Da Groj

twistedwankel wrote:Huh? Downshift? None of us in Moby Dick ever left 1st gear Excellent course for some cars.

Even Dan B. in his first ever automatic trans autocross hit nothing and was right with the best times going from FWD to RWD too.

Doug, thanks for letting me take a run in Moby, had a blast and brought back good memories of my early days in Florida, with my '91 Grand Marquis The way I kept butchering my first to second shift after the tight turnaround in my car, I might be better off with a slushbox

Loren wrote:Shifting down takes time, and you're acceleration is zero during that time. It also takes concentration, which was the issue on this course. WHEN can you let your brain focus on that downshift? And, of course, if you grab first, you'll have to shift back into 2nd... and that costs time, as well.

Don't know about the bottom sweeper, because I stayed in second there, but around the pin turn before the finish, this course negated a few of those disadvantages. If you do it well, deceleration into the corner isn't zero. You're not able to stand up on the brakes, of course, but in a non-ABS car on a somewhat slippery surface, sometimes that's not a disadvantage! And for a 1.8 Miata (and I suspect most others), the finish lights came up before second gear did.

look at Mike's no-torque havin' Insight. His car accelerates out of those turn-arounds about like most cars would in 3rd.

Does it? Remember -- electric motor = instant torque. It might not be as much as we think of for peak torque on combustion engines, but I'll bet it fills in an important gap at low speeds.

I'm really growing to like the Dog Track. Much like Tampa Bay Downs, it's just different from the concrete airstrip. Less grippy, an little more challenging to drive.

Yup. I'd give much for another 15 seconds worth of course length, but these have done pretty well with what's available.

Jamie wrote:Don't know about the bottom sweeper, because I stayed in second there, but around the pin turn before the finish, this course negated a few of those disadvantages.

For sure. The finish turn was an exception. It almost required first. Definitely a benefit to downshift there, as you could do it under braking, and you didn't have to take the time to upshift back to 2nd.

Loren wrote:look at Mike's no-torque havin' Insight. His car accelerates out of those turn-arounds about like most cars would in 3rd.

Does it? Remember -- electric motor = instant torque. It might not be as much as we think of for peak torque on combustion engines, but I'll bet it fills in an important gap at low speeds.

I used to think the same thing, but Mike assured me that was not the case with the Insight. Having ridden in it, I'm not inclined to argue. It is significantly slower to accelerate than even the lowly FASTiva. Very different from something like Dan's Volt... THAT is a car with significant instant electric torque.

OKAY you got it out of me.....I CHEATED.

A week on a bigger boat. A navigator yelling "coming about". AND a compass on the dash.

I am not a crook.

Loren wrote:THAT is a car with significant instant electric torque.

If only it were not a 2 ton package... or at least had as much tire as the festy! I'm thinking with some tires, that car could give the bottom half a lot of headaches at the dog track events - a better driver than I would have most definitely eeked out a flat 32 as is.

Great "sea of cones" pictures!

For me, what helped was:
"Unwind the Wheel" -- Instructor Andy Canak
"Smoother Transitions" -- Instructor Loren (well, at least I tried)
"You can go FASTER in the slaloms" -- me
"You don't need no stinkin' gearshift" -- Bluesight
"RE71's last ~140 runs...what's to complain!" -- Bridgestone

B

PS...140 might be optimistic...trying to get to 70 before the flip..they're at 50 now...then maybe more like 50 to 60 after is more realistic...

bluesight wrote:Trash talk done...please refer to Futurama Episode 31 Re: Fastiva disposition...but Rob P's Civic Si took the M4 prize home...

Here's what happened with Bluesight..https://vimeo.com/201478398

B

So how did you hide the flux capacitor in the car?

OK...I just had to find out how things really worked...use your headphones and stereo glasses to see if you can find the half-second mistake...

https://vimeo.com/201791407


(hint...UNWIND THE WHEEL!)

B

Two places. Exit of the first turn-around, and the finish. Pretty much the same mistake both times. Subtle... but, costly. The first one cost you maybe a tenth or so, but you made it back up in the 2nd turn-around and were back even in the slalom. The finish was the killer.

I think I was too tentative in the last part of the slalom, myself. I didn't want to charge into that final turn too hot (because we all know this car gets squirrely if you try to brake while turning), so I gave it up early.

Good eye on the first turnaround...I missed it, but it looked like the same problem...delay unwinding the wheel. I always forget the mantra in the heat of the race! There were also constant problems at the end of the second turnaround that showed in the other run videos.

B

I'm a little late to chime in, but I really enjoyed the course. I'm a little frustrated with my times, but Jamie's coaching and the insights offered here (pun intended) are helpful. Big ups to Sara Tinsley who soundly thrashed me in S5. You go, girl, but keep lookin' over your shoulder!

Thanks to everyone for another great FAST event. Mike, the side by side comparison is helpful. Unwinding the wheel is one of the things Jamie mentioned I should work on.
Dave

Blue_Heron wrote: Big ups to Sara Tinsley who soundly thrashed me in S5. You go, girl, but keep lookin' over your shoulder!
Dave

It is not her shoulder that needs looking over, she is only a second behind me! And 4/10 of a second behind Loren.