July 21st SPC

[rippin mazda]

Run grouping discussion aside, I never thought you could be at full so much at SPC. After watching my in-car video there was only like 3 times where I didnt have the gas to the floor. Guess I'll have to really get on the motor swap so I can keep up with the fast guys.

Ryan

[Solar]

Had a great time as usual, and want to thank Mike and Jamie and everyone else for a well run day. We had a good 5 runs, (even though I didn't know the last 2 were fun runs), and we couldn't of timed the weather any better.

I know a lot of people had a hard time following the course, most were Novices, I asked a few if they wanted to ride with me or have me ride with them but all turned down my offer. I think that the best way for anyone to learn the course is to have them ride, not drive, with someone. This way they can relax a bit and not have to worry about steering the car. Maybe have all Novices run in the second group and make them ride with someone at least once in the first group.

Most new people I talked to weren't to concerned about a DNF, they were just having fun, but I explained that not knowing the course can be a safety issue.

The only thing I think we might want to do at SPC is let people know we need help resetting the course after all the runs are completed. The one first timer with his girlfriend that drove the Blue Mach 1 both stayed and worked in the rain helping us. He asked where everyone went, and I wonder that too sometimes. It's really not an issue at Brooksville because there's no course to reset, but resetting SPC is really confusing and after a long day in the heat, everyone wants to get home. Maybe if the Police course at SPC was marked better, resetting it would go a lot faster.

Anyhow, I had a lot of fun and I'm looking forward to Brooksville.

[Dave-ROR]

Yeah resetting the SPC course is a nightmare, but not much we can do about that.

I myself was not planning on staying until the end because I had other plans that started at 5, but after seeing the lack of people who stayed to work in the second group I ended up staying instead.

Oh well, not a big deal.

I rode with a few novices myself (something I generally don't do - I'm not always good at explaining what people should do, hell I don't think I do it that well, I just drive the car like I stole it ) and tried to help them out, although I think I will test the passenger seats next time to make sure they are bolted in as one car's wasn't

[Solar]

I know that the SPC course "is what it is" but a little more help would be nice, thanks for staying.


Has anyone noticed that there's no stop sign at the north side road and US 19 intersection? When I was leaving it was raining, and my defroster wasn't working well, and I was screwing around with my wipers and almost kept going when I realised that US 19 was right in front of me :shock: . Someone that doesn't know the area could drive right through there and cause an accident.

[rippin mazda]

although I think I will test the passenger seats next time to make sure they are bolted in as one car's wasn't

Sorry about that one Dave, I owe you one.

ryan

[kickslop]

I don't see any reason that resetting SPC has to continue to be a nightmare. How can there be not much we can do about it when we haven't even tried?

At the next SPC event, every cone should be removed and then a stenciled "P" should be sprayed where the cone was. When the course gets set back up in the afternoon, spray another coat then put the cone down on top. It should last long enough to be worthwhile to do.

I'll even volunteer to make a few stencils and pick up the paint for the 10/6 event. Someone just tell me it's a go.

[Dave-ROR]

I don't see any reason that resetting SPC has to continue to be a nightmare. How can there be not much we can do about it when we haven't even tried?

At the next SPC event, every cone should be removed and then a stenciled "P" should be sprayed where the cone was. When the course gets set back up in the afternoon, spray another coat then put the cone down on top. It should last long enough to be worthwhile to do.

I'll even volunteer to make a few stencils and pick up the paint for the 10/6 event. Someone just tell me it's a go.

Well you may want to talk to SPC about it first. The last thing we need is to lose the venue because there are 75 P's painted onto the ground.

I'd love to get a better map with markings of the paint already on the pavement, which would make it just as easy.

[rippin mazda]

I think he was talking about spraying black over the P when that cone was reset. Then instead of orange P's now you have black patches. What about just chalking a P rather than painting it? A few would wear off because of cars going over them but I think the majority would remain.

Ryan

[kickslop]

I meant 2 coats, same color, one time per year perhaps. It's always best to ask first, and we have until October to do that, but I can't fathom anyone having a problem with 4" letter "P"s on the pavement there.

[impalanut]

Overall I think we did a good job. I thought the course flowed well. A lot of the off courses were novices and you do have to look ahead. I was fast and still had points that required skill not just speed to be quick. As Loren stated prior to the event splitting the runs will waste a lot of time. While I understand that you don't want to leave the course workers out too long, I don't see much difference between being at the stations and being in the parking lot watching. With 60 cars, you don't have enough grid space to run two groups. Also, some people do want to be able to watch for a while, which you can't do with two groups since you are either working or driving. For a while I was the worker Nazi with a check list to make sure that people worked. At least a few stopped coming to the events because we made them do their share. Unfortuanely there are people who will try to skate on working, just like there are people who work extra. The course was well set up for two cars on course with a car off about every 30 sec, but we elected to go to one at a time because of a combination of off course cars and not enough worker stations to allow a red flag in some parts of the course. We can remedy this by being more attentive to worker station placement.

[AScoda]

I think there will always be problems with SPC simply because of the lot size. We try to get a good flowing layout that's not done in 20 seconds, but still fit in the confines of the lot. Sometimes that means you get the "mini-roadcourse" look trying to keep people on track. Sometimes you get too few cones and some people get off course.
I thought the layout was great fun to drive.

All the lot really needs is something more noticeable for the cone placement. One big day-glo orange spot for each would be fine. As it is, there is about forty billion dots of various colors on the pavement and the ones that are supposed to be used are hard to find for someone who hasn't seen the original police course layout.

Congrats to all the class winners. I hope the new people had fun and will return for more.

[kickslop]

I really liked the course.

[Native]

The police course is marked, mostly in green, it's just hard to find. I'll email SPC about it, but I am not optimistic. As was noted, there are numerous "code" colors and other lines on the pavement already. If we go marking over them, they may not be happy. But I'll find out.

[snookwheel]

I really liked the course.

Me too. Took the time to walk it a couple of times and stared at the diagram for a bit. No problems..... except for that timer which was obviously adding extra seconds onto my time

[Solar]

As far as marking the SPC cones goes, we could mark each cone with a "X" with white chaulk. Most would stay long enough to reset the course later and after one rain they would be gone. Or we could even use that temporary spray paint that washes off with water, one small orange or white dot at each cone would do the trick. I believe that even though we spend a lot of time resetting the SPC cones, the course isn't 100% correct, and they probably have to reset a bunch of cones anyways. So it would be a "win win" situation for both SPC and FAST.

Even though a lot of people don't like spliting up the run groups, I think it gives everyone a chance to get as many runs in before the afternoon rain starts. We got really lucky to get everyone 5 runs, because it wasn't long after the last run that it started raining.

[vertigyn]

It was my first auto x event and I'm definately ready for the next one! Thanks all that helped make this awesome!

Did anyone happen to catch any pics of the '03 Azure Blue Mustang Mach 1? If so, I would love to see them! vertigyn@hotmail.com

I'm looking forward to seeing some of ya'll again at Brooksville! The more open course should be fun!

-Elliott

[Jamie]

No problems..... except for that timer which was obviously adding extra seconds onto my time

Generous donations to the timing crew can eliminate those extra seconds....

[rippin mazda]

How to have fun but really slow down your lap times

http://www.eden.rutgers.edu/~rbroderi/MOV00783.MPG" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Formula1]

It was my first auto x event and I'm definately ready for the next one! Thanks all that helped make this awesome!

Did anyone happen to catch any pics of the '03 Azure Blue Mustang Mach 1? If so, I would love to see them! vertigyn@hotmail.com

I'm looking forward to seeing some of ya'll again at Brooksville! The more open course should be fun!

-Elliott

I think I have you in a few pics, I will check after work and email them to you.

[vertigyn]

Great, thank you!