Double X

Chris Peterson · **Joined:** Tue Sep 16, 2003 9:02 am **Posts:** 243

Was I high last week or did I read somewhere that the registration for the Atlanta Double X opens today at 11:00 EST? And, is anyone else having a problem finding the event listed on the SCCA registration page? :?:

Ryan Holton · **Posted:** Mon Mar 03, 2008 12:12 pm

http://www.sccabb.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=6339&PN=1

Delayed until the 11th

Chris Peterson · **Joined:** Tue Sep 16, 2003 9:02 am **Posts:** 243

Thanks - I just found out the same. Timely information from SCCA - NOT!

Ryan Storzbach · **Posted:** Tue Mar 04, 2008 7:08 pm

Whats a Double X?

Kevin Allen · **Joined:** Thu Aug 28, 2003 6:42 pm **Posts:** 3479

It's a beer, duh..

Todd Breakey · **Posted:** Wed Mar 05, 2008 6:23 am

Kevin's right. it is a beer. Not that good of a beer to be exact.

Actually the DoubleCross is similar to a ProSolo, with two cars on mirror courses. It combines autocross and drag racing all in one.

I'm sure someone will pipe in with how the DoubleCross differs from the standard ProSolo, but at least I gave you an idea of what it is.

Keith Vail · **Posted:** Wed Mar 05, 2008 10:02 am

Todd has stated it pretty well. Here is the website for further details on the event. Take it from me that if you are going to drive any distance for an autocross all year this is the one I would recommend. It is the most exciting type there is.

http://doublexchallenge.com/

JamesFeinberg · **Posted:** Wed Mar 05, 2008 10:17 am

Keith is right, it's loads of fun and is easily the most spectator friendly format you'll see all year.

If anybody is thinking of attending for the first time, there are a couple of potential "gotcha's". The main thing is to be prepared for a looooong couple of days and if it is hot, be extra careful to take care of yourself. I think Mr. Shultz may have some words of wisdom in that regard.

Also, you must be a SCCA member to register and the registration process is a bit of land rush to get in. I believe registration opens at 11am EST next Tuesday and if you aren't prepared to sign up at that point, there is a *strong* possibility you'll never get another chance.

Jim

Stacy King · **Posted:** Wed Mar 05, 2008 1:41 pm

ok... playing devil's advocate here:

Watching the animation of the setup they have on the site, it seems quite dangerous to me having two cars vying for the quickest time on the same circuit, where they converge at the finish line, not only in opposite directions, but on directly opposing "on throttle" radii, with only a double line of cones separating them.

Not being an autocrosser (having done it all of two times) I might need some schooling in this regard, but safety is safety as far as I'm concerned, and to me, that doesn't look safe without Jersey barriers separating that section of the circuit.

Is it just me?

Link to video demo: http://www.soloatlanta.com/doublex/dxc_video_demo.htm

Chris Peterson · **Joined:** Tue Sep 16, 2003 9:02 am **Posts:** 243

Don't let the animation fool you. There is a pretty decent space between the finish lanes. More importantly (at least last year), the finish was completely straight-line. Even if you were out of shape going into the final straight, there was plenty of time to correct. The finish was really exciting to watch - and not because of the danger factor!

I had similar doubts when I first learned about it. Trust me - it's wicked fun.

Stacy King · **Posted:** Wed Mar 05, 2008 3:28 pm

Chris Peterson wrote:

Don't let the animation fool you. There is a pretty decent space between the finish lanes. More importantly (at least last year), the finish was completely straight-line. Even if you were out of shape going into the final straight, there was plenty of time to correct. The finish was really exciting to watch - and not because of the danger factor!

I had similar doubts when I first learned about it. Trust me - it's wicked fun.

Oh I have no doubt its fun... something like that might even get me back out there to give it another shot (especially in the bimmer)... but yeah, that non-straight finish just worries me. I can just see two ASP cars or something getting on the power for that last push to the finish line and either understeering or oversteering into the other lane.

We've all see what kind of damage can be done thanks to that fun-run finish line mishap with the Porsche not long ago. Can imagine the carnage of two moving objects as opposed to parked cars.

JamesFeinberg · **Posted:** Wed Mar 05, 2008 3:40 pm

As Chris said, there is a lot more space than the animation indicates. I'd say it is safer than the majority of the overlap we usually run at Danville, for instance. That's not to say something couldn't go wrong but the chances are extremely remote.

After watching three CP cars come to a dead stop on course facing each other in a triangle about 20 feet apart last year at Nationals, we definitely can't account for everything all the time. 2 of those guys were way off course and there was no way the course workers were going to run in front of those land missiles waving a red flag. Luckily they all realized what was getting ready to happen and everybody stopped in time. Needless to say, they all looked very confused. My back still hurts from chasing cones during that heat.

Jim

Karl Shultz · **Posted:** Wed Mar 05, 2008 5:00 pm

JamesFeinberg wrote:

The main thing is to be prepared for a looooong couple of days and if it is hot, be extra careful to take care of yourself. I think Mr. Shultz may have some words of wisdom in that regard.

Well there's not a lot that can be said that you didn't already capture Jim. It's Georgia, it's dead in the middle of the summer, and most, if not all, of the event site is blacktop.

It is murderously, ruinously hot. I had the occasional dizzy spell; probably I had no business being out there on day two, but I'm stupid like that.

Other than feeling like I was going to spontaneously combust, this was the coolest autocross I've ever been to.

BTW Stacy, I didn't feel particularly at harm with the finish set up the way it was. IMO if you were so out of control at that moment in time that you were going to hit another car...you were probably going to hit something hard anyway.

JamesFeinberg · **Posted:** Wed Mar 05, 2008 5:11 pm

Karl Shultz wrote:

It's Georgia, it's dead in the middle of the summer, and most, if not all, of the event site is blacktop.

It is at a new site this year: AMS. Unfortunately, I have a feeling there may be less shade than the Gwinette County Fairgrounds site. And I'm guessing the chances of having the misting tents again is fairly remote as well.

I think Eric (and perhaps Chris?) has been there in the past so maybe they can comment on the potential amenities.

Jim

Chuck Frank · **Posted:** Thu Mar 06, 2008 12:29 am

AMS is a good site. a little further than Gwinnett tho, the other side of Atl.
As with most Nascar tracks, the track is surrounded by a lot of open area, so no shade to speak of, paddock is on asphalt. Civilization is relatively close by. If they use the same lot they used for the SED finale it should yield a larger course than last year's XX. XX is a lot of fun, especially since everyone gets to run for the championship on Sun. unlike PS where 2/3 the competitors go home Sun AM. Sat runs are like time trials in drag racing where you set your qualifing seed for Sun. On Sun your time doesn't matter, just who crosses the finish line first.

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