Ax Photos

[Greg Phillips]

Fun event and track even under the warm humid weather
Congrats to Steve G for TTOD and BRI

Photos are up at:

https://picasaweb.google.com/1057760116 ... directlink

Greg

[Ryan McClune]

Great stuff Greg.

Thanks.

The slalom photos into the finish are just excellent.

[Steve Grosekemper]

Really great shots Greg.
Good layout for the track but the asphalt patching was awful.
I really thought I was going to break the car as it is so stiff and I was just thrown around.
Never completed a practice run session because of this.
Waking up this morning bruised and sore from the pounding.

Hope this gets better or we route the track around these patches by the time we are back in the west lot.

And thanks to martin Reinhardt for making me drive 11/10ths in timed runs. Cant remember the last time I got a DNF and a cone in timed runs.

[Shelle]

Great pix. I had a great time sink holes and all(turn 5) thanks to my coach. Looking forward to the DT training.

[jenniferreinhardt]

Thanks for the photos Greg! It was a fun day.

The track designs have been good! But, we should avoid setting the track around these new uneven patches on the surface. (like the AX team doesn't already have a hard time avoiding the track break up parts) Cars will be damaged from the hard bumps for sure. It's hard to drive on 2 wheels over these things. We also have been getting awfully close to hard objects like electric boxes and walls. At this point, the east lot may be easier on the car.

I miss the track walk too.

[martinreinhardt]

+1 Jennifer
+1 Steve and nice driving, It was fun. I am looking forward to the next event.

Thank you Greg for the great pictures.

The track design was great. However, the newly repaved surface was bumpy and came loose with a lot of gravel, in addition to the usual chunks of pavement breakup elsewhere. Having the track going straight over the new patches / uneven bumps was actually dangerous in some spots. Also, I strongly believe that we need to follow the 50 foot rule and be more cautious about keeping 50 feet from the closest solid object, before something happens again. I saw a gnarly spin that came close to the fenced Chargers section. This time, the hair pin turn exit was even closer from the curb and trees. One mistake could have ended in tears.

Additionally, there are so many benefits to have a track walk over the snail pace track drive such as: Socializing and camaraderie, morning walk, multiple views of analyzing the track, comparing possible lines with your friends, sweeping the bad areas, marking the cones, etc. The track drive at the last event was not helpful. At the last 1/3 of the track, the cars were bunched up and stopped waiting for cars to re-enter the track. We were unable to even see the track with the cars 15 feet ahead of you. I strongly feel there is no benefit of doing the parade laps. I'd like to vote to go back to the track walk.

[jbrennen]

I saw a gnarly spin that came close to the fenced Chargers section.

So did I.

But if we're talking about the same spin, trust me, it wasn't really *that* close...

[Steve Grosekemper]

Additionally, there are so many benefits to have a track walk over the snail pace track drive such as: Socializing and camaraderie, morning walk, multiple views of analyzing the track, comparing possible lines with your friends, sweeping the bad areas, marking the cones, etc. The track drive at the last event was not helpful. At the last 1/3 of the track, the cars were bunched up and stopped waiting for cars to re-enter the track. We were unable to even see the track with the cars 15 feet ahead of you. I strongly feel there is no benefit of doing the parade laps. I'd like to vote to go back to the track walk.

I have to agree with Martin here, I have enjoyed previous parade laps but this event was way over crowded. couldn't even see the track for all the cars and yes I hung back. I think we need to keep a an eye on one driver cars and length of track issues. it has worked before, what was different this time?
given my choice I would like to see both...

[AGill]

This was my first time back to an AX in a LONG time and I was back in a new and improved Cupcake. It was a shake down day for me to identify what issues I have to address. As much as I wanted to drive given my long absence, I didn't even finish each of my practice sessions because with those bumps is took a lot of the fun away as the fear of breaking the car was too great. Yes my car is light but it has stock PSS9 springs on it and stock sway bars...even with that the car was getting abused. I hope we can find a way around these new obstacles, if not, cars will break for sure. Since these are new patches, would they benefit from being steam rolled or do we think they already were?

Regarding the track tour and no track walk. I am sure this is a matter of preference, for me, I prefer the actual walk. Is there time enough in the morning for those that want an actual walk to get tech inspected early and then be able to do a track walk? This might allow us to appease everyone.

Thanks to all the hard work of the Tech team, AX team and supporting chairs/volunteers, it is clear everyone is really doing a kick-butt job. And, to Robert Baizer, kudos to him for coming out to continue to develop new/better systems for timing and start. Very cool.

[kleggo]

Additionally, there are so many benefits to have a track walk over the snail pace track drive such as: Socializing and camaraderie, morning walk, multiple views of analyzing the track, comparing possible lines with your friends, sweeping the bad areas, marking the cones, etc. The track drive at the last event was not helpful. At the last 1/3 of the track, the cars were bunched up and stopped waiting for cars to re-enter the track. We were unable to even see the track with the cars 15 feet ahead of you. I strongly feel there is no benefit of doing the parade laps. I'd like to vote to go back to the track walk.

As another "returner" after a prolonged absence, I must agree that I much prefer the track walk over the parade lap concept.
i understand the likely intent to allow the driver to see the course over the wheel for a few extra circuits, but this does not make up for what you learn, what you see and who you talk to or about during the walk.

craig fenstermaker

[Batman]

Greg, thanks so much for taking the great pictures of us bouncing around the track on Saturday. I liked one so much I had to use it as my new avatar.

+2 for Steve's and Martin's comments on the track walk. This last time we were slow and could not look ahead. I have now ran three AX's with the driving track tour and more walking the track. I now like the track walk for a number of reasons, 1st it allows more time for my old mind to absorb the design, 2nd I have an opportunity to get up close and personal with the condition of the track and where it may be a problem later in the day, 3rd I have time to look outside the track for run-off opportunities should I need them, and 4th a much more advanced driver gives commentary on how to drive a line and what to look out for. My 2 cents.

At one point I had to go into the hot pits to dig the asphalt out of my two front tow hooks. It felt as if my splitter just shoveled the top 2" off the patch just before the hairpin in the NE corner. As the day went on I was able to use some of the ups and downs to my advantage. At the kink near Budweiser sign all I had to do is hold the wheel straight and wait for the bump to kick me out around the cones.

Still I had a great day and yes the tracks are better with our new team. I know its hard to get around all the crap at the "Q" but please don't brake my car or put me and my students in a bad situation.
The finish was, well different.

Nice driving to Steve G and Martin R.

[Robert Joe]

Both track walk and parade lap would keep both camps happy. The students with an instructor gain a lot from the parade lap because it is easier for the instructor to point out the line and explain fundamental concepts going at slow speed and you get multiple laps to do that. If the car in front is taking a good line then you can point that out to them and vice-versa.

[mrondeau]

Both track walk and parade lap would keep both camps happy. The students with an instructor gain a lot from the parade lap because it is easier for the instructor to point out the line and explain fundamental concepts going at slow speed and you get multiple laps to do that. If the car in front is taking a good line then you can point that out to them and vice-versa.

I've always found it easier and more beneficial to explain the line and point out land marks/corner working stations to a student during a track walk. The problems with the parade lap is the car in front of you rarely seems to take a good line, you're usually focused on not punting said car when everyone bunches up and that line always changes at speed.

YMMV.

[Jad]

Plus the track walk allows for someone with good knowledge to give a description of the line and the course versus one instructor with varied experience describing the track having never seen it before explaining things without stopping while in stop and go traffic.