4/20 Marina Autocross Pictures

[mwood]

Originally Posted by Enigma

Mike, you will have to come back for a rematch.

Oh, John told me that I had the best index time...which amazed me, given the oem tires on the '8. I must have misunderstood.

Next time, I'm hoping to have a more autocross ready ride!

[Enigma]

Originally Posted by mwood

Oh, John told me that I had the best index time...which amazed me, given the oem tires on the '8. I must have misunderstood.

Next time, I'm hoping to have a more autocross ready ride!

I heard they ran the numbers twice. You got a modifier index for street tires. I don't think they could decide which class my car was in. I heard I either won or finished #2 depending on which they chose.

[apkom]

Correct.
We used SS PAX index for Jason's car (milled A-arms, non-stock LSD, non-standard spring mounts, etc we can forgive) so he got 1st place.
When I tried ASP PAX for his car he came in second after Michael. I guess if we followed the letter of SCCA rules we'd have to use SM2 index or XP even

Tough call.

Originally Posted by Enigma

I heard they ran the numbers twice. You got a modifier index for street tires. I don't think they could decide which class my car was in. I heard I either won or finished #2 depending on which they chose.

[Dead Duck]

Hi Larry, Alex, & Collin!!!!! Thanks for all the work you guys put into the Auto-x. My Wife had a blast puttering around with Derick, instructing.

Have only one suggestion. When Group A is running have Group C work. When Group B runs have Group A work. When Group C run have Group B work. That way the group that's going to run next isn't working the course so they can warm-up their cars or whatever.

Once again KUDOS to Larry,Alex, & CollinJeff

[ConeFusion]

Originally Posted by Enigma

Before I moved to CA I had never been given a "time slip" or heard of lining a course with chalk.

Lining the course is done at a lot of events, especially larger ones. They often use flour instead of chalk. Chalk is cheaper, but apparently the kart drivers don't like to get chalk into their eyes... I find the lines totally useless myself. Some people think they help.

The layout of the course on Sunday was fairly simple, so it was quite easy to follow. But the way the cones were used did create the "sea of cones" effect in a number of places. It generally happens if there are a lot of equally spaced cones. For me it's easier to pick up the important cones if there aren't as many extra ones. So instead of rows of cones with the same spacing all along the course, I prefer courses that use fewer cones, with distinct patterns marking the key elements.

[knucklehead]

Originally Posted by ConeFusion

Lining the course is done at a lot of events, especially larger ones. They often use flour instead of chalk. Chalk is cheaper, but apparently the kart drivers don't like to get chalk into their eyes... I find the lines totally useless myself. Some people think they help.

The layout of the course on Sunday was fairly simple, so it was quite easy to follow. But the way the cones were used did create the "sea of cones" effect in a number of places. It generally happens if there are a lot of equally spaced cones. For me it's easier to pick up the important cones if there aren't as many extra ones. So instead of rows of cones with the same spacing all along the course, I prefer courses that use fewer cones, with distinct patterns marking the key elements.

Reto,
I agree, but only to an extent. The event on Sunday was instructional and for a beginner who may not recognize distinct patterns and know what they mean or able to feel the flow of the track. I think the course was perfect.

[LarryB]

Dead Duck- Your right it would have been better to have the next driving group up coming off a break. Nice things is for the rest of the season, we'll go back to four run groups. So workers and drivers will both be coming off a break.

[khamai]

Cone spacing can help a lot to reduce the "sea of cones" effect. Jason is very good at increasing cone density in important sections to make it easier for the driver to see where the course goes. And, then decreasing cone density in areas that are less critical to "finding" the course.

As for chalking... To extent it helps the driver, but they are often nearly invisible sitting in a low vehicle. Most chalking helps the course workers spot when a car is off course!

As a driver I would pretty much ignore chalk lines when the driving line intersected the chalk. Afterall the cones count, but the chalk is only there as a guide.

Cheers,
Kiyoshi

[mwood]

Jason did his usual great job on course design...with Elise sized slalom elements

The only part I took any exception to was the very short, tight slalom section, which led into a tight right hander onto the "straight". I felt it hurt the flow of the course, a bit, and that a simple offset gate would have sufficed and made the entry onto the straight much more important to overall lap time. But, all in all, a great Elise course.

On the chalking question, it is standard procedure to chalk the outer edge of the course at all SCCA events. The only difference is whether you chalk inside the cones or outside, which is a regional/national delineation. In any case, I believe there is a huge benefit to newbies in having the course chalked, particularly if the lines use a little "artistic license" in directing the flow...

[Enigma]

Originally Posted by mwood

Jason did his usual great job on course design...with Elise sized slalom elements

The only part I took any exception to was the very short, tight slalom section, which led into a tight right hander onto the "straight". I felt it hurt the flow of the course, a bit, and that a simple offset gate would have sufficed and made the entry onto the straight much more important to overall lap time. But, all in all, a great Elise course.

Elise sized elements, I like that..

I would love to have more wide open courses but Marina simply isn't large enough to really do that. So how do we motivate you to come out on a more regular basis?

[mwood]

Well, you could have a more open course if everyone was happy with 35-40 second laps...but, believe me, I think the courses I've run with GGLC have been really good and in no way make me less apt to show up. I've always enjoyed running with you guys/gals...it's a great bunch of people, for sure.

As a matter of fact, you may see more of me, this year. Last year, I had a lot on the plate running a pretty full National/Pro Solo schedule with a full time co-driver in the RX8. This year, I'm the co-driver, I'm planning less travel to distant, two day events and the car (XP supercharged Miata) is in the early stages of development, so we'll need all the seat time we can get!!