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Well I don't know where the heck everybody is, but you're all missing out on a tremendously fun time on a great course with 75 degree, sunny weather.

Aaron and I decided to try something completely different with the S2000, and set the rear shocks to nearly full stiff, up from 1/2 turn off full soft (these are revalved Koni singles with a good bit of compression and a mountain of rebound valved into them). As good as the car was the times Eric Peterson, Mike Whitney, and I drove it in past events this year, it is orders of magnitude better this way. Predictable yet willing to rotate pretty much whenever, wherever you want. I do tend to like a loose car, but this just felt totally natural. If Danville was the only site we ran at, I'd weld the adjusters in place right where they are.

Another setup change I made was to pitch the Hawk HP Plus pads for some BHP "66 compound" pads at all four corners. OMG what a difference! Rather than being an on-off switch like the Hawks, the BHPs were supremely linear, with lightning fast release and buttery smooth modulation. I didn't realize how jumpy the Hawks were until I tried these. Nicholson and his gang have struck gold with these things, and when they're generally available, you'd be a fool to not give them a shot.

As for the driving? Well, Buckley was, predictably, lightning fast in the S2000 right out of the gate, setting FTS early and holding onto it throughout the day. On raw time (I hit the very last cone on the course) I got to within 0.3 seconds of him - closest I've come to any of my "hired gun" codrivers this year. Originally I was only going to do Saturday, but on the strength of that raw time, I'm going back up tomorrow to clean it up and hopefully go even faster.

Les Davis looked good in the Z06, even if Aaron made good on his promise to beat him in my car . As always, Feinberg was fast and is sitting on FTP right now. David Spratte turned in a great clean time, and Wes Eargle and codriver Tara Knoll were both fast in the CSP Miata. There were other good drives I'm leaving out, mostly because I was either debriefing with Aaron or working in the bus.

I've got to take one moment to give a heartfelt "Thank You!" to Eric Peterson, Mike Whitney, and Aaron Buckley. Having these guys as a codriver at an autocross is like having a personal driving coach with you for the day. If you're struggling a bit - or even if you're not - I can't encourage folks enough to try putting one of the club hotshoes in your car for a weekend. I've learned more from these guys about autocrossing and car setup in a handful of events than I ever thought possible. Is it humbling? Yeah, it can be. But it's most definitely worth it to take those lumps in the name of getting faster.

See you tomorrow...

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Karl S.
2014 Baby, 2014 House, 2013 Ford Focus ST, 2013 BMW 328i, 1994 Mercedes E320
(Insert passive aggressive signature line here)

I'm so jealous of you folks who could go both days! The course was outstanding, some fast parts if you're committed and nothing too congesting or painful.

I also had two clean runs, back to back. I probably haven't had half a dozen clean runs in three years. Hopefully, I can keep this streak alive! Thanks for all the folks making this happen!

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Phil... Now I miss the ITR and the M3!!!
1990 Honda Civic SI

Thanks to everybody that endured the blistering mid-seventies heat.

The course was a blast, I couldn't have done it without the suggestions of some mid-major hack named Eric. The different lines that were available were a blast and I learned a lot about what my car can and cannot do. What a fun time, no bitching, no timer errors, no bitching, a lot of runs and no bitching. I'm a little concerned about the lower than expected turnout, but it allowed us to do a course configuration that we've never seen before at Danville.

Oh yeah, Karl managed to break another car that he drove. (who's surprised here??? )

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Has no responsibility whatsoever.

Do elaborate, for I missed Sunday

I want to thank Karl a lot for letting me drive his car. On the way home I called Bryan and told him I didn't want to drive the Crossfire anymore (true story, but I was partially kidding ) Karl continues to show why he is getting faster and faster: he listens well to setup and course advice, and applies the advice quickly. AS should look out for 2008.

I also want to thank Les and Wes for letting me take their rides for fun runs. Talk about two ends of the spectrum on cars, a low powered go-kart like CSP Miata and a high HP SS Corvette. Both drove very well and if Wes front brakes see some new pads, it will be much easier to drive fast. I've only driven one other SS C5 Z06 and this one handled even better, very reminiscent of the RX-8 with torque... LOTS OF IT

The course didn't walk like it was going to be a lot of fun, but it drove great and actually had a good flow. It was challenging. I wish I had another crack at it, for I'm sure a 38.5 was there. - AB

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'14 Toyota Sequoia Platinum 4WD
Super Westerfield Bros - '93 Integra - LeChump Du Jour
STX 93 - Scion FR-S

This was an excellent course with nice flow and numerous challenges. There were plenty of opportunities to over-drive entries, not give up a portion of one section to gain more in the next, etc. Hats off to the course designers and event chairs for a new and excellent Danville layout.

Like Aaron, I know I left plenty of time out there since I just never quite got the across-runway transitions down like I should have. I needed to brake a tiny bit more in two spots to keep from pushing wide and scrubbing off time on the subsequent element. I almost got them right on my last run, and then I just barely touched a cone in that last gate to mess up the run.

Speaking of that last gate, it was perfectly laid out to create an incredibly fun element. On Sunday I was able to get the flow through the preceding slalom just right, and dial back my exit speed just a tad...just enough to take it a bit to the left to enter at such an angle where I could keep the hammer down and thread the needle and just barely not hit the finish cone. I got it just right three times on Sunday, and it felt wonderful horsing 3400 lbs through that opening at such a rate (I already factored in the cost of replacing that reflector ).

One last comment...that first sweeper was very challenging as there were many potential lines through it. I had my most consistently fast times when I listened to Mike Jr Johnson's voice in my head (saying tight is right) and pretended to be him driving the course (I had a lot of time swapping the driver's seat with him at the Evo Extreme School, and he is a wonderful driver and instructor). When I kept it right on the grass at the entry to the sweeper, I could manage the push with the throttle just enough to carry enormous speed (apparently carrying the inside tire in the air a bit too!) into that deceptive next element (I think I basically ignored the first two cones).

All in all, I couldn't ask for a better course this weekend since I learned a great amount about my internal biases and weak points while having a ton of fun.

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Current stable:
2019 BMW M2 Competition slicktop 6MT
2011 BMW M3 sedan slicktop 6MT
2007 BMW 328i wagon (slushbox for now)
1975 CanAm 125MX2

Breakthrough!

Thanks to the kindness of the Breakeys, who offered to bring the impossibly large A6s back in the back of their van, I made it up for Sunday too. We got three runs per heat it turns out, at a nice laid back pace. It was nice.

By the afternoon, it was starting to look like I had P2 in AS, separated by Keith Quistorff by something like 0.01 seconds. As I lined up for my sixth and last run, I figured, what the hell - I'll hang it all out and see what comes of it. You slackers who didn't come out this weekend could probably hear me screaming when I tripped the lights at a 39.3 clean! 0.5 faster than I'd gone previously and within 2 tenths of my codriver Aaron, whose 39.1 wouldn't be touched in stock class all weekend. Aaron was FTS and I was right behind in raw time. Good for 4th fastest overall raw and 5th fastest PAX.

Sunday was the first time since I club raced in ITC that I had a drive where things felt like they really "came together" and stuff just started happening automatically. A lot of it, I have to say, is the car. It's awfully fast, and the gearing was just perfect for this course. Something like Les' Z06 may be even more fun still, but as it stands, I can't imagine a much better handling stock-class autocross car. I think I'm putting Lee of KONI on my Christmas Card List for this year.

Another highlight of Sunday was getting to sample Wes' and Spratte's rides. Wes' car, even though it somehow picked up a flat left front tire after I drove it , was a hoot, very neutral. Grabby brakes though (cough get some BHPs cough). And David's MINI...wow. I wasn't expecting much out of a FWD stock class car. Imaine my surprise when it actually turned! And that limited slip really tugs the car out of corners. I wasn't fast in either one, but David took me for a ride and put on a show for me. He does not suck.

Fun times. Can't wait for Sanford. I'm out of the points chase for the year in AS, but I'm coming in 08...

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Karl S.
2014 Baby, 2014 House, 2013 Ford Focus ST, 2013 BMW 328i, 1994 Mercedes E320
(Insert passive aggressive signature line here)

Back during NCAC, sitting in tent city and suffering from 100F+ heat, Stephen asked all there if they wanted Danville to be a one or two day event. I voted for one day. I was SO WRONG! This two day event rocked! Thanks so much to all who made it happen. Having the same course for two days is a great concept. It allowed for so much speculation as to where time could be lost or gained on day two. Chuck is right. Hanging close to the weeds in the first sweeper was the key, but the cone placement there suckered some into a wider arc. The first slalom, which , at least in the mini was a “non slalom” was a blast to keep the petal to the mat. I actually set up better for the cross over on Saturday, even though we had more information via Traqmate that I hoped to apply on Sunday. I loved the downhill slalom, and the fact that it was offset wasn’t a problem while driving as I had suspected it would be when walking the course. Even coming second to Jackie, by something in the 100ths, I think, didn’t lessen my good time.

By the way, Wes, as I told you Saturday, I loved the course from the first time I walked it. Great idea for use of space. Glad there weren’t 120 people there though, so if you didn’t come *tongue in cheek*, thanks. Really, I don’t know why so many people stayed home on such a beautiful autoX weekend. You missed one of the best, if not the best, events of the year.

Thanks to Rick, for that tip about the extra ghost cone at the end of the downhill slalom, and thanks, David, for confirming the “slow in, fast out” theory on slaloms. Also, thanks Mo and Charlie, and Todd for lending my your rides for fun funs.

The oft overlooked but most hotly contested battle for Ladies continues down to the final event in Sanford.
Stay turned. Malia, win or lose, it’s been great fun running with (not against) you this year. Thanks!

Gwennie

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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

As has already been said, it was a very nice course. It was fun to drive because it let the driver decide where to put the car rather than forcing one specific line. It was exhilarating on every one of the 11 runs we got (even if I was an A stock backmarker).

Thanks to Karl for forcing me ( ) to drive his car on Saturday's fun runs. He has that car set-up to perfection. Driving it is very confidence inspiring. The front goes where you want it to (very fast) and the rear it just seems to follow. The tail somehow seems to be loose only when it is helpful (no I don't understand how that can happen). Thanks again.

Great event. Thanks to all who made it happen.

Rebecca and I had a blast also! Even if we did lose to the Monroe's...again. Charlie got me by .054 on our runs 10. Nice driving Charlie. Now it's time for me to get some new tires and some BHP brakes!!!!

The course was great. My hats off to Wes, et al who did the design. The overlap was a little long and probably wouldn't have worked if we had a full boat of competitors. Fortunately, with only 64 on Saturday and 58 on Sunday we were done with competition runs at 2:30 both days!! Nice job everyone.

I have to thank my Timing crew again. Because of their stellar ability, we only had to make 6 corrections ALL WEEKEND!! That is attention to detail. We even had some newbies and some who hadn't worked in the bus in several years. Thank you to all and a special thank you to those who offered to fill in the holes. It allowed me to actually run and not have to be in the bus all day long.

If it wasn't for the amazingly subpar service at the Outback in Danville Saturday night, it would have been a perfect weekend. But due to the exceptionally crappy service, our meal was free, so I guess that made up for it.

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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

Big thanks to my co-chair Wes Eargle, GM Stephen Westerfield and special guest course guy Eric Peterson.

Actually, at the end of the first day, I was sitting on FTPax. With Feinberg right behind me. Of course, Day 2 showed me to be only a decent driver since I couldn't find my way in the luxury 39 neighborhood. Jim though he moved into a spacious 39.7 or 39.8 and edged me out. I don't care what anyone says, that Jim guy is fast.

But I still feel like I took the checkered so to speak. . . .

Glad to hear that everyone had a good time. Next year, assuming we have comparable weather, the grilling plan would be a great thing.

Driving the s2000. Thanks a lot for that Karl. That's exactly what I needed. That car is a surgical instrument. I told Karl before we launched that I planned on taking it easy and I did. That car is ridiculously responsive and had the grip to just keep responding.

See you people in November.[/b]

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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.

That's the right word. Aaron sat shotgun for Saturday's fun runs and told me before we started that I wasn't allowed to lift my foot off of the floor except for whisper lifts and braking. The times Sunday don't reflect it due to me trying other different things, but if it wasn't for me missing the shift to third before the double walls before the finish and wasting a second of coasting, I would have been in the mid-39s easy.

Also, my codriver Saturday was crazy fast. Hadn't autocrossed in a couple of months and is used to a street tired 2.5RS and was within a half second of me raw (dirty) after five runs. That girl has talent for sure.

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Has no responsibility whatsoever.

That, IMHO, is the highest honor someone could give a course design. Give the driver enough rope to hang themself. No needles to thread, no 109093209 cones knocked down.

Excellent course, excellent weather and excellent times

The debut of the new to me 240 went about as well as I could have hoped. Its still tough getting used to not having the ABS crutch. I am learning the Miata ABS taught me some bad habits that need to be unlearned.

The 240's handling still needs some work. The big rear bar helped a ton but much like Rockingham last weekend, it still really didnt like to turn well. I still have yet to fully check the alignment just that it has very little camber right now. I just need to get on the ball and get some stuff on the car now

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02 Focus SVT
STF 9

Paging Mr. Nicholson ...

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Has no responsibility whatsoever.

Wow, I think everyone has pretty much said what I was going to say, but it really was a blast! It was my first two day event, and I keep wondering why now. It really was a blast to run (sort of ) neck and neck with the Monroes this weekend. I really am playing catch-up this year.I think was just my third event this year.
I had a great time, even if I was DFL in STT!! The course was fantastic and from the bus point of view, it was cool to have only a dozen or so cone calls each day!
The whole atmosphere was so laid back and relaxed! It was great!
Thanks to everyone that made it happen!
Malia- The girls are crazy about Marisa! I hope they didn't wear her out too badly!

Oh sure, I've been telling you that for 2+ years and now you finally listen to those clowns? I see how you are...

Like everybody else, I thought the course was great and had a perfect mix of elements to be aggressive with as well as places where aggression would hang you out.

I had a great time battling with David Spratte and it's amazing to me how close our cars were on that course despite having different strengths and weaknesses. David set the bar very high on Saturday and I was lucky to eek out a run good enough on Sunday. All I know is that these cars don't drive themselves and anytime you can push the limits like that on a consistent basis, you have to be an excellent driver. Kudos to David for a great battle all year.

And a big thanks goes out to Todd Emmershy who let me flog his Solstice around for a couple of fun runs. That was a total blast and despite being bone stock down to the OEM tires, the car was well balanced and very well behaved. I must admit that it had a little more turbo lag than I was expecting but once it got deep into the boost, it flat-out scooted!

Jim