Great weekend!

[ice/solo racer]

I guess I'll be the first to say thanks for the great course layout on saturday,I liked it very much(sunday was a completly different matter though)
Other than Barry,aka self appointed noise god,saturdays event went well.
7 runs on sunday was good,too bad I still sucked,(see above comment on course design)rain held off as well so everyone received dry runs.
Congrats to Doug for his first BSS win,good job-no offence but I'll try to make it the only one this year!!:p

[Marsh]

Good day, but toooooooo long. I just got home my self. Stop and go traffic pretty for pretty much the enitre 150+ km from Brampton to London...

Todays course was certainly interesting. Well, except for the second cone in the slalom. I didn't find it very interesting at all! :mad:

[Martini Focus]

It was a great weekend but I'm just exhausted. I learned so much about my car and how making small changes will affect it. I enjoyed Saturday's course more out of the two, too bad we only got 4 runs. Today’s was challenging but when learning this sport having the gates is nice as it's one less thing to have to worry about. I want to thank everyone how helped me out this weekend, I never would have had the success without all your suggestions and encouragement. Even today I would have liked at least 1 fun run, just to have an experienced competitor drive my car to let me know how much more was left in it.

Thanks Again Everyone!:D


Pictures from Saturday (http://www.focusedeffect.com/images/autox/event6/event6/page_01.htm)

[Tony Kloosterma]

Hey Simon,
Glad to have helped out on saturday, I noticed your times went down with every run.
As I mentioned to you saturday make only one change per run, analize whether it helped or not and then make another change.
At this point it is basically learning your car more then anything else. No more mods are necessary untill you are really comfortable that you can't get anymore out of what you got.

Tony

[Logan]

I had a great weekend too, but for some reason I can't recall how I did on Saturday...

I'm really pumped about my first BSS win!!!
That said, I liked Sunday's course a lot, it was quite fun.

[JAYh]

Nice pics! Wish I could have been there but I had too much to do.

http://www.focusedeffect.com/images/autox/event6/event6/aug%208%20016.jpg

That Starlet is cool... Who owns the old-school Dodge (Mitsubishi) Colt in the background? Was s/he running it?

- J

[Taylor]

You want to thank someone, I've got someone to thank, let's thank God, Buddah, Allah, Ginesh, The Big Cheese, whatever you want to call him/her/it, for keeping the rain OFF THE COURSE.

Seriously, how f'ing lucky did we get today with that weather?

Of course above all I'd like to thank PAX, for ******* ** ** ******.

My mission is to destroy Pax as we know it... that or propose replacement random numbers I pull out of my ass or a bingo ball cage.

[JoeT]

Great weekend.. I second that.

I liked the Saturday course, it was fast, open and technical at the same time. Great layout and good speed.

I also like the Sunday course layout. But it didn't start out that way. After the walk through, I first thought the layout was crap (gate thinking), but after a couple of runs, It finally dawned on me that I don't have to follow any special route that someone else had dictated. I was free to choose my own line, and my own creativity to go through the track.

After this realization, I did some experimenting which resulted in decreased lap times. Each lap got consecutively quicker, and given one more lap.. who knows. But 7 runs was nothing to complain about. The day went off withoug a hitch, although the speaches in the morning seemed to take a little longer than warranted.

Having said that, I hope there are more courses with this same idea in mind. No gates, no pre-defined dictated lines... It helps veterans and newbies alike by forcing them to pay closer attention to the track during the walk through and it throws out new possibilities in racing lines. My car will have a different line that a much lighter more nimble car...

Thanks for reading.

Two thumbs up!!!

[Suzie]

Originally posted by Taylor
My mission is to destroy Pax as we know it... that or propose replacement random numbers I pull out of my ass or a bingo ball cage.

Ummm...between those 2 options, the bingo ball one seems a whole lot more sanitary.

Suzie

[miataboi]

Good weekend. (got lucky weather-wise)

Liked Saturday's course flow. NICE! the big loop really slowed the whole event down though...

Sunday's lap time helped to get 7 runs in... GREAT achievement.
No comment on design.

I'd like to see a "series registered" line for registration... would help alot...

Too many people didn't know their classes and didn't VOLUNTEER their mods when asked at registration... took FOREVER on Sat.!!!

Doug... BIG CONGRATS on the class win... I had no idea!!!

Not a bad way to spend the weekend!

$50 including 2 meals! + 11 runs!!! I've done worse!

[finboy]

i've seen a few posts regarding whether or not they liked a course design after walking it.

i don't know if i read this, overheard this, seen it on tv, or a wise old dent guy passed this info to me..

one should try to have an open mind about course designs...

if they like it great... but if you dislike it before driving it....
you'll most likely drive like poo


dave t

[miataboi]

Originally posted by finboy


one should try to have an open mind about course designs...

if they like it great... but if you dislike it before driving it....
you'll most likely drive like poo


dave t

EXACTLY!!!!

[Taylor]

Joe: You're nuts. You might have been able to pick a line into 3 of the cones. but with the very close proximity of the next single cone+leaner you were really screwed and forced to a line. More like a false sense of openess IMO.

This has got to be the first event in years where I never improved more than a full second and we had 7!!! runs. Hello? McFly?

I even improved over a second at Mosport, and that was 4 runs and a much more seemingly limited course.

You were actually saying during the walk you were liking it more each time you walked it. Then I saw your face after the first run. :) You didn't look so happy with it.

Sure once you get used to it you can be happy about improvement, but flow was non existant.

I did enjoy the amount of speed one could carry at the end of the so-called slalom into the stop box, that was cool and I think that was probably the only reason I was able to come so close to ASP because I'm pretty sure out of the 3 of us (Paul, Dave and I) I was in there the quickest, opposite lock yo! Too bad on my quickest run I ended up braking ahead of the timing beam AGAIN. Grr.

Sorry but I am spoiled with clubs using double cones to mark the timing beam. Everyone does it, except these two clubs at this weekend.

[miataboi]

Originally posted by finboy

i don't know if i read this, overheard this, seen it on tv, or a wise old dent guy passed this info to me..

one should try to have an open mind about course designs...

if they like it great... but if you dislike it before driving it....
you'll most likely drive like poo


dave t

p.s.
Did he actually use the word "poo" ?????

[AlienDNA]

I had a great time this weekend and derived personal satisfaction from my results. I really enjoyed the course on Saturday because it played more to my strengths. I found Sunday's course much more challenging because it played to my weaknesses.

After the first two runs on Sunday I was muttering profanities at that cone for the 90 degree right at the south-east corner of the course. Then I got zen about it and decided the cone wasn't going to get moved, so I'd better learn how to drive around it properly. I improved my times through out the day, and as a novice on street tires, that's what it's really about this season.

Only one thing ticked me off.

After the 6th run on Sunday, I figured that would be it. I packed up my stuff, took off my decals and numbers and went and did my marshalling stint. Then I came back and lowered my tires back to street pressures. Just as I finished that task, Mike K. wandered by and let me know there was going to be a 7th run. Sure enough, I look up and there's Mike B.'s Impulse taking off from the line.

That didn't tick me off. Hey, I'll consider this a free fun run. I just saved a buck!

I rush to the grid and have just enough time to slap my numbers and sponsor decal on and change my shoes - no time to get psyched up for the run, and zero expectation that I'll really be able to improve my time.

That didn't tick me off. I'm a novice running on streets in a three-car class with two veterans on R-compounds. I knew where I'd be finishing before my first run.

No, what ticked me off is that, with my tires at street pressure and all my paraphenalia in the trunk, I cracked off my personal FTD!!! :rolleyes:

So much for all that monkeying with my tire pressures all weekend. Next event, to hell with the preparation - I'm not even going to bother to walk the course.... :D

[Logan]

My experience on Sunday is similiar to yours.
I did the usual tire change and car emptying, but was pretty casual about tire pressures and setup throughout the day.
I didn't check the pressure of a single tire all day.
Mind you I set the car up the day before...
I relaxed, didn't get excited, and did pretty well!

[miataboi]

Originally posted by AlienDNA
Next event, to hell with the preparation - I'm not even going to bother to walk the course.... :D

...LOL!!!

That reminds me of a fellow auto-x'er here... that does NO physical work / excercise at all!!!

He went to a volleyball game and I told him that he'd hurt himself... he said "NO WAY!!!! I'm fit as a fiddle..."

He called me up the next day.... couldn't move... seemed that he injured himself warming up and stretching... before the game even begun!!! I laughed my ass off...


2 weeks later... he tells me that he's going to Volleyball again.... I laughed at him AGAIN... and told him that he'd re-injure his outta-shape azz....

He said "No way, man... I've got a game plan this time... This time... I'm not going to warm up / stretch at all.... That's what hurt me last time!!"

LOL!!!

p.s.
That didn't work either!


Congrats on the personal FTD... great times for strreet tires!!!! Good drivin'!

[soloZ]

Eric I feel the pain you have had. I started my first run on tires that I didn't even think about checking I had them on since Saturday and I figured if I did good Saturday why check them now. Then I found out I couldn't figure how to go any faster and I changed the pressures a few time. The problem I could only think of was that the Yoks 008rsc2 aren't a very good autocross tire but they were awesome the Monday before on Shannonville. So, My first run was the fastest for me. I was kinda upset latter when they started to think about 7th runs ( I thought it would have been nice to have fun runs) only because I could see Simon getting faster all day which is great for him and shitty for me :(


There was also alot of stress involved this weekend and I can honestly say I now know how organisors feel when they put on an event.

[Suzie]

Originally posted by AlienDNA
So much for all that monkeying with my tire pressures all weekend. Next event, to hell with the preparation - I'm not even going to bother to walk the course.... :D

Why not go all out and drive with your eyes closed? ;) ;) ;)

Suzie

[ice/solo racer]

I gotta agree with Taylor,there was only 3 spots on course that alternate lines were possible,the rest was all dictated by the closeness of the cones to each other.At the drivers meeting Barry made it clear he wanted feedback with regards to the course,he felt having no gates would open things up(not)so I'm giving my feedback.Way to many change ups in cone spacings and too many area's that required nearly stopping to make the turn,really hurts the less powerfull cars with the point and shoot driving needed.(especially 2 uphill sections that you nearly stopped before accerating up and thru)
With the classing system we have and the huge range of vehicles in my class(bss)from RWD,FWD and AWD with a range from about 100hp to well over 230 point and shoot courses start to take the driver out and start factoring into the car a lot more IMO.
I'm not saying I lost because of the course and not me,I didn't drive well every run on sunday and Doug did a great job-an honest congrats to him for sure.
I felt despite the use of gates at saturdays event the placement allowed more options in line choice than sundays course and I had a lot of fun driving that course.

[Daniel]

Although I was skeptical of Sundays layout at first, I ended up enjoying the contrast between the two days very much.

I wasn't too please with my results from this weekend, especially knowing that I needed to get my butt in gear in order to catch up in the points race. I am however happy that there was obviously still tones of room for improvement.

With my car finally set-up the way I want it (well..... nearly), I now just need to use the next few events to almost re-learn how to drive it! :rolleyes:

I have no complaints about either day. I think it's important that we all just realize there's always going to be days (and course designs) that don't necessarily suit our cars/driving ability perfectly. Let's just go out and have some fun! ;)

[JoeT]

Hey Taylor,

You should know by now that "I'm Nuts" ;)

Anyways, a great surprise also occured on Sunday which made things more interesting. Steve Tong decided to run Barry's car in my class. That was cool.

[Logan]

Originally posted by ice/solo racer
I gotta agree with Taylor,there was only 3 spots on course that alternate lines were possible,the rest was all dictated by the closeness of the cones to each other.At the drivers meeting Barry made it clear he wanted feedback with regards to the course,he felt having no gates would open things up(not)so I'm giving my feedback.Way to many change ups in cone spacings and too many area's that required nearly stopping to make the turn,really hurts the less powerfull cars with the point and shoot driving needed.(especially 2 uphill sections that you nearly stopped before accerating up and thru)
With the classing system we have and the huge range of vehicles in my class(bss)from RWD,FWD and AWD with a range from about 100hp to well over 230 point and shoot courses start to take the driver out and start factoring into the car a lot more IMO.
I'm not saying I lost because of the course and not me,I didn't drive well every run on sunday and Doug did a great job-an honest congrats to him for sure.
I felt despite the use of gates at saturdays event the placement allowed more options in line choice than sundays course and I had a lot of fun driving that course.

But, isn't the point of the series to experience different clubs and different types of courses?
Some courses work for cars that handle, and some work for cars with power.

[AlienDNA]

Originally posted by Suzie
Why not go all out and drive with your eyes closed? ;) ;) ;)

Suzie

That's pretty much how I handled Marsh's option box at Event #4. I don't think it helped.;)

[Taylor]

Doug: Yes, but the classification system should work for all types of courses.

[ice/solo racer]

Doug I think that the range of course types has been quite wide over the 6 events thus far.If the course had of remained the same as saturday and run in reverse as stated at the drivers meeting on saturday it should have been more enjoyable to drive.
Courses do need to have various sections that can be driven well by differing types of vehicles,its part of what keeps a wide range of cars coming back.I simply didn't enjoy driving sundays design-and that is what keeps me coming back.
It was a valiant effort to have an open course that I think failed horribly in its intent,and Barry asked for the comments to come in after the runs,which I did directly to him as he was sitting at my tent with all his fingers and toes crossed that he'd get the pleasure of sending someone home for noise.My dad said he was like a kid at christmas when Ron in the midget hit a 91-simply couldn't wait to tell him to leave-and thats not right in my books either.
So to comment on your post Doug about some courses working for cars that handle and some with power,there just needs to be a decent balance in course sections that allow for both approuchs to even out-granted your run was only 3/10's faster than mine so that would point to a even mix right?yes and no as when you look at the differences in run times at other events(except mosport against Tony on hoosier's)the spread between has been much larger on a wide range of course designs-both handling AND power type courses-remember the 2 hairpins onto stupid long straights at Picton?
Simply put I've always been a decent momentum type driver and sunday's course didn't work to well for that driving style.
So before all the whinning remarks start coming in let me say again-Doug you did great and deserved to win,you went faster when you needed to and I couldn't,a big way to go from me.Its hard to put into words what I'm trying to say without sounding pissy or blaming the course alone etc.etc.Sundays event was a throwaway for me,no big deal as 5 wins and a 2nd can't be beat for class honours so it has little effect on my standings(except overall,which I have no chance at anyway,don't get me started on backup runs to declare a champion!:eek:)

[speedevo]

well having just finished my 2nd auto-x i don' thave too much to compare, but i only have one complaint that i noticed that the marshalling flow was not very good, i was sitting out there for a very long time because i went to marshall right after my run and when i was done it was already my turn to go back out to the track.

Otherwise i liked sunday's course a little better than my 1st event because you could kinda choose different lines on a few spots as opposed to just going in one line as fast as you can.

[J.C.]

I agree with you Speedevo it is nice when you can chose a line. It actually gives you a better chance to compete with someone who has a better car if your line is better.

[ShaneG]

one issue that has been bothering me is the overall negativity - unless it is only my preception!

We received some congratulations after the HADA event and since then the comments have been overall negative...I am new to this and those that have been around can comment further.

The incident notwithstanding, the weekend ,as Tom said, was great we got great weather, with rain falling everywhere but on the track, and for our $25 (series registered) we got 4 and 7 runs in the 2 events, plus lunch. - 1 open course 1 tight one, running in opposite directions and hey we even had a different winner in BSS :eek: ( :p Tom:D ) how unique is that!

At the track (or lot) we all get along well and that is what got me hooked as much as the fun on course. IMO we need to keep that family / community feel on the board as well. not that we can't trash talk or complain about legitimate stuff but lets use proper channels

Pat, John, Steve, Barry, Ryan, Wes, Wendy, (hope I have not missed anyone) THANK YOU I had a great weekend! :cool:

[Keith-02Accord]

Here, here Shane!

[soloZ]

Agreed it was a good weekend. I was thrown into a posistion I have never been in before (Chief Marshall) so I had no idea what I would have to do. So like you said one long course and one really short course, of course I liked the TAC event better (TAC member #92) and unlike previous outing to this lot I won my class on both days. I just wished I had brought my Toyos instead of the old Yoks :rolleyes: .

It's kinda fun being on the inside of the tent aswell sitting back and taking my turn at timing and other little things.

[ice/solo racer]

Its a good thing I didn't loan Renalto a set of r-tires for his corolla Ryan,might not have won both days eh?

I was thinking of asking him if I could co drive his corolla at the kart track on my tires,he has the LSD and I could likely run as fast in his B1 car as mine without the diff.

[soloZ]

Oh sure gang up on meee now :P You should have lent them to him he is really fast in that LSDed car. I also wish I had a better suspension like Shock that actually worked as shocks instead of corner weights. Tom I might actually be doing the same thing Co drive a fellow class members car not sure which one but I have asked and they didn't say no yet.

[miataboi]

why is everyone wanting to drive OTHER people's cars?

[AlienDNA]

Originally posted by miataboi
why is everyone wanting to drive OTHER people's cars?

Because they don't have Miatas;)

[soloZ]

Well I don't know why other people do it but I do it just so I can see how a car should actually drive. I also like to see how bad my car compares to other cars.

[Keith-02Accord]

Originally posted by miataboi
why is everyone wanting to drive OTHER people's cars?

Because it's fun to drive a variety to see how certain cars handle, particularily if you a planning on getting another car. Besides, I drive a 4 door pig, so it's definitely more fun for me to drive a car that actually handles well!!

[miataboi]

Originally posted by Keith-02Accord
Because it's fun to drive a variety to see how certain cars handle, particularily if you a planning on getting another car. Besides, I drive a 4 door pig, so it's definitely more fun for me to drive a car that actually handles well!!

...it's the driver! ;)

P.S.
how many people's parents / grandparents drive accords??? ;) :eek:

[Keith-02Accord]

[i]P.S.
how many people's parents / grandparents drive accords??? ;) :eek: [/B]


Yes, but how many of them actually drive them the way I drive them? :cool:

[Logan]

Originally posted by ice/solo racer
Its a good thing I didn't loan Renalto a set of r-tires for his corolla Ryan,might not have won both days eh?

I was thinking of asking him if I could co drive his corolla at the kart track on my tires,he has the LSD and I could likely run as fast in his B1 car as mine without the diff.
Tom, are you even allowed to run the regional event there?
Yes, you get 100pts for organizing, but you also know the course.
Solo2 doesn't allow preliminary runs, I don't want to know how many laps you've done!
Let someone else win BSS!

[miataboi]

Originally posted by Logan
Tom, are you even allowed to run the regional event there?
Yes, you get 100pts for organizing, but you also know the course.
Solo2 doesn't allow preliminary runs, I don't want to know how many laps you've done!
Let someone else win BSS!

...on the day of the event.

no?
Gotta look that one up.

[eddie 82]

Originally posted by miataboi
...on the day of the event.

no?
Gotta look that one up.
3.6.1

There shall be no practice runs by any driver entering the event.


Pretty vague....

[ice/solo racer]

Ummm didn't another driver allready win in BSS?:)

I remember PMSC used to hold events on the indian river kart track not that long ago-did the members that had allready been at that course step aside when PMSC hosted its regional event there?Last years regional course was a course the PMSC had allready used for its club events,Lisa and I finished first and second there(3rd place was around 4 seconds back if I remember correctly)
I would like to let Lisa run the car alone maybe to save the tires,I might make only 2 runs to see if a winning run complete with decent back-up is possible(I'll be running the little 185 32R's)
I make you a deal Doug-I'll pay your entry fee for the chance to co-drive your car,in exchange you get a tire warmer as you run pretty close behind me.Other than a late 80's mazda truck I've never driven a mazda,you know your car and I have some experience with the course(last event there was 2 years ago!)
Whatta ya say?want to see who would come out on top?I would for sure.BTW with the way your mazdaspeed can pull off the corners I'm skeptical about the tight PMSC regional working out for me too well.

Don't worry Ryan,even if Renalto did let me co-drive his corolla he'd run B1 and I'd bump myself into BSS so I didn't screw up points in the B1 class.

[Suzie]

Originally posted by miataboi
[Bhow many people's parents / grandparents drive accords??? ;) :eek: [/B]

Not mine. My mommy drives the same kind of car as Soloz, only hers is a convertible. I've never had the heart to say to him, "Hey..you drive (a car) like my mama!" ;)

Suzie

[Logan]

Hey Tom!
I know you're faster than I am!
I just thought you'd be kind hearted and give everyone in BSS a chance to get more points.

[JAYh]

My grandma drives an Accord!
I don't think Keith has anything to worry about image-wise though - she got a $350 speeding ticket a couple months ago. :D

She used to have a Colt (Mirage) too. Hmm...

- J

[miataboi]

Originally posted by JAYh
My grandma drives an Accord!
I don't think Keith has anything to worry about image-wise though - she got a $350 speeding ticket a couple months ago. :D

She used to have a Colt (Mirage) too. Hmm...

- J

She obviously drives faster than Keith does! Push it to the limit GRANDMA!

Can she co-drive with Keith... same car... THEN we'd find out who's the better driver!!!

[AlienDNA]

Originally posted by Keith-02Accord
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[i]P.S.
how many people's parents / grandparents drive accords???
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Yes, but how many of them actually drive them the way I drive them? :cool:

My grandfather did.

Of course, he was having a stroke at the time..... :D

[ice/solo racer]

Sorry Doug I've worked real hard(building a car from scratch) to get as many points as I can-the rest of you guys will have to as well!:D

Besides some of you guys will have trouble outrunning Lisa!did you notice that she was flying last saturday,finished 4th and qualified for the shootout as well!She's pretty good around the kart track in the past as well.
I taught he everything she knows-but not everything I know!!;)

[miataboi]

Originally posted by ice/solo racer
Sorry Doug I've worked real hard(building a car from scratch) to get as many points as I can-the rest of you guys will have to as well!:D

Besides some of you guys will have trouble outrunning Lisa!did you notice that she was flying last saturday,finished 4th and qualified for the shootout as well!She's pretty good around the kart track in the past as well.
I taught he everything she knows-but not everything I know!!;)

Anyone got a track map???

[ice/solo racer]

I used to have one from years ago,I'll have a look for it.Won't help a whole lot as it doesn't show the elevation changes and if memory serves it wasn't that accurate anyway.The track has 8 corners with 2 having double apexes.
Besides I don't think anyone is allowed to study the course layout before hand!!:rolleyes: