THSCC Forums

“Topeka Bound” Test and Tune!

You are invited to participate in a limited entry test and tune on the grippy concrete at Laurinburg Maxton Airport. This is your last chance to try out new things and do a little practicing before packing the bags and heading for Topeka, so plan to come on out for a little fun.

Eric Peterson will be handling course design.

When: September 3-4 (Saturday and Sunday, Labor Day weekend)
Where: Laurinburg-Maxton Airport, NC.
Cost: $30 for one day, $50 for two days.*
Entry limit: 50 drivers Sat., 60 drivers on Sun.
*Registered no-shows may still be expected to pay if the event runs under capacity (assuming several conditions are met).

Eligible drivers (in order of preferential treatment):
1) Anyone traveling to Topeka to participate at Nationals is welcome to attend!
2) Any other interested autocrosser with 5+ events experience.

Preliminary schedule:

Saturday:
Registration: 10:30-11:30
Drivers meeting: 11:45
First car off 12:00
Run until we feel like stopping

Saturday night: Beer and Mexican food.

Sunday:
Registration: 8:30-9:00
Drivers meeting: 9:15
First car off: 9:30
Maybe a break 10:30-11 for late registration (if there is demand)
Pack up: before dark.

Other important info:
1) Everyone is expected to pay (no free passes).
2) Everyone will be pulling multiple work assignments during the day (not enough people to relax for long).
3) We plan to run timing and scoring in some capacity. That means you should bring your class and number magnetics.
4) We plan to have a main, timed course, and will use other parts of the runway for untimed “skills” sections as demand dictates (ie. slalom ‘till you puke).
5) Bring a sack lunch and lots of water. The airport is a bit remote (Hardee’s and a gas station within a few miles).
6) No spectators (crew is OK, just not lots of friends and family).

If you read this far and are interested in participating, please RSVP to Scott Johnson, celica73@earthlink.net. Any questions about the event should also be directed to Scott.

Please share this notice with anyone who you think may be interested.

mmmmm, beeer. sorry. good luck in topeka.

FWIW, I'm *not* the greatest instructor in the world, but I'll be happy to ride along and share observations or tips for anyone who is interested in a little coaching during the test & tune. Just remember, you get what you pay for Though, this is a good opportunity to get a lot of seat time for not much money when compared to an Evo school. I'm sure Scott Johnson, Donnie Barnes, and other THSCC hotshoes will be willing to do the same. After the way Scott drove at the NCAC, I'll need to get some tips from him myself!


Eric

Ditto what Eric said.

The advantage of a test and tune is the fact that it's laid back, etc. Go ahead and try something wit no penalty.

Hell, come out with race tires on the front and street tires on the rear and have fun (just stay off the cones). you can actually learn a whole lot about driving with a setup like that. You learn to never brake and turn (and when you do, you *will* get rotation), you also learn to be back on the throttle by the apex of a turn (or spin).

Lots of run to try and learn left foot braking...

Scott

A suggestion (or several) for folks going to the Nationals, especially if you aren't running the Pro Solo and/or the practice event (or even if you are since they could be wet).

At this point in the season you need to focus on "driving what you've got" to its MAX. This means you need to get as used to it, at the limit, as you can.

Keep in mind that most Nats courses will include "medium speed" corners in the range of 70 degrees to maybe 120 degrees. Make sure your car and driving style work for those kinds of turns . . . they can be very different from lane changes in what they require from car setup and driving style.

Forbes Field is bumpy. L'burg (so is Dinwiddie) is a good site to get used to how your car reacts to bumps. Note that in general, "dealing" with the bumps as a driver can be better than softening the car . . . at least with shocks with compliant "high shaft speed" bump valving.

Finally, remember you only get 3 runs per course at Nats. Get used to driving clean and getting faster each run.

A couple of other hints for first timers: Bring clothes for ANY weather (except maybe snow), bring really good walking shoes but be prepared to throw them away after the event due to rubber pickup, and bring at least a bicycle for getting around the site if you can possibly do so.

EDIT TO ADD: Some Nats courses in the past included straights which require a shift to 3rd in cars which normally don't need to shift. Practice would be good in case "rev limiter time" is not the best approach.

_________________
Dick Rasmussen

FS 50 2018 Mustang GT

Eric and Scott - will you guys be signing autographs? If so, I'm there!

huh? and yes kevin are you faster? dude, i gotta tell ya. i didn't get that post whatso everer.

Damn, where will the line be for that. Maybe I can get them both to sign a cone and put it on ebay!

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02 Focus SVT
STF 9

Ask me about it at Greenville & I'll tell you the story of "smell my finger"

that was originally under my name, then some smartass changed it to "but I am faster than you" so I complained about it, and then they changed it to "we don't care what you think"

aaahh.

No Tim Aro flag = no sale.

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Has no responsibility whatsoever.

Plenty of spots are open for both days.

At this point I can almost promise that you will not take all the runs available to you (yeah, that much seat time).

Scott