Great Laurinburg Course

Dave Frankel · **Posted:** Mon Mar 12, 2007 3:07 pm

If I had written this yesterday, it would have contained a lot of colorful language ! But with the benefit of time, sleep and perspective, I believe it was my crappy, impatient driving (and not the course design) that resulted in no clean runs and upper body pain... The walk made it clear the course would increase separation between various skill levels - and probably make it rather difficult on new folks.

From my perspective, it was a good, challenging design with some interesting elements. Yes, I missed the signature Lburg sweeper, but turn 2 almost made up for that and the onion-ringy was unique. Variety is good. Ideally, I would like to see a mix of tight and open elements and courses throughout the year.

Todd Breakey · **Posted:** Mon Mar 12, 2007 3:08 pm

Wes Eargle wrote:

What're the chances that it's last breath was drawn in Hiroshima?

I have no doubt that this is the case. I'll add it to the list of things to do with the car. This list keeps getting longer!!!!

Les Davis · **Joined:** Fri Aug 29, 2003 2:04 pm **Posts:** 2059

Chris Landi wrote:

By the way, I was at station 1 just after the first slalom when you did your first run. You did a throttle tap after leaving the slalom that caused your passengers head to snap back and go for the "Oh-SH*T" handle. Hopefully no one got hurt :shock:

That was Judy, I *think* she enjoyed the ride and managed to emerge without injury. At least she didn't mention any whiplash. Steve, is she ok? :lol:

Chuck Frank · **Posted:** Mon Mar 12, 2007 4:19 pm

scottjohnson wrote:

This one ought to be mandatory reading:

Roger Johnson's course design handbook

Warning, direct link to a PDF file.

Anyhow, I wouldn't consider his writing to be gospel, but it's a pretty darn good basis for course design.

Roger Johnson's Course Design Handbook wrote:

Track the number of DNFs for other than mechanical failure
• The goal is zero:
• acceptable is 1 in 20 on the first run, 1 in 100 there after
• Number and frequency of pylons hit
• The goal is zero
• Acceptable is 1 car in 10 hitting any; no more than 3
for any one car
• Keep in mind, the main goal of course design is to provide the Solo
II competitors with Fair, Fun and Safe Competition.

How did we do?

The discussion of "input density" is also interesting.

I wasn't there, so I'll leave the remainder of the discussion to everyone who was.

Scott

Most every AXer that has run one of Roger's courses does. Roger designs one of the two national championship courses almost every year, and his designs are the best I have ever run.
Courses should never be "painful" for the competitor or the course workers. When an STS Civic sets FTD on a long course there were way too many tight gates IMHO. This is spoken in generalities tho, since I was not there I cannot speak to this particular course.

Wes Eargle · **Joined:** Mon Oct 27, 2003 9:47 am **Posts:** 3683

Chuck Frank wrote:

I was not there I cannot speak to this particular course.

How did the bodywork fare on the Solsti?

Gwen Habenicht · **Posted:** Mon Mar 12, 2007 5:25 pm

I had a great time in Laurinburg. Thanks Rodney and Chris for an exciting course. Rodney, hope you knew I was only kidding about the hit man! Sorry we gave you so much lip early in the morning. I was walking the course when the sun came up-kind cool, by the way, and walked it 5 times before the meeting. Thanks to all who walked it with me. I really liked the course because it was DIFFERENT. Bernie and I had worked the skid pad at the test and tune so I felt I had a heads up on the “onion”. We haven’t analyzed all the Traqmate data yet, but I think our speed spiked to 54.6mph for me and 54.45 for Bernie in the sweeper where the 757 used to be, and going into the double slaloms on the backside. Interesting that my highest speed there wasn’t on my fastest run. That was a neat part to me, making the transition where that one set of cones was tighter going from the double slalom to the single slalom. I liked the length of the course and didn’t find it difficult to remember. If I could have cleaned up my afternoon runs I’d have been a very happy camper!

PS: I asked everyone I could if they were having fun and it seemed, from their answers that they were. Another great THSCC event!

Chuck Frank · **Posted:** Mon Mar 12, 2007 7:54 pm

Wes Eargle wrote:

Chuck Frank wrote:

I was not there I cannot speak to this particular course.

How did the bodywork fare on the Solsti?

Not good.

Donna Frank · **Posted:** Mon Mar 12, 2007 8:02 pm

Wes Eargle wrote:

How did the bodywork fare on the Solsti?

Well, I can personally state that cone marks are easier to get off the body than off the clear bra. :shock:

Kinda of in reverse...we added it to protect the car. Marks come off the Solstice with soap and water, and I scrubbed the bra with everything I could think of and got about half of them off. But the marks ARE on the bra and not the body, so in a way it did it's job.

Of course the cloud of dust that I deposited in the car was prompted ingested by the vacuum cleaner. :oops:

As far as the car's other badge... don't know yet.

Wes Eargle · **Joined:** Mon Oct 27, 2003 9:47 am **Posts:** 3683

Chuck Frank wrote:

Wes Eargle wrote:

Chuck Frank wrote:

I was not there I cannot speak to this particular course.

How did the bodywork fare on the Solsti?

Not good.

I wasn't there on Saturday, but I understand that there was proof that Pontiac is driving excitement. Was it unexpected turbo spoolup or something else?

Mo Monroe · **Posted:** Mon Mar 12, 2007 8:54 pm

Hi guys -

I personally want to thank Chris & Rodney for chairing the event. You guys did great work. I really enjoyed the event - and feel like the cob webs are cleaned out of the brain after running that course.

As far as the timing and scoring guys - you were right - it was the flux capacitor that fell off the BMW. We returned it to him so he was able
to go BACK TO THE .... well you know the rest.

Thanks again for a great opening weekend!

Go Pack!! :redcool:

Mo

Todd Breakey · **Posted:** Mon Mar 12, 2007 9:06 pm

Well, I'm glad it was the flux capacitor, because if it was the Kuhneutson valve it would have had to be towed back to Raleigh!!!!

He could get a new Flux Capacitor or a new Kuhneutson Valve from KalecoAuto.com.

Charlie Monroe · **Posted:** Mon Mar 12, 2007 9:08 pm

Thanks to Chris, Rodney, Dustin, Todd and everyone who helped make this a great event.

I liked the design and really had fun on the course. On the course walk, I predicted exactly where I would DNF on the first run. I had to force myself to look further ahead than the next cone.

The decreasing slalom after the doubles was the most challenging element for me.

Charlie

Ryan Holton · **Posted:** Mon Mar 12, 2007 9:12 pm

Gwen Baake wrote:

We haven’t analyzed all the Traqmate data yet, but I think our speed spiked to 54.6mph for me and 54.45 for Bernie in the sweeper where the 757 used to be, and going into the double slaloms on the backside.

Im crunching some of my data now but this stuff could be addicting!!! I goofed up and didnt log my last and fastest run.

I was 2.6 mph faster down the return lane than Chris (53.5 vs 56.1).

I got WAY, WAY better at the "onion ring" in the afternoon. It looked like a perfectly smooth circle on my 3rd run.

I still havent learned how to set segment times yet

:cry:

steve remchak · **Posted:** Mon Mar 12, 2007 10:10 pm

Donna Frank wrote:

Wes Eargle wrote:

How did the bodywork fare on the Solsti?

Well, I can personally state that cone marks are easier to get off the body than off the clear bra. :shock:

Kinda of in reverse...we added it to protect the car. Marks come off the Solstice with soap and water, and I scrubbed the bra with everything I could think of and got about half of them off. But the marks ARE on the bra and not the body, so in a way it did it's job.

Of course the cloud of dust that I deposited in the car was prompted ingested by the vacuum cleaner. :oops:

As far as the car's other badge... don't know yet. :(

Eagle 1 spray wax (nano-technology) takes cone stripes off the vette. might work on the clear bra.

Gwen Habenicht · **Posted:** Mon Mar 12, 2007 11:34 pm

Ryan Holton wrote:

I still havent learned how to set segment times yet
:cry:

I feel your pain. I printed out the 58 page manual today and plan to study it over the next few days to figure some of this stuff out. You're right though, it is addictive.

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