THSCC Forums

Just wanted to try to find out why the Hell everybody isn't all over this. In case you don't know what I'm talking about, it's you and your street/autox/track/rallyx/whatever car on the Patriot course, doing a lap at a time and pulling back in to wait a few minutes or less to go out and do it again. Guaranteed 12 runs for $90, 2 hour heats, and some folks get so many runs they get tired of running (it's pretty physically demanding for certain types ), so other people end up getting 25 runs because nobody else is in grid. You can also pay extra and run a second heat for 4 hours total, if you're healthy enough. The atmosphere is extremely laid back, even more so than our rallyxes. And there are paid corner workers, so you don't even have to work - you just drive your car around the course a bunch of times and when you're not doing that, you go see what's happening on Full course.

Patriot course is 1.1 mile, and is pretty simple compared to Full course, but it's hard to really nail everything in the same lap, and it is a TON of fun. Good times are in the lower 50's, top speeds are below 100mph for very fast "normal" cars (my WRX was at rev limit in 3rd twice per lap), well below 100 for average cars. You don't really need to do anything to an autox car other than maybe get better brake pads (but I ran my WRX on Hawk HPS and survived just fine).

Here's Steven Rankins in his STi in case you need a visual...

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid ... cing&hl=en

So if you've actually heard of this, and passed on it, or if you've never heard of it, but it sounds like something you're not interested in...

Why???

The events may be stopping if more people don't get interested real soon, which is why this thread has begun.

Agreed, I'd be all over it if I wasn't busy being Dad.

I had a great time at our event on the P course. I did have a discussion with Jean W about running an "autocross" on it, and IMO it wasn't somethong *our* club wants to do -- too many logistical and safety challenges, and way way too expensive.

But I'll be there in a heartbeat for a Nasa event if I can.

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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

How'd you do this time Kevin?

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Not spectacular just decent.
I'm not sure what I'm driving.
Maybe an ITR in DS.
Or half-assed STX prepped 330.

hmm, looks fun, when/where do I sign up?

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2012 MX-5 Sport SUV

I had just as much fun with the WRX on RE92's as I had with the STi on summer Avons. I ran a 53.1, which was a few seconds slower than Rankins (STi on Victoracers) as far as I know. That 53.1 involved some countersteering in a few places.

Link to the nasa details?

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Marty Howard
2011 NASA SE Factory Five Challenge Champion
Track Events Logistics Coordinator - TZC/THSCC
2007 Factory Five Challenge Car.
http://www.mh-motorsports.com

http://www.nasaracing.net/

It's put on by NASA-MA.

I've run most of Patriot, kinda, with Mazda Drivers doing the Grand East configuration. But we were were running the Patriot section the other direction. It looks more fun to run it counter clockwise.

It is an interesting concept to bridge between AX and TT.

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http://www.greywinds.com

I'm curious to see how the times turned out myself. Lots of fun till my little exhaust leak, oh and smoking the brakes.

Graham - we ran it clockwise. It's pretty awesome that way, so if it's more fun the other direction, I'd love to try it. Why don't you rent the track so I can find out?

If there's enough interest we can rent it again. I had a blast time we did it.

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Marty Howard
2011 NASA SE Factory Five Challenge Champion
Track Events Logistics Coordinator - TZC/THSCC
2007 Factory Five Challenge Car.
http://www.mh-motorsports.com

Me too...I would love to do another Patriot event as long as we keep the run group size in check. I think few appreciate the incredible challenge it is to drive the Patriot course to the max possible given the multiple camber and elevation changes some corners have.

Re running it the other way -- it was designed to be run clockwise, note the pit wall you drive almost right toward when you are running Grand East -- one thing I've never liked about the Grand East format (even though I love running Grand East). I wonder why nobody runs the Grand West layout as that would seem to be a lot of fun. Perhaps it is the series of very slow challenging turns in the connector from North to South side of Patriot back near the Full course back straight.

Anyway, let's bring back a Patriot course event next year. Perhaps we could rent the skidpad at the same time.

Chuck

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Current stable:
2019 BMW M2 Competition slicktop 6MT
2011 BMW M3 sedan slicktop 6MT
2007 BMW 328i wagon (slushbox for now)
1975 CanAm 125MX2

If you run South course or Grand East you can try it out. South was fun in a Formula Ford when I did the Bertil Roos race school. I'll stick with Full or North course though for a DE weekend.

Why not get a bunch of your Scoobie buddies to rent it. Sounds like you had fun even if it was on tar. You rent it and I'll come out and run with you AWD hacks.

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http://www.greywinds.com

Good times. Whens the next one?

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Not spectacular just decent.
I'm not sure what I'm driving.
Maybe an ITR in DS.
Or half-assed STX prepped 330.

Should be one during the GT Live event as far as I know, and I'm not sure whether there will be one before that. There may be if enough people show interest.

Not exactly the same but CCR is putting on an auto-x event at CMP this weekend. It's a good 3 1/2 hours from RDU but it should be a good time anyway.

Event Details

Jim