So "it's the driver" (and new tires)

[bryanearll]

First a nod to what money can buy and skill can drive, that 1:17 today was super fast.

I'll be the first to admit that at the AX today I just couldn't figure out how to get around that track any faster than my 1'31.12 posted time. Sure, I knew I had some weaknesses in areas (the start, for one), but in general I had three "confident" runs. The first to establish a time, maybe a bit conservative. The second, agressive but controlled (my best time). The third, balls out, tongue flapping and slower.

Hat's off to the better drivers in my class, and special kudo's to the 914 guys who demonsrated how to drive the course. A nod as well to Jan for a great run, and Martha too... 1'29's and very consistent.

Special Razz to the first 944 Spec driver for taking out dozens of cones in three laps. (Hey, the car broke down before I got to drive...)

A great day and a pretty good course. I'd like to see enough room to get into second before the first turn next time. Quite the comedy tring to figure out how to turn off the windshield wipers while aggresively cornering.

Special thanks to Jeff from Black Forest for identifying the "my second gear keeps popping out in the corners question". Just wish you guys were closer.

New Kumho's? Well, my car no longer pushes. I've got the pressure dialed in correctly (I think), and a great instructor Neil (#54) who calmed the competitive edge in the early part of the day and got me comfortable with oversteer and throttle stearing on my slippery new tires.

See you on the 12th.
Bryan

[Jan Mellinger]

The AX was way fun! This could get to be a habit. I love that people are compete for themselves and supportive of each other. Bryan, i still think your knee and elbow boo-boos slowed you down!

Jan

[ajackson]

I had a great day as well, definatly one of the more interesting tracks we have had. I hope we get to see more long sweepers and such in the future. I never really figured out the track, my best time was a 1:33 something, but I definatly had a blast trying.

It's always amazing to me to see what a light, well balanced car can do on an autox tack. I think the ttod for the 944 spec cars was around a 1:25, which beats most of the boxsters, 996's, etc. ...Hmm, if I sell my 911 I can buy a completely built 944 spec car and have money left over for racing....

The gt2 was also a pleasure watching go around the track. That plus James is definatly a monster where going fast is concerned. Getting a look at the 2005 boxster was also cool. ...Hmm, I could sell my 911, sell some other crap, have a payment for a few years....

One thing is for sure, being out there is never good for the check book. See you all in a couple weeks!

[Jad]

It is amazing how a bit of weight loss can REALLY help a car. In the 2500lb 150 hp 944 spec car which I have never driven before, I turned a 1:25.0, in my 3000lb 250 hp 944, both on Toyo RA1's, I was only able to shave 1.7 seconds and get 1:23.3. Not a big improvement for 100 more hp in fairly similarly prepared cars.

[gulf911]

There's a lot more to it than weight Captain...

How long was the course and how tight? 1.7 seconds on a short tight course is an eternity. Weight plays a bigger part in a parking lot than on a track, where you are already spooled up and carrying the speed. Sorry I couldn't make it to show you what I mean...

[Jad]

I agree, and at Fontana it would be no contest. It was just so easy to drive the spec car to a fairly decent time and a LOT of work to get a little (though pretty significant) better time is what on paper is a MUCH MUCH faster car.

The fact that my power steering went out didn't help, and the fact that I got 5th in class shows it wasn't my best day/track/something, but I can't help imagining my car with the quickness and nimbleness of the spec car . Of course, I was beaten by some very seriously impressive drives. Bill in a 968 on Toyos got 3rd best time of the day behind James in a GT2 and Steve Dente in a GT3 on Hoosiers (neither beat him by much). No doubt who had the best drive of the day . Kinda sucks getting within 3 seconds of Steve in a GT3 on a long AX track yet losing to Bill, Martin, Dave AND Bob in KP. Me thinks this is a tough class!!!

Anyone need any nice interior pieces or Recaro seats?

[bobbrand]

Anyone need any nice interior pieces or Recaro seats?

Let's put them in Bill's trunk

[Jackie C]

It was the best day EVER!, okay, maybe that's alittle overstated, but it was quite a thrill to take out my spec car for the 1st time and win my class. Just to see how much of it was the car, I drove in the "Comeaubile" and realized that even though Tim didn't have a good pedal set up for me, that hey, power steering DOES make a difference! (I feel your pain, Jad). Hopefully, it won't be an issue on the bigger tracks. I have to say, in my limited experience, that I loved the track. Thank you Gary, for the best track I've seen since I've been driving at the Q. I expected more glitches with the changing of the guard-new officers and what not, but I think everyone was very capable in their new jobs and things ran smooth! Thanks again. It was awesome. See you in a couple of weeks,
Blue skies,

[martinreinhardt]

What hurts the most is not that he was fast as hell, it is that he was so fast in a car that he won a concour contest and put allmost 2 seconds on us in KP.

I say all Jad's interior from his 951 Turbo S plus 2x 50 pounds sand bags go in Bill's car at the next events.

EXCELLENT DRIVING BILL !!!

[bibbetson]

You guys are killing me! I just about fell on the floor laughing.

After getting home and talking about the day with Tami, I realized what had made the difference - HARNESSES! This is the first event that I have driven with harnesses since my old Nissan 240SX seven years ago. There is no way I could have controlled the car like I did had I been fighting to stay in the seat.

It was a wonderful track for my car, almost effortless to drive and quick to learn. I even got a chance to use left foot braking. Thanks Gary! I heard nothing but compliments from everyone.
Do-it-again, do-it-again.

[jgunn]

Thanks for all the compliments.

Great Driving Bill!! I worked corner 11 while you made your timed runs and I could tell you were putting the hurt on KP. Nice and smooth and never scrubbing too much speed or getting the car upset in transitions.

The GT2 is a monster to drive and keep gathered up. Totally exhausting, but so much fun at the same time:-) Certainly a good course for it with 4 definite acceleration areas. 1:17.07 was the best I managed. I would have loved to crack the 1:16's, but the tires started going away on the last run. It is really hard to keep the tires alive on the rear of the car with all the weight and power...

[bobbrand]

Did you see this photo of Bill's car?
The car is just about on two wheels!
I think in the photo, it is Tami driving.
Great photo.

http://www.pcasdr.org/photos/2005autocrossJan/DSC01317.JPG

Incredible driving on Sunday.

It's great to see KP class so deep, and with so many good drivers too.
All ribbons will be earned this year I think.
As I pointed out on Sunday though, my car still sounds better than the 968.

As for Bill's harnesses, well now it is practically a race car. I think he should move to AR.

[bibbetson]

Looks like I need stiffer springs AND a strut brace. Thanks Bob!

That's Tami driving. Awsome photo. Those outside tires are planted like tree stumps. You can really see what negative camber does for the contact patch. Thanks Steve G.

I think I just found Tami's avatar.

[Kim Crosser]

That track was the best ever for throttle steering (and for teaching throttle steering). Those big sweepers along the top were perfect for giving students a chance to lock the steering wheel and just drift it with the throttle.

All the transitions worked well too (except for the sharp one at the downhill end of the slalom - never did feel comfortable with that one - had to slow down a little too far).

I had a blast and the whole track just "felt right".

I second Bill - Do it again! Do it again!

[bobbrand]

I've heard a lot of people say that the track was great for their car. I thought the track was a good track for my car, until all of the RSA's lost to the 968 by so much. So, I have a suggestion for a track map of the next autocross. I think that it will help favor the RSA's over the 968. I drew a map of the course below....

Start ------------------------------------------------------------>Finish