Da Groj

All said and done, that went really well. I had a great time, and I hope everyone else did too. The first group in the morning was interesting, and after an impromptu mid-group driver's meeting, the event ran just like any other good ol' FAST event = smoooth. Not to rehash too much, but unlike the runways we're used to, an off-course at a site like Lakeland can lead to a collision, so we gotta be on our feet.

Grid for that first group got off to a rough start too, as we're also not used to moving grids. Finishing cars had no room as gridded cars weren't being moved along. That got fixed (not without me first losing my temper, for which I apologize), and was not an issue again, as far as I know.

And thank you to everyone today who helped out - and there were a lot of you. The extra hands are just invaluable -

The site seemed pretty darned comfortable (real bathrooms sure didn't hurt), and the Lakeland employee Cosmo and our police escort Officer Blackburn were cool guys who were helpful (and seemed to enjoy watching).

The course was a blast - nice to relive some old SPC-type driving. It's different than a runway! As he does, Bill has been tinkering with his suspension tune on the wagon, and what he set up was just perfect for the course: front grip for days, and the back was perfectly loose that a mid-turn lift would so gently just rotate around. Of course, that didn't stop me from creaming a cone wall not once, but twice, but I put together a decent 4th run (and I didn't cone it away this time).

I, for one, am looking forward to going back there!

Great event and great location. Took me back to the SPC site in St Pete. Hoping a lot more events are run here as it's an awesome spot.

Didn't get video today but was able to muster a 36.925 on my final run.

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New sites always come with a learning curve, but otherwise, I'll agree with Steve. Great event overall!

We'll have to wait until after the City of Lakeland folks have their post-event review meeting to learn if we'll be invited back. But, based on feedback from the facility maintenance rep and the LPD officer who were there all day, I'd say we have a really good shot! We'll keep you posted.

Man, what a long day. Went to be right about midnight. Got up at 4:30. On-site from 6:30am-6pm (as were several other folks). Drove like crap, but had fun.

Results are up, of course: http://drivefast.org/results/results-archive/

I’m all for more parking lot sites, I need the practice! Lucky for me cones kept jumping in front of my competitors’ fast runs and I was able to sneak away with 2nd place in M3 with a 36.838. Looking at my video I didn’t have the best of lines, and Philip was able to show the car had a 35.7xx in it. I’m sticking with my super scientifically backed excuse that first run group of the morning session had a dirty track to clean up for everyone else

https://youtu.be/sAdgdNIUo6g

Same, Im in for more parking lot sites for practice, especially with deciding how tight or how wide I need to setup. Hoping the city of lakeland approves more events

Fastest run:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5WJnA32DKA

And my 4th run where I screwed up the turn around section and got loose on the first big sweeper, but it felt better overall, about a tenth slower
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BtpTDxfsxV4

Good day, hot, but fun! Chatted up the facility guy a bit while telling a few folks how to park their car, good chap - really liked the event.

Pulled out some necessarily decent runs, should be able to stave off some of the points completion for now!

I'm just glad my first run was good enough to hold onto second. I really thought I would be in fourth or fifth place by the end of the day...

I apparently like left turns so much I continue them right round... [emoji23]

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Loren wrote:
Man, what a long day. Went to be right about midnight. Got up at 4:30. On-site from 6:30am-6pm (as were several other folks). Drove like crap, but had fun.

Loren, I continue to be amazed how both you and Steve drive so well, while multitasking and herding 120 participants going about their 480 runs, in a smooth organized way. Not to mention the extra hours of prep on event day

I had a great time driving, creamed that cone wall on my first run, which must have served an inspiration to Steve.

Steve only creamed the cone wall once, at least in my car.

Had a nice brief discussion with one of the police officers. He seemed to enjoy observing. He said he had the radar on some us, quote: 'your SUV is pretty fast'

Kshader wrote:I’m sticking with my super scientifically backed excuse that first run group of the morning session had a dirty track to clean up for everyone else

Yeah, that one's not going to fly.
The asphalt was super hot in the afternoon; I could feel it through my shoes. Several people noted that they were slower in their fun runs. Plus you had to stick with whatever line was there in a couple of crucial spots. Slightly off and it was marbles. Morning session was the place to be today.

mymomswagon wrote: He said he had the radar on some us, quote: 'your SUV is pretty fast'

Ha! Never thought that he might be doing that. Was a long day for him too, I guess.

Coned 2 runs, and had a long, fun but slow drift through the gravel on another. So I just wanted to make sure I got a clean fast one, which I did, but still flubbed the 1st big sweeper. Left a 34 out there, but I wasn't getting near Mark Hackett today. He killed it.
Got edged out by Matt by frog's hair.

That was enjoyable. I appreciate the fairly straightforward course layout, even though it just happened to benefit me, I feel like it was easy to follow for all the guys and girls that are used to the simple "up and back" layouts that most were used to from the airstrip. The asphalt was so beautiful, not a sandpit that the dogtrack or even the horse track always felt like to me. Also super smooth!

I liked the big wide sweeping corners that really allowed you to choose lines, I always felt like brooksville there was one distinct line that everyone took, the matter of doing well or not depended on either how fast the car was, or how much balls you had to send it through with speed.(turn arounds excluded) Watching a few videos today I believe a couple different lines were taken and if Matt has video of mine it should look quite different still. Might be interesting to compare.

I loved everything about the event and location other that the heat (of course) and the i4 drive back, but I certainly hope we can use the facility as much as possible in the future

markzeronine wrote: Watching a few videos today I believe a couple different lines were taken and if Matt has video of mine it should look quite different still. Might be interesting to compare.

I believe I did capture all your runs, I was just too tired and lazy to edit last night.


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markzeronine wrote:Also super smooth!

Ah, so it was the morning groups that put all those little ripples in the pavement! I'd forgotten how interesting the surface was -- or maybe it's changed over the years. Fun site and course. And I'm having my arteries snaked out after the post-event dinner...chicken topped with melted cheese, mushrooms, onion, and bacon....

https://youtu.be/sjMwT8nI5R8

Jamie wrote:

markzeronine wrote:Also super smooth!

Ah, so it was the morning groups that put all those little ripples in the pavement! I'd forgotten how interesting the surface was -- or maybe it's changed over the years. Fun site and course. And I'm having my arteries snaked out after the post-event dinner...chicken topped with melted cheese, mushrooms, onion, and bacon....

https://youtu.be/sjMwT8nI5R8

You got video of her arteries being snaked??

Love the videos!

mymomswagon wrote:Steve only creamed the cone wall once, at least in my car.

By golly, your're right. Must've felt like twice...

mymomswagon wrote: 'your SUV is pretty fast'

Lol.
There's a forum signature line, if ever.

Haha well there were definitely some "bouncy" areas out there, but it was only really pronounced to me with cars that were really light and stiff suspension setup to me. Maybe it was just the adrenaline or concentration (or Matt's car is really well setup) but I didn't notice them while driving

markzeronine wrote:Haha well there were definitely some "bouncy" areas out there, but it was only really pronounced to me with cars that were really light and stiff suspension setup to me. Maybe it was just the adrenaline or concentration (or Matt's car is really well setup) but I didn't notice them while driving

I only noticed it near the finish. But then again, I softened up the dampers up some before I ran due to the bouncy complaints.

My stock suspension Miata skipped along in a couple places but I think it made it more interesting and fun ride trying to keep it together [emoji38]

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The vibrations weren't that bad, but my springs are closer to stock spring rates. Like Daniel's car it was near the finish I felt it the worst and it felt like I could feel my motor move more than usual (new slightly stiffer mounts than stock). I may recheck the torque later on them to be safe, but everything felt fine on the way home.

Great event, and good opportunities to not only spectate but get some much needed shade. The site also seems to allow for quite a bit of flexibility/configuration. I’m sure we’ll see some variety to allow for a stationary grid and good course designs.

As for my driving, I wasn’t expecting much as I’ve missed a few events. But I surprised myself with a clean 35.4 only to get beat by our “novice” Daniel by 3/10ths! What didn’t surprise me was that my best run was my first, need to work on that. Although I was consistent, each run within 4/10ths or so.

Really enjoyed the course design and the grip, had a blast out there. Didn’t seem as bumpy as I thought it’d be despite what I watched from others. And for those wondering, my car is carbureted so the sputter is fuel slosh from the bowls. It floods itself under hard turns. May need fuel injection!

Rawkkrawler wrote:And for those wondering, my car is carbureted so the sputter is fuel slosh from the bowls. It floods itself under hard turns. May need fuel injection!

Contact the carb engineering on that. I was able to get a proper float height setting to correct that and an accurate psi fuel input setting if you have a gage adjuster inline? 5psi I think I ran with a 750 Holly on a 306 as no tank return line. Rob probably knows all that in his head. FI carb kit is ridiculously accurate/smooth though now for the sake of an O2 sensor bung. Next you'll want a top + AC? OR 3 C5's for less money?