THSCC Forums

Great event!... Thanks Shawn and Aaron. Had lots of fun
but I feel like some of the workers were DNF'ing people for just spinning out. or is that in the rules this year? Spinnout and get a DNF?
Anyways The course was extremely fast and lots of fun. (first time I got my corolla to go sideways on dry ground. the sweeper turn was the best got a couple of great drifts (both followed by spinouts., and resulted in DNF's not complaining the fun was the reason I was there.
Oh and Tom... in case they didn't tell you, They drove your Scooby like they stole it . fun to watch (should have caught a ride.)

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beware of EV powered Ford EXP's they are quiet and come for you when you least expect it... hide behind an aluminum light pole...... ya that will help

Can't really comment on undeserved DNF's since mine was definitely well earned. The course was definitely a lot of fun and had a great flow to it. Thanks guys for a great event.

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www.ncvw.org
1993 VW Corrado VR6 - DSP15 (RIP)
1986 MB 190E 2.3L 16v - STX (SOLD)
1997 BMW M3 3.2L - BS for now

Likewise, Thanks Shawn and Aaron, and everybody else who helped put this great event on. We had a great time floggng the CRX, and the weather was great, at least until the sun disappeared at the end of the day.

I too had my own experience with a (presumably) underserved DNF. Now, I DID go too deep entering the last slalom and never recovered, taking out the following couple cones, but I DID hit them, not miss them entirely. Of course, at that point I was just reacting so who knows. Personally I don't have any issues with the whole thing, as this was my slowest run anyway, but it did appear there was confusion among some of the course workers anyway, judging from the radio traffic and other comments. And while it's probably true that if the course workers have a question as to whether a run should be DNF'd it probably isn't great anyway, it's the principle of it.

If my observations are incorrect, great. If not, maybe we make it a point (as I recall happened last year when WE were novices) to let novices shag cones instead of work the radios? Of course, even after doing this a year, I'll be the first to admit I made a mistake or two while working, so I should likely just stop trying to make a point....

Regardless, I had a blast, and thanks again to everybody who helped make this weekend a possibility.

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Dustin Fredrickson
-- I'm a nobody --

It did not used to be a rule if oyu spun you got a dnf however in reality it might as well be a DNF as your time and chance of winning on that run are shot, when I spun on a run or hit more than one cone, I would always drive all out a spin at least once more, however I usually found some spots where I was not as fast as I could be.

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David Teague
2015 Lexus IS 250c
1994 Honda Del Sol HS 39
2009 Dodge Journey R/T
http://teaguefamily.us

As there seems to be some confusion about it, here are the valid reasons a run may be scored as a DNF:

1. The car passes on the wrong side of a course-defining cone and does not turn around (or back up) to pass on the correct side. Note that hitting a course-defining cone (even if it's hit with the "wrong" side of the car) is not a DNF, just a cone penalty.
2. The car does not cross the finish line.
3. The car comes into contact with one of the tall finish cones (it does not have to be knocked over).
4. The car puts all 4 wheels (2 wheels at some events) off the concrete/tarmac into the dirt/grass/sand.

Simply spinning, or even wiping out a wall of cones, is not a DNF if it doesn't meet one of the criteria above.

Hope that helps.

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Carl Fisher

Be Cool to the Pizza Dude:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/stor ... Id=4651531

Thanks Shawn and Aaron for a course that was a lot of fun. No complaints. I DNF'd and deserved it. On the back section there were 2 pointer cones before the slalom. I walked the course and chuckled that it would confuse some people, duh... trapped myself in it and got caught up in that big offset after that slalom. It was fast, open, sweepers, no turnarounds, and just flat out fun.
Graham

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http://www.greywinds.com

I have to admit that I heard several comments at the event about some questionable DNF calls as well several other "issues" with course working in general.

I think what it boils down to is the fact that we had quite a few folks at this event who were either 1st time novices or relatively new. Those folks, through no fault of there own, probably just didn't know any better. We either didn't do a good job of training them or they didn't get to the novice meeting in order to get the information they needed. See why it's important that you attend the meetings you are supposed to attend

To try and help this problem at the next event, I'm going to make sure the novice coordinators cover course working in the novice meeting and I am also going to go over it at the next general drivers meeting to help get all these new people up to speed.

I'm glad you had a good time in spite of some questionable calls. I really appreciate the feedback and the fact that you stated the facts about the problem without having a forum rant about them.

Shawn

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OK so I'm back in. Now which tire should I buy??

Shawn,

We did cover cone penalties/DNFs in the Novice meeting, but it is an awful lot of information for a new guy or gal to absorb. Sometimes I think if they get their cars tech'ed, find their run groups and make it out for their worker assignments that we should call it successful. On second thought - stoping for a red flag would be good too.
We also try to mitigate this flood of information by giving them a "one-pager" to read but they probably don't show up at their first event eager to read a manual.
In any event, part of the confusion was probably caused by me. I was at the bus early setting up the Novice table and noticed we didn't have (or I couldn't find) our worker signup sheets. At that point, I wasn't even sure how many worker stations the course had. I simply set up a worker signup sheet for each heat and put about 16 blank fill-in spaces in each heat to get the folks registering into worker groups. Sort of a triage to get things moving, not nearly as good as what we've used in the past for worker signups. I did tell the Novices at the meeting to meet the worker coordinators at the bus before each heat and ask that they be paired with an experienced worker. I can't say for sure if that happened or not.
It certainly wasn't our best effort ...

Frank

Some of the folks that aren't sure where they DNF'd may want to think about which way they exited the box at the finish. If you didn't turn left out of the box then you DNF'd . There were three pointer cones pointing to left, but a few people turned right instead. For those who did DNF at the finish I regret that there was no way to get the word to all of you while I was working the course. Hope this help clarify a few of the unsolved DNFs.

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'91 Miata STS2 project
'96 328i Sport Pkg

One of the tricky things from a Novice standpoint is understanding where the DNF occurred. I heard that I had a couple but have no clue as to where they could have happened. I checked the course diagram after each run and did a mental run through the course...I can't figure it out. I drove the same line each run and just varied my speed or varied my braking. Since I was driving cone to cone I was sure I hit all gates I'm not whinning but am curious as to know if anyone has tips on post run assessments to help recall a missed gate? As I write this I realize that you probably can't recall a deed you don't know you did....

Regardless, I had a lot of fun!

I think this should be printed on the track map for every event. I think everyone can use a "refresher" on these points every once in a while.

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'93 Miata
#81 ES

If you drove the same line, that is why you probably consistant with the DNF's

On a serious note, Laurinburg is a tough site because the course is long and you can only see 10% from any avantage point. If you DNF and do not know where, the best bet is to et someone to ride along. Make sure that person has your best interests in mind and not their own.

Another point, get there early, early, early!!!!! I pulled in around 7:15 in the morning and was the third person there. I managed to get 4-5 course walks in. And I did not get the car unloaded and ready until after the drivers meeting. So for people arriving after 7:45, there just is not time to walk a 1.1 mile course and get a good understanding of it. So get there early.

At 7:15 in the morning, I considered that being late But due to illness Saturday night, I figured I would sleep an extra hour so I would have at least 2 hours of sleep before heading out. I was so spaced out I got lost getting out of Wagwam on the way home

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Jim Pastorius
2008 Silverado VortecMax
1992 Camaro CMC#92
2002 BMW R1150R

2009 3rd Place CMC Mid-Atlantic Championship
2009 CMC Hyperfest Winner

Don't be shy about having an experienced driver go with you! Especially if you're not sure where you DNF, your "co-driver" can probably tell you. I rode with a couple of folks and was actually surprised that they found the course as easily as they did. Its a lot of stuff to remember and Jim's comments about coursewalks are very appropriate ....

Frank

I'll betcha that was it. I missed the driver's meeting myself but luckily I didn't miss the stop-box and left-hand exit. Like Chuck, my only "tiny" issue with the course was that element. I personally hate a fast finish then having to jump on the brakes to avoid a DNF...after the lights. Not to mention that the potential lock-up and flat-spotting of brand new race rubber. I understood the need for the quick stop with that particular course design, I just didn't like it.

However the overall course was great. Classic Laurinburg with my favorite the high speed sweeper. The course design was turbo-friendly as the boost was on 90% of the time. Thanks to all involved for a great start to the 2004 points season.

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Vincent Keene
'06 Ford Mustang GT (track rat)
'15 Dodge Charger R/T (yeah, it's got a HEMI!)
'07 Ford Fusion SE (205,000 miles and counting)
'98 Chevy Z-24 (retired)
'93 Acura Integra (Team SWB 24HOL Car)

Thanks for the info folks. I did walk the course twice but more walk-throughs is a good idea. The suggestion of a co-pilot is one that I'll follow up on if I get a DNF next time out.

Cheers,

Chris