DC ProSolo open for registration

AdamBreakey · **Posted:** Fri Jan 12, 2007 4:02 pm

Jump over to Scca.com and get registered now if you want to attend this event.

Last year it filled up in a day.

adamb

Aaron Buckley · **Posted:** Fri Jan 12, 2007 4:10 pm

Hmmm... not sure ProSolo will get my $$ this year. - AB

AdamBreakey · **Posted:** Fri Jan 12, 2007 4:18 pm

Aaron Buckley wrote:

Hmmm... not sure ProSolo will get my $$ this year. - AB

I was debating also - - but DC is still a double course, so it is an 'old skool pro'.

Although, without knowing where/when the Great Lakes event is held, it will be likely that I don't end up with enough events to qualify for the finale... which would REALLY SUCK.

adamb

Chuck Branscomb · **Posted:** Fri Jan 12, 2007 4:33 pm

Adam,

I've never done any Pro Solo events, but I have read about them over the years. My assumption is that it is, in most respects, similar to a regular autox other than the tree start and side-by-side course? This sounds like fun, and it is rather close by, so I'm pondering entering. I assume the car class rules are identical to Solo II?

Thanks,
Chuck

Chuck Branscomb · **Posted:** Fri Jan 12, 2007 4:37 pm

I clicked on the link for Pro Solo rules on the SCCA web site, but it just says: "ProSolo Rules
ProSolo rules will be posted as soon as they are available. Please check back."

Nevermind...found a link to 2006 Pro Solo rules...reading them now.

C

AdamBreakey · **Posted:** Fri Jan 12, 2007 4:43 pm

Chuck -- you should sign up. It will be fun.

This event is the standard 2by2 ProSolo format (not the new format that is being tested this year).

Also, the classification is pretty similar for most classes. The Mods and Prepared cars run indexed in one group though.

Let me know if you have any questions that the rules don't answer... I will be happy to walk you through it. It is the best form of autocrossing around.

adamb

Chuck Branscomb · **Posted:** Fri Jan 12, 2007 4:55 pm

I just read the rules through real quickly, and I have one question at the moment on this paragraph:

Quote:

Starting before the green light and breaking the third light beam will
activate the red “foul” light and the run will be disqualified and scored as
a DNF and designated as RL (Red Light) on results. Reaction Time (RT)
is defined as the time between the last yellow light and the car breaking
the third beam at the starting light. A red light occurs with an RT under
0.500 seconds. A Perfect RT is 0.500 seconds.

What is the "third light beam"? I've done drag racing in the past, and it's my understanding that the timer starts when the second beam (staged beam) is uncovered. You move up until the pre-stage light is on and then further until the staged light is on (for those that want to deep stage, some tracks let you move on up until the pre-stage goes off). Either way, when the staged beam is uncovered, the timer is tripped. Hence, I don't understand their "third light beam" reference.

David Spratte · **Posted:** Fri Jan 12, 2007 5:01 pm

I'm signed up.

Anybody want to go to a drag strip before this? I've never run off a tree.

AdamBreakey · **Posted:** Fri Jan 12, 2007 5:02 pm

Chuck Branscomb wrote:

What is the "third light beam"? I've done drag racing in the past, and it's my understanding that the timer starts when the second beam (staged beam) is uncovered. You move up until the pre-stage light is on and then further until the staged light is on (for those that want to deep stage, some tracks let you move on up until the pre-stage goes off). Either way, when the staged beam is uncovered, the timer is tripped. Hence, I don't understand their "third light beam" reference.

The third light beam is only 12 or so inches in front of the staged beam. So, you have the pre-stage beam, then a gap of a few inches, then the staged beam, then another gap of a few inches (larger gap than the first), then the third beam.

You have to have both the pre-stage and stage lights illuminated prior to the tree starting its countdown. You then launch and if you hit that third beam before the green is lit you get a red light. --- Basically the third beam does the same function you are used to having the uncovered stage beam do.

does that make sense?

adamb

Chuck Branscomb · **Posted:** Fri Jan 12, 2007 5:08 pm

AdamBreakey wrote:

The third light beam is only 12 or so inches in front of the staged beam. So, you have the pre-stage beam, then a gap of a few inches, then the staged beam, then another gap of a few inches (larger gap than the first), then the third beam.

You have to have both the pre-stage and stage lights illuminated prior to the tree starting its countdown. You then launch and if you hit that third beam before the green is lit you get a red light. --- Basically the third beam does the same function you are used to having the uncovered stage beam do.

does that make sense?

adamb

Yes, it does, but I don't quite understand why its not like a regular drag strip. :oops:

The rules state that a perfect launch is a 0.500 reaction time, just like a typical strip timer...so does that mean that you actually have to start a good bit earlier than you would at a dragstrip in order to get close to a 0.500 RT? (i.e. you have to trip that third beam in order to trigger the timer)

I suppose since they are triggering on a third beam interruption (i.e. just as the front of the tire blocks the beam) that it may be really close to the staged beam being uncovered -- does that make sense? I wonder why they do this. Do you know what the rollout distance is and if it is comparable to a typical strip?

Thanks,
Chuck

AdamBreakey · **Posted:** Fri Jan 12, 2007 5:14 pm

Chuck Branscomb wrote:

Yes, it does, but I don't quite understand why its not like a regular drag strip. :oops:

The rules state that a perfect launch is a 0.500 reaction time, just like a typical strip timer...so does that mean that you actually have to start a good bit earlier than you would at a dragstrip in order to get close to a 0.500 RT? (i.e. you have to trip that third beam in order to trigger the timer)

I suppose since they are trigger on a third beam interruption that it may be really close to the staged beam being uncovered -- does that make sense? I wonder why they do this. Do you know what the rollout distance is and if it is comparable to a typical strip?

Thanks,
Chuck

I have only been to a drag strip one time, so I am no expert in the way they operate. But to get a perfect .500 light on a decent surface with the ProSolo setup (staging shallow, i.e. just barely making that second light turn on) I have to leave as the second yellow goes out and the third yellow starts to turn on. This experience is in my z06 btw.

I believe that the third beam is pretty close to where the staged beam would become uncovered... but I don't know that distance.

adamb

Chuck Branscomb · **Posted:** Fri Jan 12, 2007 5:18 pm

AdamBreakey wrote:

I have only been to a drag strip one time, so I am no expert in the way they operate. But to get a perfect .500 light on a decent surface with the ProSolo setup (staging shallow, i.e. just barely making that second light turn on) I have to leave as the second yellow goes out and the third yellow starts to turn on. This experience is in my z06 btw.

I believe that the third beam is pretty close to where the staged beam would become uncovered... but I don't know that distance.

adamb

Sounds good and thanks for the launch tip. Don't they have practice runs on Friday afternoon? That might be a good time to refine starting line technique for those who haven't used a Pro Solo tree before.

At the moment, I'm not sure what car to enter. I'm really tempted to take the M5 and get some V710s for it. I see there is already a large ESP group of cars. I'm sure ALL of them are prepared to really fly on an autox course. I know when I mention this to Jackie tonight she will definitely want to go.

Chuck

AdamBreakey · **Posted:** Fri Jan 12, 2007 5:23 pm

Yes - they have practice starts the Friday before the event. This is the best time to practice starting (instead of a drag strip), since the drag strip grip level will be MUCH different than FedEx field's parking lots!

They also have a 'quick start' program for ProSolo rookies. Make sure to sign up for that. Andy and Ann Hollis walk newbies through every step of a ProSolo... it also includes FREE practice starts with instruction.

edit: be sure to sign up quickly. Last year it wasn't even a full day before it was filled. There are already more people signed up for the DC pro (just opened up today) than are signed up for the El Toro Pro (has been open for several days already).

adamb

Chuck Frank · **Posted:** Fri Jan 12, 2007 9:34 pm

210 registered as of 8:30. almost full, DON'T WAIT, you can get a full refund up to 10 days before the event.

As I fully expected AS is the largest class... :roll:

AdamBreakey · **Posted:** Fri Jan 12, 2007 10:06 pm

There is a pretty nice turnout for STS2 also -- 14 as of 9:00pm

adamb

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