SCCA autocross event: June 24th at GIR

Jacques · Post by **Jacques** » Mon Jun 25, 2007 4:28 pm

SlowOne.5;51423 wrote:ooooh did ya run in the rain!?! i absolutely love doing that!!

I used to like it when I was on street tires...it's good practice, and also interesting to see how you and the competition are able to adjust to it. But on r-comps, it's a little on the dicey side since most tires have very little thread. My v710s have two grooves and no thread...they're designed only for dry conditions. for I managed to get my runs mostly in the dry, but spun out on my last run. *grr* Most of the people there loved the course I designed (it was a long, fast course), but of course b*tched about the rain. I am seeing if we can put the same course out again later this season (which isn't typical) since most of the competitors had to run it in the rain.

SlowOne.5 · Post by **SlowOne.5** » Mon Jun 25, 2007 4:56 pm

Jacques;51428 wrote:I used to like it when I was on street tires...it's good practice, and also interesting to see how you and the competition are able to adjust to it. But on r-comps, it's a little on the dicey side since most tires have very little thread. My v710s have two grooves and no thread...they're designed only for dry conditions. for I managed to get my runs mostly in the dry, but spun out on my last run. *grr* Most of the people there loved the course I designed (it was a long, fast course), but of course b*tched about the rain. I am seeing if we can put the same course out again later this season (which isn't typical) since most of the competitors had to run it in the rain.

now see, long, fast courses i HATE. i don't have the power to get to a good speed, and esp since my gears are so crazy long.

my first event ever i did the first 2 runs alone, but i asked the instructor to ride w/ me to give me any pointers. only thing he said is to quit shifting from 2nd-1st in turns bc it takes too much time.

so, i had him run w/ me again to prove that if i DIDN'T do that, i'd bog down too much and wouldn't have the power to get going again. i can throw my car into first at 25mph amazingly w/ no clunk or anything. not the BEST for it, but shit i couldn't go if i didn't!

i'll never forget the ending of my favorite course i ran one year. coming out of a short slalom from the left side, IMMEDIATELY into a Chicago box from the right, and finish line at the end of that. god that was a rush, and a bit dangerous too bc we had to slam on the brakes at the end on the line to make sure we didn't come through to quickly for the awaiting cars. lol

Jacques · Post by **Jacques** » Mon Jun 25, 2007 5:12 pm

SlowOne.5;51440 wrote:now see, long, fast courses i HATE. i don't have the power to get to a good speed, and esp since my gears are so crazy long.

No such problem in the 'Lude. :biggrin: Had we gotten the full 6 runs (and dry), I would've gotten to third gear! Top part of 2nd for me goes to around 63mph, and I got damn close to hitting the limiter in three sections of my course...8000rpm redline is a wonderful thing. Maybe if you do get to run my car and if we have the course again, you'll know what I mean.

I think I remember that course you're talking about...was it at UMB, GIR, or at Family? I remember a course similar to that at UMB, if it's the same one you're thinking of. It had a number of sweeping turns on the first half of the course (with a decreasing radius turn in the middle).

SlowOne.5 · Post by **SlowOne.5** » Mon Jun 25, 2007 5:41 pm

Jacques;51446 wrote:No such problem in the 'Lude. :biggrin: Had we gotten the full 6 runs (and dry), I would've gotten to third gear! Top part of 2nd for me goes to around 63mph, and I got damn close to hitting the limiter in three sections of my course...8000rpm redline is a wonderful thing. Maybe if you do get to run my car and if we have the course again, you'll know what I mean.

I think I remember that course you're talking about...was it at UMB, GIR, or at Family? I remember a course similar to that at UMB, if it's the same one you're thinking of. It had a number of sweeping turns on the first half of the course (with a decreasing radius turn in the middle).

that course was actually in Rantoul, IL at the old air base. i'm sure the course has been used other places though. but yes, same setup as you listed.

my redline is 5, 55limiter. Doh! i'm lucky if i top out 2nd. lol

now i had a buddy w/ a white b16 cr-x that was fun. i spun out many times with it. first time i'd ever spun out in my life. scary, yet hilarious all at once. it was during the fun runs at the end of the day. i was trying to be a cone killer at that point. :biglaugh:

Jacques · Post by **Jacques** » Mon Jun 25, 2007 5:58 pm

Was your buddy's CRX the most fun car other than yours to drive? He prolly wasn't too happy that you were being a cone killer.

Hmm, I'd say for me it's a threeway tie between my one buddy's s2000, my other buddy's e46 M3 SMGII, and a turboed Miata (250whp). The s2000 was so easy to toss around...and just as easy to spin out on. :biggrin: The M3, even though it was a large coupe, was surprisingly nimble, and a blast to power through a course. With the Miata, with the power spooling out as I went around corners scared the crap outta me! If only he had better suspension, I would've taken advantage of all that power.

SlowOne.5 · Post by **SlowOne.5** » Mon Jun 25, 2007 6:12 pm

Jacques;51468 wrote:Was your buddy's CRX the most fun car other than yours to drive? He prolly wasn't too happy that you were being a cone killer. Hmm, I'd say for me it's a threeway tie between my one buddy's s2000, my other buddy's e46 M3 SMGII, and a turboed Miata (250whp). The s2000 was so easy to toss around...and just as easy to spin out on. :biggrin: The M3, even though it was a large coupe, was surprisingly nimble, and a blast to power through a course. With the Miata, with the power spooling out as I went around corners scared the crap outta me! If only he had better suspension, I would've taken advantage of all that power.

nope, he actually told me to do it. he was on the course while i was running around.

i'd have to say the most fun was our old 94vx w/ a 96 built ITR w/ ITB's. that thing SCREAMED and handled like god himself. pix of it are on this board actually. he no longer posts here...for various reasons.

then i'd have to say a stealth that Vaughn helped build up(deep in the 11's), my buddy's 01 impreza w/ quite a bit done, and a stock s2k.

i'm lucky enough to have gotten a chance to run quite a range of different cars. i need to find the video of me having a completely stock, 2000 red si SLIDEWAYS. the driver rode along, and was horrified, but i walked away with 1st place for him. lol:glasses2:

i wanna run an f-body. there were a couple that wiped up the course. they were friggin BEASTS!

Jacques · Post by **Jacques** » Mon Jun 25, 2007 6:36 pm

SlowOne.5;51470 wrote:i wanna run an f-body. there were a couple that wiped up the course. they were friggin BEASTS!

You don't see too many of them these days, except if you go to Solo Nationals. The local scene is pretty much dominated these days between the Subies, Minis, RX-8's. Most of the Hondas are in the ST classes though, and of course the s2000's in AS. I'd like to try an F-body sometime, but the only one that was properly prepped in recent years was Chris H's z28 when he was waxing people in FS. Even better than that, I'd like to try a CP car in f-body form. Those cars are scary to drive and handle...if you lose control in one of those, it would be ugly. Like you, I was fortunate to have driven all kinds of cars...but I wanna try out more!

SlowOne.5 · Post by **SlowOne.5** » Mon Jun 25, 2007 6:47 pm

Jacques;51475 wrote:You don't see too many of them these days, except if you go to Solo Nationals. The local scene is pretty much dominated these days between the Subies, Minis, RX-8's. Most of the Hondas are in the ST classes though, and of course the s2000's in AS. I'd like to try an F-body sometime, but the only one that was properly prepped in recent years was Chris H's z28 when he was waxing people in FS. Even better than that, I'd like to try a CP car in f-body form. Those cars are scary to drive and handle...if you lose control in one of those, it would be ugly. Like you, I was fortunate to have driven all kinds of cars...but I wanna try out more!

Talk about a scary incident: I was riding along w/ my buddy in his Evo when they first hit the states. 03 or 04?? memory is failing me right now. anyhow.

he was getting STUPID, we're all holding on for dear life, when he skidded so hard/long, he ended up WAY off course, hitting a dip sideways, and we almost rolled it over sideways into the grass.

mind, you, that's almost 200YARDS off course. one of the scariest damn rides i've ever had in my life. what's worse, is he auto x's and road races constantly, and has been for 10+years. he just got way too crazy stupid that run.

Jacques · Post by **Jacques** » Mon Jun 25, 2007 8:42 pm

Can't say that I've gotten off course that badly when I've autocrossed. On the roadcourse, I've lost control maybe about 5 times in 5 years, 4 of them at GIR's roadcourse early in my roadracing experience, and once a couple of years back at Hallett: http://www.stlpreludeclub.com/videos/Hallet_James.mpg

My passenger (Amanda) thought it was "neat" that we spun out, but it kinda scared me a bit because as you see the vid, a Miata that was running behind me went off course too, and could've hit me. I made the mistake of braking too late on that turn and as I immediately got into throttle, the rear got light and I spun out.

SlowOne.5 · Post by **SlowOne.5** » Mon Jun 25, 2007 9:31 pm

Jacques;51497 wrote:Can't say that I've gotten off course that badly when I've autocrossed. On the roadcourse, I've lost control maybe about 5 times in 5 years, 4 of them at GIR's roadcourse early in my roadracing experience, and once a couple of years back at Hallett: http://www.stlpreludeclub.com/videos/Hallet_James.mpg

My passenger (Amanda) thought it was "neat" that we spun out, but it kinda scared me a bit because as you see the vid, a Miata that was running behind me went off course too, and could've hit me. I made the mistake of braking too late on that turn and as I immediately got into throttle, the rear got light and I spun out.

yikes!!! i've never felt it was too soon to do a sudden, hard brake. if i'm going too slow, just power through. usually. lol i figure too slowly is better than spinning out and losing even MORE time.