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I didn't have a problem with the finish, other than a busted LGSC parked beside the stop box. I knew a car had broken on course while I was back in the paddock early in the 4th heat, but until I came around the P to the finish on my 3rd run, I didn't know it was left on the course. That might have caused me to be less aggressive at the finish during the afternoon. Probably cost about 5 seconds. Otherwise, I would have owned Feinberg.

My only gripe about the event was the course anti-map. I'm not sure if it's written in the event chair docs, but wait until the course is set up and tech'ed to create the final map. It might not be as cool looking as one created on the computer, but accuracy trumps style any day.

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Art McDonald
Premier Amateur #518
2008 Dishman Cup
Pivot Cone Snob

Rodney is a waxer (but in a good way)

Thanks to the event chairs and Autox VPs for a good event and fun day. The event ran really smooth. Thanks to everyone in the 4th heat who was extra cautious at the finish (i.e., did not run into our wounded Miata). Also, I'm sorry for holding the event up for a little while, it didn't seem like there was an easy or safe way to move the car. I've always wanted to say that "I drove the wheels off the car," so I came close on Sunday

No autox course is perfect and they all can benefit from some tweaks. While this course was really busy in parts it also had some neat features as well some that we haven't seen at Laurinburg before. I especially appreciated the fact that many of the traditioinal "flat out" sections of the course (at least in a Miata) required some throttle modulation and/or braking. The added patience was critical in being able to make a good run.

Chris and I decided after our first runs that the big lesson to learn from the course was to "look ahead." So, this was a perfect first course to start the season. I really want to thank Rodney and Dustin for being so positive and open minded with their comments (both at the event & on the website) and for taking folks comments in such a constructive manner...that says a lot about those guys. Chairing an event and designing a course is very hard work and often a thankless job - thanks everyone who made this weekend such a good event.

BTW, the Allstate Auto Club RV package rocks...RV is their deal for folks who tow. There was no charge at all for the rollback to haul the Miata back. Plus, the driver/owner had a lot of great stories that actually made the trip home fun.

Eric

Eric,

Would you care to compare and contrast that towing experience with the ones you've had with Donnie and Aaron?

Better than Tim's???

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SPIN or WIN!
there's no glory for going slow.

Thanks all!

I had a lot of fun and really enjoyed the course. I really liked the onion and slowly applying throttle out of it as it opens, flat footing it through the lane changes, a little lift for the sweeper, floored again through the double cone slolum, AHHH for the tight slolum! haha very fun

-one of the five

It was street tires that would suddenly break away without warning (not sure if that was due to the tires themselves or the grit on the surface).
Both Donna and I spun in just about the same place, and afterwards she had the same comment: I don't know why the car spun there.
It had no tendency to get loose at the Dixie NT.
The Soli doesn't experience turbo lag, and there is little boost when not accellerating hard. In retrospect we may have put too much air in the tires??? Guess we'll have to see how it does on asphalt and Hoosiers next Sun.

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SPIN or WIN!
there's no glory for going slow.

I too had a fun time despite running miserably. I really wished I had gone to test and tune to shake the cobwebs out then waiting until this past Sunday. I enjoyed the course, but found myself going wayyy too fast for sections, hense my 3 DNFs. Oh well, the season is young....

My friend Chris who came out to watch and may end-up co driving later this year snapped some good pics that will tide everyone over until Dave posts his.

Here is the link and if anyone wants a hi-res version just shoot me a PM with your e-mail.

http://s113.photobucket.com/albums/n227 ... 203-11-07/

Eric,

Would you care to compare and contrast that towing experience with the ones you've had with Donnie and Aaron?[/quote]

Scott, there are certain experiences (i.e., co-drivers) in my past that 1) I'm ashamed of, and 2) I've had to block out to not cause me even more psychological trauma so I can move on and lead a semi-normal life

Though, do look for my new book coming out next year: "Bad stuff about my former co-drivers - my life in a million little pieces." I've submitted my manuscript to Oprah's Book Club for consideration. A special note: Even though Rick Butters and I only co-drove at one event there is a whole chapter dedicated to "bad stuff" about him. I did have to change the names of these "fictional" co-drivers so they wouldn't sue me

Sincerely,

Anonymous

Scott - How many steering inputs does Johnson say is ideal for a course?
With my fading memory of the course, I think I counted 47 steering inputs for Laurinburg. I will defer to someone with a better memory.
If one looks at the results, I don't see how there can be much debate that the smaller cars had a huge advantage. Les and especially Art did a great job of driving.
Chairing an event and designing a course is hard. I've done one with Les last year and am doing one with Mike W. next time in G'ville. I appreciate all the hard work and don't mean to be overly critical.
By "too long" I meant time, not distance. I'd like to go the same distance faster and get more runs. Maybe it is because I'm old and fat, but I was tired at the end of each run. Was I the only one? Maybe my pacemaker needs a new battery?????
Our events are very well organized and very well run. A lot of people do a great job. I miss the Bubba Burgers though.

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Rubbin' is Racin'

I counted in the mid 40's as well. The course was nearly a mile long, probably 7/8.

According the the Robert Johnson booklet
"Provide sufficient input density
• Input density is a measure of direction-changing inputs which the driver
must give to the car to negotiate the course divided by the length of the
course
• A good course has 25 to 35 inputs over a distance of
approximately 3/4 mile
• A less interesting course will have only 15 to 20 inputs for
the same distance
• If input density is over 45 inputs for 3/4 mile, odds are that
the design is too busy"

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"Ruttin' is racing"

Chris Suich
Apex, NC
AutoX 2012 Nissan Leaf (Quietly changing the world)
AutoX 2003 Mini Cooper S (on sabbatical)
RallyX 1993 Nissan Sentra - "Le Tigre"
FunX 1970 Camaro LT1 ('95)

Isn't this always going to be the case at the speeds that autocross allows? Not all courses can be like the Sanford non-points event last year

With the combination of all the steering inputs and the bumps over the expansion joints, I was pretty tired too after my runs, and at 25 and 210 lbs (6'5") I don't think I qualify as either old or fat, so it wasn't just you Walter, but given that I drove a 2700 lb car, I was obviously all for it. . .

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2012 MX-5 Sport SUV

I remember that my triceps were a little sore after Laurinburg. I figured I tweaked something bolting up my wheels, never considered how much turning I was doing. I am surprised yoo, that my neck wasn't sore from shaking my head in disgust so much.

I can't remember exactly what I told Karl, but it was something to the effect that my forearms felt like I was a thirteen year old boy that just discovered Vaseline and porn. And I have power steering. Keith Vail must look like Popeye after the event with his LSD delete R-package.

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Has no responsibility whatsoever.

So what you are saying is that it felt like a typical saturday night for you!!

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Todd Breakey
STS 42 - 1992 Sunburst Miata
Dammit!
"You souldn't play leap frog with a porcupine. You might get hurt." - Eliza

Thanks Wes. Now I have an image burned in my brain that’s, well……just wrong!

Walter….”old”... “fat”…Two words I try to avoid, but after my third run I literally couldn’t catch my breath and my heart was pounding. I pulled over and checked my pulse, which was at 130. I realized that I probably had hardly breathed throughout the entire run. How could anyone NOT have had a blast?!

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SCCA Solo Triad Award Recipient 2014
SCCA HSL National Champion 2012
SCCA DSL National Champion 2013
SCCA DSL National Champion 2014
NCR National Driver of the Year 2012
THSCC Heel of the Year 2011
Former Club Secretary
http://www.petscompanioninn.com