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I meant to get around to this a long time ago, but fortunately, I've been busy with work. I had tried for a loooong time (over a year and a half) to get us onto the taxiways we used at the Golden Knights area for the Feb T&T event. I had high hopes for that end of the site and the main runway adjacent to it. In February, we finally got a chance to play down there.

I really want to get some feedback from folks on the course, and how they liked or didn't like it compared to other LBG configurations we usually run, mainly the big loop.

I would like to know so we have some basis for deciding if it's worth it to stay down there and use those taxiways.

Before you answer, I want to give you a little designer's insight on that area. The pavement on much of the taxiways down there is quite good in sections. The problem is that in certain critical sections, like where two taxiways connect, it is horrible and unusable. The end result is that the configuration we ran in Feburary is just about the only configuration I could find that would work. Right now, we couldn't even run that one backwards because of the way one certain large bump is formed. A little concrete patching project would go a long way to offering some options though.

If we run the Feb T&T configuration again, we do have the option of extending the course section on the main runway a little farther down and even making the right hander onto the connector (which was also near the finish of Jim and Rick's course) and then placing the finish cones in that connector. That would give us one more fast sweeper.

So... for future reference, I would like some input. I think the best way to ask this is- Would you rather run the GK course again or Would you prefer we go back to the big loop at the other end of the runway? Or something else?

And I'm not trying to be biased here, if you'd rather run a course like the one Jim laid out again in preference to either the big loop or the Golden Knights Feb course, that's fine. I'm just looking for input on what people like to run at Laurinburg.

It's always the designer's choice, and I certainly have my personal preferences, but I also like to please the majority of the membership. I never delude myself into thinking I will please everybody.

This is a thread where I am inviting constructive criticism, questions, and your opinion.

I have my own opinion of how things worked out at the T&T, and how they differed from some of my own expectations.... but I'll save those for later.

I would ask that you not vote in the poll unless you were at the Test and Tune, because you really can't tell me what I want to know if you weren't there to run it!

By the way, there were plenty of operational issues to critique about that event... but in this thread, I am requesting that we just focus on issues related to the main course that down by the steel canopy where the Golden Knights jump.

In case you couldn't tell, I'm trying to figure out if it's worth us pursuing the continued use of that course configuration or not in future events.

Thanks for the feedback.

Miles

I liked it, but we would HAVE to do some patching to run it more often.

Scott

If the course workers could understand when to red flag and when to just hustle to pick up cones the GK area could be a lot of fun. I really enjoyed (botching) the final sweeper.

Is there a verdict on the patching compound that ECTA uses? Does it hold up to cornering forces?

--Kevin H.

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2003 WRX (again!)

They don't use anything fancy, and there isn't much we can do there that will hold up to cornering forces 9i'm not up for going into detail right now).

I don't think we tear the site up as much as I used to, often, the patches we are ripping out are years old and already crubling on their ow (we tore out and re-did several on patching day).

We just need to be mindful of the patches, and if we rip one up, then we need to replace it. Even better, if we put the course over top of one tat is already beaking, we should pull it apart and fix it BEFORE the event.

There is a ton of good runway out there, we just need to sweep it (and kill the weeds). 2 hours with a pressurized sprayer and some round up would work wonders.

If there is sufficient demand, we'll rent a sweeper for the next event.

Scott

For all those who GUSH about the pucker factor of running the defacto "Laurinburg" course, the TNT course had, IMHO, a similar pucker factor. I am like Kevin, I really enjoyed drifting onto the main runway. Scott is correct there is a section of concrete that NEEDS to be patched to make this a viable config.

Before you cast your vote, remember, a course setup in the manner we are talking about will have a finish just like event #1, no display to see your time. It didnt bother me personally, actually I think I concentrated on my driving vs concentrating on the numbers.

YMMV, eieio, blah, blah, blah...

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02 Focus SVT
STF 9

The thing I like the most about running the GK area is that everything is in close proximity. You could actually see some runs from the pits, the bus was not a mile away, we did not have to walk a mile through the weeds to our work station and back again. I thoroughly enjoyed both courses we ran there (TNT & Jim & Rick's course), some of it was the courses themselves, and some of it was the feel of being right there, in the middle of the action. I felt more connected to the event being in the GK area. I'm fully in favor of running there more often.

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Jason Panciera
1999 Porsche 996
1974 Porsche 914 SM2 0 Gone but not forgotten

I'm hoping to use the GK area in October.

Hey, Miles - what determines whether we can use that area, and how far ahead do we need to ask?

Kevin, the airport management says the GK taxiways should be available in June for our 2 day event, but they are not available in October. The Golden Knights have them reserved that weekend for jump practice. Sometimes their plans do change, but we would be wise not to count on that.

You might check with the event chairs of the June event. If they aren't planning to use the GK taxiways and you want to use them for your event, maybe you guys could swap events. Just a thought.

I've spent many, many hours studying the concrete down there so if you plan to set up a course similar to the T&T configuration, talk to me first and I might can save you some grief.

Miles

Me and Graham are the June event chairs. October is bad for me as I have vacations planned.

I'm not positive , but I think that Graham has visions of a long course using some form of sweeper, I don't think he cares about where it is as long as he can see if the Z06 handles as well as the old C4.

This is the same reason that I liked the Danville event last year.

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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

Whoah, whoah, whoah... what??? Graham got a Z06??? When did this happen?



Sweeeeeeet!!!

Oh, and I don't mind using the "usual" areas. Didn't do so bad at the 40th anniversary autox (especially with all the help I got ), so I'm sure we can come up with something interesting.

Where have you been?

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02 Focus SVT
STF 9

Apparently the same place as me. I didn't know he moved up!!!

Congrats Graham! That's a hell of a car.

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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

Yeah, I don't expect to see anything but tail lights for a long time to come. Good thing that 405 HP monster isn't in my class. Graham, if you don't take FTStock with that car, I'm going to confiscate it from you.

Miles