Holy crap they are fast... results posted:

http://solo.wdcr-scca.org/results/20050507.php

Great running again guys.

Doby, I told you those tires werent dead.

Anyone got an extra steering rack? That is my excuse this time. Lost my PS and fluid was leaking everywhere before I could get a clean run to beat Matt :devillook

Yeah, not dead after a Formula V session. But the 710's do have that much more grip... look at Mike Kline's time. :eek:

Holy crap! Clyde PAXed second to Garfield! I was 13th :(

:buttrock

#18 Pax'd #18. :D

PAX you all.

So why is it again that SM has a lower PAX than ASP? :rolleyes :help

Looks like Greg's found his way back into the pax hunt, too. Congrats!

A PAX be unto you

A PAX be unto you
The way I drove yesterday, looks like a pox was already in effect. This season's looking a lot like how last year started...

That uphill left hand sweeper was. IMHO, the PAX killer. Soooo much time up there, I didn't get it right until my last run.

So why is it again that SM has a lower PAX than ASP? :rolleyes :help
Two words: Cor-vette

So why is it again that SM has a lower PAX than ASP? :rolleyes :help
Something about that pesky Z06 being ASP legal...

That uphill left hand sweeper was. IMHO, the PAX killer. Soooo much time up there, I didn't get it right until my last run.


Two words: Cor-vette
I did the left hand sweeper pretty well, I just blew the rest of the course big time in all of my runs. :mad:

I did the left hand sweeper pretty well, I just blew the rest of the course big time in all of my runs. :mad:

I really blew the right hand "feature sweeper" every time. Went in too easy, then way too timid getting on the gas because I wasn't looking ahead. I think I did the left hand sweeper to the finish pretty well.

I feel very sloppy in the car still... all as a result of not looking ahead. Need to figure that part out... :dunno

I did the right hand sweeper pretty well. Basically, from the sweeper on, I did well on that course, but I kept blowing everything before then.

Yeah, not dead after a Formula V session. But the 710's do have that much more grip... look at Mike Kline's time. :eek:

I was doing much better until I was spewing fluid... FormulaV is much better on Hoosiers than Mobil ATF :mad

Yeah, you left a trail starting from the 90* left at the top of the hill until the finish line...

Yeah, you left a trail starting from the 90* left at the top of the hill until the finish line...

Im surprised Chris Mahood hasnt complained about that yet... sheesh. he was bitching last year too... this is what he wrote on the DC SCCA list:


I would like to preface my comments by saying that the DC region probably has the best solo II program in the nation. This is supported by participation numbers -- we are obviously doing something right. I believe the club should provide services that the members want, so if the majority of members are content with the course elements being tested we should continue to run them. I do not expect my comments to be popular, but please respect them as my opinion and consider what I am saying. I offer them for discussion.

While the last course was fun, it was a repetitive test of a car's abilty to sprint from 25-60 mph. Like any course it was still a test of driver ability, but it does not support comparisons between classes and creates problems for mixed classes.

The course:

A) Tight right followed by straight 5-25mph sprint
Comment: Why not test a car's ability to generate speed while
cornering for a change? I'm pretty sure most cars had all the speed
they could carry before entering the slalom.

B) left into 4 point tight slalom
Comment: This was a nice element. If the slalom were faster it might have placed some demands on the abilty to generate speed leading into it and through it.

C) mild left into 4 point uphill gates
Comment: As long as you didnt overdrive exiting the previous slalom,
this resolved to a 30-60 mph uphill sprint.

D) Tight 120* left at cone wall
Comment: Brake off most of your speed to take tight line and set for next slalom. Despite where outer cones are placed, a tight line is mandated.

E) 25-60mph sprint (7 point downhill slalom)
Comment: How fast can you get to the top of second gear? The first four points of this slalom could have been removed completely without impacting course times.

F) Tight right 180* sweeper
Comment: Slalom dumps you to inside of this turn. Just need to wait it out. Cant go wide or you wont be set for next section.

H) 25-60mph uphill sprint
Comment: Third cone is a decoy. (I appreciate that the course designer has a sense of humor.) It was pretty easy to find a full throttle line through this section. Again: How fast can you find the top of second?

I) Tight 120* Left
Comment: This was actually a great element, hard braking into an off camber (appareently decreasing radius turn). However I believe the correct line was to hug the inside (left) so you were set for the next section. Not a fast turn. Any speed maintained through this must be braked off in another 100' anyway.

J) Kink Before sprint to finish
Comment: Lets add insult to injury and do it again shall we? Another 25-60mph sprint to the finish. Lets give the fast cars another second shall we?

Summary: This course was a series of discrete slow speed maneuvers separating tests of acceleration. Point and shoot gets boring.

The big losers:
* Low powered cars in mixed classes (SS-Elise, GS-Celica, SM2 RX7s)
* Cars that rely exclusively upon handling prowess and cornering G's to support their PAX (CS, ES Miata)

I would like to point out that we have a LOT of real estate to work with. I am not opposed to fast courses -- last year's courses on Lot A were fast but also had a good mix of medium and fast sweepers and they didnt dictate your line as much. They were fast but they also allowed you to keep your speed without continually testing 25-60mph acceleration. They also tested the abilty to generate speed while maneuvering. I believe the same can be accomplished on lots E/F.

Again, I'd like to reiterate that these are just my opinions and offer them for a (hopefully) constructive dialog.

Chris


Note: I DID NOT hit the "Wonger Cone".

Greg, the course sucked. The corners actually let me carry too much speed into the next. This caused undue wear on my steering rack which busted somewhere in my 3rd run.

Next time, design a better course that wont break my car. I suggest you create a course like Rosecroft since Ive run there for over 5 years with no issues to my car. Ive read elsewhere that the Rosecroft lot is suitable for a championship event, so this should not be a problem.

-Eric Wong
Pissed he got only 2 good runs before spewing PS fluid all over his Hoosiers.

I feel very sloppy in the car still... all as a result of not looking ahead. Need to figure that part out... :dunno

Random thought, does anyone else consider looking ahead overrated? It seems that everyone emphasises it A TON since the Evolution schools teach it so much. I don't look ahead hardly at all. But maybe I'd be faster if I did :help

Next time, design a better course that wont break my car.

Given the history of the relationship between your cars and my courses, I'm not sure its possible.. :D

Random thought, does anyone else consider looking ahead overrated? It seems that everyone emphasises it A TON since the Evolution schools teach it so much. I don't look ahead hardly at all. But maybe I'd be faster if I did :help
No. I left 1-2 seconds out there just because my eyes weren't up.
I could have gained more time with courage.
And some more time by slowing down a bit in some slaloms transitions.

Im surprised Chris Mahood hasnt complained about that yet... sheesh. he was bitching last year too... this is what he wrote on the DC SCCA list:



Note: I DID NOT hit the "Wonger Cone".

Greg, the course sucked. The corners actually let me carry too much speed into the next. This caused undue wear on my steering rack which busted somewhere in my 3rd run.

Next time, design a better course that wont break my car. I suggest you create a course like Rosecroft since Ive run there for over 5 years with no issues to my car. Ive read elsewhere that the Rosecroft lot is suitable for a championship event, so this should not be a problem.

-Eric Wong
Pissed he got only 2 good runs before spewing PS fluid all over his Hoosiers.

That's what you get for not giving me your radiator ;)

Larry

I'll have to go to some sort of school some day. :dunno One day I'll notice things like camber and different surfaces when walking, but I just go drive the car as of right now. :D

wow, 5th in PAX has been the highest I think I have ever placed. I guess I need a new suspension setup now :confused

ps. I cannot believe people are complaining about the courses on the mailing list. :nono

Matt

Given the history of the relationship between your cars and my courses, I'm not sure its possible.. :D
:lol

Just saw Mike Louie's video. Very sorry I missed this... horribly suckfabulous course... :rolleyes which would have been a blast in the mr2, too.

wow, 5th in PAX has been the highest I think I have ever placed. I guess I need a new suspension setup now :confused

ps. I cannot believe people are complaining about the courses on the mailing list. :nono

Matt

All you needed was the right car. ;)

I'll have to go to some sort of school some day. :dunno

I think that's the best mod anyone could make instead of buying suspensions, tires, etc.

I keep of thinking of dudes like Brian Hair, John V, and Glenn who drive well with minimal/basic to no mods on their cars (when they were driving them) and doing well. I don't know if all them went to some Evo school, but the point is driving skill rules over mods. You can throw them into any car and they'll do well.

wow, 5th in PAX has been the highest I think I have ever placed. I guess I need a new suspension setup now :confused

ps. I cannot believe people are complaining about the courses on the mailing list. :nono

Matt

I have some ADs for sale ;)

I have some ADs for sale ;)


I have an idea. I will trade you my stock battery for your ltw one and my Koni's for your AD's. :stickoutt

I think that's the best mod anyone could make instead of buying suspensions, tires, etc.

I keep of thinking of dudes like Brian Hair, John V, and Glenn who drive well with minimal/basic to no mods on their cars (when they were driving them) and doing well. I don't know if all them went to some Evo school, but the point is driving skill rules over mods. You can throw them into any car and they'll do well.

Now that would be cool to see. A group of people using the same car to compete against each other. :eek:

I have an idea. I will trade you my stock battery for your ltw one and my Koni's for your AD's. :stickoutt

I already have DIBS on the battery. :mad

I already have DIBS on the battery. :mad


that is not what Eric said on sat. :complain :crackbutt

It was good to see the "old" Matt back out there. Too much track time has softened you up good buddy...

Yeah, it's because he wasn't driving his car. The "not my car" phrase was used while running. :D

It was good to see the "old" Matt back out there. Too much track time has softened you up good buddy...


thanks. Unfortunately I will be at the track this weekend :(

yep, it was nice driving a car that I was not financially responsible for, (except for the tires that Glenn tried to peel the sidewall off :shifty ) basically I was granny shiftin'.....not double clutching like I should.