July 18 AX

[LUCKY DAVE]

Congratulations to the designer (Don Auten?) of this track.
It was the most fun one we've run in quite a while, and certainly the fastest. Most track layouts have me in second gear all the way around (I might as well have a one-speed) but this track had me in third for much of the lap where my car had the unusual freedom to stretch it's legs for a change.
I thank you.
My car thanks you.

[Dan Chambers]

+1. It was nice to stretch the legs of the 3.6L. Nice job, Don Auten. I particularly liked the downhill, off-camber, "make a bad move on your balance ... and you'll spin" section. That was fast, fun, and a real handling test.

Thanks to all the driving-event Chairs for doing the great job that you do. From the Registration Team through the Equipment Chairs, and everyone in between, the event ran as smooth as Erik Kinninger's driving!

Now .... just a small ... small ... small ... request for the next fun-filled event: can we possibly have one straight followed by a 90-degree turn? Not real long. Not real fast. Just straight. Please? Pretty please?

My crazy rationale:

It's a lot easier to emphasize "Brake in a straight line: Off the brakes: Turn the wheel" ... to a brand-new Autocrosser ... when you actually have a straight line to brake in, IMO. (And ... yes, I know you have to teach the brand-new, never autocrossed, can't find the line for a sea-of-cones A-X'er that "there really is a straight line hidden in this curved section for braking" approach.Yeah, yeah, I know ... However: That's a discussion for another time.)

One "Straight + 90?" Pretty please? With Hoosier's on top? Just one? I know one CDI would really appreciate it.

Thanks again, everyone!!

[lrayner]

+1 on a great track although I could have used a few more horsepower, or maybe just more nerve on this one. For those of us not driving quite as fast as Dan, there were a couple of spots where straight line braking could be emphasised (and where my student responded by locking his brakes up and skidding in a straight line): at the entry into the open box turn and at the end of the straight in the upper right hand corner of the track at the "Stavelot" corner.
Great fun.

[martinreinhardt]

Thanks for the really fast track. It was fun until we had to stop the car with our failing ABS system. It was extremely difficult to control the car under breaking with the right rear and front left locking up. Next time we should be back to a faster pace.

Congrats Erik, geez 1:13 slow down !

[LUCKY DAVE]

We have the room to make all our tracks as fast/smooth/bitchin as this one, all of them should be like this. Why not? We don't have to set up "Vons parking lot" tracks at SDR events (but sometimes we do ), we should take the best advantage of the size of our venue every time.
I once responded to a AX chassis setup question on the Rennlist 944 turbo forum. When I mentioned I ran AX at SDR, a guy from the east coast commented that "SDR AX's are legendary "

[chet]

Great track! Would have been great to have a 5X5X4 run program with such a super layout. Martin, I was watching you braking into the open box and the hairpin in the NE corner and knew there was something amiss.

[stevemckay]

TRACK WAS GREAT,AS STATED ABOVE. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE USUAL SUSPECTS FOR GOING ABOVE AND BEYOND THE CALL OF DUTY YESTERDAY.DOING DOUBLE SHIFTS OF CORNER WORKING PICKING UP THE TRACK AT THE END OF THE DAY!!!!!! I had a great day

[Kim Crosser]

I particularly liked the downhill, off-camber, "make a bad move on your balance ... and you'll spin" section.

So that's what that section was called! Going too hot into that final chicane before the finish was also a recipe for disaster. My apologies to the Turn 12 corner workers and the many cones that suffered an untimely demise on my last run.
That was a great track. Some excellent pitch and catch corners and it seemed that ALL of the corners flowed nicely from one into the next.

[martinreinhardt]

I know it was "White 911 lock up your wheels day". Yes nice try Jennifer, but the ABS doesn't work going backwards either


Notice: The front left locked up wheel and the rear wheel still turning. I probably should have tried to pulled the ABS fuse to fix the problem.

[twitte]

Bill Ripka made an unbelievable video at the Autocross using two $5.00 key fob cameras. Check it out and compare it to mine made with a $1300 Sony.

http://www.pcasdr.org/img/2010/photos/2 ... /index.htm

[Dan Chambers]

+1 on a great track although I could have used a few more horsepower, or maybe just more nerve on this one. For those of us not driving quite as fast as Dan, there were a couple of spots where straight line braking could be emphasised (and where my student responded by locking his brakes up and skidding in a straight line): at the entry into the open box turn and at the end of the straight in the upper right hand corner of the track at the "Stavelot" corner.
Great fun.

Ah, I stand corrected. Yes, the straight leading into the open box is exactly what I'm talking about. The "straight" at C3 .... well, it had a kink to the left, but if you blur your eyes, it could be considered a straight, I guess.

Still ... woopin' good time! Keep this one, Don.

[kleggo]

Bill Ripka made an unbelievable video at the Autocross using two $5.00 key fob cameras. Check it out and compare it to mine made with a $1300 Sony.

http://www.pcasdr.org/img/2010/photos/2 ... /index.htm

WOW
That's pretty astonishing viddy from a low $ solution.
In the first viddy, you can see the unfortunate demise of the 996 Targa, (or was it a 997), in the back buttonhook corner


at first i thought all that smoke was from Jennifers braking zone efforts
Adam G and i saw some interesting things back there.

Craig

[jenniferreinhardt]

at first i thought all that smoke was from Jennifers braking zone efforts
Adam G and i saw some interesting things back there.

Hah hah Craig (and Martin) Actually I was corner working when that gray car sadly blew, but the smoke cloud didn't quite surpass Martin's humongus clouds of smoke he made braking at that back corner as Jad can attest to. I really backed off there and babied the brakes because those obstacles at the side of the track were in the back of my mind... (plus, better him than me flatspotting)

Thanks Ted and Greg for the nice photos and videos. And of course to all who made the day happen.

It seemed like everyone did well on this track in their respective cars. Are we going to ever repeat any tracks, or have we already?

[Dan Chambers]

...until we had to stop the car with our failing ABS system. It was extremely difficult to control the car under breaking with the right rear and front left locking up...

No ABS? Hah! Welcome to my world. You had 3.6L power and no ABS? Poor baby! I can make room for you is the SC if you'd like to learn how to use your brakes without computer aid.

[jenniferreinhardt]

...until we had to stop the car with our failing ABS system. It was extremely difficult to control the car under breaking with the right rear and front left locking up...

No ABS? Hah! Welcome to my world. You had 3.6L power and no ABS? Poor baby! I can make room for you is the SC if you'd like to learn how to use your brakes without computer aid.

Dano, You have a great touch, especially with that powerful engine in a light weight car. I hope to come close one day.

We got no sympathy from the no-ABS people a lot yesterday - you meanies! But how it was explained to me was that we had ABS on 2 wheels on opposing sides (front and rear) and no ABS on the vice-versa 2 front/rear wheels. This made for dramatic pull to one side under braking. Joel motivated me to try and Martin kinda made me. It was freaky, but this freak adapted ok. Heck, I guess I unconsciously altered the racing line to compensate - of course not every time as those on camera spins proved. SORRY cone picker-uppers!!!