10/12/08 Guldstrand's Octoberfest Championship

[Aaron Goldsmith]

Don't forget to pre-register people. It's GRA so the course is likely to have a lot of wahoo factor (Tom (tm)) and Cal Poly's makin burgers on site.

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[Bob Beamesderfer]

>>This will be a three-run event, if possible, for both Primary and X-runs.

Would someone from GRA care to explain how it wouldn't be a three-run event? Or should it say that it will be a four-run event if possible?

[Eric Clements]

It's GRA so the course

Oh joy, straights connected by U-turns.

[Bob Beamesderfer]

It's GRA so the course

Oh joy, straights connected by U-turns.

Gary Thomason will be pleased by any lack of slaloms.

[Kurt Rahn]

Oh joy, straights connected by U-turns.

Woo hoo!! Finally a course where I might actually trophy in Moby Dick! She ain't much for transitions, but she goes like a bat outta hell out of the corners and on the straights.

[Gary Thomason]

It's GRA so the course

Oh joy, straights connected by U-turns.

Gary Thomason will be pleased by any lack of slaloms.

Amusing. Interesting how things morph over time. Believe me, I am not a fan of u-turns followed by straights as a major theme. My only complaint concerning slaloms is that they should represent a part of a balanced and thoughtful course design, and not represent the majority of what's happening out there (as many recent designs in SOCAL have been). If anyone cares (which I doubt), imho, every course should have 6-10 slalom cones - and not 32 as happened with a not too long ago ProSolo course in the area.

BTW, you might be interested to know that the East course at Nationals had fully 21 slalom cones on it....I did OK, but that doesn't make it right

[Steve Ekstrand]

BTW, you might be interested to know that the East course at Nationals had fully 21 slalom cones on it....I did OK, but that doesn't make it right

My freshly torn rotator cuff felt at least 10 of those 21 east course slalom cones. My opiate addiction will be partially Karen Babb's fault.

[Aaron Goldsmith]

BTW, you might be interested to know that the East course at Nationals had fully 21 slalom cones on it....I did OK, but that doesn't make it right

I did poorly, and that does make it wrong.

[Bob Beamesderfer]

Gary Thomason will be pleased by any lack of slaloms.

Amusing. Interesting how things morph over time. Believe me, I am not a fan of u-turns followed by straights as a major theme. My only complaint concerning slaloms is that they should represent a part of a balanced and thoughtful course design, and not represent the majority of what's happening out there (as many recent designs in SOCAL have been). If anyone cares (which I doubt), imho, every course should have 6-10 slalom cones - and not 32 as happened with a not too long ago ProSolo course in the area.

BTW, you might be interested to know that the East course at Nationals had fully 21 slalom cones on it....I did OK, but that doesn't make it right

It was a joke, Gary. I never assumed that because you didn't like a slalom on one course it meant you didn't like them at all.

[Steve Ekstrand]

Obviously, balancing the elements in a course design should always be a primary goal. Not only is it a better drive, but its more fair as a course with a dominant element type is going to make the competition more car dependent. I was really disappointed by the East course at Nats this year. Obviously, I knew I wouldn't be able to drive it one handed. I shouldn't have tried. I literally was in tears coming off the first lap. And I was thinking how wrong it was to have a course that was 80% slaloms. Atleast the cone intensity kept me ahead of a bunch of people. I shouldn't have been able to beat anybody.

The straight away sweeper straight away jabs at GRA are jokes. I've never encountered a course like that at their events. But I do think they sometimes are too dependent on big sweepers as the dominant theme.

[Bill Schenker]

... But I do think they sometimes are too dependent on big HP...

Fixed that for you.

[Bill Schenker]

j/k. Funny thing is, my little wimmpy Miata has always done well in GRA events! Looking forward to this weekend!!!

[Mike Simanyi]

j/k. Funny thing is, my cute Miata has always done well in GRA events! Looking forward to this weekend!!!

Fixed that for you Bill.

[Jayson Woodruff]

j/k. Funny thing is, my little wimmpy Miata has always done well in GRA events! Looking forward to this weekend!!!

I remember hearing you spin tires in 3rd gear on lot 8. Of course you do well on GRA courses.

Jay W

[Max Hayter]

j/k. Funny thing is, my totally gay, cheater PAX Miata has always done well in GRA events! Looking forward to this weekend!!!

Fixed that for you Mike.

[Bill Schenker]

j/k. Funny thing is, u r all a bunch of a$$es! Looking forward to this weekend!!!

Fixed it for all of you.

[Mike Simanyi]

Bill, you omitted "smart".

[Aaron Goldsmith]

Bill, you omitted "smart".

I'm not sure he did...

[Gary Thomason]

It was a joke, Gary. I never assumed that because you didn't like a slalom on one course it meant you didn't like them at all.

I did say it was amusing..........

I also thought it was topical. The sweeper is a slowly disappearing feature of autox in general, steadily being replaced by more and more transitional elements. Just my opinion, but I personally prefer racing that includes some corners, and the bigger and faster the better

[Earl Merz]

Is there at all a possibility of early runs at the GRA event? I will not know untill Friday what my next week work schedule is. I may have to start work Sunday evening. I wouldn't be a good thing to be late for your first day of work...

[Mike Simanyi]

I did say it was amusing..........

I also thought it was topical. The sweeper is a slowly disappearing feature of autox in general, steadily being replaced by more and more transitional elements. Just my opinion, but I personally prefer racing that includes some corners, and the bigger and faster the better

The finish sweeper on the West course (assuming my internal compass isn't all screwed up) was absolutely fantastic. Increasing - and huge - radius with a little "gotcha" just before the finish if you didn't drive it just right, it really rewarded the right line and aggression.

Mike

[Bob Beamesderfer]

It was a joke, Gary. I never assumed that because you didn't like a slalom on one course it meant you didn't like them at all.

I did say it was amusing..........

I also thought it was topical. The sweeper is a slowly disappearing feature of autox in general, steadily being replaced by more and more transitional elements. Just my opinion, but I personally prefer racing that includes some corners, and the bigger and faster the better

It's all good as long as it isn't some sea of cones.

[Aaron Goldsmith]

Is there at all a possibility of early runs at the GRA event? I will not know untill Friday what my next week work schedule is. I may have to start work Sunday evening. I wouldn't be a good thing to be late for your first day of work...

I've done it before, email your competitors in class and make sure it's ok with them since they're the ones who will care. Then talk to the event folks directly and make sure it's ok with them.

[Earl Merz]

Is there at all a possibility of early runs at the GRA event? I will not know untill Friday what my next week work schedule is. I may have to start work Sunday evening. I wouldn't be a good thing to be late for your first day of work...

I've done it before, email your competitors in class and make sure it's ok with them since they're the ones who will care. Then talk to the event folks directly and make sure it's ok with them.

Yeah, I'm familiar with that. I just didn't see it on the flyer and thought I would ask.