3/1 test and tune

Aaron Buckley · **Posted:** Fri Feb 20, 2009 4:19 pm

Chuck Branscomb wrote:

Turbo wagons rule

It's such "fun" to drive too...especially when wet where you loose a lot of steering action while spinning the inside front tire trying to move the dang car.

I like mine too. I will likely do a M56H manual conversion and put it on track one day. - AB

Chuck Branscomb · **Posted:** Sat Feb 21, 2009 8:28 am

Aaron Buckley wrote:

Chuck Branscomb wrote:

Turbo wagons rule

It's such "fun" to drive too...especially when wet where you loose a lot of steering action while spinning the inside front tire trying to move the dang car.

I like mine too. I will likely do a M56H manual conversion and put it on track one day. - AB

I think I would like it a lot more if I didn't have a 3"+ thick folder of receipts. It hasn't been "that bad" I guess given its at 147k miles now, but by ~100k it started needing a lot of things (ac compressor, evaporator (huge labor to replace), etc). Watch out for rear calipers that hang up too. This thing has a ton of rattles now too even though I've replaced the rear hatch interior parts and fasteners once already.

It was a neat car back in 1996 though and has served us well for the past 13 years (we bought it new in March of 96). It could use a paint job and new upholstery. Just went up to VIR yesterday to pick up 7 wheels/tires, so it sure came in useful.

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

We're currently at 25 drivers signed up for the event. If we can't at least double that, this event might not take place. If you have any desire to attend, please sign up for it now so that we can make a go/no-go decision.

William Gravely · **Posted:** Sun Feb 22, 2009 7:50 pm

I have a couple of friends that are planning to come but are not (yet) members. Want me to preregister them?

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

That in itself is a different question. Traditionally, the test and tune has only been open to members with a number (three if I remember correctly) of events under their belt. It has never been open to true novices or as a first event for members that sign up onsite for membership.

RodneyWright · **Posted:** Sun Feb 22, 2009 9:36 pm

Wes Eargle wrote:

That in itself is a different question. Traditionally, the test and tune has only been open to members with a number (three if I remember correctly) of events under their belt. It has never been open to true novices or as a first event for members that sign up onsite for membership.

I agree w/ Wes. This is for folks that want to make adjustments or test their cars for the season. This event really is not for novice drivers.

That said, this may all be for naught if we don't get more drivers. We need to get at least 50 folks at this event to make this work for drivers and course workers. With only 25 signed up right now, we are in real danger of having to cancel the TNT.

If we are not at 50 by Wednesday, I would consider this one canceled, but this is only Rodney speaking. We need to hear from the prez and other VP's.

Chuck Branscomb · **Posted:** Sun Feb 22, 2009 9:54 pm

RodneyWright wrote:

That said, this may all be for naught if we don't get more drivers. We need to get at least 50 folks at this event to make this work for drivers and course workers. With only 25 signed up right now, we are in real danger of having to cancel the TNT.

If we are not at 50 by Wednesday, I would consider this one canceled, but this is only Rodney speaking. We need to hear from the prez and other VP's.

Odds don't favor doubling the number of current entries in 3 days without some sort of "marketing" I would think. Does THSCC ever e-mail members about upcoming events for autocrosses? I recall getting track event related e-mails I think, but never (or rarely?) anything related to autocross events. Perhaps that's the only way at this point to have a chance of getting enough folks signed up? Maybe start with last year's TNT participant list, plus any additional members who were at the intermediate school?

Another thought is can we rearrange the way the TNT is run to accommodate a lower number of folks? Maxton is super cheap to rent, so costs shouldn't be too big of an issue with a low turnout.

We might need to prepare for a much lower attendance level at autocrosses this season if this is a sign of what's coming...

Gwen Habenicht · **Posted:** Sun Feb 22, 2009 10:26 pm

It seems like last year, maybe the year before, at least part of the set up was a "police it yourself" set up. If you knock it down-go back and set it up. I'd really hate to see this opportunity go to waste. There's a couple of things I've really been looking forward to ironing out. (Especially after today in Wilmington!) :wink:

Keith Quistorff · **Posted:** Mon Feb 23, 2009 11:36 am

It may be too late for this, but might it make sense to open up the T&T to non-members? (In other words, remove the passcode requirement.)

I'd sure hate it if this event gets canceled. I've been planning on setting up a brand spankin' new set of AST double adjustables on my co-driver's 135i, and I have no prior experience with DAs.

Chuck Branscomb · **Posted:** Mon Feb 23, 2009 11:46 am

Is part of the problem that Triad has their first points event this day (so dual members are going there)? Looks like they had 47 entries for their TnT a few weeks back.

Aaron Buckley · **Posted:** Mon Feb 23, 2009 12:21 pm

Chuck Branscomb wrote:

Is part of the problem that Triad has their first points event this day (so dual members are going there)? Looks like they had 47 entries for their TnT a few weeks back.

I know myself and my co-driver will be at the Triad event. I checked the pre-reg, and it only had 24 people on it, but very few pre-reg for them. - AB

William Gravely · **Posted:** Mon Feb 23, 2009 3:14 pm

I don't know if this is intentional or not, but despite the passcode being necessary, the calendar doesn't denote the TnT as a members-only event.

At least if this gets canceled there will be something to go to, although I would much prefer a Tarheel TnT.

Aaron Buckley · **Posted:** Mon Feb 23, 2009 4:17 pm

William Gravely wrote:

I don't know if this is intentional or not, but despite the passcode being necessary, the calendar doesn't denote the TnT as a members-only event.

At least if this gets canceled there will be something to go to, although I would much prefer a Tarheel TnT.

I don't think it's that it's truly a members only event as much as an "experienced autocrosser" event. Test and Tunes are really setup to shake off driver rust and try out car settings, new equipment, etc. Getting novice seat time at a T&T really isn't the best use of the participants time. - AB

Keith Quistorff · **Posted:** Mon Feb 23, 2009 5:06 pm

Aaron Buckley wrote:

I don't think it's that it's truly a members only event as much as an "experienced autocrosser" event. Test and Tunes are really setup to shake off driver rust and try out car settings, new equipment, etc. Getting novice seat time at a T&T really isn't the best use of the participants time. - AB

Agreed. Maybe the passcode not being lifted a couple weeks ago was an oversight?

michaelsmiller · **Posted:** Mon Feb 23, 2009 10:52 pm

The first time that I autocrossed my Miata was at the tnt in 2006. I was so desperate to run the car hard for the first time. It rained incredibly hard until ten miles before Laurenberg, it became partly cloudy. Only about 35 people showed up. Even though we were short on people, the cones got picked up and I remember driving the course an incredible number of times. I attribute this TNT to my only getting 6,500 miles on the stock tires. We ran four 1 hour heats with only enough people to cover a minimum number of stations. I believe that we had a slalom course with a turn around on the straights and an AutoX course on the P. One had to pick up your own cones on the slalom. I now have a Mazdaspeed 3 that I'm dieing try out. I have never driven a high performance front wheel drive car hard. The TNT is the perfect venue for smok'n another set of tires. I vote, let's do it. :twisted:

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