2015 NCAC

FrancisChan · **Posted:** Tue Sep 29, 2015 8:57 pm

That's quite the resource, but it doesn't say that all courses should be like nationals anywhere.

Aaron Buckley · **Posted:** Tue Sep 29, 2015 10:05 pm

FrancisChan wrote:

That's quite the resource, but it doesn't say that all courses should be like nationals anywhere.

Roger Johnson has designed some great courses over the years and is a highly respected driver. With that said, yes, you can't design "Nationals style" courses at every venue. Now ZMax has the size and shape to do a course like a Nationals style. In the end, people will get bent out of shape even if it is "Nationals style" with one element or another. What I can't figure out is how someone can look at a course map and "ass"ume that the course will suck? I've been doing this sport for a long time and know that I can't look at a course map and determine this. Hell, I have walked courses that I thought would be brutal, that turned out to be a hoot.

With my 3 year hiatus not included, in 12.5 years of doing this and at *least* 200 events, by far the worst course I ever ran was the ProSolo in Oscoda, MI in 2004. Horrible. So much so that 20 people formally "protested the course". I still had fun. Like Dick and others have said, you can always practice and learn something from every course, as long as the course is not dangerous. In the end, everyone is running the same course, so what does it matter?

I really think this would be a good time to give the one finger salute to the NCAC and just do our own thing starting next year. - AB

RodneyWright · **Posted:** Wed Sep 30, 2015 8:15 am

BTW, and this may be too late, but is there any way we can get some food trucks at the NCAC? Be nice to have an option in regard to food and either not to have to go off site or bring another crappy store bought sandwich....

BriceJohnson · **Joined:** Thu Apr 13, 2006 7:33 am **Posts:** 2230

Aaron Buckley wrote:

I really think this would be a good time to give the one finger salute to the NCAC and just do our own thing starting next year. - AB

THIS +1,000,000,000

Personally, count me as excited about some of the people who decided to withdraw over the course map joke.

Rob Keehner · **Posted:** Wed Sep 30, 2015 10:13 am

Hello all. Steven and I were very deliberate in our course design. I was adament about this because plainly this is not a national event. There are many fast sweeping turns on these courses that will be challenging. Also I left some room in the plan to account for needing to move the line some if needed. Currently we will be no closer than 40 ft to a pole and that is a slow section on Sat.

The course is less tricky than we could have done for one reason in particular. This is a opportunity for our local drivers to compete with the best in the state. We need things that suit all skill levels for an event like this. If all you want are national tour courses, stay at the tours there is nothing wrong with that.

I think some are making autocross about themselves. They don't like being mocked and I think the stop box served it's purpose. I'm very confident in my abilities and can drive as well as anyone, we do not have a talent gap in our club as some assume. I'm looking forward to having fun with everyone Saturday.

Alec Moody · **Joined:** Fri Feb 15, 2013 9:02 am **Posts:** 299

I'm not going to be at NCAC. My Miata is having lots of tubes welded into it and the mini I was hoping to have running still has electrical problems and a seized caliper. Can someone else do WC?

RodneyWright · **Posted:** Wed Sep 30, 2015 11:40 am

wow, the forecast is absolutely sucking for this weekend. Looking at both weather.com and wunderground.com, 100% chance of rain, 3" on Sat and 2" on Sun w/ moderate winds. Between this and facebook, can it get any freaking better?

Can we reschedule? Is that even a possibility?

Richard Casto · **Posted:** Wed Sep 30, 2015 11:52 am

RodneyWright wrote:

Can we reschedule? Is that even a possibility?

Unless it is expected to be unsafe, I expect rescheduling would just be more drama. I am not attending, but I actually enjoy autocrossing in the wet.

Oddly enough... all of the THSCC negativity elsewhere has me somewhat interested in attending a THSCC autocross next year. Co-drive anyone?

Richard

Rob Keehner · **Posted:** Wed Sep 30, 2015 12:10 pm

The motto of THSCC autocross and rallycross lately seems to be that if you have experience and want to run someone will find a place for you somewhere.

Matt McGrain · **Posted:** Wed Sep 30, 2015 12:25 pm

RodneyWright wrote:

Can we reschedule? Is that even a possibility?

Next weekend would be so awesome but that would too good to be true at this point I'd imagine. Anyone opposing this idea would have to be crazy or part amphibious. :lol:

Looking like up to 10-20" of rain for parts for the eastern seaboard, even with Joaquin not hitting the coast. Damn!

Chad Culbertson · **Posted:** Wed Sep 30, 2015 12:45 pm

Good things I bought some frogg toggs at the beginning of the season. I bring them every time but so far have never used them, haha.

Actually, I don't think I had them at the EV challenge, wish I had.

RodneyWright · **Posted:** Wed Sep 30, 2015 12:49 pm

Chad Culbertson wrote:

Good things I bought some frogg toggs at the beginning of the season. I bring them every time but so far have never used them, haha.

Actually, I don't think I had them at the EV challenge, wish I had.

I have the frog toggs as well. Out of the box it's like wearing cardboard, but they eventually soften up....

RobLupella · **Posted:** Wed Sep 30, 2015 2:09 pm

Aaron Buckley wrote:

FrancisChan wrote:

That's quite the resource, but it doesn't say that all courses should be like nationals anywhere.

Roger Johnson has designed some great courses over the years and is a highly respected driver. With that said, yes, you can't design "Nationals style" courses at every venue. Now ZMax has the size and shape to do a course like a Nationals style. In the end, people will get bent out of shape even if it is "Nationals style" with one element or another. What I can't figure out is how someone can look at a course map and "ass"ume that the course will suck? I've been doing this sport for a long time and know that I can't look at a course map and determine this. Hell, I have walked courses that I thought would be brutal, that turned out to be a hoot.

With my 3 year hiatus not included, in 12.5 years of doing this and at *least* 200 events, by far the worst course I ever ran was the ProSolo in Oscoda, MI in 2004. Horrible. So much so that 20 people formally "protested the course". I still had fun. Like Dick and others have said, you can always practice and learn something from every course, as long as the course is not dangerous. In the end, everyone is running the same course, so what does it matter?

I really think this would be a good time to give the one finger salute to the NCAC and just do our own thing starting next year. - AB

This is so true, I don't have Aaron's Nationals experience but I've been autocrossing for awhile and have done regional, CCR, NCR, and Triad events and I can't exactly tell from a course map how a course is going to drive. Hell, it is sometimes difficult to tell after walking exactly how fast something is. I agree to giving the complainers a salute and then just ignoring them. They look like the fools they are.

Matt McGrain · **Posted:** Wed Sep 30, 2015 7:08 pm

Course maps are like GoPros to me. It's strange but on the events I pay no attention to maps or bringing the camera, I often drive better. Ironically, the new GoPro battery for my prehistoric Hero first-gen is in the mail via fleabay since the old one finally died. Maybe it's something about simplicity or lack of distractions. Paper course maps can be helpful for jotting notes or looking at between runs to remember where the mistakes were made, or just to show novices when you're instructing.

Course maps posted a week before the event are obviously fuel for criticism apparently. Might be a good idea to post the real course if we're not rocking the stop box. :wink:

Sooooo, we're down to 117/114 with five hours until Motorsportsreg closes up shop. Don't we have to have ~150ish to break even at Z-Max?

michaelsmiller · **Posted:** Wed Sep 30, 2015 7:53 pm

I realize that the course design is a very touchy subject at this time, but I have to pass state inspection next week. Typically on two day events the courses are reversed so that tire wear will be even. I'm just barely going to make with even tire wear. BTW, those of you with Miatas, I would suggest that you clean out your top drains before this weekend. I'm looking forward to a lot of fun. YEEHA!

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