SPC, Feb 18 - FAST Duel!

[Solar]

Opening the floodgates to the first stage of non-members Monday. If you're a member and haven't registered yet, get on it! 17 slots remaining.

Oh, and I'm open for a co-driver in Fred if anyone's not registering for lack of a car (or a competitive car). I'm in S4, will probably end up lumped together with S5. Fred's got a decent chance of being competitive there.

How about we put Fred's shoes on Redgie ?

[Loren]

Opening the floodgates to the first stage of non-members Monday. If you're a member and haven't registered yet, get on it! 17 slots remaining.

Oh, and I'm open for a co-driver in Fred if anyone's not registering for lack of a car (or a competitive car). I'm in S4, will probably end up lumped together with S5. Fred's got a decent chance of being competitive there.

How about we put Fred's shoes on Redgie ?

I should have my new clutch and lightweight flywheel installed by then, plus I have a good setup on my car... why would I want to do that?

[Solar]

Well, didn't know that. Still figured you and I drove my car last year. Thinking you could throw me a bone lol !

[Loren]

Well, didn't know that. Still figured you and I drove my car last year. Thinking you could throw me a bone lol !

I am, you can drive MY car! But, given the choice between driving your beater 1.6 Miata and my beater 1.6 Miata... I'd rather drive mine. At least until you start throwing money at yours.

[Loren]

Since the remaining "members" don't seem to be registering, and I had time this evening, I went ahead and compiled a list (which is probably about as accurate as my last list) of "almost members" and they are now invited. Check it out.

There are only about 10 people on that 3-event "almost member" list, so I'll give them until Wednesday and move on to round 3.

[buddy bodean]

I know I posted this elsewhere but I wanted more input.

Any suggestions for lunch for this event? We usually have something a little more upscale at events like this.

[Solar]

I am, you can drive MY car! But, given the choice between driving your beater 1.6 Miata and my beater 1.6 Miata... I'd rather drive mine. At least until you start throwing money at yours.

I might need to drive your car. Mine will be a two driver car, if me and Dan have to race each other, that could be a problem.

[Loren]

I might need to drive your car. Mine will be a two driver car, if me and Dan have to race each other, that could be a problem.

Stopwatch runs for co-drivers when necessary isn't a problem. Of course it's always more fun to go head-to-head. You're welcome to drive my car in any case.

[twistedwankel]

I know I posted this elsewhere but I wanted more input.

Any suggestions for lunch for this event? We usually have something a little more upscale at events like this.

A "duel" calls for shiska bobs right? Anything on a stick. En garde.

[Loren]

A "duel" calls for shiska bobs right? Anything on a stick. En garde.

I'm a little nervous. And I'm not sure we're insured for that kind of duel action!

[Solar]

Stopwatch runs for co-drivers when necessary isn't a problem. Of course it's always more fun to go head-to-head. You're welcome to drive my car in any case.

Thanks Loren

Like you said, head to head racing is more fun, and even though your car is a better car compared to mine, that is Dan's issue to deal with.

[Loren]

SHIRTS! Get over there and order by Feb 2!

[Loren]

REGISTRATION is now open to folks who have done at least 2 FAST events in the past 12 months. You know who you are.

Tomorrow is the last day to order SHIRTS.

[twistedwankel]

Of course, this event can easily be won or lost by cone count...

Well, that's good to know.

It's true. You're allowed two cones with no penalty, and it's a tight course. That leads to several distinct possibilities:
- people get sloppy and don't worry about hitting a cone or two (and end up hitting 3 or 4)
- people just choke under the pressure and hit a bunch of cones or jump the start or otherwise DNF
- people try to get the competitive advantage from their two cones (and end up hitting 3 or 4)

I've found the best strategy is to stay clean on every run unless you're up against an opponent that you know you can't beat straight-up... then you might consider targeting a cone that might gain you some speed or distance. (but that weasel of a course designer thought of that and double-coned the most critical apexes... so you better be SURE you haven't hit another cone somewhere!)

In the 1/2 course that has been pre-run by our competitor if we come across his downed cone do we stop and get a rerun or bye? Do we take advantage of the better apex and gain time? Didn't see this in the verbage I've read so far. This is unique to a prosolo style race using the same courses at once and with 2 cars I'm thinking the workers won't have time to get to some cones.

Thanks, Doug

[Loren]

Don't confuse this with Pro Solo. Pro Solo uses two separate mirror-image courses, not one course with two cars on it.

Workers will have to be on their toes to reset cones quickly, as there will be about half as much time as usual. How you handle a downed cone is as-per-usual. You can trust that the workers know it's down and just haven't had time to reset it (and risk the penalty being called against you if they DID NOT know that it was down and saw it after you passed), or you can come to a safe and complete stop and point it out. If you stop for a legitimate downed or misplaced cone, you'll get a rerun, just like at any other autocross.

The only difference is that if you stop for a downed cone, we have to red-flag your opponent and re-run the match. Rule #12 applies. (you'll swap sides for the rerun) Rule #16 applies. (the match is essentially a tie and will be rerun IMMEDIATELY)

Does this mean that if you're losing badly, you can take out a wall of cones and cause a rerun? Probably. Don't abuse that. Rule #19 applies! (sportsmanship)

[twistedwankel]

Okay I'm getting a much better picture in my head now.

Thanks again.
Doug

[Loren]

By the way, we usually do announce at the driver's meeting that a driver should NOT stop for an obvious downed wall of cones. Clearly, the workers saw it and know who hit a bunch of cones. Just finish your run cleanly (or at least with fewer cones), you've already won. You only need to stop for something like that if you're up for the challenge of running that opponent again. (and potentially losing the next time)

[buddy bodean]

Ohhh, we must break out the PA system for this event. We need a good trash talking emcee for this.

[Loren]

Ohhh, we must break out the PA system for this event. We need a good trash talking emcee for this.

Indeed.

[Loren]

We've got 40 entries, and a bunch of well-rounded classes with very little bumping/combining of classes required. I'm not going to reduce the entry requirement any further. If we fill up, we fill up. If we don't, we don't. We have enough for great competition as it is.