PCA SDR

I see from the latest AX results post the following general comment about the track:

"The length and speed variety of the track was a real plus, it made it much harder than our usual layouts to learn (that's a GOOD thing). Bring on this layout again!"

We could do this again at the Saturday, September 13 AX if folks want. It would be interesting to see if we can improve our times. I'd love to try it again.

Let us, the AX team know. Voice your thoughts here.

Bill Behun, 2008 AX co-chair

I think this was the best track I've seen since I started last April. I'd love to get another shot at it.

I might need to flip my left tires to the right, tho!

I have no problem running it again, but even with the AX teams immense skill, I doubt you can throw it close enough to provide a meaningful time comparision between the two events. 1-2' change in a couple cones will change the time by 1-2 seconds, still fun, but not exactly Big Willow for comparison in my opinion.

If you want to try, let me know and I will download a google map of the stadium with track map embedded from GPS. It should show within 5 or so feet where exactly the track was.

Jad - you are right, tough to get the track the same for real time comparisons. If folks want to run it again that would be great to get your GPS info to lay the track close to the same. No doubt there may be a new pothole that skews things.

We will also probably make the start longer, not as tight, to clear the bad pavement and lightpole. There was some good pavement we didn't take advantage of.

May be tough to do, but I would like to see it tried!

YES!

As much as I like hard-core competition, I'd rather see a different track at each AX. (When I was designing tracks in '03 and '04 I often got requests to repeat the track, but decided [along with the other AX Chairs] to go with a different track for each event. No one seemed to complain way back then.) MHO: variety is the spice of life.

If you want consistant (or repetitive) tracks, get into the TT series, where the track remains the same and driver-skill (and car set-up changes, weather changes, tire compound changes, etc.) vary the times.

My dos-pesos.

Dan Chambers wrote:If you want consistant (or repetitive) tracks, get into the TT series, where the track remains the same and driver-skill (and car set-up changes, weather changes, tire compound changes, etc.) vary the times.

My dos-pesos.

I think Dan has a good point here...
(Did I really just type that for all to see?)

But for a different reason.
I think we should run as close to the same track as possible so people can see what fun it is to come to a track with knowledge that they can build upon and increase driving skill as apposed to leaning the track.
Maybe some more AX'ers will see the light and come out to our next two TT's.

Steve Grosekemper wrote:I think we should run as close to the same track as possible so people can see what fun it is to come to a track with knowledge that they can build upon and increase driving skill as apposed to leaning the track.
Maybe some more AX'ers will see the light and come out to our next two TT's.

Excellent point, Steve.

And ... isn't that part of the reasoning behind the Q-DE's? You learn the course on the first session, and build on skills throughout the day with an Instructor? Safer parking-lot speeds? Reduced experience requirements for DE's with a bridge to higher-speed "big-tracks" with gained experience?

Won't the requirements for participation at TT's be the same, regardless if it's an AX or a DE?

Could we focus on the "art of AX driving" with a different track at each AX, and leave the "work on skills with the same track" for the DE's and TT's?

Dos mas pesos....

How about running the same track in the reverse direction?

All good points you make.

I'm inclined to repeat the track this ONE time as there are enthusiastic requests for it and I remember as a "beginner" (OK - add your jokes here) I always thought I'd like to drive a repeat track and build upon what I was just beginning to catch on at the end of the day and see/feel the improvement. Builds your confidence and enthusiasm.

So, to repeat the track could be good for the newer AX folks and they could get a feel for the improvements you get when doing a DE/TT. Jackie, Ron and I will discuss this and have ananswer soon.

Thanks,
Bill

If we like the track that much, why not run it again in Dec for the "Other car AX" ? Just an idea.

I helped set that track up! Yes please, let's do it again.

Bill Behun wrote:All good points you make.

I'm inclined to repeat the track this ONE time as there are enthusiastic requests for it and I remember as a "beginner" (OK - add your jokes here) I always thought I'd like to drive a repeat track and build upon what I was just beginning to catch on at the end of the day and see/feel the improvement. Builds your confidence and enthusiasm.

So, to repeat the track could be good for the newer AX folks and they could get a feel for the improvements you get when doing a DE/TT. Jackie, Ron and I will discuss this and have ananswer soon.

Thanks,
Bill

I think the more veteran driver's would like to see a repeat of a particular track in a "Back to Back" format for no other reason than to see how a certain new mod, repair or different tires perform on the same layout and evaluate on a (close to) similar course.

My LSD was shot and will have a rebuilt one for the next AX. For selfish reasons, I want to see how my car feels on the same course, specifically on the braking zones that are in high speed corners.

Peter Busalacchi

I was not able to run this AX due to a repair part not being available. It is an unfair advantage for my competition to run this course back to back, even if it is not exactly alike. I'm just thinking for points reasons/season standings here - which are important to many people.

Now, repeating a track every 6 months, the next year, or at the other car AX, would be better because the track won't still be freshly imprinted in one's mind.