8-15-10 Champ Videos/Photos

[Steve Ekstrand]

Is this thread for real?

Oh those civies... FA$$te$t kAr eVaR, yo

[Doug Kott]

Here's a shot taken by my friend Bob Hayes:



Fun and challenging course, but my small pea brain was confused by the visual complexity of the first three turns. It seemed to flow a lot better at Saturday's practice. It was hard to not get a big oversteer moment at the exit of the slalom! Working the course there, I had to sprint to avoid a spinning blue S2000 (Joey?). Partly my fault for standing a little too close, but I had my eyes on the car the whole time.

[Theo O.]

Awesome shot Doug! Car looks mean

[Doug Kott]

Awesome shot Doug! Car looks mean

Thanks! Bob took a great shot. It looks as mean as a small yellow smiley-face car can be. Note the new headlights (replaced a week ago).

[Jeff Wong]

Awesome shot Doug! Car looks mean

Thanks! Bob took a great shot. It looks as mean as a small yellow smiley-face car can be. Note the new headlights (replaced a week ago).

How are those hankooks holding up? How many runs do you have on them now? Are you liking these past couple of events due to the heat?

[Doug Teulie]

Given that I don't run in STX, I could give a rats ass if you brought a fighter plane.

Theo, you know I love you dearly, but I'm failing to see your point here. You want to ban a certain type of car from a class because it's too fast. Ok, fair enough. Write to the SEB. You'll need evidence though I don't recall a Civic ever winning STX at Nationals (although I'm hoping it will happen this year for more personal reasons).

I think Julie Avard won Nationals STXL with a STS Civic (now ST).

[Tom Berry]

So, I figured, with a very distracted mind and a tired body

I blame those ridiculous shoes!

+1

[Doug Kott]

Awesome shot Doug! Car looks mean

Thanks! Bob took a great shot. It looks as mean as a small yellow smiley-face car can be. Note the new headlights (replaced a week ago).

How are those hankooks holding up? How many runs do you have on them now? Are you liking these past couple of events due to the heat?

Hi Jeff....the R-S3s are great. I've had them now for a couple of autocrosses and 1.5 practices and 3 X-runs, so that's about 27 runs, plus some weekend driving...mostly short errands...and I'd say they're getting close to half tread depth. On the first run, they're a bit slippery and take about a half-lap to feel really good, but they seem to thrive on the heat after that. They ride very nice when dropped down to 30 psi or so.

Edit: I just remembered that I first had them for the SoPac divisional, so 6 more runs plus about 4 on the practice course means I'm up to about 37 runs.

[Arthur Grant]

My only decent run on Sunday: 55.7. The Vette desperately needs it's brakes bleed. First two runs I totally over cooked going into the slow turn around before the slalom.

http://gallery.me.com/makofoto/100038" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Showing a bit more respect and distance to the cones after coning every run at the last two races.

Hard to imagine the man of many tools and adjustments doesn't have speed bleeder in his kit.

[Mako Koiwai]

The ones for the Miata are sitting on the front seat ... yah ... need to get them for the Vette. But I guess they're heavier then the oem ones ... JUST KIDDING ... that it would make any difference ...

[Kurt Rahn]

Surely, your beef should be with the SCCA for allowing ST Civics to run in STX.

Wow, I missed a whole $hi&storm! I agree with Max. I think it's mighty whack for a car to be able to run in two different ST classes, but that's on the SCCA, not on our region or the local drivers that choose to take advantage of the rules.

[Ron Tsumura]

Surely, your beef should be with the SCCA for allowing ST Civics to run in STX.

Wow, I missed a whole $hi&storm! I agree with Max. I think it's mighty whack for a car to be able to run in two different ST classes, but that's on the SCCA, not on our region or the local drivers that choose to take advantage of the rules.

Also makes for a logistics nightmare to schedule run/work groups when a car fits into multiple classes and have multiple drivers to boot. Have to make sure they run in different run groups.

[Theo O.]

Surely, your beef should be with the SCCA for allowing ST Civics to run in STX.

Wow, I missed a whole $hi&storm! I agree with Max. I think it's mighty whack for a car to be able to run in two different ST classes, but that's on the SCCA, not on our region or the local drivers that choose to take advantage of the rules.

Exactly Kurt, I also agree with Max. The discussion has always been about the "car" and the "classing", this is not a new discussion, this goes on on many other forums. It is an SCCA classing issue, it is not about people who take advantage of what the rules allow.

[Steve Ekstrand]

I think Julie Avard won Nationals STXL with a STS Civic (now ST).[/quote]

The Lutheran Civic.

But we're talking open class. No offense to ladies classes.... But sometimes the competition is a little soft in comparison.

[Lily Liu]

What's there to complain about in CST??? Unlike STX a CST car has very little limitation. I'll bring out a Viper or a Cobra if I have to

It's not a very complex thing to understand. STX has limitations that the ST civic are exploiting. Period.

Lily, please you know I got nothing but love for you, don't fall for the attempt to make this a personal thing. I'm totally cool with the ladies and will gladly have anyone of them teach me how to drive better

Theo Im not taking this personal. You know we're cool

Back on a serious note. I never heard this being an "issue" when Tadd ran the Civic in STX (sorry to use you as an example Tadd, I'm just trying to make a point here). But when the ladies won it's suggested that ST Civics are too fast for the class and that drivers jump in STX "for the benefit of the tire" or that the ladies "should consider running in the ladies class".

What I'm wondering is if this would still be a problem when *hypothetically* all ST Civic drivers from this season decided to prep their cars to STX spec for next season. What would be the argument then to ban the cars from STX?

I find it unsportsmanlike to take merit away from awesome driving and car engineering from these competitors by using the car as a pretext.

[Steve Ekstrand]

This BS again? We already lost Matt and Angie from the class and possibly the region this year. I don't know or care what the motivation is, what I do know is that the effect blows.

I'm confused?

I thought every person leaving the region was because of the Political Paddock. Now its ST Civics??? Or is it ST Civics driven by incredibly talented women? Tough to keep score here.

It's not a very complex thing to understand. STX has limitations that the ST civic are exploiting. Period.

Okay, its not complex... But I don't understand. What is being exploited? When Andy McKee jumped in SP cars to take points in SSM what was he exploiting? Of when a BSP car enters SM or SSM? Exploitation? Oh, because WRX's and BMW's are fat and limited by struts? Maybe somebody picked the wrong car.

[Theo O.]

Lily, you are too cool for me to argue with you so I'll let you have the last word and leave this alone


Steve, since apparently I can't have my account deleted from this board, make a new post for you and your right wing cronies to continue your personal attacks against me, blacks and hispanics. I'll be your one man liberal punch bag

This thread has been hijacked enough.

[Mako Koiwai]

Finally ... the rest of the stills that I managed to get on Sunday ... basically run groups 2 and 3:

(ignore the off color on some of the files. That's completely correctable)

http://public.fotki.com/makofoto/2010-a ... t-2010-ch/

Romanian Solo School:
(I better be careful ... I'm working for a Romanian cameraman next week!)

[KJ Christopher]

I find it unsportsmanlike to take merit away from awesome driving and car engineering from these competitors by using the car as a pretext.

I think it is the opposite. It is because of the awesome driving and car engineering that people have an issue. If they weren't winning, I don't see how others would care. The ST cars in our region are extremely well developed. And that development was the result of the teamwork, both between the competitors and the co-drivers. Our ladies are not holding back. Even if they compete in an "L" class (probably due to a combination of mini-battles as well as ease of scheduling - the very reason we moved the "L" classes to different run groups), they still benchmark themselves against their open class competitors. I've watched them and can tell that they are not along for the ride - they are fully in the team, providing feedback on the cars and participating in the dirty work. Always looking for a chance to improve.

I guess I really can't speak for others - but for myself I'm very impressed with how our ladies fit in to the sport. The competition and participation has really honed their driving skills. They are great drivers in very well prepared cars. A formidable combination.

[Steve Ekstrand]

Well said KJ.

[Mako Koiwai]

If you're one of the three drivers that gave me a ride Saturday morning ... please drop me a line, ie. click on the "envelop" under my name to the right --->

[Christine Grice]

Is Mike showing Renee the proper form for speed skating?

[Max Hayter]

Is Mike showing Renee the proper form for prostate exam?

Fixed.

[Mako Koiwai]

I thought I overhear Mike saying something like, "No you can't run this Civic in STX with the other gals ... now would you please move before I sic the Event Chair/God on you!"

[Will Kalman]

How do we fit "baby's first corded tire" into the baby book?