July 2011 Event

[Solar]

... After I figured out that I left my keys to the towing veicle...

LOL I locked my keys in the neon today after I fired it up to turn the ac on, blame it on the heat ...

I guess you were the one that had the guy in the 4 door "towncar" that was looking from someone that was locked out LOL! Me and John were wondering who the guy was that pulled up asking, "who needs to get in their car?" We weren't sure what he was talking about, so we sended him your way, guess it worked out?

[rojna]

Sure did, that was my dad, lucky for me couse Chris was ready to bust my window lol

[Solar]

Sure did, that was my dad, lucky for me couse Chris was ready to bust my window lol

Oh crap ! Thank God the window survived

[Jeremy]

I think the winner of E3 was in the wrong class.
1T E3 151 Justin Bragan Talon

ESP -
Eagle
Talon Turbo (all) (1989-99)

Doesn't that car have a turbo?
Therefore he should be in E2. I hold off on the season points table until that is fixed. Although I don't think it'll change anything.

[rojeho]

That and the spec miata (springs) in C

[buddy bodean]

Good times, good course. Still need to get folks to pick up after themselves.


HOLY BUMPSTOPS GRANDPA!

Holy Bumpstops.JPG (18.38 KiB) Viewed 9044 times

[rojna]

HOLY BUMPSTOPS GRANDPA!

[rojna]

I think the winner of E3 was in the wrong class.
1T E3 151 Justin Bragan Talon

ESP -
Eagle
Talon Turbo (all) (1989-99)

Doesn't that car have a turbo?
Therefore he should be in E2. I hold off on the season points table until that is fixed. Although I don't think it'll change anything.

That means I was 2nd

[sgilbert]

That and the spec miata (springs) in C

and the E63 AMG that was in G..

[Loren]

It would be so much easier if all of these classing issues were brought up AT the event.

Now, to fix the results (once the errors have been verified), Ron has to dig out and fire up the notebook, make the changes, export the files, send them to me and I have to put them up on the website and then notify everyone that they've changed. That in addition to all of the discussion we're having right now.

I'd much rather have the results right the first time, wouldn't you?

[Native]

+1
And once the points table is posted - bring up any concerns that afffect Season Champs podium places right away

[garage west]

Great event, everybody! Enjoyed myself in spite onthe blazing heat and stifling humidity.

Special thanks to Jeremy and Loren for mentoring my sister to a pretty respectable finish at her first-ever autocross. 56th overall -- not too shabby! Way to go, Nat!

[aparke]

Yeah, if it wasn't for the timer, this would have been a absolutely perfect event.

Here is my last run...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nXueki9VDtM" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

And thanks Chris for letting me drive your car.

Just reminds me of my bad habits. It's like Jeremy is watching something other than autocross...has his eyes on the finish line all the way around the course.

[Loren]

Damn, what I hate about watching Jeremy's videos is that in spite of being really fast, he still has some glaring bad habits. Watch his hands. I guess maybe he is human after all.

The inspirational thing for us all here is that even the best drivers aren't perfect. We all have our own quirks and find ways to make things work within our own driving style.

[Jeremy]

Damn, what I hate about watching Jeremy's videos is that in spite of being really fast, he still has some glaring bad habits. Watch his hands. I guess maybe he is human after all.

No, I was just bored from driving such as extremely slow car, couldn't keep my hands still.

Seriously though, what are you talking about? Could be some bad things because I have been driving r-comps for a while now. I wasn't happy with any of my runs yesterday, the one I posted I messed the finish up pretty bad, understeer with too much lock.

I don't see any problems with my hands though. You don't like me moving my first hand or crossing my arms? I love arm crossing, not going to change that. I think it's more important for me to have my hands at 9 and 3 as much as possible. Sometimes it does hurt me in drifting though, cause I'll shuffle the wheel and THEN cross my arms, and I end up having no idea which way the wheel is pointing.

Like at 19 secs into this video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s67XohbW_vo" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; *Bonus: massive understeer at finish. *Disclaimer: alignment was messed up from a slipped bolt.

[Loren]

Seriously though, what are you talking about?

You're all crossed up in most of the turns. Not a problem in a new Miata with cushy power steering. Wouldn't try it in a car with lots of grip, stiff suspension and NO power steering, though.

Like I said, we all develop our own style that works for us. I prefer to have my hands at 10-2 when it counts most... in the middle a big sweeping turn (that's where you're crossed up) where I might need to make some fine corrections. But, I've learned to shuffle steer effectively enough that I don't get "lost" on the wheel. (and I do hand-over-hand tighter turns when I need to rotate the wheel quicker than I can shuffle)

For those who are learning, maintaining your 10-2 or 9-3 home position on the wheel is considered best until your top hand crosses the center of the wheel. At that point, your control is compromised as you bottom hand is pretty much just along for the ride and your top hand is reaching.

If you're sitting close to the wheel with good power steering in a well-behaved car, any perceived "badness" of this will be almost completely masked! But, the fact remains that you'll always have better control of the car if your arms aren't crossed and your hands are close to 10-2.

[Jeremy]

That must be why I hate cars with manual racks. I don't like to cross as much as I did in the last turn, but I do like to go a few hours past 12 oclock. I think it's faster, and there are no worries about where the wheel center is.

When are you going to get an in car camera so you can show us how it's done.

Thanks though, I will try to work on that, maybe I can get a co-drive with someone with a manual rack... Greg Riching?

[Loren]

That must be why I hate cars with manual racks. I don't like to cross as much as I did in the last turn, but I do like to go a few hours past 12 oclock. I think it's faster, and there are no worries about where the wheel center is.

When are you going to get an in car camera so you can show us how it's done.

Thanks though, I will try to work on that, maybe I can get a co-drive with someone with a manual rack... Greg Riching?

Daily drive a Miata with a manual rack for a few years, your habits will change.

Brian has been recording about half of my runs for the past few months. But, the camera is on the windshield, so you won't see my hands. I guess he could do the same rear quarter-window mount that you use on Chuck's 240, we'll have to experiment with that. I've yet to convince Brian to upload any of those videos to YouTube, though!

[treekiller]

When I took Mckamey (now evolution) level one auto-cross school I was convinced I had to learn to left foot brake to be fast.. when I think it was G.H. Sharp, or Rob Falkner (Can't remember which one). told me to stop trying. He said, "I won a championship without left foot braking" concentrate on what you are good at, not trying to drive like someone else. I never tried to left foot brake after that.

I shuffle steer, Picked up the habit on loose surface driving, it works for me. but I am guessing I could be more precise on some corners, if i kept hold of the wheel. that being said. everyone is different.. is something works, it's not a "bad" habit.

As for the results... Like every other group I say we adopt the hard and fast rule of, "no result changes after the event commences." if there is a protest or mis-classing it has to be done during the event.. There is no crying in Baseball.. er. Autocross. this is just to prevent the proverbial "can-o-worms" from being opened.

[Loren]

As for the results... Like every other group I say we adopt the hard and fast rule of, "no result changes after the event commences." if there is a protest or mis-classing it has to be done during the event.. There is no crying in Baseball.. er. Autocross. this is just to prevent the proverbial "can-o-worms" from being opened.

I don't think we need to go overboard with it, but it's looking like due to the size of our events (pretty consistently 60-70 cars or more) and the size of our classes (most of them have 8-10 drivers, and a lot of them are novices), we will need to start taking a little firmer hand with classing. Both in making sure a car is properly class, and that the "gentleman's agreements" between the regulars in a particular class don't get out of hand.

Expect some minor policy changes for next season.