March 10th SPC-Split Event Format

[garage west]

Got to say I liked the split event format. Getting everybody through registration in 1 hour is nice. Not serving lunch means a lot less trash to carry to the dumpster, too.

Not sure how level the field is for morning competitors versus afternoon. I kind of think the pm group may have had a slight advantage today at getting heat in their tires. Maybe, maybe not. Seems like the surface was pretty gritty all day.

Anyway, good times.

Great event, everybody!

[Sokool]

We always tell people that autocrosses are often won and lost by 1/1000th of a second.

30.606 to your 30.607

Who would have thought that saying would have been true today. Although it's only for 2nd. Like I said on Facebook, you did that against basically a full blown race car. I'm mad at my myself I couldn't make the gap bigger. 6th overall isn't too bad for one and a half year hiatus I guess.

[Loren]

Ya done good, Kyle. Getting an NA Miata to compete with an NC Miata without adding a turbo is a pretty solid accomplishment.

Let's just not mention Jeremy. Hell, even Charles beat me today!

[Sokool]

Who said I didn't have a turbo...?

[Tim_M]

Another fun event!

Course was short, but like many quite rewarding once you 'get' the line especially thru the long sweeper...(I was missing rear wheel drive on that one!)

Hopefully few folks were mislead during my rambling on the Novice walk...putting in words what your backside is telling you...doesn't always come our right-

Luckily it is all about fun...

I do miss the lunch sessions where one can relax a bit and enjoy the company (and the interesting foods)...one aspect that would be hard to accommodate in the split format.

FAST did a superb job.

[Buildbright]

The event was great and I had a blast. This was my first autocross and everyone was friendly and very helpful. The effort that the AutoX Veterans put into the event shows greatly. I will be back again soon. The split event is a great setup imo and hope you do it again.

[Loren]

Who said I didn't have a turbo...?

Hmmm... I guess I didn't look.

You got a turbo? I feel much better now.

[Solar]

The asphalt was cold
Tires were cold
Surface was full of gravel
Lost an hour of sleep
Weary from setting up course.
Tires are old
Bad shocks
It's a freakin' Mustang
No Sticka! So, this is what it's like to be Ed.

Wait, WAIT WAIT ! Are you the guy that flogged my car for the first time at the end of the day and still beat my best time by 3/10th of a second ? What the hell are you complaining about ?

What a great day ! Even with a split format the day just cruised along just as it would with a regular event !

Gotta thank the boys Dave and Loren for a smooth event and everyone else in the FAST family that makes this all work ! (you know who you are )

So much going tonight here that I want to chat about, but will have to wait until tomorrow.....

[Sokool]

Who said I didn't have a turbo...?

Hmmm... I guess I didn't look.

You got a turbo? I feel much better now.

Surprised you didn't hear the high pitch squeal come from my car about 10 times every time I was on course.

[Jamie]

Who said I didn't have a turbo...?

Hmmm... I guess I didn't look.

You got a turbo? I feel much better now.

Surprised you didn't hear the high pitch squeal come from my car about 10 times every time I was on course.

Thought you were carrying a passenger....

[Loren]

Season Points have been updated.

[Buildbright]

Who said I didn't have a turbo...?

Hmmm... I guess I didn't look.

You got a turbo? I feel much better now.

Surprised you didn't hear the high pitch squeal come from my car about 10 times every time I was on course.

I heard it. That car was fast.

[rab]

Yet one more Miata that can beat the snot out of my poor thing.

[shakedown067]

Man it was good to be back! Certainly not my best day as I'm still trying to get used to having to dial in shock settings. Very happy to finish 4th today with that superb M1 class we had! Some very close competition. So good I'll be signing up for Brooksville! Oh yeah it's on.

Enjoyed the simplicity of the split event format. Felt a bit rushed a few times, but mostly my fault screwing with cameras, shocks, and that damn 4-point harness. Not so sure it kept me more snug than usual. Miss getting to chat during off runs, but easily cured if you can hang around for the other event.

Finally got to use that GoPro again I got for work (timelapse exposure of the Beef 'O' Brady's Bowl). Of course I have to find unique places to put it! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FZtBQcucNko

[aparke]

My first event back with FAST since my major surgery/recovery. Good times and good to see some old faces. I liked the split format and seemed to work quite well.

Also, I know this topic has been discussed in the past, but blue numbers on blue cars does not work. There were a handful of those out there -- makes things unnecessarily difficult for timing and the course workers. There seemed to be a lot of new faces since I've been out, so probably worth reiterating the expectations of contrasting numbers. This should really be addressed during tech inspection.

If you don't have magnetic numbers, there are other options other than blue painter's tape. There's at least green as an alternative.

[impalanut]

one of the things done at other clubs is to have a pile of preprinted block numbers that can be taped to the side of the car. They are easy to see, and they are sold for 50 cents a page. Money to the club. A single number on a 8x11 sheet is easy to see and since it's black on white the car color doesn't matter.

[Charles]

Let's just not mention Jeremy. Hell, even Charles beat me today!

It's happened a few times this season ;-)
I missed one event and drove my fat 4-door at another.

It took me 3 runs to figure out I need to go a lot slower in several places to go fast. Faster than understeering through the gravel at least.

I also preferred the new format. I felt a little rushed but only because I showed up later than I wanted to and 2-drivers on a ~30 sec course.
As I see it:

Pros:
Get 3-4 hours of your day back
Less skin cancer
Less heat stroke for people that don't stay hydrated
Didn't feel like I was dead to the world / exhausted like a full day.
Still remembering what the course looked like by the time you drive it. In our traditional format, it's not uncommon to walk the course at 8am but not drive it until 1-1:30

Cons:
Less social time depending on who runs in which session.
You have to find / bring you own food.

I don't see either "con" as a big issue. I think we all have cell phones these days. Call them up and tell them how much they suck.
We have plenty of places within walking distance of SPJC to get food. As long as Daylight donuts in Brooksville stays open, you can get good sandwiches around the corner from there. They will make lunch sandwiches for you early in the morning if you ask.

P.S. - I got beat by a rally car, nice driving Tim!

[wrx-auto-x]

Another fun event!

Course was short, but like many quite rewarding once you 'get' the line especially thru the long sweeper...(I was missing rear wheel drive on that one!)

Hopefully few folks were mislead during my rambling on the Novice walk...putting in words what your backside is telling you...doesn't always come our right-

Luckily it is all about fun...

I do miss the lunch sessions where one can relax a bit and enjoy the company (and the interesting foods)...one aspect that would be hard to accommodate in the split format.

FAST did a superb job.

It was good to meet you Tim, I'm always glad to see more Suby drivers around, usually out numbered by miatas.

[buddy bodean]

...No Sticka! So, this is what it's like to be Ed.

[jaball77]

I liked the event format. Nice to be able to sleep in to a normal time. It'll be even more important at Brooksville events!

One suggestion...

I did like the "Stop Box" idea at the end of the course. I think it's a good idea for the St Pete events. Most of the time a rolling stop was all that was needed, but there were a few times where there was cross traffic...

However, I think we need a better place for the worker and maybe a different method. It's pretty annoying to go out and move that cone every damn time. How hard would it be to construct an F1 style "lollipop" or a Nascar style pit sign to hang out there? That way the worker can stay put off the side of the course and just flash the sign when a car comes through. Shouldn't be too heavy if you make it out of PVC or something... If you wanted to get REALLY fancy you could make a "checkpoint" style one where it sticks in the top of a cone and has a pivot...that would be cool.