Pro Solo left vs. right

[Yvan]

Thanks for putting on a great event. I love the pro solo format. Totally different experience from Solo2 and I can appreciate that it's a lot more work to organize one of these events.

I'd have to say that I felt one lane was noticibly faster (for my car) than the other.

Curious what the rest of you think... Answer th poll....

[ice/solo racer]

IMO each course had its own merit,the slalom on the right side was tighter at the crest of the hill not to mention the funky car motions over that ridge.While the left side slalom had a whore of bump at the forth cone.The right side ridge played havoc again when going back up the hill and into the left hander.The same spot on the left side wasn't even a slalom heading into the right hander.
The left side chicane into the stop box seemed alot tighter and harder to get in there with a decent speed.
I think there is no question that the left side was faster as almost all races were decided from that lane.

As far as preference goes I prefered to drive the right side with the exception of the tail end of the downhill slalom-the rest of the rollercoaster was a blast.

[StewPiddass]

I voted right, I had 2 good runs there... first run on the left I came in to the stop box too hot (seemed tighter to me) and hit 2 cones, and apparently the next time I went OC, not sure where. I heard from most that left was faster though, those elevation changes on the right side made it hard for me to see the cones until I got over them.

[andrew1984]

it was a good experience. thanks to all who orginized it.

where was rogers hiding out?

[GregR]

hey andrew, is yours the silver beetle? that thing freakin' moves!!!

[andrew1984]

Originally posted by GregR
hey andrew, is yours the silver beetle? that thing freakin' moves!!!

yep, thats the one...

i prefer to think its all driver ;)

when you think about it... 3005 lbs .. front wheel drive and 200hp - you got yourself a pushy pig. :o

[GregR]

my white prelude (#10) is 2800 pounds, FWD, and 200hp, but handles like a cow on dope.

[andrew1984]

ah, so that was you.

how'd you get that mean dent on the passenger side? ouch :eek:

[GregR]

concrete post in parking garage.
oddly enough NONE of the body damage is due to racing.

[miataboi]

Originally posted by GregR
concrete post in parking garage.
oddly enough NONE of the body damage is due to racing.

I would have lost that bet!
I mentioned it to someone!!!

Car looks to be well-sorted.

[soloZ]

GregR I saw you and your budy with the Miata at Mosport on Sunday, I also mentioned it to the Miata guy. Nice cars by the way

[Taylor]

Originally posted by GregR
my white prelude (#10) is 2800 pounds, FWD, and 200hp, but handles like a cow on dope. Uh oh.. better hope Marsh doesn't hear you say that.

Hmm I had a 3100lb SH and the only handling thing that pissed me off was the steering pump thing. I found the car to be very neutral. But there's no doubt that it was a heavy car.

[GregR]

Yeah, I gotta fix the power steering pump thing one of these days. Thankfully, Marsh does have a good walkthrough of the mod. I found the pressure relief valve going again on Monday, and it was a bugger. That car and I just don't get along on a small circuit. Of course, a fair bit of blame goes to the driver, but more seat time should fix that.

Somewhat back on topic, I set my fastest qualifying time on the right lane, but during eliminations appeared to be having more luck on the left lane. But I still screwed up the last 1/3 of the run and got booted.

[Gord]

I think I was faster in both runs on the right (IIRC). I definitely felt the last part of the run entering the stopbox was easier (more of a straight shot) into the box. My last (and best) run on the right I was able to just keep it planted right from the last hairpin right to the box. I suspect how much grip a car had played a large part into which course was faster as mine just didn't turn well on the left.

Andrew,

I never got a chance to talk to you at the event (I didn't see you at your Bug when I went by). That is a mean sounding car! :o I liked how the guy from HADA (Daniel I believe his name was) that I was marshalling with described it: "it sounds like a blow torch". And yeah, it does from behind. :cool:

On a different topic, how did you (and any others) that were running the new A032R-SC's find them?

-Gord

[andrew1984]

hah, never noticed - but your right. it does sound like a blow torch....

i like the new yoks but i still have to see their full potential.

my alignment was all whacked and i just re-did it today.

lets just say it was waaaaaay off.

ill be heading to picton this weekend to give them another chance.

for roadrace, i think they would be awesome. they obviously dont heat or stick like a hoosier - but hey... i run them on the street and they show no wear. good comprimise eh?

[DareBee]

I definitely agree left was faster for me.
I also agree there were potential safety issues like when staging down the curb, a couple of times I was sitting right at the end of the return sweeper and the thought crossed my mind that if someone lost it the potential of getting smoked was quit good.
also the stop boxes, the most dangerous aspect (I believe) was the little chicane leading into them as I was going hells bells to break the beam and had to kick the car out while at speed (you may remember my last run against Tony(#61)) I was extremely close to losing it (race on the edge man!) and that would have put me in the control tent. I have found during my long race career (ha ha) that a longer stop box tends to be much safer as I dont try to hold onto it tooooo long.
Alas the jist of the Pro event is that we are supposed to be experienced racers, accidents will always happen and space is very difficult for a club to come by

Cheers:) Derek

[finboy]

when the qualifying results were posted, did it identify the lane as well?

anyone recall?

[ice/solo racer]

Um as the guy sitting in the copper corolla which has been built by me with way to many hours over the last 3 years to even think about- I definatly rembember you screaming past me all crossed up with cones flying everywhere.Personally I think you need to try a little harder!!;)
Made me glad I just finished my cage complete with door bars,I'm used to crashing when I'm in my ice racer but having close calls with other cars is kinda new to me in solo(he he)
Still Derek all things considered,nice control skills right up till you lost it.:D

[miataboi]

Originally posted by finboy
when the qualifying results were posted, did it identify the lane as well?

anyone recall?

yes,

yes.

[finboy]

Originally posted by miataboi
yes,

yes.

so on paper, was the left lane that much faster?

[tanney]

yes,
yes

Should be no and yes

The lanes were not displayed on the time sheets posted on the Wheel and Tire Zone van. I have pictures to prove such....

[GregR]

That's what I thought. It was only listed as Run1 to Run4, and you had to remember what side your first run was on to figure out which ended up being the fastest side for your 4 qual runs. Mine was the 3rd run, on the right side.

[Keith-02Accord]

My fastest was on the left, but if I recall, only by a few 10ths of a second then the right.

[Logan]

I was 2 seconds faster on the left.

[pitl-org]

Comments regarding any sanctioned event are always welcome. Both the positive and negative are the only way organizers can judge what they are doing is good or bad. Sometime emotions do get involved, and that may be unfortunate.

However, one should not PUBLICALLY comment on any issues that may (or may not) influence insurance companies, be it personal (auto insurance), and/or event insurance. Having said that, any comments regarding safety issues, incidents that may have happened at an event you participated in, or know of, should not be publically discussed.

In a time of high insurance premiums, and companies looking for any reason to raise rates or refuse coverage, we should be careful in what we post.

If you feel compelled to discuss certain issues regarding the above, possibly the forum for this may best be kept to personal emails to the host club or organizers. Safety has always been the top priority in any sanctioned event, and should remain as the top priority.

Here's to a fun, safe summer of competition.

[ice/solo racer]

Its up to the organizing club to ensure as safe an event as possible-if this were to always happen these comments wouldn't have to be made.
This was a great event in all respects and should continue to take place but the fact is there were some trouble spots that need to be addresed and I for one believe that this forum IS the place to air these concerns.
After all it is my neck,and I'm into this sport for many reasons including the perceived low risk fun factor
Most competitors wouldn't take the time after an event to bother tracking down the club person in charge to make any minor bitches,but they likely will take a minute to post something here.

[finboy]

if you feel this is the correct forum method or whatever way to address saftey issues.

its your choice your free to do so.

think about it, if every single person made issue or pointed out safety issues at every event at every location valid or not..

Before you know it, there would be no more weekend events.

no insurance company would even consider it.

Certain things should be discussed on the board, others should be addressed in a more delicate way.

don't you agree?

with any sport, there's risks involved.. if you want to be 100% safe, stay at home.




dave t

[ice/solo racer]

Dave t,if you look at all my earlier posts you may notice that I made no mention of any safety concerns with the exception of the comments regarding Derek's driving style(which I assume is the same regardless of event?).I had nothing but praise for the event.
I do howerver take notice of what amounts to censorship,being told what can be posted,where and how.
I know you don't know me but if you did you'd realize that fear isn't a factor for me(like how I snuck that one in?)in the past I've dragged knees racing sport bikes,barrell rolled ice racer's over other cars all of which had little impact on my love of motorsports.
I understand the risks,perhaps those new to the sport don't is all I'm saying.For the record I've never really considered any solo event I've attended to be unsafe and I certainly didn't think the pro solo was either.

Having said that-don't expect me to stay home,a tree could fall on me or my house catch on fire,or a runaway truck slam into my home or I could fall of a ladder cleaning gutters or etc etc etc:p

[J.C.]

Originally posted by pitl-org

However, one should not PUBLICALLY comment on any issues that may (or may not) influence insurance companies, be it personal (auto insurance), and/or event insurance. Having said that, any comments regarding safety issues, incidents that may have happened at an event you participated in, or know of, should not be publically discussed.


I do agree with your comments but I also am guilty of such comments.

I approached Dave during the event regarding the course differences and and he explained to me that he knew and it was done as such on purpouse to try and balance the times. It was and is a perfectly good explanation, IMO the differences between left and right became more of a difference dependant on what the car in question was more content with. Given the situation he did what he had to do. I feel the event promoted solo in a very positive light and I await the next event.

As a sugestion would it be possible to section off an area for competitors? Parking spaces were being taken up by spectators and it became a bit of a nuisance. I had noticed this before at solo II's but spectators are alot less at those events. This issue only became more of a concern when it was announced to mind your valuables. I know its a public place and anything can happen but allowing people to back up into a parking space that may have someones items on the floor can result in some poor sod finding himself a few items short when he gets back to the pits.

My $0.02 J.C.

[finboy]

we will caution tape off the competitors area in september.

but I can't say that we'll have anyone doing traffic control.


its very rare at any solo event that any theft has been reported.

the competiors are all trusting individuals in our community, i know i have seen other participants, "keeping an eye" on non-participants, and have reminded a few to watch their valuables...

Can't say the same for the spectators though.


One thing, about setting up for the pro, we arrived on a sunday night to design the course, the weather was much cooler.

the course was tested at around 40ish seconds, the day of the event (the only day the weather was NICE out) was much nicer, hence the lower/faster times.

considering the size of the parking lot we used, we tried to maximize every square foot, to get the longest course design we could. (with the dips, crests...etc...)

No personal chews on this thread we're intended, i'm not offended, and i hope you guys feel the same way (unless you laid into your mamma jokes.. then it would be a different story)

Hope everyone will be there in september, lots of events inbetween to come out stronger and faster.


See you guys around



Dave t

:)

[Tony Kloosterma]

Okay, I have been quite all week.
My times on the right lane were marginally faster then the left.
Yes the stop box was a little precarious.
Yes, we should not have been lining up directly across from the stop box.

We had 78 competitors, we had lots and lots of spectators.

The event ran pretty well in my opnion.

no one got hurt.

We learned some things.

I think the organizers learned a couple of things (and these events are learning experiences)

Next event will be better, stronger and yes some guys will bitch because they think a lane was faster then the others. Guess what? Go faster in the lane you think is fastest and have lane choice all day, if you can't do that, take a deep breath, remember this is a sport for fun, no one's making a million a year doing this.
My hats off to the organizers, for those bitching, take a look at your driving skills, I lost because i preformed poorly. Case closed.

Tony