Cal Club Autocross Forums

Brett King wrote:I've never run into this type of situation with not being able to practice the course / test before the event, so it really seems odd to me.

Ah but you're forgetting one thing. You DON'T run the same course on Sunday. You run it in the opposite direction from Saturday, thus you may actually be at a DISADVANTAGE as opposed to someone who hasn't run it at all and comes in with a fresh viewpoint for the course that matters...the championship course. All practices are, are for test-n-tuning, and for driving in general. Not for the course on Sunday per se.

We've run special Nationals TnT events in the past. But we have an oldtimer group that inexplicably holds a great deal of animosity and resentment towards national drivers. So, a major attack gets formed. Just look at the attack on the August 8th date. Because of the uncertainty surrounding such events, the clubs tend to failsafe it by making late summer events have some priority for the national types. CASOC went after the late July date when it became available, with this in mind. We have a large number of National level drivers.

Ironic isn't it that the stance against something only increases the problem?

Tadd doesn't get too much chance to practice. Really just CASOC events. This is the first time in quite a while we've had more than one CASOC event in a year. We also have three in the car. 36 laps at El Toro, just not going to happen. I only have three sets of tires and so much ice and water... I might run out of 100 octane, gesh...

I've rented the drift pad at Willow for junior karting... While I was up there... It was tempting to unload the Civie and do some practice. Cheap. But really only a good weekday option.

I know we don't run the same course... last time I went out I actually liked the course MORE backwards. It's just that Saturday ( for me anyway ) is a good warm-up / test to get your head wrapped around things at THAT venue and layout. Know my means !?!?!?

M POWER !

Steve Ekstrand wrote:We've run special Nationals TnT events in the past. But we have an oldtimer group that inexplicably holds a great deal of animosity and resentment towards national drivers. So, a major attack gets formed. Just look at the attack on the August 8th date. Because of the uncertainty surrounding such events, the clubs tend to failsafe it by making late summer events have some priority for the national types. CASOC went after the late July date when it became available, with this in mind. We have a large number of National level drivers.

That's pretty lame... if its a "National Driver Only" practice... it is what it is. I'm not gonna get all pissy if a Ferrari club has a Ferrari only practice... same, same. Just because it's AX and SCCA doesn't mean you're entitled to ALL AX events that are run.

Steve Ekstrand wrote:Even if its run in reverse you do get some advantage. In Brett's case he needs to feel the new setup out regardless of course. But like at the GRA event, if I had run the practice, I would have seen the non-transitional nature of the course and made some easy adjustments for Sunday.

Good points, especially for a newbie auto-x like Brett. But he seems very into the sport so I'm sure this won't deter him because unlike a track day, you DO have competition on Sunday as opposed to a track day which is just laps and laps with no real racing.

Giovanni Jaramillo wrote:

Steve Ekstrand wrote:Even if its run in reverse you do get some advantage. In Brett's case he needs to feel the new setup out regardless of course. But like at the GRA event, if I had run the practice, I would have seen the non-transitional nature of the course and made some easy adjustments for Sunday.

Good points, especially for a newbie auto-x like Brett. But he seems very into the sport so I'm sure this won't deter him because unlike a track day, you DO have competition on Sunday as opposed to a track day which is just laps and laps with no real racing.

You hit the nail on the head Gio... I want to be competitive as I can, and to do that I need as much experience / practice and seat time as I can get. So that's why I need my Saturday runs !!! I'm into the competition aspect of AX 110%.

I'm not going anywhere... I wanna do some track days here and there because I heard they're pretty fun... but I'm not going to be pushing it like I would at an AX because the last thing I wanna do is run my car into a wall if I made a mistake. I couldn't even imagine what the wife would say about THAT. Divorce ???

Brett King wrote:I'm not going anywhere... I wanna do some track days here and there because I heard they're pretty fun... but I'm not going to be pushing it like I would at an AX because the last thing I wanna do is run my car into a wall if I made a mistake. I couldn't even imagine what the wife would say about THAT. Divorce ???

I do the BMWCCA driving schools which are very good and excellent instructors. Autocross skills are like the "fire alarm", "emergency escape hatch" that you take with you to the track should you need them. And they've come in handy a few times for me.

Giovanni Jaramillo wrote:

Steve Ekstrand wrote:Even if its run in reverse you do get some advantage. In Brett's case he needs to feel the new setup out regardless of course. But like at the GRA event, if I had run the practice, I would have seen the non-transitional nature of the course and made some easy adjustments for Sunday.

Hmmm.... You guys found the post. I can't. Should we have an old fashioned burn the place down good ol' time????

}:) }:) }:) }:) }:) }:) }:) }:) }:) }:) }:) }:) }:) }:) }:) }:) }:) }:) }:) }:) }:) }:) }:) }:) }:) }:) }:) }:) }:) }:) }:)

Steve Ekstrand wrote:

Giovanni Jaramillo wrote:

Steve Ekstrand wrote:Even if its run in reverse you do get some advantage. In Brett's case he needs to feel the new setup out regardless of course. But like at the GRA event, if I had run the practice, I would have seen the non-transitional nature of the course and made some easy adjustments for Sunday.

Hmmm.... You guys found the post. I can't. Should we have an old fashioned burn the place down good ol' time????

}:) }:) }:) }:) }:) }:) }:) }:) }:) }:) }:) }:) }:) }:) }:) }:) }:) }:) }:) }:) }:) }:) }:) }:) }:) }:) }:) }:) }:) }:) }:)

Huh?

Steve = ANTI-ESTABLISHMENT

Steve Ekstrand wrote: Hmmm.... You guys found the post. I can't. Should we have an old fashioned burn the place down good ol' time????

Just take a time out Steve. That sh#$ was out of line and you know it.

BR was out of line, nobody said a frickin word to him, ever. Sorry occassionally something might slip out about somebody who so abused our whole family and others and walked away unscathed with a story that is "forbidden" from being told. :mrt:

Did someone turn up the wierdometer or has it always been this strange in CalClub?

Coming from a San Diego guy?

Pot, meet Kettle.

But we knew what we were dealing with in SD. Not calling anyone black. Just thought it was different, but I guess it is not.

And about that run/work order....

I'm hoping they will nail down the Run/Work at tonight's meeting. Please.

Brett King wrote:

Jeff Shyu wrote:for pure test n tune purposes, aren't the BMW club and PCA auto-x better anyways (generally more runs)?

I don't know about all that stuff... from what I've heard. I'm not too into the whole BMW / P-Car poser club thing

}:)

I am, since I gave up on getting into practice until it's TCC turn again. I'm not complaining, I don't need anyone bitting my head off

They BMW events are not better, just more opportunity to race, we'll be in Willow Springs next month. I won't pass up our event for a BMW event if I have a choice. I love the variety of cars.

Another possible way to get in some practice is to offer to split a Practice Entry. You can even try to make the offer now.

Last time one of our members shared runs with me 50/50, but did both work duties for me plus paid for most of the entry fee.

Mako Koiwai wrote:Another possible way to get in some practice is to offer to split a Practice Entry. You can even try to make the offer now.

Last time one of our members shared runs with me 50/50, but did both work duties for me plus paid for most of the entry fee.

Damn, Mako...you're a good negotiator! I'da been good with "you get me into yours and I'll get you into mine."

Brings up another good tip... Quid Pro Quo's...

You invite me to your practice, I'll invite you to mine. Friendships with somebody in another big club of two might guarantee you in 40-50% or our practices.

Darn.. I thought I sent my check early enough this time...
Will there be a waiting list?

Mako Koiwai wrote:Another possible way to get in some practice is to offer to split a Practice Entry. You can even try to make the offer now.

Last time one of our members shared runs with me 50/50, but did both work duties for me plus paid for most of the entry fee.

@ Mako

How about I'll pay half the practice fee, work both sessions, and you get your buddy to let me do a lap in the GT3... I'll even let you AND him do a lap in the shoe ! Brand new Advan AD08's go on tomorrow as well to sweeten the deal ;)

I'm already sharing an entry ... but since Hi Ly didn't get in ... I wonder if there is an opening for someone to share an entry with him and the GT3. But since Hi is now running on A6's ... he's not as interested, rightfully so, in sharing. We're hoping that he's going to start racing ... making our ASP an all Yellow Class.

Hi all, I was one of the unlucky 50 who didn't make it on the list. I am new to AutoX and was wondering if anyone would like to split their runs with me? I will gladly pay half of the entry fee.

Thanks,
Joe

Maybe up the offer by taking saying you'll take care of the work assignment also ... a good thing anyway for a Newbie ... to spend time on the course observing running cars up close.