What I learned at autocross today: May 24 Pro-Solo

[AlienDNA]

What I Learned at Autocross Today…

1) Baby strollers are fast, but I still think they shouldn’t be in B-Class.

2) Lucky. Good. I don’t care as long as I win.

3) If you need to outrun the police, turn.

4) Having someone deliver your tires to the course really puts the ‘pro’ in Pro-Solo. Thanks to DW and RM!

5) I learned I’m going to be learning how to change a wheel stud in the very near future.

6) John Force does not fear me.

7) God is still pleased with MSOC, but he has some sort of hate on for Lotus Sevens.

8) If you spend two days of the long weekend doing womany things, your wife will let you out on the third day (I went to a shoe store, Sunday brunch and rented “Being John Malkovich”, dammit!)

9) Getting eliminated by Steven Tong 2-1 isn’t all that bad. Barely beating a BMW on streets for third brings you right back to earth, though.

10) Impending urination can be used as incentive to drive faster.

[Logan]

Originally posted by AlienDNA

10) Impending urination can be used as incentive to drive faster.

Very very true.

[Greg F]

Originally posted by AlienDNA

3) If you need to outrun the police, turn.

Yup, they were incredibly slow, but it was fantastic to see them out there. I just hope they didn't get into trouble from their supervisor.

[JoeT]

Pictures from today's event...

http://spda-online.ca/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?viewmode=flat&topic_id=345&forum=2

[gatherer]

it was a great event..

I learned that hitting cones after screwing up a launch will not make you faster then Steven... :p

[Wedge]

I learned that even though I can post respectable times at a normal solo 2. The extra-long straight in a pro-solo requires a far more skilled driver than I for my underpowered car to even qualify!

[JoeT]

I learned that screaming into a microphone all day will result in almost no voice at night.

Going against a Torch Red Vette with 405 HP written on a badge on the side of the car is bad news for a Family Sedan.

[Guillermo]

It's interesting that one month after my first class win (at the regionals), I had my first last place finish ever (at the pro solo).
It was fun, and I'm glad I raced.
Next year I will try to borrow a faster car...

[wpfri]

Joe,excuses,excuses,what's 405 hp.All kidding aside how did you do.

William

[JoeT]

Originally posted by wpfri
Joe,excuses,excuses,what's 405 hp.All kidding aside how did you do.

William

The family sedan did quite well until I met up with the 405HP badge. He can anticipate the launch nicely, and yes I admit it, after lunch, I was a little slow with the RT. I'll get him next time, really!! I think we surprised the S2000 big time.. Ooops!!

The new clutch is fantastic, finally learned to use it by the end of the day. More progressive and smooth... I'll write to Pierre (Bully Clutch ) later in the week after I've gone through some stop and go traffit. It's been on the car all of 2 days and barely broken in.

[wpfri]

Thats great news,I will see Pierre this week,I am trying to get him to join me and support all of the Solo series.It's nice to see Canadian Companies having as good a product if not better than the leading US companies.If you have time let's meet in the morning for a Tim's,you pick the time because I will be at the shop for 5am.Tell me, did they hand out the trophy.

William

[JoeT]

Originally posted by wpfri
Thats great news,I will see Pierre this week,I am trying to get him to join me and support all of the Solo series.It's nice to see Canadian Companies having as good a product if not better than the leading US companies.If you have time let's meet in the morning for a Tim's,you pick the time because I will be at the shop for 5am.Tell me, did they hand out the trophy.

William

I'm not sure if the trophy was handed out. I think through the hustle and bustle of the day, the trophy was mistaken as a display. The overall winner of the day was Stephen Thong er Tong.

If you're in the shop at 5:00 am, I'll drop by around 8:00 ish, I have to be downtown after that. See you in the morning.

[tony mcgrath]

Originally posted by JoeT
I learned that screaming into a microphone all day will result in almost no voice at night.

Going against a Torch Red Vette with 405 HP written on a badge on the side of the car is bad news for a Family Sedan.

Another great job of announcing Joe. You project a lot of professionalism - for an amateur! :)

The only chance you would have had against Jerry's Z06 would be if it had rained again- better luck next time! I think he had you beat on horsepower, weight and tire size- tough to compete against all that.

I was pleasantly surprised that Andrew Kantor was able to get past the 500 hp "Mongoose" Vette of Gord A. in his Mini Cooper S.
Andrew was pretty thrilled with it too- 4th place in class "C" driving a "B" class car- gotta love it!!

Tony

[fabguy]

I learned that a 4 door almost stock civic cant keep up with an alien in a Mazda with 8-9 inch wide tires. I was hopping for rain by the middle of the day.

[andrew1984]

i learned that street tires overheat big time (lol) and become mushy after 7 consecutive runs :)


great event.

[eddie 82]

All I learned today was that I want a pocket-bike!

http://img40.photobucket.com/albums/v122/engsr/PITTL%202004/Pro%20Slalom%20-%20May%2024/IMG_1304.jpg

[Yvan]

Sounds like you guys had fun. I was so disappointed I couldn't make it -- I needed a brake caliper and couldn't get one in time.

Who took first and second in each class?

[Yvan]

What's this about the alien being on 9" tires?

Oh oh.

[AlienDNA]

Originally posted by Yvan
What's this about the alien being on 9" tires?

Oh oh.

Don't worry, they're not Regionals legal - I'll still be on my 205s at Picton.

[eddie 82]

Yvan, I have an extra set of calipers if you need one. Next time, post that you need one!!!!

[eddie 82]

Originally posted by AlienDNA
Don't worry, they're not Regionals legal - I'll still be on my 205s at Picton. Sounds like an underinflation problem if your 225s are worn down to 205s :p

[Griff]

I learned.....

that I can be faster in the wet than in the dry.....if I screw up my dry runs enough.

that the 1.0 sec lights on the tree totally screw up a guy used to 0.5 sec lights on a drag race tree

that using Williams Solo 2 pads on the back with track pads on the front requires *radical* brake bias adjustments!:eek:

Great event, just not so much so for me. Better luck next time!

[tanney]

Way too much fun..... I think I have to screw my radio into the dash though, every launch the radio would try to launch from the dash. Good thing there was a long straight that allowed me to put it back in before the first corner.

What I learned today is that a Pro Solo is NOT a good test and tune day........ as my qualifing results showed.

I also learned that the more important an event is (in your own head) the more parts will fail within 48 hours of the event, to really test your patience (and pocket book).

[Steelrat]

Lets see......

Boost is good. But C class is way too big..... Definately you have to learn how to drive with that much powa though.....

Being the pit crew for everybody else, does not mean you don't have to change your tires by yourself.... <VBG>

13's will fit on the new trailer......

Listen to Finboy...... it helps you with launching.

S/Cs can be loud.... especially when the hit third on the straight.... (damn 13's)

Having jumper cables is a good thing.....

Dave,

[nitrowsb]

I'm starting to learn that Miatas and Minis are the way to go in these types of events!?!?!?!? So horsepower is for the track and the strip.

...and also learned that I don't like losing to Miatas(white supercharged ones with wheels wider than its circumfrence #73):D :D

[Martini Focus]

Looks like it was a fun time maybe I'll get to do a prosolo next year.

See you guys next month with any luck.

[miataboi]

Originally posted by JoeT
I'm not sure if the trophy was handed out. I think through the hustle and bustle of the day, the trophy was mistaken as a display. The overall winner of the day was Stephen Thong er Tong.

If you're in the shop at 5:00 am, I'll drop by around 8:00 ish, I have to be downtown after that. See you in the morning.

I made sure that Steve got it as a trophy at the end of the day... we were busy with clean-up and tear-down.


Much thanks to all....

[retro_mike]

I learned that even if you're in the wrong class and think you're about to be slaughtered by a 500hp "Mongoose" not to give up and give it all you got and you may just surprise yourself (and everyone else) with how close you kept up. Nothing like a healthy dose of pressure to find that extra % you never knew you or your car had!

I also learned that if they class you wrong (I should have run in B not C) protest before the event starts.

Great day, can't wait for the next one!

[Suzie]

Originally posted by eddie 82
Yvan, I have an extra set of calipers if you need one. Next time, post that you need one!!!!

ARG!! This is what I told him - I figured SOMEONE would have spare parts!

Suzie

[holliko]

Originally posted by Steelrat
Lets see......

1) Being the pit crew for everybody else, does not mean you don't have to change your tires by yourself.... <VBG>

2) Listen to Finboy......
Dave,

1) sorry dave I had to marshall....

2) maybe if i'd listened to him I would have finshed 1st instead of second to Steve in A Class.....

3) Stock class is going to be fun this year....

Robert

[StewPiddass]

Yeah, I learned that apparently it rained all day where all of my co-workers were but not at Square One (not long anyway).

Also, don't get too confident about qualifying 7th (and being seeded against the guy who qualified 10th) cuz it's very possible you'll still get your ass handed to you in 2 runs... by a Miata.

Mike... I wondered what a Scirocco was doing in "C"

[retro_mike]

thanks for noticing, i would of had a chance in B at least. It's still good practice for Picton, I like their open courses. Good thing about regional is you get to class yourself and you're not subject to the whims of the organizers. :confused:

[MastaDeeMon]

I learned you should never install a used clutch and "hope" it's going to last a season. Also that a very stiff,old CRX, does not hold up well under really bumpy conditions. Oh well, great event again, decent weather, and some awesome matchups!!

D.

[soloZ]

I just learned today that engines should only have one piece for a crankshaft





mine doesn't its got two.

[finboy]

the saying is true...

"if you build it..... they will come....."

at wake up time, the weather looked TERRIBLE, rain and more rain!!

yet, we still had a decent turnout to make it a competive event.. and more importantly a FUN event!!

the only guys who were praying for rain were those SPDA guys


luckily we were only rained on for a very short period, and had lunch at an ideal time!!

it cleared up and dried up for the elimination rounds..

Mike.. sorry about the classing screwup (i'm used to seeing you in the Z car = C class) and didn't even notice the VDub (me bad)

wish you would have said something... Sorry man

at the same time a few other cars were misclassed *see gutted/stripped car rule*

except for a few glitches... the timing and lights worked great..

no line judges were required.. and we did have a few who jumped the green and were penalized


I'd like to thank Darryl and the MSOC team for all the setup work (some didn't even compete and still helped out)

(I still say we dump the PITL regular solo IIseries and just host Pro events)

Taylor and Wes for looking after the timing/printing the results

Joe for being on the on the Mike

and all those who made it out... dispite the forcast!!

it was close competition.. nothing was a sure thing..

in my opinion.. the left and right were different enough, yet similar enough to make it a coin toss in which lane was "better"

Congrats to the class winners!!

I think everyone had a wicked time.. I know the organizers enjoy hosting these events..

it brings out a variety of people all over.. from the different clubs

anyhow... there are still a few more long weekends.. maybe
if people message Darryl a second event could still be planned



dave t

[tanney]

Yep, those MSOC guys know how to run great events....... good job, men!

[Yvan]

Originally posted by finboy

(I still say we dump the PITL regular solo IIseries and just host Pro events) Now we're talking...

[Piotrov]

Awsome event for sure! Had a blast!
Hope to see more like it in the future!

Great job to all the orgenizers and competitors and everyone else that made this event happen!!

[Rob]

I learned that:

(a) the car can do very very well - - it's the driver that seems to make the difference.....

(b) timing that xmas tree is a lot bloody harder than it looks

(c) r-compounds are awwwwsome - but they won't save you from overshooting the straight if you slip off the brake and back onto the gas

(d) the only cloudburst of the day will happen when I'm marshalling without an umbrella or jacket

Fabulous event MSOC!!!! Thanks to all the organizers!

Rob
02 Black Miata

[Greg F]

Originally posted by finboy


(I still say we dump the PITL regular solo IIseries and just host Pro events)



Now, how could we go about making the Pro Slalom part of the Regional Solo 2 Championship? *dreaming*

[Marsh]

How about multiple events from multiple clubs. WOSCA's lot is big enough for a smallish pro I think?

[finboy]

love the idea of more pro formats..

the main problem is a venue

the vette guys could easily run a wicked pro at their location..

that lot is one of the best around!!

One thing we were discussing... getting people to marshal
was an issue

i'm surprised because all who participated know better, thanks to those who spent more than their share out on the course.

those who didn't spend their time out there.... we know who you are.

i wish i had access to the solo II email addresses, some don't even know that the pro events happen up here

[finboy]

Originally posted by Piotrov
Awsome event for sure! Had a blast!
Hope to see more like it in the future!

Great job to all the orgenizers and competitors and everyone else that made this event happen!!

dude.. you have to get more GTSes out!!

the battle between you and the ITR is a perfect battle!!

[soloZ]

Originally posted by finboy
dude.. you have to get more GTSes out!!

the battle between you and the ITR is a perfect battle!!


I agree Peters car handles and goes really well.

[Logan]

"if you build it they will come"...

... to Peterborough? I'm on the last legs of securing an AWESOME lot for our regional on August 22nd. There is the chance you will need 3rd gear....

Would we get a good turnout all the way out here for a ProSolo?
I imagine the answer would be "yes" if the lot was large enough.

[finboy]

some pics... yes its a cheap camera

http://albums.photo.epson.com/j/AlbumIndex?u=4177560&a=31258443&f=

oh.. and some of Peel's S L O W E S T... i mean finest


dave t

[Chris P]

i marshalled for most of the afternoon and didn't even compete. Talk about getting sucked in.... :eek:

[finboy]

yea.. where were you???

and why didn't you compete

:spank:

[MChapel]

Originally posted by finboy
some pics... yes its a cheap camera

http://albums.photo.epson.com/j/AlbumIndex?u=4177560&a=31258443&f=

oh.. and some of Peel's S L O W E S T... i mean finest


dave t


...until pic #73 of 113, the Peel cruisers are the only cars going thru the cones...and nearly half of the pics are of people standing around with their arms folded...:confused:

[finboy]

Originally posted by MChapel
...until pic #73 of 113, the Peel cruisers are the only cars going thru the cones...and nearly half of the pics are of people standing around with their arms folded...:confused:

and your point is.......

[MChapel]

Originally posted by finboy
and your point is.......

...sorry, Wes was breaking my balls, and I had to take it out on someone...:D

...in retrospect, you post didn't say "some ProSolo pics", it just said "some pics"...;)

[Piotrov]

Originally posted by finboy
dude.. you have to get more GTSes out!!

the battle between you and the ITR is a perfect battle!!

There is one more guy that i know of that runs a Tsunami GTS, his board name is AtomicPunk. Im also trying to get more people with celicas out from C7!
I thought i was lucky when i heard the ITR hit cones the first run but when i heard he took some cones out again on the secound run then i thought that it was my lucky day.
THe ITR is defenatly fast especialy with the LSD :(

[AlienDNA]

Originally posted by eddie 82
Sounds like an underinflation problem if your 225s are worn down to 205s :p

Nah, Rob has the 225s, I just have 205s. But I've got a lower offset wheel than he does. The extra 6mm of track more than makes up for 20mm of tire width. ;)

[andrew1984]

piotrov,

liked your car alot. looks great out there. celica's grew on me and now im lovin the GTS. you should take me out on a run one day.

[Piotrov]

Originally posted by andrew1984
piotrov,

liked your car alot. looks great out there. celica's grew on me and now im lovin the GTS. you should take me out on a run one day.

Thanks man!
Anytime you want to go for a ride at an event its cool.