Nov 18th. Does it get any better?

[Cloud498]

Great event yesterday! Probably my favorite course ever. Happy with my fastest run, but I definitely left a bunch of time out there (mostly in the slow sections, but probably in the high speed crossover as well). I'd love to see this course at a classic to have a better chance to get more out of it.

[Carracer]

Yesterday was a perfect day.

The real question is, has Philip driven a fast car yet? I've never seen anyone drive as hard and stay in bounds when I'm course working. It's very impressive, curious to see what he can do in a car that doesn't look like it's ready to bounce, spin and flip at any given moment lol

He's driven Doug Adam's Vette and RX-8. Many of the S4 Miata drivers have let him have a go. He doesn't seem to get much faster in faster cars. I've let him drive my car in hopes of picking up some tips...he hasn't made it go any faster than I have. Maddening!

I have only driven your car once. I'm totally down for a classic co-drive to see what it can do
I have only driven the RX-8 ( both on and off road ). With the exception of RX-8 I normally only get 1 or 2 runs in each car I really can't figure out a car that fast. My best results in others cars was John Evans car and Trevor Renson's MR2 at a Martin event ( I was much faster in that car than mine even on my best days ). Also, contrary to popular belief, I don't intentionally push others cars as hard as I push my car.

[Native]

...and some say he's 7 feet tall, speaks 7 languages, and can mount tires with his bare hands...

Humble and supernatural - a good combination. Rock on, Philip.

[Carracer]

Pictures! Both morning run groups and the 1st afternoon run group. Big thanks to my spotters.
https://flic.kr/s/aHsm9UPztP - flickr album

So, I have only see one video from the event? Did everyone forget to hit record I would be interested to see just how the top 2 Honda's got it done.

[Loren]

How good cones die:

[CaptainSquirts]

Man, I can't down shift worth a damn.

Thanks for the zip ties Phillip. I was able to drive home safely without the worry of my front lip falling off XD.

Jason, ur car looked pretty damn well out there in the morning.

Sorry, can't remember name from top of my head but Volkswagon wagon person. The rear rotates so much better now from what I've seen from previous events .

[Native]

Volkswagon wagon person

I lol'd.

[Rpwolf]

thanks for the pics! I need to get a camera
luckily, Loren and Dat gave me somethings to work on.

set up for the sweeper at the beginning of the wallom. stayed flat all the way to the turn around, stay off the cones but focused on the last cone, and went as far right as possible.

I saw a lot of people not take advantage of the space after the last slalom. that's a few tenths.

[Amphoteric88]

This was my favorite car from the 1st Afternoon session. Absolute hoot to watch it go 'round! And now I see why the Corolla was such a hit...

[BrantR]

This was my favorite car from the 1st Afternoon session. Absolute hoot to watch it go 'round! And now I see why the Corolla was such a hit...

Hey that's me! I was actually about to comment that every picture I've seen of my car involved one side bottomed out and the other barely hanging on. Some suspension work is in the cards...

We actually chatted and bonded over your Corolla. My first car was the same 1999 Corolla VE. It does my heart good to see it racing its heart out.

[CaptainSquirts]

What not to do on the cross over.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QW9u8hclQ1o

41.8 something run. Not the best but video for whomever cares.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDOXTRZVy9c

[jmdoc66]

Mike M, dude, 42s in a S3 car? You should be bumped to mods due to talent! (M1 obviously) Great driving as usual.

As you know, I brought my main sponsor (wife) and it seems she's my good luck charm too. The mid 42s surprised me as much they did you. Love that 3rd gear section. M1 may be coming next year with a new car.

We had fun with the kayaks too. Both on the water and on the road. We got our share of looks with them behind the Shelby.
It's one of the better days we've had in a while. Thanks everyone!

[ctsteege]

This track was AMAZINGLY fun!! I second everybody who stated we need to do this course again! I cant believe I never shifted to third and just let the Miata bang off the rev limiter through the crossover (your welcome phillip and ben). Then my last run I was dumb enough to hit the exit cone and let Ben squeeze me out of 2nd in S4.

As always a well put together event and looking forward to the Classic in December. Never gets old watching that Pontiac Fiero pull the front wheel about a foot off the ground!!

[Loren]

For the record...

You're not going to see a lot of 3rd gear courses from FAST. For one thing, they're flirting with "too fast" for both our insurance and our contract with the airport. But, there's also a safety issue. The only place I'm comfortable with us doing healthy 3rd gear speeds is either in a legitimate straight (B O R I N G), or in a cross-course sweeper where if you lose it, you're not going out into the grass. The last thing I want OUR club to be responsible for is putting cars off into the grass at 70-80 mph. And even hitting a cone at 65, as a couple people noticed, is a much harder impact than hitting a cone at 50-55.

From a "philosophical" standpoint, autocross "should" be about car handling, maneuverability and driver skill. How much skill does it take to put your right foot down?

So, while it's fun to do something slightly faster every now and then... don't expect it. "Speed creep" is a trap that a lot of autocross clubs let themselves fall into. We're not going to.

[Evil MS3]

The 3rd gear section was both awesome and frightening, especially in my second run when I had decided it was necessary from how much rev limiter I saw in my first run. Tossing the car through the right hand kink before the left hand crossover was a bit harry the first time but each time after I was able to control and predict the car more and more. Made it super fun. Definitely nice to experience every once in a while.

I was so mad at myself on my final run, nailing the exit cone coming out of the Chicago box. I could tell to that point that it was my fastest run and with a 42.9 it was...if only that cone hadn't got in my way

Great event as usual. Thanks everyone.

[twistedwankel]

Also, contrary to popular belief, I don't intentionally push others cars as hard as I push my car.

Key word = "Intentionally" Mr. Toad from Toad Manor - the fumes got to him.

(He drove Carl's Z06 RC on slicks. Mine doesn't have the skid plates installed yet.)

[twistedwankel]

You're not going to see a lot of 3rd gear courses from FAST.

Even with 1" shorter dia. tires I rarely hit the limiter in either of my cars. Means never in C5 even with 3.42 diff. If you have some torque 3rd gear can really settle down some cars - especially turbo ones. So long as the gates are 12" wider than the ass of a Z06 it's a great course. Slaloms should never require a steering knob to spin the wheel either.

[Loren]

So long as the gates are 12" wider than the ass of a Z06 it's a great course.

Who has ever designed a course with a 7-foot wide gate?

[AScoda]

You're not going to see a lot of 3rd gear courses from FAST.

That depends on the car. I can only keep it in 2nd at the dog track. Could have used 4th here. I was on the rev limiter in 3rd half way though the "straight"

[Loren]

Yeah, the short-geared MSM is a completely different conversation.