Sept autox at Cary

Patrice Bousquet · **Posted:** Tue Sep 20, 2016 7:24 pm

Here to make us feel better about safety distance.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJg7ZJZ8YCc

This one is a little better, but what a course….
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RKK82K2XXCI
Same course but formula car.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JzOQqFaOcok

RodneyWright · **Posted:** Tue Sep 20, 2016 10:35 pm

Good Lord, how the heck do you walk that 2nd course? That was a bit dicey in areas, but looked like fun!

FrancisChan · **Posted:** Tue Sep 20, 2016 11:01 pm

I do like the idea of an indoor autocross, no worries about the weather or sunburn.

Arthur McDonald · **Joined:** Fri Aug 29, 2003 1:54 am **Posts:** 2052

Neal Harrington wrote:

John Messenheimer Jr. was the other victim. His VW allegedly had an ABS malfunction due to metallic brake dust buildup. The amazing thing was how the chain-link fence rode up over the car, and suffered almost no damage. The car, however, had front suspension damage from the curb that it leaped about six feet before the fence.

I was an AutoX VP at the time of John's incident, and had the task of telling the building manager about it. We were very lucky that the large bushes behind the fence stopped the car, or there might have been spectator injuries.

RobLupella · **Posted:** Wed Sep 21, 2016 10:22 am

Arthur McDonald wrote:

Neal Harrington wrote:

John Messenheimer Jr. was the other victim. His VW allegedly had an ABS malfunction due to metallic brake dust buildup. The amazing thing was how the chain-link fence rode up over the car, and suffered almost no damage. The car, however, had front suspension damage from the curb that it leaped about six feet before the fence.

I was an AutoX VP at the time of John's incident, and had the task of telling the building manager about it. We were very lucky that the large bushes behind the fence stopped the car, or there might have been spectator injuries.

Yeah, I was standing behind that fence at the time..... :shock:

George Bright · **Posted:** Wed Sep 21, 2016 5:34 pm

RodneyWright wrote:

Good Lord, how the heck do you walk that 2nd course? That was a bit dicey in areas, but looked like fun!

That course reminds me of the original Rocky Mt. courses when we had the whole airport to run on. I remember one of those was 3.5 miles long and about 4 min. time in an HS datsun 510. It took a long time to walk the course.

RobLupella · **Posted:** Wed Sep 21, 2016 9:01 pm

Patrice Bousquet wrote:

Here to make us feel better about safety distance.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJg7ZJZ8YCc

This one is a little better, but what a course….
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RKK82K2XXCI
Same course but formula car.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JzOQqFaOcok

They only do this cool stuff in Europe

Rob Keehner · **Posted:** Thu Sep 22, 2016 9:25 pm

I agree with the comments on the turnaround. The Cobra sans power steering had trouble there. The spacing of the brake point and the end of the slalom meant some were braking and turning at the same time. Thus they would overshoot the cone.

I'll make an honest admission. My decision to not ride in a couple of the very fast cars there was purposeful, but I wouldn't bat an eye at Danville. David offered for me to drive the 4C in run group 4 and I declined. At the time I had tons of instructor rides and no lunch. I didn't think it was prudent given my reduction in focus despite the likely religious driving experience. I think it's an issue track and autox will continue to face as production vehicles continue to get faster. But at the same time I'm raw timing them and going much faster in the same space. Who's to say what is safe.

I would recommend a line of cones through the parking spaces on the outside of the sweeper. Patrice and I were both staying tight so sweeping out to the curb just added distance. I think the Mustang was just a victim of acceleration intoxication. I told all the novices to stay tight, into the outer spaces was adding to much distance. So a line of cones might give a visual safety net and not change the course.

Good job overall, I had a good time. I think two 60 car events, one morning and one evening might make good sense here. It could certainly prevent fatigue issues in late sessions.

Michael Byrne · **Joined:** Mon Mar 21, 2016 12:37 pm **Posts:** 20

Re novices with high HP cars: I am a novice and was driving my 335is (332 HP, 342 torque, 370 torque burst) for the first time in an event that day. I had no problems with the course, which I thought was both very fun and very well designed. My $.02.

FrancisChan · **Posted:** Fri Sep 23, 2016 8:38 am

Michael Byrne wrote:

Re novices with high HP cars: I am a novice and was driving my 335is (332 HP, 342 torque, 370 torque burst) for the first time in an event that day. I had no problems with the course, which I thought was both very fun and very well designed. My $.02.

Novice you may technically be, but you've had quite a bit of experience in a slower car between the cones that helped out

RobLupella · **Posted:** Fri Sep 23, 2016 10:56 am

FrancisChan wrote:

Michael Byrne wrote:

Re novices with high HP cars: I am a novice and was driving my 335is (332 HP, 342 torque, 370 torque burst) for the first time in an event that day. I had no problems with the course, which I thought was both very fun and very well designed. My $.02.

Novice you may technically be, but you've had quite a bit of experience in a slower car between the cones that helped out

What Francis said about you Michael. I told you that you were driving the MG really well right up until my seat broke and I was holding on for dear life at NCCAR. The reward is doing well in a car that has a bit more capability.

I was telling my novices to stay close too and do a minimum of a lift before you got to the sweeper to set the car. BTW the pivot was fun, I may be one of the crazy people who actually like slow pivots if only because I get a sense of satisfaction when I do them right.

The Alfa is a religious experience. I was a bit careful in it and by the time I ran I pretty much hot lapped but it just reacts to inputs. Light car with enough power to be fun

Michael Byrne · **Joined:** Mon Mar 21, 2016 12:37 pm **Posts:** 20

Thanks Francis and Rob.

To my genuine astonishment it appears I finished 3rd in novice. I guess I should have stuck around for the trophies

that's one I would have hung in the garage for shock value alone, LOL

PS: I'd almost rob a collection box to get a crack at that 4C.... awesome car

Chad Culbertson · **Posted:** Fri Sep 23, 2016 1:46 pm

Michael Byrne wrote:

Thanks Francis and Rob.

To my genuine astonishment it appears I finished 3rd in novice. I guess I should have stuck around for the trophies

that's one I would have hung in the garage for shock value alone, LOL

PS: I'd almost rob a collection box to get a crack at that 4C.... awesome car

I'm sure the magnets are still in the bus so you could likely grab one at the next event. Assuming we didn't hand out all the third place ones.

Michael Byrne · **Joined:** Mon Mar 21, 2016 12:37 pm **Posts:** 20

Chad Culbertson wrote:

Michael Byrne wrote:

Thanks Francis and Rob.

To my genuine astonishment it appears I finished 3rd in novice. I guess I should have stuck around for the trophies

that's one I would have hung in the garage for shock value alone, LOL

PS: I'd almost rob a collection box to get a crack at that 4C.... awesome car

I'm sure the magnets are still in the bus so you could likely grab one at the next event. Assuming we didn't hand out all the third place ones.

Thanks! Bit embarrassed to ask but I'd love to have one as it's my first motorsports place of any kind.

Chuck Branscomb · **Posted:** Sat Sep 24, 2016 7:56 am

RobLupella wrote:

BTW the pivot was fun, I may be one of the crazy people who actually like slow pivots if only because I get a sense of satisfaction when I do them right.

I'm crazy right there with you Rob! Doing to super slow pivot cone "just right" is one of the most challenging elements in autocross (hence likely why so many people hate them), but dangit it's amazing to nail just right, perfect trailbraking entry, very late apex all the time thinking of that inside rear wheel location versus the cone, and then blasting out of it with major horsepower smoothly and perfectly rolled on at the max limits of the tires --- doing all of that right at the limits of grip the entire time, staying on the edge of the friction circle -- what could be more fun at an autox?

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