Cal Club Autocross Forums

Doug Kott wrote:

Marshall Grice wrote:

Eric Clements wrote:It wasn't really tricky. It was just annoying not being able to power thru the finish lights.

I mean this as constructively as possible, but that was easily one of the top 5 worst finishes I've ever seen on an autox course. The rest of the course was ok though.

Really? I didn't have any problem getting my 2160-lb. Spyder slowed after the lights. Then again, I'm not carrying speed like the Berry-mobile! The finish was a little different than most, but it's the same finish for everyone, and autocross is all about adapting to the elements.

It is very unrewarding to have to brake before the finish lights.

Edit: Our 2080lbs car could not make the stop after the lights

I mean this as constructively as possible, but that was easily one of the top 5 worst finishes I've ever seen on an autox course. The rest of the course was ok though.[/quote]

Really? I didn't have any problem getting my 2160-lb. Spyder slowed after the lights. Then again, I'm not carrying speed like the Berry-mobile! The finish was a little different than most, but it's the same finish for everyone, and autocross is all about adapting to the elements.[/quote]

It is very unrewarding to have to brake before the finish lights.[/quote]

But really, didn't it bring a smile to everyone's face to see Max blow through that wall of cones? I woulda thought you could get an ST Civic shut down without lifting before the lights, but you're the best judge of that.

I see the finish as a bit of an equalizer too....on a course where higher-powered cars can gap the lower-powered ones on the generous straights, the ability for slower cars to better charge the finish makes up some of the difference. Even if it's a lift, it's less of a lift.

ST civics are some of the worst stopping cars regardless of weight. They are spin machines on lift. Even dead straight they have camber on small street tires and often a little rear toe out that likes to randomly grab and rotate you under braking. All that and notoriously bad Honda brakes. Only thing worse was the STU Neon... Of course, it had so much wheelspin that when you lifted the car accelerated....

Here's my 46.6 +1. ignore the brake indicator, the seat we had in for this event made it so I couldn't get my left foot entirely off the brakes easily.

http://www.vimeo.com/16177597" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Steve Ekstrand wrote:ST civics are some of the worst stopping cars regardless of weight. They are spin machines on lift. Even dead straight they have camber on small street tires and often a little rear toe out that likes to randomly grab and rotate you under braking. All that and notoriously bad Honda brakes. Only thing worse was the STU Neon... Of course, it had so much wheelspin that when you lifted the car accelerated....

Your avatar photo is a case in point! Maybe adopt a pitch-it-sideways-at-the-lights technique?

Nice run, Aaron. I like the ChaseCam graphics, course map, etc.

a course with a cross over that lengthens it

The problem with cross overs is that typically you can't start the next car until the proceeding car has gone through the crossover ... which means the "cross over" has to be relatively close to the Start.

Mako Koiwai wrote:

a course with a cross over that lengthens it

The problem with cross overs is that typically you can't start the next car until the proceeding car has gone through the crossover ... which means the "cross over" has to be relatively close to the Start.

That would be very cool...a big skidpad crossover right after the start.

Mako Koiwai wrote:

a course with a cross over that lengthens it

The problem with cross overs is that typically you can't start the next car until the proceeding car has gone through the crossover ... which means the "cross over" has to be relatively close to the Start.

Admittedly which is why I said it would be best when a small turnout was expected, still it would be fun.

My only other suggestion and it won't matter to me after two more events, would be that all the novice cars run in the same group. Realize we are running with our class and we get to see how we do against others, but since we are competing against each other (even though none of us can figure out the handicapping, thus we really don't know what we need to move a spot) it would be fun to go against each other.

would be that all the novice cars run in the same group.

If you can organize them so that they all agree to run in say the last run group which never seems to have enough entrants, resulting in not enough workers for when ever they're suppose to work.

We've had them over the years ... last time was June '09. Become a course designer and you get to do whatever you like, following the rules, etc.

Generally they end up being a bit mickey mouse and not so much fun. They're also tend to be tire grinders ...

For a change of pace, Karen's X run in the Miata, roll bar mount: http://gallery.me.com/makofoto#100136

Doug Kott wrote:That would be very cool...a big skidpad crossover right after the start.

Eww, give me something to *drive*. Just holding the wheel and grinding tires away gets old quick...

Having issues Batch Processing the 2,700 photos from this weekend ... so I'm waiting for my $199 CS5 Photoshop upgrade to finish downloading. Might be a case of OS Bad Kitty, ie. Snow Leopard.

Mako Koiwai wrote:Might be a case of OS Bad Kitty, ie. Snow Leopard.

Gotta love those unreliable Mac OS machines. (He says while at work at his Mac)

Will Kalman wrote:

Doug Kott wrote:That would be very cool...a big skidpad crossover right after the start.

Eww, give me something to *drive*. Just holding the wheel and grinding tires away gets old quick...

You're probably right...I guess I just liked the novelty of it.

Actually, I believe they can be designed quite well. Here is one from Jan. 09.
As you can see, there were some technical elements that made it very interesting. Also the fact the slalom was entered on the opposite side on re-entry.

Michael Smith wrote:Actually, I believe they can be designed quite well. Here is one from Jan. 09.
As you can see, there were some technical elements that made it very interesting. Also the fact the slalom was entered on the opposite side on re-entry.

Oh, I remember that one - that was for the infield practice at Cal Speedway. I thought that was a really good design for a very tight space. We had to use a flag person to remind people that they only got one pass through the circle, and the second time they saw the flag person they had to go left to get to the rest of the course (I was one of the flag people that day).

We had one in our Team Blew hosted Rim of the World Rally auto cross ... because of limited space.

You can see the starter just getting ready to launch the next car, as soon as the car in the roundy element makes it out.

Mako Koiwai wrote:Having issues Batch Processing the 2,700 photos from this weekend ... so I'm waiting for my $199 CS5 Photoshop upgrade to finish downloading. Might be a case of OS Bad Kitty, ie. Snow Leopard.

Wait, I thought that Apples, Macs and their associated software were perfect, trouble-free, cured cancer and made you look better to the opposite sex! What gives?

(so says the guy that is jonzing for a MacBook Pro 15" w/hi-res. screen! )

Adobe is a Kingdom unto it's own

I ran in a Speed Ventures event on the infield course at Auto Club that didn't used a simpler crossover and worked really well but added a techincally challenging aspect to the run

Photos finally Batch processing OK ... so should have them up tonight.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RaO-zKINt8M" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Steve: Glad to see I wasn't the only one to lift before the Finish! You're nice and tidy. Like Will, you darted right after the last of the first slalom cones ... on the far uphill corner you entered further to the right then me, and you used up more road in the corner before the Box. Plus you get on the power earlier ... nice lessons. Thanks

Steve Abbott wrote:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RaO-zKINt8M

'One chance' ;)