Autocross track layout that loops back on itself

[Curt]

This event allowed both PCA and SCCA.
I personnally didn t mind the number of participants it as we got to compare times with other cars (Vettes, STIs, EVOs, ELise, etc....)

Very interesting. Have the times for all the different cars been posted anywhere?

[Tawfik]

I believe the times will be posted sometimes next week.
They sould be found on the AX page of the OCR PCA.
www.pcaocr.org/autocross.html

I believe TTOD went to a Vette

[vntgspd]

I think the results are posted now. Follow the link posted by tawfik, then go to "registration" and then "prepare reports".

No worries guys, TTOD went to a 911 as it should be.

[crossthreaded]

There are severl problems as mentioned with the loop. If it is a reasonable size loop, it should be taken in 1st gear in newer cars ~30-40 mph which is VERY hard on the car, the outside edges of the tires and any low oil areas as the g-loads are sustained for a significant time.

They also offer little in line variation, so skill is minimal, tire grip is the key factor, as holding the inside will be the fastest route. Loops are for NASCAR, not road racing

My vote remains NO on the loop in case the designers are reading this.

Hmmm, I took it in 2nd gear. Perhaps 1st would have been better... But I think I would have been at redline all the way around. You can't do it a full throttle regardless, so how would 2nd gear hurt the time?

[Jad]

The exit. When you finally stop turning and floor it for a nice track out, at 2k or so rpm not much happens in addition you have very poor throttle response for minor corrections while turning so a pitch and catch exit doesn't work as well as if you do it in first.

[vntgspd]

crossthreaded - don't sweat it, 2nd gear was a good choice for the course based on the size of the loop and the configuration of the trackout.

Jad makes very good points however that might come into play with tighter course setups.

[ajackson]

I just checked out the results on the OCR web page. Unfortunately it just lists the class, doesn't show the car make/model/year.

[Tawfik]

There are no overall results.
I was under the impression that TTOD went to a vette in X class, but you are right Steve E got TTOD in his GT2.

As far as my runs go, I am quite happy the next car in my class is 2 secs behind. I guess working on my suspension and sway bars the night before till 2AM paid off.

[JamesWilson]

Hmmmm they got my first run as a DNF, even though the course had "changed" and the course workers had been putting cones where there were no boxes (Blue group, end of day). Then no re-run granted for the 119-second lap that was from a clock malfuction (5-6 cars were re-run), so my quick time of 88.3XX is not shown. No matter, there were no other cars in my class. I just like to complain Not bad for a GSS car.

[ttweed]

There are no overall results.
I was under the impression that TTOD went to a vette in X class, but you are right Steve E got TTOD in his GT2.

That's not what I see in the results. It shows David in his FI 911 at 80.55 for his best time, and Steve in his PS GT2 at 81.62.

I assume Rita was in the X-class Corvette, if she was driving her usual blue SCCA car? She only shows 2 timed runs and was within 2/10s of Steve. What happened there? With 3 more runs, she might have really nailed a better time--she's an awfully good driver.

TT
ps- Big kudos to Steve and David for revitalizing the OCR autox program!

[crossthreaded]

The exit. When you finally stop turning and floor it for a nice track out, at 2k or so rpm not much happens in addition you have very poor throttle response for minor corrections while turning so a pitch and catch exit doesn't work as well as if you do it in first.

Thanks, that makes sense. I was substantially higher than 2k RPM, though, probably a bit higher than 4k, in 2nd. I had good throttle response for minor corrections throughout the loop (this was the fun part for me, throttle steering around the loop!) and I had good torque on loop exit. If I had taken it in first, I would have been right near redline through the whole loop. Throttle response at redline is a little too sharp for me. A tiny lift near redline results in substantial engine braking. This brakes the rear tires only, in the middle of a turn, and we all know what that can do. It’s kind of like grabbing the hand brake. A better driver than I could handle this, of course, but 2nd gear at 4,500 is better for me than 1st at 6,500. Plus, if I had taken it in first, I would have had to shift right at loop exit, which would cost me on that short little straight after the loop.

I think vntgspd makes a good point: 1st would be better in a loop tighter than this one. But I think 2nd was the right choice for me in this case.

I appreciate the discussion about driving technique. I wish there were more discussions like this, like how I took that off-camber sweeper, or whatever was special about the latest event.

[Jad]

Crossthreaded, what do you drive?

[crossthreaded]

Crossthreaded, what do you drive?

911

[Mike]

Did the loop at a Q AX a few years ago.
It's basically Type 3 stuff, no time to make in it just time to lose.
Imho it was not much of a challenge and it was not interesting to watch.
It did not appear to relate to the types or corners I would experiance later at big track TT ot DE events.
For a narrow 200 foot wide airport runway course perhaps it is a valid track design option?

[Tawfik]

There are no overall results.
I was under the impression that TTOD went to a vette in X class, but you are right Steve E got TTOD in his GT2.

That's not what I see in the results. It shows David in his FI 911 at 80.55 for his best time, and Steve in his PS GT2 at 81.62.

I assume Rita was in the X-class Corvette, if she was driving her usual blue SCCA car? She only shows 2 timed runs and was within 2/10s of Steve. What happened there? With 3 more runs, she might have really nailed a better time--she's an awfully good driver.

TT
ps- Big kudos to Steve and David for revitalizing the OCR autox program!

You re right, I missed that column when looking at the results.
Rita was in the Corvette. I am not sure why she didn t do all her runs?