Autocross Chat 2009

[sperry]

Originally Posted by MattR

Haha Yeah, he drove Whitey on Saturday and His own on Sunday...

@ Cory "driving whitey".

[MPREZIV]

Originally Posted by Kevin M

Cory, which day did you drive which car? I am hoping like hell you drove yours on Sunday.

Yeah, I was laughing at the idea of putting the sick burn on you and placing top 5 in pax in your car on Saturday, but didn't pull it off...

[20psiMR]

I swear I have the curse of the two tenths! Matt beats me by two tenths, then Kevin, then Matt again on sunday. I need to pick up a full two seconds on these v710's and I just dont see it happening, Im not aggressive enough lol. I think when I burn these off Im going with some 285/30/17's on those rims with the street tire pax. It just doesnt make it worth it to run race rubber with that penalty, and Matt is just TOO DAAAAAMN FAST!

[MattR]

Chris, if you want to foot the bill, I'll run with the race tire handicap

[Dean]

The T factor still probably favors race tires, the gotcha is that you must be able to drive them at or near their limits on a consistent basis and very few people can do that.

It is easier to drive street tires, period. They are far more forgiving and provide far more feedback to the driver which allows the driver to learn to drive better, faster.

I often say that if you want to learn to drive better, drive a low HP un-sporty car on the worst tires. This will force you to drive better to be fast, because the car cannot save or protect you from your mistakes.

[20psiMR]

I agree, and the fact is I just cant drive them at their limit. Or maybe just need more practice on them. It amazes me how grippy they are, and I know there is more time out there if I push harder but sometimes I just get a little sketchy and dont push as hard as I know I can. Specially going into that chicago box, that one I know I could have run in strong and braked hard, but I kept just letting off and coasting in with light brakes. I know what I NEED to do, its just the execution thats hurting me lol. Need more confidence, and only one way to get that...seat time hehe. I need some track days though, thats where I really shine. Hopefully have some extra cash for PDX's soon. For me autocross is like a quick fix for when Im not on track hehe.

[sperry]

Originally Posted by 20psiMR

I agree, and the fact is I just cant drive them at their limit. Or maybe just need more practice on them. It amazes me how grippy they are, and I know there is more time out there if I push harder but sometimes I just get a little sketchy and dont push as hard as I know I can. Specially going into that chicago box, that one I know I could have run in strong and braked hard, but I kept just letting off and coasting in with light brakes. I know what I NEED to do, its just the execution thats hurting me lol. Need more confidence, and only one way to get that...seat time hehe. I need some track days though, thats where I really shine. Hopefully have some extra cash for PDX's soon. For me autocross is like a quick fix for when Im not on track hehe.

Don't get down on yourself. Knowing what you're doing wrong is like 99% of eventually going faster. What sucks is running an okay run on your 1st lap, then getting slower each lap afterwards and not knowing WTF you're doing differently, which has happened to me in the past. If you know where you're losing time, but just not executing, that's no big deal at all. You'll eventually get it, like you said, all you need is more seat time.

[20psiMR]

I hear that Scott. Usually my runs get faster, I usually take my first two runs to really get to know the course and see where I can be fast. My 3rd run was good, but I felt it could have been faster. 4th run it was really starting to rain and I spun out on the first hard sweeper, so I just gave up on it hehe. More seat time and I can put these slicks to use Im sure. Just need to stop wimping out on some of the more technical sections!

[A1337STI]

damn it. i missed paved rally X ? i mean auto X in the rain

Yeah the R's take a lil while to figure out .. not that i've ran enough to make much progress but i can tell it could happen..

[Kevin M]

Debbie Kerswill won on the East Course today! http://www.scca.org/popup/raceresult...13555&file=852

These results are provisional, but unless something odd happens, the results shouldn't change. She has a lead of 0.356 seconds over second place and 0.726 seconds over 4th place, so she's got a great shot at a trophy!

[MikeK]

Awesome!

[k-dogg39]

Originally Posted by MikeK

Awesome!

+1 congrats Debbie!

[Dean]

According to Mark's post over on RenoSCCA, she won the whole thing! BSL Champ.

[sperry]

Holy awesome!! Nice job dk!!

[cody]

Can't wait to give her a high 5!

[tysonK]

Great Job Debbie you deserve it!

[szucchet]

Congrats dk!!!

[dknv]

Thanks Everyone!!

It was hard to have to wait it out until the very last run in the class on day 2 before the results were set. I could've given myself a concussion were it not for my helment, since I had such a bad last run and was smacking myself in the head driving back to grid.

Didn't drive to my potential, though none of us did. The other 2 contenders (Gretchen and Katie) could just as well have won it; I got lucky.

Won 4 Hoosiers, Mazda money, miscellaneous goodies, and most importantly - The Jacket!!!

I hope that those of you who want to, get a chance to go to Nationals at Lincoln NE someday. Great site, decent town, and autox and racing culture to the max.

[van]

Awesome, Congrats Debbie!

[Kevin M]

Congrats again Deb! I would love to go to Nats someday, but since Nina can basically never, ever take a week off in September I don't see it happening. I'd like to at least get in some Evo schools and NT events at some point though.

[Dean]

Just so everyone knows and has the evening to cower in their beds...

I will be there this weekend to spank you like the kiddy car driving toddlers you all know in your hearts that you are.

Seriously, I will crush you.

[/smack talk]

I have no idea what Nina and Kevin will decide I am driving, but it will be the RS or the 3. I will be coaching Nina, but will likely give a guided course walk and help anyone else who wants it as time permits.

See you there bright and early.

[MattR]

Bring it.

[van]

Aw Snap!

[cody]

Had a small mechanical issue today so I only took 2 runs (3 if you count the run before a rerun). The noise that I've been hearing from the brakes (thought it was the brakes because the noise stopped when I'd drag the brakes) for like 9 months was a wheel bearing. Every time I had wiggled the wheel to test if it was a WB it was fine so I stopped checking it. I'm sure if I had wiggled it when changing my oil last weekend it would have wiggled.

Anyway, the wheel bearing is so far gone that the rotor is rubbing on the caliper and is getting gouged and it took out the outer CV joint so grease got all over the place which probably is why the ABS light came on (grease in the sensor) or maybe it was because the fluid in that caliper boiled and caused the pedel to hit the floor during my 2nd run.

It's at my buddy's house in Fernley a mile from the track. Cory was good enough to swing by and help diagnose the issues as well as drive me home. Taking it to a place down the street to get it fixed Monday.

So I may be in Fernley tomorrow but it will only be to get my car towed.

At least I didn't hit the wall like Cort did in his Exige.

[Dean]

Originally Posted by cody

It's at my buddy's house in Fernley a mile from the track. Cory was good enough to swing by and help diagnose the issues as well as drive me home. Taking it to a place down the street to get it fixed Monday.

Nissan bearing time!!!

http://www.seccs.org/forums/showthread.php?t=4701

Van spent some time in the dirt and I don't think returned. Van? I think his new paint job sucked him in...