FAST Classic - Dec 17 w/ FROC competition

[Loren]

First and foremost, this is a FAST Classic event. If you're merely a "future champion" and don't qualify to enter the FROC, but you meet the requirements of a Classic, you can absolutely run the Classic. And, you should! It'll be fun, as always... with the added fun of being there to see the FROC go down.

Event Info & Registration

FROC Info:
What is an FROC? It's the FAST version of the IROC (International Race of Champions). The best drivers of FAST will be invited to compete in the same car on the same course on the same day to find out who is the best of the best! This is the second time we've done an FROC. The last time was 2011! Wanna see the results? Here they are (bottom of the page).

The FROC will be run in conjunction with the December Classic. FROC drivers will practice in their own car, and then take their last 3 runs in the FROC spec car. Exactly how we coordinate that will depend on just how many FROC drivers we get (limited to 20) and how many regular Classic drivers we get (limited to 30). But, you will definitely get your practice runs (at least 3, maybe 4... possibly 5, depending on the course and the total number of drivers) in your car first. Then you will do your FROC runs.

The purpose of the FROC is merely to have a little fun and establish bragging rights as to who is the best of the best among FAST drivers. It eliminates variables such as horsepower, suspension, tires, brakes and anything to do with the car by putting every driver not just in a similarly prepared car (a la IROC), but in THE same car on the same course.

FROC Rules:

1. No Whining - We're doing this for fun, don't take it too seriously.
2. Eligibility - Eligible drivers are: FAST Season award winners (1st, 2nd or 3rd place), drivers who have finished 1st or 2nd in class at least two events this season, limited others as invited by the event chairman.
3. Entry - Pre-register as-per usual, and select the FROC entry option. A $20 additional fee will be included to cover FROC car expenses. Only 20 FROC entries will be accepted, register early!
4. The Car - The FROC car will be the FASTiva. A 1990 Ford Festiva, reasonably prepared for autocross with a nice, fat set of Hankook RS3 tires, no ABS, a manual transmission, manual steering, power brakes that feel manual, minimal torque and even less refinement. Even though it's not fast, the car is a BLAST to drive, you'll love it! And even if you don't love it, we're all competing in the same crappy car. The seat is 16.5" wide, fore/aft adjustable, and should accomodate sizes anywhere between Soroya and Ron. (we'll test fit it before the event)
5. Car Logistics - Tire pressures will be set at the beginning of the day and left alone. Fuel will be added as-necessary throughout the day to ensure that the fuel level stays above 3/4 tank. (see Rule #1) Car will be inspected, fluids checked, and repairs made as necessary. (we don't expect any issues) Drivers seat is a 17" wide padded Kirkey racing seat with 4-point harness. The seat and harness are adjustable to fit a wide variety of drivers. If you're really small bring a pillow or two just in case!
6. Cool-down - The FROC car will rest for a minimum of 1 minute between each run to prevent overheating and maintain a consistent level of performance. It is the competitor's responsibility to ensure that the car is adequately rested prior to their runs. (see rule #1)
7. Empathy - We want you to have fun and try to get your best time in the FROC car! By all means, DRIVE the car! But, please don't cross the line into "abuse". Have some mechanical empathy. No need to 4,000 rpm clutch-drop the launch, grind shifts, overdrive the front tires in the turn-around, or try to be a late-braking hero and flat-spot the tires. The car responds nicely to generous use of the throttle and smooth driving. Do that! Remember, if you break the car, you ruin the competition.
8. Competition - FROC Competitors will take their first two FROC runs during their regular run group after they have practiced in their own vehicle. The final round (each driver's 3rd run) will be done as a separate small run group at the end of the day. Run order will be random for the first two runs. Final runs will run from low points to high points. Reruns will be permitted when deemed necessary by Timing.
9. Scoring - Scoring will be done similar to the IROC race series with each run being scored as a "race". (so, all runs count!) Drivers will be awarded points in accordance with the table below.
   Pos - Points
   1st - 21
   2nd - 17
   3rd - 14
   4th - 12
   5th - 10
   6th - 9
   7th - 8
   8th - 7
   9th - 6
   10th - 5
   11th - 4
   12th - 3
   13th - 2
   14 and below - 1
10. Handicapping - Drivers who regularly drive the FASTiva or who have won a National Championship will be handicapped by awarding points for one position below their actual finish position.
11. Awards - Top three points totals will be recognized with FAST Award stickers, and there will be an FROC FTD awarded. There could possibly be a special first place trophy.

[Loren]

Registration is not open yet. Just wanted to get some info out.

[Loren]

By. The. Way.

It appears to be a grand tradition to publish your excuses before the FROC, you know, just in case you suck.

Before you begin, please peruse the List of Unacceptable Excuses:

• "I was on a cooldown lap"
• "The car just couldn't accomodate my talent"
• "I didn't want to be too close to the cone in-case I spun"
• "It's not my car, I didn't want to hurt it"
• "It is my car, I didn't want to hurt it"
• "I was going for smoothness"
• "I could not catch you because your line through turn 1 was so strange it confused me and ruined my time"
• "I used The Map to learn the course, but the apexes were all wrong"
• "The gear ratios didn't suit the course"
• "Couldn't find second gear"
• "I thought I was driving an automatic"
• "I didn't have the time to walk the course first, Backwards"
• "I only used 90% throttle"
• "I couldn't drive flat out, because that's how I drive"
• "Localized fog, really thick"
• "It was too wet"
• "It was too dry"
• "It was too cold"
• "It was too hot"
• "I post on DriveFast.org"
• "I knew I had to drive home in it"
• "I wasn't even trying"
• "Stability control slowed me down"
• "The car didn't have stability control"
• "This course was designed for Miatas"
• "The confidence to ability ratio was out of solar alignment"
• "I got cramp in my calf in the middle of the lap"
• "Someone spun in front of me"
• "I tried to drift the turn-around"
• "I drove the wet line, but it wasn't raining"
• "Tire dust blew into my eyes"
• "That dangerous straight bit caught me out"
• "Apart from being off line, too fast, braking too late and turning in too soon, I did NOTHING wrong"
• "Damned FWD cars understeer too much"
• "I'm used to power oversteer"
• "Car wouldn't rotate"
• "Car wouldn't stop rotating"
• "I don't know what the hell just happened"
• "Starter released the next car too soon, I had to spin to get out of their way"
• "I hit an oil patch"
• "That's what happens when you try to show off for the cameras"
• "I thought the car had traction control"
• "I thought the car had torque"
• "I opened the door instead of changing gear"
• "My socks were wet"
• "I couldn't find the shortcut"
• "The steering wheel was too small and fat"
• "The steering wheel was too big and skinny"
• "A wasp stung me just by my jewels as I waited to start"
• "I decided to use my left foot on the throttle"
• "I forgot to brake for the first turn"
• "I broke too much for the first turn"
• "Loren's lap was only faster according to the clock"
• "My throttle pedal went dead"
• "My throttle pedal got stuck"
• "I would have won if we hadn't practiced"
• "The harness was chafing"
• "I late apexed, so the corner was made a much sharper one than normal"
• "I early apexed, so the corner was made a much sharper one than normal"
• "I'm much faster than him but he's a cheat so he beat me by miles"
• "A gust of wind blew me off-line"
• "I expected ABS brakes"
• "I expected brakes"
• "Not enough grip"
• "Tires too wide, couldn't get them up to temp"

Okay, I think that's it. What else have you got?

[Jamie]

The seat is 16.5" wide, fore/aft adjustable, and should accomodate sizes anywhere between Soroya and Ron.

If you get Ron into that seat, we need pictures. In fact, if you get Ron into the car, we need pictures!

[Loren]

Ron sat in the car a month or so ago. Couldn't quite latch the belt, and the seat was too far forward, so his knees were in the steering wheel. We've fixed the seat. All we have to do is drill two holes for alternate seatbelt mounting and we're good to go!

[Kdub085]

Well damn... way to add some pressure going into the next couple of events for us who are still chasing down a 1st-3rd finish. It looks like I'm gonna have to run flat out on Dec 3rd or spin out trying! hope I can make it into the FROC, sounds like it'll be a blast!


Also that list of excuses is hilarious, did you really type all of these statements? [emoji23]


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[BigBlue]

If you get Ron into that seat, we need pictures. In fact, if you get Ron into the car, we need pictures!

[Native]

[Carracer]

Okay, I think that's it. What else have you got?

• "The sun was in my eyes"
• "Not enough body roll"
• "I was using 5th instead of 3rd"
• "I'm not good at driving red cars"
• "I wasn't sure if pointer cones counted"

[dbeng]

One excuse we definitely won't hear is:
"I just couldn't stop spinning the wheels with all that power and those skinny tires- Just no traction"

[Native]

I ran out of gas!
I got a flat tire!
I didn’t have change for cab fare!
I lost my tux at the cleaners!
I locked my keys in the car!
An old friend came in from out of town!
Someone stole my car!
There was an earthquake!
A terrible flood!
Locusts!

[ImpostorDan]

I'm sure the tire pressures are off...

And I'm not competitive at brooksville.

[Rawkkrawler]

I drove the FASTiva a few times and "I was laughing too hard" surely is a fantastic excuse!

[BrilloHeadBen]

That teal fender threw off my Chi!

[AScoda]

The scrub radius is all wrong for you.
That's why you were so much slower than me.

Am I doing that right?

[twistedwankel]

Those assholes at Ft Meyers ruined my new $900 Bridge stones by pouring synthetic Heroin on the ground at the gate. I will keel them.

[dbeng]

"My FROC(K) got caught in the gear shifter"

[dbeng]

"I'm allergic to ForMazKias"

[Loren]

I drove the FASTiva a few times and "I was laughing too hard" surely is a fantastic excuse!

Just a little FYI on the FASTiva. A lot of people have driven it, but not a lot of people have driving it RECENTLY. Early iterations of the FASTiva suspension were varying degrees of comical and scary. The car is actually very well behaved now, and only scary in that it has so much grip that it's hard to decide how far you can push it. (Estep says we have a 2:1 pounds-to-mm of tread ratio... but, that's only when all four wheels are on the ground) Not a fast car. But, definitely fun to drive.

It does have manual steering, but since we added some toe-out in the front, it's not such a bear to keep up with. Driving on course, you won't miss power steering. In grid, you will. The brakes are power brakes, but with a larger master cylinder. This makes the pedal effort feel a lot more like manual brakes. Feels a little weird at first because you do have to push on the pedal hard, but once you adapt to it, it feels REALLY good. Lots of modulation and control, and it keeps you from locking up the brakes too easily. (that's why we made that change) But, it's a 63 hp car on a 2nd gear autocross course... how much braking will you need to do, anyway?

We'll be making an adjustment to the lapbelt mounting and the steering wheel height to fit taller and larger drivers. Once we've done that, just about anybody should be able to drive it. If you're not sure you'll fit for whatever reason, be sure to test-fit yourself on 11/19 or 12/6. We'll be there, and we want to try to make it fit everyone. So, if you're thinking about driving it, check it out.

[jbrannon7]

I have to say, when I finally drove the Fastiva the other day my first use of the brakes brought back a memory from a distant past when I had over heated the drum brakes on my 67 Barracuda.

When the FROC event gets closer I shall post this in that thread, several times.