Endurocross 2016 -- What a perfect day for most!!

[Loren]

Shoutout to the FAST faithful that make events like this tick like a fine clock - you're da bomb.

Thanks!

Now, quit over-thinking things and just drive. Remember, you're better off braking a little earlier and leaving yourself some "room for error" than you are trying to find that "perfect" late braking point and getting it exactly right every time.

This is the second time today that I've quoted something from Randy Hollis, so I'm gonna post this:

Top 10 Autocross Driving Tips

[friskyflea]

Now, quit over-thinking things and just drive.

...so I'm gonna post this:

Top 10 Autocross Driving Tips

It is indeed when thoughts unrelated to driving crowd my mind that I screw up on course. The count was a very soft count. There were three cones after the Chicago box; the counting was actually to remind me to brake early, not to determine where exactly to start. In a Sesame Street's The Count voice I would have been uttering 1, twooo, two and a haaaaalf... with the half uttered when it felt right to start breaking. As I get a little better I come up to the next element faster than before and having a pseudo plan helps me not be surprised that I'm ahead of where I thought I was going to be... works for me. Humor is always my way out. And that's one of the 2 reasons any of my videos don't get posted: silliness not suitable for a serious gearhead forum.

I do have that link you mention saved, along with drivingfast.net and one describing the physics of driving.

Small steps.

[AScoda]

Ha!
Serious gear head forum?
We are as silly as it gets.

[ImpostorDan]

In lieu of photos, here are a couple videos that have popped up on YouTube via Facebook:

Ken Marion (street tire FTD)

Dan Estep (not street tire FTD)

Meth, not even once....



Now where's some more video/pictures already?

[jev61]

Now where's some more video/pictures already?

Yes! Where are those pictures. I know Philip was out there with a camera along with a couple of others.

[dbeng]

Hey Loren,

I enjoyed your write up on the different handling characterisics of the cars you drove. Out of interest, what times did you run in each? It would be an interesting comparison.

Dan

[Loren]

Thanks, Dan. It was a fun day, and I enjoyed recapping it!

Times were roughly:
BMW - 247
Fit - 245
Exocet - 242 (+ half the course)
Mustang - 247

I think a second run in any of them would have been at least 4-5 seconds faster.

[Jamie]

At least I wasn't the only one who left something behind....

Yeah, but I'm not eating off that battery cover!

Drew, If you don't get the fuel leak fixed, you're welcome to co-drive my Rotrex SC 01 Miata. Phillip drove it once at the last Open and seemed to enjoy it. Somehow, I think your driving might be a little less terrifying, though

I wouldn't make that assumption until you've ridden with him in the Mustang. Cars aren't supposed to do that...!

I experienced a major, catastrophic hormonal brain fart.

Keep that a secret. Federal Aviation Regulations say we're supposed to isolate you in a 2000 ft radius safety zone and call the bomb squad when that happens.

This is the second time today that I've quoted something from Randy Hollis....

That's Andy Hollis' cousin?

[Blue_Heron]

I forgot to turn on the GoPro for my first run, so here's video of my second, slower, run. If not for the section between 0:21 and 0:45, it probably would have been faster than my first. I lost it in the tight slalom at the end of the first slalom. The damned thing was a Chicago box without the box. I didn't get my rhythm (such as it is) back until the turn around. Doesn't matter, I still had lots of fun. Thanks to all who make it happen.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I0sTa6r ... e=youtu.be

[Blue_Heron]

Drew, If you don't get the fuel leak fixed, you're welcome to co-drive my Rotrex SC 01 Miata. Phillip drove it once at the last Open and seemed to enjoy it. Somehow, I think your driving might be a little less terrifying, though

I wouldn't make that assumption until you've ridden with him in the Mustang. Cars aren't supposed to do that...!

Thanks for the warning, Jamie. I've ridden with Drew once and I wasn't Skeered. But it was at the Dog Track and thus a slower course. Maybe on a fast course in a car he's unfamiliar with Drew's driving could be, um, less precise, perhaps. I'm willing to take the risk if he's interested. Maybe I'll learn something.

Phillip's driving wasn't so much terrifying as it was shocking. I kept expecting him to lose it but he kept it on the ragged edge through the whole course. It was Mr. Toad's Wild Ride on Steroids. What a hoot!

[Loren]

The damned thing was a Chicago box without the box.

Right you are, sir. On the original course (2010) it WAS a Chicago box mirroring the one on the other side. But, because the approach is from the left, it was visually very hard to see. (also very hard for workers to reset when it got obliterated) We did a 3-gates version of it in 2012. Then we finally simplified it to a simple "slalom" kind of arrangement.

But, yeah... it's a "Chicago box without the box" for sure.

The true mystery of the Enduro course is the big slalom. It never gets set up the same way twice. Sometimes I get evil on it and put some thought into how to make it interesting. More often, as I did this time, I just look at how the crew set it up... and see if it works. In this case, they happened to set it up straight with one cone in the middle offset a little. It gave a benefit to entering on the left, and otherwise worked... so, we didn't touch it! Even if we do exactly the same course map next time, that slalom will likely still be just a little bit different. Gotta keep you on your toes!

[lddavis91]

That was tremendous fun, it felt really great to start pushing that car hard again. Its not exactly an easy or forgiving car to drive and it really takes some getting used to when compared to a 3500 lb 500hp Corvette. Really glad I managed to find the course on that second run and find that can of "whoop ass" I've been meaning to open up on Elliot Harvey for over a year now. Not sure it makes all the money/time I've spent on the car recently worth it just yet, but its getting there. I need about 30 more FTD stickers, then I'll be satisfied... maybe. LOL

I wish I had video to share of that second run, but I was having difficulties keeping the car idling when I was pulling up to the line for that one and forgot to turn the damn camera on. I have video of the first run that contained like 10 DNFs but that garbage will not be shared. :-)

[dbeng]

Thanks, Dan. It was a fun day, and I enjoyed recapping it!

Times were roughly:
BMW - 247
Fit - 245
Exocet - 242 (+ half the course)
Mustang - 247

I think a second run in any of them would have been at least 4-5 seconds faster.

Wow, those times are incredibly close considering such a diverse configuration of horsepower, driven wheels & weight!
Dan

[Loren]

Wow, those times are incredibly close considering such a diverse configuration of horsepower, driven wheels & weight!
Dan

The Fit was on rails. That made up for any power deficit among the others. Ultimately, I'd have probably been fastest in the Mustang if I had more time to learn the car. The Exocet has potential to be right in there with the top 3, low-mid 220's or better... but with it's current setup, it just doesn't want to grip. (kudos to Devon for getting down to a 233 with it!)

[Carracer]

Pictures ( Unedited dump ) as always feel free to use them as you wish:
https://flic.kr/s/aHskuwEMqc

I'll upload a edited batch of pictures and my hilariously fun first run later. We have had a major family medical problem on monday that is thankfully on the road to the recovery faze now. This might be my last event for a bit.

[friskyflea]

Pictures ( Unedited dump ) as always feel free to use them as you wish:
https://flic.kr/s/aHskuwEMqc

I'll upload a edited batch of pictures and my hilariously fun first run later. We have had a major family medical problem on monday that is thankfully on the road to the recovery faze now. This might be my last event for a bit.

Thx for the fav pix. Very sorry to hear about the medical snafu
I'm sure I'm not alone in saying that if there is anything I/we can do all you have to do is ask.

[friskyflea]

The Fit was on rails. That made up for any power deficit among the others.

Next event I'll be passing a collection hat for a K-series swap. ***JK***

Jamie, just throw chocolate at me if I'm on a pyroclastic state - it confers immunity upon the tosser.

[dbeng]

I'll upload a edited batch of pictures and my hilariously fun first run later. We have had a major family medical problem on monday that is thankfully on the road to the recovery faze now. This might be my last event for a bit.

Philip, sorry to hear about your family emergency. Hope everything gets back to normal soon.
Dan.

[Dougamor]

Had an awesome day with everyone dispite my mediocre performance. As Ben realized, the Porsche can be an unwieldy beast but apparently the Marion's are Porsche wisperers. Both father and son are impressing me. And thanks to Loren for giving so much thought to recommended improvements for Devons car. We've been in this sport for a grand total of 14 months and we are just scratching the surface of what there is to know. I'm just content to listen, learn and spend time with my boy.

[ImpostorDan]

Had an awesome day with everyone dispite my mediocre performance. As Ben realized, the Porsche can be an unwieldy beast but apparently the Marion's are Porsche wisperers. Both father and son are impressing me. And thanks to Loren for giving so much thought to recommended improvements for Devons car. We've been in this sport for a grand total of 14 months and we are just scratching the surface of what there is to know. I'm just content to listen, learn and spend time with my boy.

Glad to see you survived the late afternoon deviled eggs...

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