The '09 Season - Page 3 - LotusTalk

cstetter · 04-27-2009, 02:11 PM

Great fun and thanks a lot to the organizers and most of all the instructors!!

Let's just hope we get the timing issues sorted out in time for the next event.

LarryB · 04-27-2009, 02:48 PM

The timer issues are a odd one. Got off the phone with Race America, they have never heard of this one. It's the same setup we used all afternoon in our March event (though physically not the same equipment). We did do a update to the AxWare software, we didn't have last time. Data flow is suppose to be one way... It's a puzzle. In any case will take a look at the AxWare data, tonight to confirm it shows the same type of thing we were seeing from the AC-4 timer unit. And talk to Race America, more to see if we can get it figured out.

LOL- thought this new system would be the end of our timer problems. Still have a few bugs to work out.

Tintin · 04-27-2009, 02:54 PM

Look on the bright side, at least we didn't have many reruns because of timer glitches.

def · 04-27-2009, 03:02 PM

Cool pictures Shelly

Thanks to Larry, Colm, Alex, etc, and the instructors for a great event. Keep us updated about the Timer, I'm curious to hear what it was.

CountTracula · 04-29-2009, 08:09 AM

Great event, despite the cold wind!

Big thanks to powerbookguy, who loaned me his car for my afternoon runs. I hope to be up and running again by the time next autocross comes around.

Larry, any news about the duplicate times? I will try to scour the autocross forums today and see if anybody else experienced similar bugs.

LarryB · 04-29-2009, 09:30 AM

Photos from this weekend:
GGLC_autox_042609 - a set on Flickr

Thanks to Tony (GTR), photos from last month:
GGLC 2009 AX1 - a set on Flickr

Result can be found here:
MotorsportReg.com : Sign In

A few things we are going to have to tighten up for the points events- who is driving what? Know of about 4 drivers that were driving something other then what they registered with. I don't have the grid logs but will have them double checked. Off hand didn't know that you (Count) had switched into a Elise for the afternoon runs (but in looking at your times that would make sense).

Early this morning passed all our data to AxWare, so we've got them looking at our timer issues on that end as well.

Also wanted to take a moment to thank all our instructors who gave up a Sunday to help us with our clinic:

Alan (Miata)
Ben (who also double up as course designer)
Jason (fellow Elise owner)
Michael Sands (Exige owner)
Kanishk (newer Elise owner - with a after market SC kit)

CountTracula · 04-29-2009, 10:06 AM

Larry, I switched into an Elise in the afternoon. To help you figure out the data, I think the fastest in the R32 was 46.4 and in the Elise was 41.6 (r/comp on r888).

I did use the proper numbers, however.

Did you need help sorting all the data? Let me know...

LarryB · 04-29-2009, 10:32 AM

Well- that is something else we've got to have updated. Powerbookguy hadn't run with us in over a year and still has himself listed on street tires. Pretty sure the time changes between cars make it pretty clear when you switched over- thanks Nick.

Heard back from Axware:
"Ran several stress tests with our software to emulate your scenario (using your registration and staging data) and did not encounter any problems whatsoever."

"Updated our raw timing log functionality and would like to see if you could run a few tests."

So now I've got to gather up all the hardware, download the update and runs some test- should give them a better idea if it's on the hardware or software side. But with a track day tomorrow and Monday, I need to forget about the autox stuff for a while and focus on driving.

LOL- I don't get paid enough for this sort of stuff.

apkom · 04-30-2009, 09:27 PM

Unfortunately I could not come to this one due to work.

But looks like this was fun school/practice and every one enjoyed it.

There is penalty option in software DSQ (disqualified) that we did not use before. I suggest we will use it for all runs where people run not in what they registered for unless they come up before event starts to correct their registration entry.

Using same number on different cars (as in R32 and Elise) during one day is actually even worse as everything in the system is keyed upon unique car number.
If you must do this and still want your results posted you better come to us before switching a car so we can create new entry for you running different car (always in FUN class) with modified number (we can just append some simple letter to your number to distinguish two entries).

Quote:

Originally Posted by LarryB

A few things we are going to have to tighten up for the points events- who is driving what? Know of about 4 drivers that were driving something other then what they registered with. I don't have the grid logs but will have them double checked. Off hand didn't know that you (Count) had switched into a Elise for the afternoon runs (but in looking at your times that would make sense).

LarryB · 05-12-2009, 09:17 PM

Wireless units are now working. Turns out the latest firmware release for the AC-4 had a bug in it. Now fixed. Big thanks to Alex and Colm for running through the test. And to Race America who throw in a nice carrying case for being “guinea pigs”.

def · 05-13-2009, 02:26 PM

Thanks guys

glad to hear the bug was on thier side and they found it

03rcode · 05-13-2009, 09:39 PM

Hey Larry, Ben, Rich Stevens here. My wife's Dad passed away so we will be out of town this weekend.

Hope you all have a great event. See you June 27th.

LarryB · 05-17-2009, 09:36 PM

Great weather for a autocross. Big thanks to Alex, for taking on the day of the event chairman role. Was able to focus on driving and get all my runs in. Even managed to pull .5 second off my last run and get a semi-reasonable time in (41.6). Ben for a great course (even if it was a little hard on the Elise’s running slicks). The two stage slalom, was a nice fun element- Alex thanks for the tip on how to run them.

Shot a bit of out of car video- got def tossing the back end around. At some point in the next few weeks will edit the footage from the first three events and post it up.

Photos at:
GGLC AutoX 051609 - a set on Flickr
Sorry Group C... was busy driving.

Thanks to Tony L, more at:
GGLC 2009 May AX3

A video clip from ever bruin:
lotus autox 1 may 16 on Vimeo

Will have the June registration ready to go in the next week.

def · 05-18-2009, 02:13 PM

Thanks to Alex, Larry, Kiyoshi and any others who helped put this one on. Kiyoshi didn't even drive the course once, I think, and he drove the van up and helped with every run session. I tried to get him to drive my car some but he had to fill in for the last group of the day because someone was missing. I think next time we need to force him to drive our cars

Cool action shots, Larry. Will be waiting for that video

I've spun several times, but first time I've spun like that before (let off throttle some, got loose, tried to save, tires gripped, snapped the opposite way). At least I think thats what happened, it happened so fast so the video will actually be helpful to see which way I actually spun, lol

LarryB · 05-18-2009, 02:32 PM

On the photos, really like Tony L's. Doing the pan motion shots is something I don't do too well.

It was a little different from our first two events. For those almost no one dropped out. Think we had 1 no-show in March and everyone there for April. In this case we had 8-10 drop out in the last week, several no-shows and a few not covering all of their work assignments. We went from just enough workers to very very thin. Will allow a few more drivers in, so we have a few "extra" workers and tighten things up if someone isn't working.

I'm happy to volunteer to drive the truck once this season. If it means Kiyoshi will bring his car and get his runs in. Am open if someone else want to take on the box van duties. We will comp you for the event. So if you can get your car there or bum someone's ride... plus we'll comp you for another date.

Oh and our AC-4 timer was not working properly (again!). Lucky for us the BMW club brought there gear. So now I have to beat up on Race America some more.

def- From a first look at the video the rear end really came around, quick- that will happen with a throttle off at or near the limit... hey a autox course is the best place to get a feel for that.

khamai · 05-18-2009, 09:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by def

Thanks to Alex, Larry, Kiyoshi and any others who helped put this one on. Kiyoshi didn't even drive the course once, I think, and he drove the van up and helped with every run session. I tried to get him to drive my car some but he had to fill in for the last group of the day because someone was missing. I think next time we need to force him to drive our cars

Thanks Kevin...

We put a trailer hitch on the club truck last fall and I have a trailer... I even towed the Elise up to Oregon last October for the WCLM... chalk it up to laziness...

Kiyoshi

CountTracula · 05-19-2009, 10:20 AM

I missed this one...

I still cannot drive -- sprained my left foot playing basketball. I am glad everybody had fun

LarryB · 05-19-2009, 10:49 AM

LOL- sounds like things are happening in pairs. First you and Jay with the Elise. And now you and rnr with the sprains. Hope it gets well soon. Had a fall while mountain biking early in the year. My shoulder still isn't quite right... suppose I should have it looked at.

It was the first points event, with 5 more to go and only counting the best 4, there is still time to be in the running.

rnr · 05-19-2009, 12:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LarryB

Oh and our AC-4 timer was not working properly (again!). Lucky for us the BMW club brought there gear. So now I have to beat up on Race America some more.

Same issue as last time? Which parts did you swap to get it working?

Quote:

Originally Posted by LarryB

LOL- sounds like things are happening in pairs. First you and Jay with the Elise. And now you and rnr with the sprains.

Luckily my sprain was pretty minor and I'll be back to full strength for the Lemons race this weekend.

LarryB · 05-19-2009, 12:39 PM

After Colm got it set up, the AC-4 would at times start flashing test failed type error messages. Matt from the BMW club was there (they had an event the next day) and let us switch over to their AC-4. No problems after that. Have a call in to Race America...

Talked to Rob, sounds like he came in on one of his days off, to work on the car. Where is the next race?

04-27-2009, 03:02 PM	#44 (permalink)
def ...ault Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Mountain View, CA Posts: 2,607	Cool pictures Shelly Thanks to Larry, Colm, Alex, etc, and the instructors for a great event. Keep us updated about the Timer, I'm curious to hear what it was. __________________ //kevin - 05 Graphite Gray - Red Touring / LSS / Starshield / Stage 2 + more SOLD

04-29-2009, 09:30 AM	#46 (permalink)
LarryB Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: NorCal Posts: 3,107	Photos from this weekend: GGLC_autox_042609 - a set on Flickr Thanks to Tony (GTR), photos from last month: GGLC 2009 AX1 - a set on Flickr Result can be found here: MotorsportReg.com : Sign In A few things we are going to have to tighten up for the points events- who is driving what? Know of about 4 drivers that were driving something other then what they registered with. I don't have the grid logs but will have them double checked. Off hand didn't know that you (Count) had switched into a Elise for the afternoon runs (but in looking at your times that would make sense). Early this morning passed all our data to AxWare, so we've got them looking at our timer issues on that end as well. Also wanted to take a moment to thank all our instructors who gave up a Sunday to help us with our clinic: Alan (Miata) Ben (who also double up as course designer) Jason (fellow Elise owner) Michael Sands (Exige owner) Kanishk (newer Elise owner - with a after market SC kit) Last edited by LarryB : 04-29-2009 at 09:36 AM.

05-13-2009, 02:26 PM	#51 (permalink)
def ...ault Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Mountain View, CA Posts: 2,607	Thanks guys glad to hear the bug was on thier side and they found it __________________ //kevin - 05 Graphite Gray - Red Touring / LSS / Starshield / Stage 2 + more SOLD

05-17-2009, 09:36 PM	#53 (permalink)
LarryB Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: NorCal Posts: 3,107	Great weather for a autocross. Big thanks to Alex, for taking on the day of the event chairman role. Was able to focus on driving and get all my runs in. Even managed to pull .5 second off my last run and get a semi-reasonable time in (41.6). Ben for a great course (even if it was a little hard on the Elise’s running slicks). The two stage slalom, was a nice fun element- Alex thanks for the tip on how to run them. Shot a bit of out of car video- got def tossing the back end around. At some point in the next few weeks will edit the footage from the first three events and post it up. Photos at: GGLC AutoX 051609 - a set on Flickr Sorry Group C... was busy driving. Thanks to Tony L, more at: GGLC 2009 May AX3 A video clip from ever bruin: lotus autox 1 may 16 on Vimeo Will have the June registration ready to go in the next week. Attached Images Last edited by LarryB : 05-17-2009 at 10:04 PM.

05-18-2009, 02:13 PM	#54 (permalink)
def ...ault Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Mountain View, CA Posts: 2,607	Thanks to Alex, Larry, Kiyoshi and any others who helped put this one on. Kiyoshi didn't even drive the course once, I think, and he drove the van up and helped with every run session. I tried to get him to drive my car some but he had to fill in for the last group of the day because someone was missing. I think next time we need to force him to drive our cars Cool action shots, Larry. Will be waiting for that video I've spun several times, but first time I've spun like that before (let off throttle some, got loose, tried to save, tires gripped, snapped the opposite way). At least I think thats what happened, it happened so fast so the video will actually be helpful to see which way I actually spun, lol __________________ //kevin - 05 Graphite Gray - Red Touring / LSS / Starshield / Stage 2 + more SOLD Last edited by def : 05-18-2009 at 02:42 PM.

04-27-2009, 02:11 PM	#41 (permalink)
cstetter Nothing witty to say Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 1,443	Great fun and thanks a lot to the organizers and most of all the instructors!! Let's just hope we get the timing issues sorted out in time for the next event.

04-27-2009, 02:48 PM	#42 (permalink)
LarryB Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: NorCal Posts: 3,107	The timer issues are a odd one. Got off the phone with Race America, they have never heard of this one. It's the same setup we used all afternoon in our March event (though physically not the same equipment). We did do a update to the AxWare software, we didn't have last time. Data flow is suppose to be one way... It's a puzzle. In any case will take a look at the AxWare data, tonight to confirm it shows the same type of thing we were seeing from the AC-4 timer unit. And talk to Race America, more to see if we can get it figured out. LOL- thought this new system would be the end of our timer problems. Still have a few bugs to work out.

04-27-2009, 02:54 PM	#43 (permalink)
Tintin Registered User Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Northern California Posts: 1,059	Look on the bright side, at least we didn't have many reruns because of timer glitches.

04-29-2009, 08:09 AM	#45 (permalink)
CountTracula Registered User Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: NorCal Posts: 652	Great event, despite the cold wind! Big thanks to powerbookguy, who loaned me his car for my afternoon runs. I hope to be up and running again by the time next autocross comes around. Larry, any news about the duplicate times? I will try to scour the autocross forums today and see if anybody else experienced similar bugs.

04-29-2009, 10:06 AM	#47 (permalink)
CountTracula Registered User Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: NorCal Posts: 652	Larry, I switched into an Elise in the afternoon. To help you figure out the data, I think the fastest in the R32 was 46.4 and in the Elise was 41.6 (r/comp on r888). I did use the proper numbers, however. Did you need help sorting all the data? Let me know...

04-29-2009, 10:32 AM	#48 (permalink)
LarryB Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: NorCal Posts: 3,107	Well- that is something else we've got to have updated. Powerbookguy hadn't run with us in over a year and still has himself listed on street tires. Pretty sure the time changes between cars make it pretty clear when you switched over- thanks Nick. Heard back from Axware: "Ran several stress tests with our software to emulate your scenario (using your registration and staging data) and did not encounter any problems whatsoever." "Updated our raw timing log functionality and would like to see if you could run a few tests." So now I've got to gather up all the hardware, download the update and runs some test- should give them a better idea if it's on the hardware or software side. But with a track day tomorrow and Monday, I need to forget about the autox stuff for a while and focus on driving. LOL- I don't get paid enough for this sort of stuff.

05-12-2009, 09:17 PM	#50 (permalink)
LarryB Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: NorCal Posts: 3,107	Wireless units are now working. Turns out the latest firmware release for the AC-4 had a bug in it. Now fixed. Big thanks to Alex and Colm for running through the test. And to Race America who throw in a nice carrying case for being “guinea pigs”.

05-13-2009, 09:39 PM	#52 (permalink)
03rcode Registered User Join Date: May 2009 Location: Livermore CA Posts: 1	Hey Larry, Ben, Rich Stevens here. My wife's Dad passed away so we will be out of town this weekend. Hope you all have a great event. See you June 27th.

05-18-2009, 02:32 PM	#55 (permalink)
LarryB Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: NorCal Posts: 3,107	On the photos, really like Tony L's. Doing the pan motion shots is something I don't do too well. It was a little different from our first two events. For those almost no one dropped out. Think we had 1 no-show in March and everyone there for April. In this case we had 8-10 drop out in the last week, several no-shows and a few not covering all of their work assignments. We went from just enough workers to very very thin. Will allow a few more drivers in, so we have a few "extra" workers and tighten things up if someone isn't working. I'm happy to volunteer to drive the truck once this season. If it means Kiyoshi will bring his car and get his runs in. Am open if someone else want to take on the box van duties. We will comp you for the event. So if you can get your car there or bum someone's ride... plus we'll comp you for another date. Oh and our AC-4 timer was not working properly (again!). Lucky for us the BMW club brought there gear. So now I have to beat up on Race America some more. def- From a first look at the video the rear end really came around, quick- that will happen with a throttle off at or near the limit... hey a autox course is the best place to get a feel for that. Last edited by LarryB : 05-18-2009 at 02:39 PM.

05-19-2009, 10:20 AM	#57 (permalink)
CountTracula Registered User Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: NorCal Posts: 652	I missed this one... I still cannot drive -- sprained my left foot playing basketball. I am glad everybody had fun

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05-19-2009, 10:49 AM	#58 (permalink)
LarryB Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: NorCal Posts: 3,107	LOL- sounds like things are happening in pairs. First you and Jay with the Elise. And now you and rnr with the sprains. Hope it gets well soon. Had a fall while mountain biking early in the year. My shoulder still isn't quite right... suppose I should have it looked at. It was the first points event, with 5 more to go and only counting the best 4, there is still time to be in the running.

05-19-2009, 12:39 PM	#60 (permalink)
LarryB Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: NorCal Posts: 3,107	After Colm got it set up, the AC-4 would at times start flashing test failed type error messages. Matt from the BMW club was there (they had an event the next day) and let us switch over to their AC-4. No problems after that. Have a call in to Race America... Talked to Rob, sounds like he came in on one of his days off, to work on the car. Where is the next race?