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No, actually that was one of the closest battles I have seen in a while

Simon 44.580
Charlie 44.590
Matt 44.614

Thats .034 seconds for those scoring at home

PS- I have results so I could write the H&T article, I have nothing to do with the web stuff.

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02 Focus SVT
STF 9

Ha Ha! Good eye. Isn't that kinda cool? You can't start and stop most stopwatches in less than that.

We are going to be having some awesome battles this summer!

-matt

I still think it is impressive that Simon did all of this against:

1) Some very good drivers
2) Some very good cars
3) A good driver in a good car on race tires.

I am impressed!!! Great job, Simon!!

- brian

all without hitting a finish cone

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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

For the record, I wouldn't exactly say I had much (if any) advantage with those tires. They are over 2 years old and the fronts had steel cord showing.

... but he beat the Type ARGGGGGGGGGGGGhhhhhhhh....

Good battle though

- brian

Dustin you're a bastard

Excellent driving and congrats on FTPAX! And you were, what, second fastest overall in a CS car ?!?! Very nice. If I knew that coming to your class would have made you go so much faster I would have done it a long time ago. Hahaha.

I am VERY tempted to get some R-comps for the 10AE and come chase you. That car is a hell of a lot of fun. Probably the best handling (read loosest) stock vehicle I have ever driven My 42.2 run with a stupid cone would have been 8th in pax, not bad on aged Bridgestone SO3s.

Are those Hoosiers still on sale?

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Mike Whitney
whit32@gmail.com, 919-454-5445
V10, V8, V8t, I6, I6, V6, F4t, I4, I4, I4, I4, I2, 1, 1

Mike,

Just so you "know", REALLY sticky tires on a REALLY good handling small autocross car are REALLY addictive

FYI I believe Tim Aro ran his 10AE to an extemely close second at Nats with the oem Bilsteins and a big front bar. Note also that I think SCCA legalized front bar mount reinforcements in Stock. Eric P can provide details I'm sure.

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Dick Rasmussen

FS 50 2018 Mustang GT

Call me crazy, but without some extensive skidpad testing I just can't believe that a bigger front bar will make the car faster around a steady state corner. And I'm convinced that a bigger bar will take away from the excellent transitional looseness. Of course that can be changed with shocks.

Is it possible that the big-front-bar thing is just a function of driver preference? I hear so many people recommending doing it, but without hard numbers I'm skeptical.

Mike (gotta find a front bar and a giant skidpad....)

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Mike Whitney
whit32@gmail.com, 919-454-5445
V10, V8, V8t, I6, I6, V6, F4t, I4, I4, I4, I4, I2, 1, 1

I think we've been here before.

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Rich
http://www.v8mongrel.com/

Mike,

I don't know the specifics with Miatas or other good handling rwd cars that probably don't gain much from the camber control.

My educated guess (i.e. it worked for my 260Z well enough 30 years ago that it helped me ) is the following:

Two major issues in National level Stock class autocrossing are transient response and corner exit wheelspin on STICKY tires. The driver who can change directions faster and/or hook up the inside rear tire better will have an advantage. Controlling roll with all that grip can also be important.

Given the rules, a big front bar and shocks are the only significant tuning options. Shocks tend to be used in lieu of stiffer springs (i.e. much too stiff to be "optimum" but the improved balance and/or transient response outweighs the negatives).

Since autocrossing is so "transient intensive" an increase in steady state understeer can usually be dealt with by adjustments to line and driving style (without having to become a "dirt tracker").

Dick

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Dick Rasmussen

FS 50 2018 Mustang GT

Mike,

A couple of other comments.

Regarding driver preference and big front bars, my understanding is that for cars like Miatas and MR-2's the only "preference" is whether you want to win or not I think even cars like Mustangs and Camaros (which push normally and have stiff bars already) go with bigger front bars.

Regarding skidpad testing, pay close attention to tire temps compared to what they would be in an event. It is easy to get totally unrepresentative tire temps on a skidpad.

Dick

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Dick Rasmussen

FS 50 2018 Mustang GT

Dang Formula Cars - I don't think those things should count toward FTD Oh well, if that's what I have to lose to.....

The Hoosiers were a treat. Bring the 10AE out and let it stretch it's legs every once in a while! It's just a fun car to drive. Unfortunately, only the 205/15/50 size Hoosiers are left - but in any case get yourself a new set of wheels and tires (Eric still have his for sale?) and come play! I'll gladly get schooled!

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Dustin Fredrickson
-- I'm a nobody --

Dustin:

I just wanted to congratulate you on a GREAT drive. I remember working the course when you drove by yourself and got a little loose on the last sweeper before the last slalom (i.e. drift! ).

Nice drive, and congrats!

- brian

And Karl runs over to the classifieds to see if Eric still has any spare MR2 Spyder wheels left...

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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)