5/17 - Dunnellon Airport - Long Way From Home

[Carracer]

Personally I love the surface but it was breaking up so not sure about its future viability. Really wish it wasn't. Small group but it was great seeing everyone. I'm still shaking my head, trying to figure out how I ended up in the dirt(x2). So sorry Doug, I just couldn't catch the car even in a small slide, made a complete Noob of myself. I think that was my first trip 4 off. I guess my car felt left out so at the hands of another driver it decided join the club. I wish I took a picture of the car before I started cleaning it. Just full of sand. Felt like I should plant peanuts or something.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CtQame2PLiM

My best run in my car 35.127 +1. My car had more time in it. The front just kept on gripping on this surface.

Thanks to everyone that helped make this happen.

[twistedwankel]

Thank you so much FAST hard cores for making this event work. The course was decent once you figured it out.

The Lunch lady made me go on a second expedition to Ocala and a couple of idling planes made me wait 10 minutes at the runway.

Can I say this: I have a new name for Phillip. "Farm Truck". And I am now "AGin" his humorous sidekick who farts nitrous.

Hope Dave got home okay with his dead clutch. Shit happens but Dave is cool and had an extra cigar.

Loren and Phillip kicked my butt big time in my own car. Can I give a plug? If you have a new driver or have to retake your driver's test please hire Loren as an instructor. I rode with him both of the runs he took in my RX8 and he was so far ahead of the car it stayed on track ( while we had a complete conversation).

Doug

[Native]

Merged the two post-events topics.
Thanks guys. More from me later.
But I think we can work with the surface...

[ImpostorDan]

I was on course for "whoever wants to run while there's work group 2" and I didn't think the surface was breaking up in so much as a couple of patches. Really, just one patch - that Mike did a bang up job of clearing. I probably have low standards, and I like the dog track for what it is... but thought it was OK once the dust was unsettled.

In terms of an event in the history books, it was quite fun and quite the swingers run today - I think I need a smoke and a shower!


P.S. - what's proper protocol when heading into a Cessna off R34?

[AScoda]

Poor Ben. Stuck in traffic two lanes away and couldn't join our little mini Miata parade home.

[Loren]

What a whirlwind of a day! Certainly had its ups and downs. Okay, 95% ups.

I'm gonna side with Steve. Our "post mortem" on the site after the event was that it's actually plenty usable. We need more brooms.

Three things:

1. The far end is not usable. We had planned on using about 150 feet of it for the turn-around just to "test" it. At setup, we had already decided that we would NOT be using that section again in the future. And, ultimately, we decided to abandon using it today. We shortened the course a bit to avoid it.

2. There is one patch that's breaking up, but it's easily avoidable... we just happened to be running "close" to it. And if you were off line by 2 or more feet (which, apparently a lot of people were... I never saw it or felt it when I was driving... in 4 different cars), you hit it. We ended up adjusting an apex by about 3-4 feet before the 3rd run group to get further from it.

5... no, 3! There are some dips and patches here and there that can mostly be avoided. We drove through 3-4 of them today, and they really weren't bad. The patches stayed intact, but fine gravel was dislodged from them. At the end of the day, everything was fine... it just needed a good sweeping!

So, really only one problem... and it's one that we can easily work around. Otherwise, a very usable site. We were a little on the fence about it throughout the day, but actually LOOKING at the whole site after the course was cleared... the above is what we saw.

In other news:

In every FAST driver's meeting we say "let us know if you see any safety problems, and we'll take care of them". If you were paying attention, you probably saw how effective we are at that today. IF you let us know of a problem, we'll fix it. We're not kidding! The issue with the turn-around was brought to our attention during course-walk, we re-evaluated it, we fixed it. The issue with cars being sent at a pace that was difficult for single course workers to keep up with was brought to our attention (in a round-about way), we fixed it. The broken up pavement near the finish was brought to our attention, and we fixed it. It's what we do. We want things to be safe and fun for you. And THE POINT here is that we really need your eyes and your input. We can't see everything, you are our eyes. We appreciate those of you who presented problems to us in a constructive manner so that we could resolve them. Thanks! Y'all are awesome!

On a more personal note: Thanks to those who let me abuse their cars today. I really ought to show up without a car more often!

[Loren]

Oh, and the Results are posted, of course.

[Native]

Results: Bill and I would've finished higher overall if more slow cars would've shown up...

Bill, thanks again for the codrive. It may not be the fastest ride on the grid, but it's a hoot to throw that thing around! Smooth brutality FTW! People better watch out once you up the camber and wear through the current set of all-seasons

And Phil R., thanks for letting me take a stab at your S2K. It's a solid car, feels great (especially that seat!). Hope the advice was helpful.

I think for breaking in a new site, today was terrific. We do appreciate the feedback, and thank you all, as always, for chipping in, lending a hand, and being good folks!

The folks at the airport enjoyed having us, and we're welcome to come back!

[twistedwankel]

P.S. - what's proper protocol when heading into a Cessna off R34?

We sat there with emergency flashers for 20 minutes. When the door of the f....ing plane opened for the second time proceeded slowly across the airstrip and waved nicely to the asshole pilot. So who lets a kid open a door on an airplane? I smiled and called him an asshole between my teeth. No wonder these planes crash every week.

[Native]

The airport director had told us there would be a lot of plane traffic. Said rain the past several days had backed up everyone.
Not a typical Saturday for them...

[ImpostorDan]

Poor Ben. Stuck in traffic two lanes away and couldn't join our little mini Miata parade home.

Private parade of three... Until the almost puddles, then I was a bit nervous about my slicks.

[Jamie]

P.S. - what's proper protocol when heading into a Cessna off R34?

We sat there with emergency flashers for 20 minutes. When the door of the f....ing plane opened for the second time proceeded slowly across the airstrip and waved nicely to the asshole pilot. So who lets a kid open a door on an airplane? I smiled and called him an asshole between my teeth. No wonder these planes crash every week.

They were probably as puzzled about what to do about you, as you about them. Consequences of a collision are definitely worse (and much more expensive) for them. Cars are built for collisions...planes, not so much. Brakes and steering on the ground not so good, either, so an unpredictable car is a real threat...forget right-of-way...let the crazy groundpounder get out of the way.

No air conditioning in those spamcans, either -- cracking the door on the ground lets some of the breeze in. And he was probably cussing you out, too -- those engines are air cooled, and idling at rest doesn't produce that much airflow from the prop.

[Loren]

Be that as it may, Jamie... as non-aviator visitors to an airport, what we are generally told is to yield to airplanes. And if there is any contact between a plane and one of our cars, we know who will get blamed for it.

We were also specifically told to run our hazard lights when on the taxiway or crossing the runway so as to be more visible... which, in this case, might have just made it look like we were doing something important or official. Stopping in an unobtrusive location with no lights might have made it more obvious that we weren't going anywhere, but that's not what we were told to do.

We do what we can with the information that we are given.

[JasonS]

Kind of enjoyed the surface today, minus some of the holes and chunks. I felt like I could learn a lot about the car there. Slicker than brooksville but better than the dog track. The wrx was oversteering... which was a lot of fun and made me miss rwd. Hats off to Mike for keeping Doug's money safe and snagging ftd in a stockish frs.

Phillip, thanks for running s2. Wish I could have run in the 3rd group to chase your time. And that off was huge!

[jev61]

I agree the surface wasn't that bad, some good brooming and it would be better. That weather on the other hand, oh my gosh. I felt awful when I got home, took a migraine pill and a shower. I learned that I need a new primary cooling fan which I ordered last night and I need a spray bottle for my tires which I will have for the next event. I bumped into Nate at the rest stop heading to Tampa and Preston and I joined up for several miles until the I-4 exit.

Here is my best run, after this, my driving and my tires went to crap.
https://www.facebook.com/joseph.vance.7 ... 195542591/

[Jamie]

Be that as it may, Jamie... as non-aviator visitors to an airport, what we are generally told is to yield to airplanes. And if there is any contact between a plane and one of our cars, we know who will get blamed for it.

As a pilot, I'm aware of all that, and not claiming the Mayor should have done anything different. But also trying to generate a little sympathy for the guy in the cockpit, who may have had even less information than you did, particularly if he was just transiting Dunnellon and didn't know anything about sports cars using another part of the field. Bottom line: you're as unusual to them as they are to you, and they don't necessarily know what you've been told.

[Carracer]

A few pictures, very small album.
https://flic.kr/s/aHsm2TedXt

as non-aviator visitors to an airport, what we are generally told is to yield to airplanes. And if there is any contact between a plane and one of our cars, we know who will get blamed for it..

I don't care where I am, I always yield to the aircraft

[Loren]

Bottom line: you're as unusual to them as they are to you, and they don't necessarily know what you've been told.

[BrilloHeadBen]

I had a blast driving Ron and Phillips car yesterday! Thanks for letting me drive two VERY diffrent Miatas on the same course. I liked the site, and can deal with the drive as long as it's not in the Festy (I must be getting old).

Thankfully I didn't hit too much traffic and was able to limp my car home and have it fixed before dinner. Good times.

[nathanwilliams617]

Blot: I like the site, variation is good.
It is kind of a far drive for me but I'd do it every now and then.

Thanks to Drew for taking a couple runs in my car, made me feel that I am extracting almost everything the car has in the current stockish setup. Almost.
Drew - 39.001, 38.318
Nate - 38.713, 37.292+1
So comparing the 1st two runs, that means he beat me in my car. Go Drew
Anyway my fastest, raw, was my 5th run 36.726+1. No video today this time.

It was hot. I hydrated days prior to the event, popped the tent, drank Gatorade and water throughout, misted myself with water constantly and still overheated. The overheating was not as bad this time (much better) but like Joe, I still got a headache...

Phillip, thanks for letting me drive the S2k, I wish I fit, couldn't move my arms or my legs much lol. Let me know when that roll bar gets replaced and the seat moves further back

Awesome people awesome time.

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