 and 12 minutes, which seems like a short time, until you are in the go kart driving flat out trying to keep the thing on the road pointing forward. the karts provided consisted of 100c class (100 cubic centimeter engine displacement) and had a gas pedal on the right and brake pedal on the left with the gas tank in between your legs. brakes were rear only, activated by one central disc.

the combinations of fast and slow corners, including very exciting banked ones were just right, allowing drivers of all levels to have a great time. even though it was not supposed to be a race, most drivers went at it with gusto which generated some pretty intense racing. at the end of the main straight we were clocking almost 60 miles per hour, and sitting only 2 inches from the ground....

lunch was provided in a covered area in the pits, and included filet mignon and caviar, ok, ok, just kidding! it consisted of great sodas, chips and i think there were also some sandwiches and a lot of cold water.

we wish to thank kevork hazarian and craig ekberg for organizing the event and handling the registrations.

in some ways, it doesn?t feel good to hash over an old party from christmas, since it?s come and gone. we had a great time. those of you who weren?t there will never know except by the pictures. sabatino?s famous italian sausage restaurant in newport beach catered a fabulous dinner in the clubhouse overlooking the pool. taste buds flourished and needed immediate extinguishing from the sicilian summer. the drink of choice was the red grappa. i was wrong again thinking that most people still like white. ah, the  diversity of those americans. creatures of survival, they switched mid-stream. 

and then on to the tent on the beach to watch the newport beach festival of lights boat parade with heaters, fca cake, coffee and more of that left over white stuff. i love being spoiled. i deserve. i could go on about how many wonderful celebrity people there were but in truth we only had room for fifty celebrities. 

next year, our 2nd annual marv landon?s christmas party, will be december 22nd, on the beach, lido peninsula, with plenty of room for all and lots of red.  marv, thanks for a great evening.

FCALA at California Speedway

by steve tillack

friday - sunday, may 24^thth

southern california?s premier auto racing facility will be the exclusive domain of the ferrari club of america during fcala 2002.  the california speedway offers complete state of the art hospitality accommodations for the racer and spectator including "real" sparkling clean restrooms. when you arrive you will find a spacious "no door ding" area dedicated for ferrari only parking.                      

spectators will enjoy a panoramic view of the entire track from infield terrace and you will be treated to a fine italian lunch, catered daily. in addition, a limited number of the private suites will be available for rent.  positioned at the heart of california speedway atop pit row, terrace suites offer a comfortable refuge just a few steps away from the action and excitement of the garage area.  the pit row terrace suites offer accommodations for 30 guests, an outdoor roof-top viewing deck, closed-circuit tvs, public address system, telephone service (local and credit card calls), air conditioning, and a wet bar.  the cost will be $1,500 for the event.  for information regarding the rental of the suites, please call marv landon at (818) 971-3300, extension 2350.

track event participants will be running on the newly constructed 2.7 mile road course. starting with a run up the oval?s 11 degree banked front straight to turn one, the track transitions to the 21-turn infield.  at the completion of the infield road course, the track merges back onto the oval at the exit of turn four.  as expected, the paddock facility has exceptional accommodations for trailer parking.              in addition, a limited number garage spaces will be available. california speedway has spotless and enormous infield garages.  the fully enclosed garages are roofed, walled and lockable with unlimited access to electrical power inside and out.  air is also available at each stall.  each stall will be available for $300 for all three-track days.  they are on a first come first serve basis.  contact steve tillack for garage reservations at (310) 318-8760 or simply indicate you want a  track garage on the event registration package - form 1.

California Speedway History

courtesy california speedway

speed and close racing aren?t necessarily the issues when fans and racers discuss the california speedway. in its brief three-year history, the $120-million state-of-the-art facility has made its mark in motorsports as a home to cart, irl, nascar, the grand am road racing and the ama u.s. superbike series.

those in attendance have not only been treated to great racing, but to some of the best creature comforts known to exist. how many speedways can boast of a train station, concierge services or hot showers? luxury suites offer breath-taking views of not only the speedway and its manicured-grounds, but of the san gabriel mountains and san bernardino valley. in its short existence, california speedway has developed a reputation of offering the best for not only its fans but competitors.

henry j. kaiser and roger penske, are two men who have left their mark on history by utilizing the same 529 acres in fontana, california. with kaiser, fontana was recognized as the home of kaiser steel, the first integrated steel mill west of the rockies. built during world war ii, just outside the projected range of japanese battleships, the mill provided steel necessary for the construction of liberty ships. kaiser steel, at one point, was the economic hub of the area, employing a work force of more than 11,000. but on dec. 31, 1983, kaiser steel went bankrupt and closed forever.

the site was abandoned and became an eyesore, rubble and rust dominating the landscape. movie production replaced steel as the money product. that changed 10 years later when kaiser ventures inc. and penske corporation exchanged thoughts about a speedway. an agreement was reached in early 1995 and there were already indications this project was about speed.

before construction started, nascar and cart gave the track dates for the 1997 season. san bernardino county put the project on the fast track, effectively eliminating bureaucratic roadblocks in the permit process. within months, the transformation of blighted site to speedway was underway. more than 21,000 tons of hazardous waste was removed and 370 tons of coal tar was recycled.

when kaiser won the the governor?s award for environmental and economic leadership, the speedway project had a green flag. on nov. 22, 1995, a work force that numbered in the thousands began demolition and construction at the same time.

121 LM - 446 S - 735 S

ferrari market letter article reprinted with permission

purists will argue that "real" ferraris have twelve cylinder engines. but more ferraris have been built with v-8 engines than any other configuration. nearly every ferrarist is at least aware of the fact that the v-6 layout was once quite popular at maranello, in formula one, formula two, sports/racing, and production types. those who have even a passing acquaintance with ferrari?s history are aware of a period of flirtation with in-line four cylinder engines. an in-line six cylinder ferrari? are you sure we are talking about the same automobile company?

indeed we are. faced with the challenge from mercedes benz, ferrari took the approach that more of a good thing was even better and enlarged the in-line four cylinder engines that had been successfully proven as far back as 1952? not by increasing the bore and/or stroke dimensions, but by increasing the number of cylinders. the four cylinder engines were developed originally to take advantage of their superior low-speed torque, and had successfully won ferrari?s first world championships in 1952 and 1953 with alberto ascari winning the drivers world championship. capitalizing on this success, ferrari put the in-line four into a sports racer in late 1953, and for 1954 continued their development.

in 1954 mercedes benz was dominant in formula one, and when the german firm announced that in 1955 they would contest the world championship of makes with a sports car based on this f1 car, ferrari know that there was a formidable challenger for the sports car championship it had won in 1953 and 1954.

the first in-line six was the type 114, a three-liter engine with bore and stroke dimensions of 90 x 78 mm, identical to the four cylinder 500 mondial engine. while specification for this engine and a 2,480 mm wheelbase chassis were published -- the car is usually referred to as the 306 s -- in late 1954, no evidence appears that it was ever raced. next in the in-line six genealogy came the type 115, and experimental 2.5-liter formula one engine, and then the type 118, which would be the first of the engines to see use in competition.

in simple terms, the type 118 engine was a 625 four cylinder with two additional cylinders. with a bore and stroke of 94 x 90 mm, this gave a total displacement of approximately 3.7 liters. most commonly known by the engine type number, hence 118 lm, this car also is the car that won europe?s most prestigious sports car race, the 24 hours of le mans. the engine was dry sump with dual ignition via two distributors and had, just like the four cylinder it was developed from, dual overhead camshafts. depending upon the source consulted, it produced 280 to 310 horsepower. the chassis was quite similar to that of the 500 mondial/750 monza -- large diameter steel tubes with supplemental bracing by smaller tubes, independent front suspension with coil springs, a rear-mounted five-speed gearbox and rear suspension of de dion type with transverse leaf spring -- but the wheelbase was enlarged to 2400 mm to accommodate the longer engine. body work was by scaglietti, and again bore an extremely close relationship to that of the in-line four cylinder cars.

the first appearance of the in-line six in competition was at the 1000 km. of buenos aires on january 23, 1955, where a 118 lm was entered by the factory for gonzalez/trintignant. it set the fastest race lap but dropped out while running second due to fuel pump failure and an "unauthorized" shortcut into the pits. on april 3, the type made its european debut at the tour of sicily, where taruffi won in an 118 lm. next, on april 30 - may 1, came the mille miglia, and the introduction of a new in-line six, the 121 lm or 446 s or 735 s, depending on<