POST Jan 17, 2015 EVENT

[jesup16]

Jesse: Smooth driving and nice turns-tire feedback tells the tale. I had you in the fishbone (my video showed I was inches straight thru), but you covered me everywhere else. I will have to start working on this left foot brake thing...

I think your slightly narrower car made it easier to get through them...great driving none the less. My wide fenders really make it hard to find the spacious fit of my car. I continue to struggle with this. There was a similar section last week with Martin... I hit a cone 3/4 passes.

[Loren]

Yes, you're whining.

Let it go, man. Jeremy is just a freaky fast driver. He's been classing himself up for years, not seeking competitive advantage, but seeking COMPETITION. There's probably also some aspect of giving the car owner a shot at winning the car's proper class, which Charles is trying very hard to do.

The car is what it is. M1 used to be a faster class than M2. With this year's class-shuffling, that might not always be the case (but it is still considered a "bump up" class from M2). If you look at the points sheet, you'll see that Jeremy hasn't been around much in a while, so he wouldn't have known that M1 isn't quite what it used to be.

Instead of whining, why don't you ask Charles if you can take a couple runs in the cheater 240 sometime? I've driven it. It is fast, but not as fast as you think. It drives nicely, but it's not a "magic" car or anything. If the car was all that you seem to think it is, Charles would be kicking your ass, too. Nothing against Charles, he's a decent driver... but, not at Jeremy's level.

Those guys are doing good to get the car on the trailer and to an event! If you think they spend time "tuning" it, you're wrong.

[jesup16]

So his COMPETITION would actually be in M2. That's where the faster cars seem to be with the class reshuffle...at least at Brooksville.

And yes, Jeremy is freaky fast... Now I want Jimmy John's.

[Loren]

Apparently, Jeremy has decided the only competition that FAST has to offer him right now is in R1. I look forward to watching him challenge the R tire guys.

[jesup16]

If Elliot keeps showing up...that's going to be quite a task.

[twistedwankel]

How about those new stickers!!

Good look. Did Eric do those?

[Loren]

I designed the stickers. Thanks!

[Jeremy]

Aren't you running meth injection too (doesn't really add power, but definitely helps).

That was the power steering reservoir. I was just messing with you. lol

I think I said before that you may have a point about classing. But telling me about it is the wrong avenue.
You need to talk to the classing committee.

Trying to talk Charles into bolting the old v710's on. I miss those guys.

[twistedwankel]

Aren't you running meth injection too (doesn't really add power, but definitely helps).

That was the power steering reservoir. I was just messing with you. lol

.

Boy I wouldn't want Jeremy dancing around inside my head while trying to race

[Tim_M]

My video...I find the tire deflection and suspension compression most interesting.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=skH4UTE ... e=youtu.be

Still much too far from the cones.

[jesup16]

Aren't you running meth injection too (doesn't really add power, but definitely helps).

That was the power steering reservoir. I was just messing with you. lol

I think I said before that you may have a point about classing. But telling me about it is the wrong avenue.
You need to talk to the classing committee.

Trying to talk Charles into bolting the old v710's on. I miss those guys.

At the end of the day its just my opinion. I just don't really believe in class bumping...unless it was from a Stock to Mod (like S1 to M1) class for competition purposes because there is a lack of presence in the stock class. Please don't take it personally. FAST is fun group (maybe the most fun in FL). It's not a serious enough issue for me to bring it to the committee. I still leave the events with a smile on my face and enjoy spending time with everyone, too. I hope everyone has the same experience.

Run the car in whatever class you want. I know that if this was a competitive event (SCCA rules), I'd never be classed with that car. I've chosen to build my car to SCCA spec's for STU class. Those rules just don't align perfectly with FAST classing.

If I built my car to FAST M1 rules, I'd be running 275's and about 20psi.

This is just my opinion, but I prefer some of the rules of Martin Sports Car Club. It's a really fun club and gets lots of regulars and new comers, just like FAST. I DO NOT EXPECT FAST TO CHANGE ANY RULES.

1. They have a novice class. Just put all the novices together...this way they are competing against each other and don't have to really worry about where their car is classed. All novices run a "N" on the car next to their #. Similar to how we identified novices last weekend.

2. SMST2 / SMST4 classes. This is Street Tire Street Mod class for 2wd & 4wd. It's really a catch all for SM (street mod) cars that don't want to run slicks. They are really popular classes, especially SMST2. This is where Charles's 240 could be. They have everything from Turbo Miata's to Vette's in that class.

3. SCCA classing for everyone that wants to run in the class they have prepped the cars for...like STU for my car. I've run in the class by myself for some events, others there is a good turn out.

I understand FAST is really about the Fun, but there are a few of us in the area that are competitive and base our cars on SCCA classes. It makes it harder to support FAST when you know the rules handicap your classing. We all want to win. It's hard for me to quiet the competitor in me.

I think FAST is the best club for a novice / first-timer to go to. There will always be a few that get the hook set in them for this sport, right after the first pass through the course.

What I often find happening though is a shock for the newcomers, when they realize their cars are in a much higher class for SCCA than where FAST allows the car. I'm not blaming that on FAST...it's the fault of the SCCA.

[jesup16]

My video...I find the tire deflection and suspension compression most interesting.

Still much too far from the cones.

You we're able to almost go straight through the "fingers"...especially the last part of it. I tried that on my first run, but hit 2 cones.

[Loren]

FAST rules are friendly to the "run what you brung" crowd that is prevalent on the local level. That's 100% on purpose.

And, I think if you look you'll find that in most cases, the seasoned SCCA veteran who comes to a FAST event with a car that's not "optimized" to FAST classing is VERY competitive. I mean, seriously... THIS particular event that you're complaining about getting beaten by Jeremy... you finished 2nd. By half a second. Is that not competitive? Jeremy has been autocrossing 10+ years longer than you have and is well known for being "not quite human", don't you think that could be a factor?

It's not like the really good SCCA guys show up at FAST events and get their asses handed to them. And it's not like the first words out of my mouth when a newb starts talking about modifying their car aren't "FAST rules are different. Read the FAST rules AND the SCCA rules and the rules for any other club you might want to run with before you start spending money." Every single time.

[Jeremy]

We all want to win.

Ron, can you make this happen?

[Professional_Slacker]

FAST rules are friendly to the "run what you brung" crowd that is prevalent on the local level. That's 100% on purpose.

And, I think if you look you'll find that in most cases, the seasoned SCCA veteran who comes to a FAST event with a car that's not "optimized" to FAST classing is VERY competitive. I mean, seriously... THIS particular event that you're complaining about getting beaten by Jeremy... you finished 2nd. By half a second. Is that not competitive? Jeremy has been autocrossing 10+ years longer than you have and is well known for being "not quite human", don't you think that could be a factor?

It's not like the really good SCCA guys show up at FAST events and get their asses handed to them. And it's not like the first words out of my mouth when a newb starts talking about modifying their car aren't "FAST rules are different. Read the FAST rules AND the SCCA rules and the rules for any other club you might want to run with before you start spending money." Every single time.

this is true. you told me that in the first email I sent to you asking about rule and class clarification before Angel and I entered. I mist say though I was really surprised by the times of the cars in STR compared to the rest of the field.

[Loren]

Our M2 class has always been fast. It's not the class. It's not the rules. It's the drivers. M2 just happens to be a class that includes a lot of popular cars that are easy to drive fast. They're fairly inexpensive, they have good aftermarket support, and they have good enthusiast community support to help with setup "secrets". Buy a BRZ, an S2000, or a Miata and you can easily find advice and aftermarket parts to dial it in if you're willing to spend some money or if you have the skills to DIY. (same can be done with a lot of other cars, those are just examples of the more popular ones) From there, it's "seat time, seat time, seat time".

There are a lot of ways to see this:
http://drivefast.org/wp/Results/2015/20 ... 20Time.pdf

You could say "OMG, 7 of the top 12 times are M2!" But, that doesn't address how much EXPERIENCE those guys have.

Expand your scope to the top 20, and if you look at EXPERIENCE, only one driver is a noob with less than a year or so of experience (Trevor Renson... and I'm not sure he's human, either). ALL of the rest in the top 20 are people with at least 5 years experience regardless of what they are driving. A lot of them just happen to be classed in M2.

A lot of the STR guys do a great deal of "event hopping" all over the state all the time, so they're always competing against each other and learning from each other. That kind of competition breeds improvement.

[Professional_Slacker]

that actually sounds reasonable.

as for cars.. I know that the car I have CAN do very well. but it's a new car to me and I'm not exactly a pro at this by any means. there is potential there, I just have to get the seat time in the car to unlock it. My first Autox in this car was at your event, and I managed 2 runs in the 55s that were VERY VERY sloppy. there is easily a few seconds to be had just by cleaning up my runs and cutting back on the tail wagging. Then if I get smoother through the cones, I'm sure there is more time to be had there. I just need practice.

[Loren]

MR2's aren't as popular as they used to be, but they are FANTASTIC autocross cars. Light, nimble and fun. It pains me to say that they might actually be better than a Miata. (but it sure is easier and cheaper to get parts for a Miata!)

Set your sights on:
Shocks
Alignment
Tires
Driver

Not necessarily in that order.

[Professional_Slacker]

MR2's aren't as popular as they used to be, but they are FANTASTIC autocross cars. Light, nimble and fun. It pains me to say that they might actually be better than a Miata. (but it sure is easier and cheaper to get parts for a Miata!)

Set your sights on:
Shocks
Alignment
Tires
Driver

Not necessarily in that order.

I have coilovers installed, I installed SS brake lines and slotted cross drilled rotors to aid in cooling and reduce fade as well as a better High temp brake fluid., I'm running RE-11A tires and am running down some lighter/wider wheels and a set of Toyo R1R tires. I have a good alignment guy that does race cars that has been working with the car.

I am well aware if the parts and knowledge base differential between the Miata, and to a lesser degree the s2000, and the MR2. I picked the car I thought felt like the best fit to me from the three mentioned. I spent a year looking for a good one to use as my base platform. as you said. the driver needs work.

[Charles]

Those guys are doing good to get the car on the trailer and to an event! If you think they spend time "tuning" it, you're wrong.

Sad but true.

All of the suspension components were bought used and installed 5+ years ago. I'm sure the Konis are worn out at this point.

I usually aim to beat all other street tire cars.

Too many cones on this course for my small brain to figure out where I was going.