Bragging rights for "Rain AX" last Saturday?

[Kim Crosser]

I am writing the Witness article on last Saturday's AX in the rain. I am looking for some info on the times people had - especially differences between the early and late runs.

Also - any anecdotes? Interesting spins? Wiper funnies?

You can either post them here, or if you wish to remain anonymous (at least until I put you in the Witness ) you can e-mail me at Kim@theCrossers.net.

[LUCKY DAVE]

I was 12 seconds faster in the dry (but still dog slow )
The car I drive, a box stock 944 turbo S, is so quiet I can't hear the exhaust pulses, it's just a whoosh. As a result, the arrival of boost happens suddenly, and by surprise, particularly when still learning a new track. Add wet conditions to this.....can you say "Handfull"?
Somehow I managed not to spin.....but there were some interesting saves.

[mrondeau]

Kim - I ran a 1:22.58 for my best run in the morning. I was able to get 3 runs in the 1:14's in the afternoon with a 1:14.27 being my best. Still not as fast as you.

[Bill Behun]

Kim - I was about 32 seconds faster from wet to semi-dry. (I was in the first "timed" run group). I probably would have had a faster time in a later run group for sure.

I went from a 1:28 or so to a spectacular 56.17! ... at least that's what the timing clock read! (I won't tell you what my lap timer read - I'm almost sure it's battery was low and the time was not correct, hah hah).

[JamesWilson]

127's in the active wet, 117 in the dry. My codriver was doing faster, down to 115 in the dry. These were on 120+ run Hankook Z214 (slick) C70 compound tires on the GS 924S. Very drifty through the corners, no spins but plenty of wheelspin and big sideways action!

[Irksome]

I never saw times on my first practice session, not sure if the clocks were running yet. But it was wet and fun!

Second practice session, when it was about 1/3 dry with some 'interesting' patches of wet, I got 1:20s with one 1:15. Best spin was on the very last turn, where I found myself 20 feet from the timing lights, facing backwards, and not one cone down.

Final session (I didn't stay for the extra runs) I had 3 straight 1:16s. Couldn't seem to find that 1:15 again, I think I was too worried about the wet spots that weren't wet any more.

Best part of the day, by far, was running the course in the moderate rain with my PSM turned on, and experiencing how powerful that system really is. Having it completely recover the car by appying braking to only the right rear tire is extremely cool! PSM was shaving easily 10 seconds off my times in total wet conditions, and I was unable to spin the car. If you've got PSM, you really should try it next time we have wet conditions.

Tom Meissner
aka 1414

[Kim Crosser]

Best part of the day, by far, was running the course in the moderate rain with my PSM turned on, and experiencing how powerful that system really is. Having it completely recover the car by appying braking to only the right rear tire is extremely cool! PSM was shaving easily 10 seconds off my times in total wet conditions, and I was unable to spin the car. If you've got PSM, you really should try it next time we have wet conditions.

Tom - great comment. Not having PSM myself, and having been conditioned to make sure students' PSM was ALWAYS turned off, I didn't even think of the value of using it as a teaching tool that day. I will mention it in the article.

(ALL OTHERS - please do not hijack this thread for a discussion of teaching w/without PSM , although ANOTHER THREAD would be fine. )

[John Straub]

I think I turned about a :45.

John

[mrondeau]

Best spin was on the very last turn, where I found myself 20 feet from the timing lights, facing backwards, and not one cone down.

Tom - Nice spin and no time off for cones. Very considerate of you to do that right in front of us so that we could enjoy it as well.

[harnishclan]

Consistent 1:23's in the wet and very sideways. Second session brought times down to 1:16-1:18 with partial wet and still very sideways. Third session, one lap of 1:16, two laps of 1:15, and one lap 1:14.6 and only slightly sideways. In the bonus session, two laps in 1:13.82, 1:13.91.

Hard to describe the fun of driving through the side windows! My car is naturally heavy on the oversteer in dry, so wet was crazy. BUT as fun an AX that I have done in a while. To quote my wife, "It was interesting to see you coming to the timing lights while I could see both headlight doors, the driver door, and tail light at the same time."

[Kim Crosser]

In the bonus session, two laps in 1:13.82, 1:13.91.

Nice run - got me by 7/100ths with that 1:13.82 (I had a 1:13.89 in the 3rd run session, down from 1:20.40 and 1:16.63 in the first two run sessions).


C'mon folks - I saw some good numbers from Jad Duncan (a 1:09.8??), Erik Kinninger (a 1:09.2??), and there were others down in the 1:10 (Tom Comeau?) and 1:11 range (Tawfik?). Anyone else break into the 1:09s? 1:10s? 1:11s? 1:12s?

Don't be shy! This is for bragging rights, after all.

[Jad]

I didn't get any timing in the first session, though I will try to download it from the car this weekend. In the second session I was able to get a best of 1:14 in the rain, then in the mostly dry red run group 'timed' runs I got a 1:09.80 which I believe was top time of the red run group nipping Eric by a couple tenths.

This new car is improving with each event. And the PSM was off or I would have had a 59.xx since it saves 10 seconds

[Irksome]

And the PSM was off or I would have had a 59.xx since it saves 10 seconds

LOL! Just because it shaved 10 seconds off of my times doesn't mean you have as much to gain! I'm still quite the novice at handling the car in the wet conditions...

[RETII]

Now for some real fun,if PSM saved 10 seconds on 2wd car could I expect to save 20 seconds since mine has 4wd? Not to worry, all of you could drive the course in reverse and still have a quicker time than me. LOL

[Erik K]

Hey everyone, the Oct 13 autocross was a lot of fun, testing everyones skills in the dry and wet, in red group timed runs i drove both tom's RSA and freshly built 1985 3.2 carrera by my dad for bob S. in the carrera I did a 1:09.92, and in the RSA with fresh 710's turned a 1:09.22.