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About 5:20, the bottom literally dropped out of the sky. It rained hard for a good hour or so.

Great event everyone, I think this was the most efficent we have ran in a LOOOOONNNNG time.

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02 Focus SVT
STF 9

While it wasn't as hot as last year, it was hot enough for an early ending to be good. I live close to the site and we got 2 inches of rain in just over an hour.
The course was fun and well done. Greenville isn't the easiest place to set up a good course. Both Jim and Bernie suceeded. The courses were fair to all cars and levels of drivers. I liked it all except the necessary tight finish Sunday - necessary to keep out of control drivers from hitting the building in somebody elses car! Have you ever said "yes" to something then, said to yourself, "this is a baaaad idea"? Ryan had that "Hey ya'll, watch this" look on his face.

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Rubbin' is Racin'

Got a couple of inches of rain in the bus, too. Well, not really, but there's another leak somewhere that makes a puddle underneath the pedals. That's in addition to the leaking door up top that was sending a river to the front of the bus.

And how in the Hell does the AC work all through the weekend, right up to when I turn off the bus at Ruby Tuesday, then when I get ready to drive it home in pouring rain it's suddenly gone?

No AC = windows constantly fogging up and being wiped off. Not fun.

Did the event finish up without any rain? I left at about 2:00 (Run group four was maybe into their 2nd or 3rd run). At about 2:30, on Rt 264 toward Raleigh, it was pouring the rain down. I was thinking the event might not finish before the rain hit. However, the rain was spotty so maybe it missed the event?

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Richard Casto
1972 Porsche 914
2013 Honda Fit Sport
2015 Honda Fit EX
http://motorsport.zyyz.com
Money can't buy happiness, but somehow it's more comfortable to cry in a Porsche than a Kia.

Any theories as to why?

From the outside looking in...

1. I didn't see or hear of any computer issues
2. I didn't see or hear of any issues with the timing equipment.
3. Low cone count?
4. Low rerun count (see #1, 2 and 3). (How many reruns did we do??)
5. 15-20 second launch interval

Any feelings about the impact (good/bad) on the "all runs at once" and the balancing of the run group on the speed of the event?

From the grid worker perspective, I have to say that I liked how we did grid this time.

For those who were not there, we did the following...

* All two driver cars in seperate grid (happened to be closer to start)
* Everyone else in second grid with both an "A" and "B" line. You being in A or B was random and grid workers manually balanced out QTY in each.
* Two grid workers. One stationary closer to the start. This person managed the two driver grid and worked the grid worksheet (clipboard). Other worker worked the main grid (no clipboard).
* Runs worked as follows...
1. Run driver 1 in two driver car.
2. Run "A" line
3. Run driver 2 in two driver car.
4. Run "B" line
5. Repeat.

Only problems that I experienced...

1. Works very well until you need to bring in cars for next run group. System works if you have manually balanced out A and B lane. But if you are finishing up your grid and you then have a huge stream of cars showing up for the next run group it can be difficult. Especially in a small grid with one entry/exit. Wes was trying to hold next group of cars as long as possible and then let them in at the last moments. This worked, but required more work and communication.
2. Launch interval was so short that drivers in grid were constantly being caught off guard. Basically they were not in the car and ready with helmet on. Solution was for grid to remind people in advance. Basically saying that grid is moving faster than normal and pro-actively asking people to get ready and put on helmets.
3. Not sure how to work in 3-4 driver cars (if that happens)

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Richard Casto
1972 Porsche 914
2013 Honda Fit Sport
2015 Honda Fit EX
http://motorsport.zyyz.com
Money can't buy happiness, but somehow it's more comfortable to cry in a Porsche than a Kia.

Time between runs was short for 2 driver cars. Brad did a great job of keeping us on track by calling out "two minutes", then "one minute".
I would have like more time to cool off the tires.

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Rubbin' is Racin'

I know there were ZERO reruns in the 2nd heat when I was starting. There weren't even any red flags. I also don't recall T&S telling me to hold the start, just course workers.

Why?

1) Good course layout, with cones marking elements to travel through, rather than marking areas likely to be hit if you got off line (there is a difference).

2) Starter can see the entire course, and not launch a car if there were cones.

When I did it "right" the overlap was about 15 seconds, when I did it wrong it was about 25 seconds.

Scott

I was glad to see the start delay be adjusted. It started out such that the starting car and the finishing car were at adjacent elements at the same time. But, things were fixed on the fly and the timing was about perfect.

Good job by all. It was really a really smooth event (except for the V70 R that got back to back red flags )

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Beauty is in the eye of the beer holder.

I work grid with Richard and after we had everyone did one run it went smoothly.
I agree that the time was on the short side between run for 2 drivers car but with an event with a larger amount of car that time will be longer. I like that format it work good for us and the kids. We left the site at 2:30 and where home at 4:00.
Nice event, thanks for everyone involved in the making of it.
Just waiting to see the results if Les finally beat my time.

Patrice

Ummmm yeah. He ran a 33.3xx on his last run

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02 Focus SVT
STF 9

One extra note about working grid. With the short launch interval (good thing!), ANY distraction in grid caused me to get behind. I think Patrice ended up short of cars at least twice. Once was due to me getting into a conversation with someone about who can ride in a car with a novice. It ended up with me quizing him about him being a novice or not (said he wasn't). Me trying to ask what car he was driving (I didn't recognize him and he had a loaner helmet in his hand). He wasn't driving so I said "no". End result is that it burnt up enough time for Patrice to yell for more cars.

Other time was the previously mentioned case of drivers getting caught off guard and not being ready. Grid really moved that fast.

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Richard Casto
1972 Porsche 914
2013 Honda Fit Sport
2015 Honda Fit EX
http://motorsport.zyyz.com
Money can't buy happiness, but somehow it's more comfortable to cry in a Porsche than a Kia.

Had grid duty with Mr. Mackey. As far as I could tell, it went well.

Ended up almost short when somone was caught off guard at how fast we had gotten back over to B. Other than that it was smooth sailing from the grid side of things.

[Edit: Great event. Nice to have things go that smoothly.]

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Not spectacular just decent.
I'm not sure what I'm driving.
Maybe an ITR in DS.
Or half-assed STX prepped 330.

Chris, Bernie and myself worked to establish this format after BB and I saw it implemented rather effectively at the Coventry Commonwealth Games of Virginia. This was a really successful implementation of the all-at-once format, and thanks to the grid workers for being fast and to the drivers for being attentive and quick to spray, adjust pressures, drink water and go through their runs.

I have a sneaking suspicion that this was a practice run for grid workers that will be repeating their duties at the NCAC as well. Other than Richard, who else is *not* planning on being at the NCAC?

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Has no responsibility whatsoever.

Sorry you missed it Patrice.

Well, since you didn't get to see it in person...