THSCC Forums

Ryan:
I remember when you first came to THSCC you were FAST!

Wha' happened?

_________________
Brad

I bought a Honduhhh.

_________________
02 Focus SVT
STF 9

damn, i've got it, it is so simple.

seriously, when you trophy for the first time you can't trophy again, first place that is. same idea as getting booted to open class but you stay in nov class. you then drop to the back of the field. add a cone to your times each time you win an event. dunce cones so to speak. this in itself would make one have to improve just to be competitive. it sounds stupid but at the same time those not trophy-ing would have a better chance later in the season.

alright, it sounded good untill i read it again.

definatley everyones willingness to help has made the club more enjoyable. At each event I try to remember names/faces and say hi to them. Just starting a random conversation is a good way to get to know people. I try to ride along with someone before my run (good way to get to know another driver and learn good habits). Dan and I try to stay and help clean up the course and stay for trophies (another way to learn everyone's name). I think the club officers really appreciate help cleaning up! We also went up to Danville early on Saturday to help set up the course, got to talk with Rob, Jason, Scott, Graham, Kevin, and Chris. We had dinner with everyone and got to hear story time with Randy! We watched the 3rd run group from by the bus during the event and talked with Vincent (yet another way to match names with cars).
I've found that everyone is really friendly so if you feel left out just speak up and talk/get to know someone!

_________________
traded the ultimate driving machine for a hatchback.....

Instead of having an online poll for novices (many of whom don't yet use the forums), maybe we should consider asking the novices to fill out a simple questionaire on how we can improve their autocross experience at the end of the day.

Did you just pust *another* "useless" story in this thread?


--Donnie

It is now pretty difficult to identify true "novices". Sorry, I do not consider drivers 6-7 events and a school as a novice. There are a number of us at that experience level had already started to run the Pro or National level.

We all can benefit from instruction and advice. Even national champions return back to Evolution schools. So don't take it as I think someone with 6-7 events does not need instruction.

Secondly, now people with 6-7 events under their belts (that is THSCC events....how many other events are unknown) can not be of any help to other novices. And quite franlkly, people at that level can probably relate to a first or second time driver better.

Finally, the best way to get better is to instruct other drivers. There is not a better learning tool than verbalizing what you are thinking to another person. So as a "novice" you lose a year's worth of the best learning!

As a club we lose a pretty good resource for a year.

Edit:
I dislike it when people bitch without a suggestion....

1) Modify the novice ride along rule....if you have more than 3 THSCC you can take other novices.

2) During novice meetings introduce the more experienced novices to the group. Sorry if you want to run novice all year you gotta attend the novie meetings

3) think of a way to award a couple of the highest finishing noobs (some one with less than 3 events). We can afford a piece of wood for these people.

_________________
Jim Pastorius
2008 Silverado VortecMax
1992 Camaro CMC#92
2002 BMW R1150R

2009 3rd Place CMC Mid-Atlantic Championship
2009 CMC Hyperfest Winner

Ok, Donnie - I'm sorry for calling your stories "meaningless" (not "useless"). I was just trying to point out that not everybody thinks the same way, and that the times have changed since "way back when." We need to make sure we concentrate on the present instead of the past.

Looks like PJ and Dan "get it". AX is more about socialization than anything else. We drive 4 mins in 8 hours so what do we do the rest of the time right?

Yes we do really appreciate you guys hanging around to help clean up. I got to know a lot of the people the same way when I first started.

Anyone knows that I give PJ a hard time with all the short jokes (us tall guys love those) but he's knows it's all in good fun. Except for being another AWD hack, he's a pretty good guy.

PJ I need to get a ride with you at the next event to show you how to beat Rob. I'm what you call a reformed AWD Hack. However the strategy may involve the air pressure in Rob's tires.

_________________
Vincent Keene
'06 Ford Mustang GT (track rat)
'15 Dodge Charger R/T (yeah, it's got a HEMI!)
'07 Ford Fusion SE (205,000 miles and counting)
'98 Chevy Z-24 (retired)
'93 Acura Integra (Team SWB 24HOL Car)

What else do you expect from two guys that live together that drive the same kind of car. D'oh, waitaminute ...

_________________
Has no responsibility whatsoever.

I second the motion.

-I must say although I disagreed with his "balls" comment, I do like this idea, we could help explain the more basic things like the cone rule, and gridding A/B running 1/3 working 2/4 etc. It would be nice to ride along with other novices, although I may not be able to give the best advice two heads are better than one. Maybe first or second timers wouldnt be as intimidated by someone that is only in their first year. Possibly easier to relate.



hrmmmm I'm listening.....

just kidding Rob!

_________________
traded the ultimate driving machine for a hatchback.....

Two empty heads are better?

_________________
Vincent Keene
'06 Ford Mustang GT (track rat)
'15 Dodge Charger R/T (yeah, it's got a HEMI!)
'07 Ford Fusion SE (205,000 miles and counting)
'98 Chevy Z-24 (retired)
'93 Acura Integra (Team SWB 24HOL Car)

Hey, I got thick skin...I just couldn't resist a pot-kettle comment.

Don't know how you meant "way back when" (and it doesn't really matter), but I'll point out that you've been doing this longer than me.

I do agree that our stories aren't of the utmost in importance since times do change, but they are still relevant to some degree.

I don't entirely support Jim's proposal, but only because it's just plain late in the season and it's more work for the officers or T&S (or both). We've got this season long thing going...let's just let it finish and let folks who administer things figure out at the end if it is worth doing again. Let's also agree that it's good to encourage fast folks to move up and if they don't, well there's no rule that says they have to.

I still say X class should have more entries than it does...as should open. I agree with Jim that people running TIR that use dedicated race tires (even if they are "street" tires) should go to open (even if they stay on the same tires), but I don't necessarily think that means get rid of TIR (unless it dwindles to basically no entrants).

There, that's about all I can think of.


--Donnie

I wasn't pointing my comment specifically at you, Donnie - I was pointing it at all the people who were either speaking up or were getting ready to speak up. Some of them are really old. Just wanted to make sure that we were listening instead of all trying to talk about the good ol' days.

Also, the point of my story was that not everybody thinks like me, so it was just reinforcing the point I was trying to make.