Mar, 28 2010 SPC

[Solar]

Can't seem to drive at all today.............

[Native]

UPDATE ON THE 350Z crash:

Yes, it was Eva and Doug. They were cut off. Damage to equipment, but not people. 8) She said they (and the other driver) waited an hour for police who never came, so they just went home.

She's bummed as she said the repair costs will eat up their tire budget - autocross claims another!

[Miata GT]

Here is what my forth run in the rain looked like (disregard the long ending): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZzo-n4jp28&fmt=22" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[shakedown067]

UPDATE ON THE 350Z crash:

Yes, it was Eva and Doug. They were cut off. Damage to equipment, but not people. 8) She said they (and the other driver) waited an hour for police who never came, so they just went home.

She's bummed as she said the repair costs will eat up their tire budget - autocross claims another!

Well that sucks. Hope they are all right and they can get the other people's insurance to cover it.

[Miata GT]

Here's my first run from a somewhat more entertaining angle: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4FXrjl2ECg&fmt=22" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[yamaha731]

NICE PICS I'm hoping to get the ugliest car award

[Alexis]

Oh no! I was really hoping the 350 wasn't Doug and Eva. I'm so sad to hear this.

The only "bright" side of the rain was finding out how awesome my tires actually are.

[Miata GT]

...and I found out how Kuhmo XS' are nearly deadly in the rain. Good thing they are not DD's!

[PaboShon]

Thanks for posting the photos, Eric! In photo number 73 it looks like you caught me entering a typical "shon sparks spin". Too bad I can't look at that picture and know that I pulled it off.

See you all April!

[freddiekelos]

Had a great time at the event. Loved the baked ziti, mmmm. The course was great. Driving in the rain was fun, although I was in a sprinkle not a monsoon.

[shakedown067]

Thanks for posting the photos, Eric! In photo number 73 it looks like you caught me entering a typical "shon sparks spin". Too bad I can't look at that picture and know that I pulled it off.

See you all April!

Just so you know...you did save that one. 8)

[Alexis]

Did anyone get photos or video of the 4th run group doing watercross? My car looks sexy wet.

[Philippe]

[quote="nc4me"]

Also, huge thanks to the course workers for run group 4.


Thanks for noticing! I felt sorry for the guys who had to run in the wet... But I was so wet, I drove back in my underwear! I'm glad I wasn't involved in a accident (sorry to hear about Eva & Doug!) or pulled over! My wife told me I looked "sexy" in my underwear with my racing shoes... Yellow_Colorz_PDT_04

[Jamie]

WOW, how hard did it rain in the afternoon? There's some good drivers with some really low times...

Put it this way...this:


...was relatively dry pavement by comparison.

Also, huge thanks to the course workers for run group 4.

Just remember, they're the same drivers who got dry runs in group 2...fair trade!

Did anyone get photos or video of the 4th run group doing watercross? My car looks sexy wet.

Someone got pictures of the inside?! We need to have a tech session and figure out how to weatherproof that top with something besides a case of RTV -- it looks too good on the car to give up on.

Some observations:

We try to match up at least one experienced person with novices on the course stations. Those experienced folks need to help novices watch for downed cones...it takes a little practice!

It's diffcult to run when sitting on the guardrail....

Course workers need to stay on station until timing declares the run group done...the third group walked off the course before the last car (mine, as it worked out!) finished. (And compared to the next group, they were relatively dry. )

Note to self: put someone at "Station 5" in front of the trailer.

Turnovers went pretty smoothly, which was a big help in keeping the pace up -- thank you all. Didn't have to hunt down more than one or two people to get to their station. If the turnouts stay this large, we can accomodate four run groups -- we normally need at least 60-65 drivers to break into four groups. If the early and late shift folks are willing to work during a heat, we could get there with fewer.

[Miata GT]

Jamie,

Alexis and I spent 6 hours working on her top after the event. I haven't heard back from her about it but I would imagine it's significantly drier in a rainstorm than it was!

[snookwheel]

I can't believe I missed Baked Ziti

[Tim_M]

Congrats to the organizers...smoothly run event.

It seemed we were delayed in the AM getting the driver's meeting going-thought someone said we were shooting for 0940, but didn't happen until 1000 or later.

I enjoyed the course that Drew laid out, but it was on the short side...matched with only getting 5 runs-my autocross fix wasn't quite satisfied for the month. If we were trying to beat the rain...got it-understand, otherwise... Was the 72 entrants a complicating factor? I can also understand not wanting to turn folks away...

What might be the benefit of >3 run groups? The small grid amount keeps the cars moving almost too quickly-hardly time to take a potty break.

These are just observations-I haven't volunteered to chair an event so have little to base the behind the scenes work-those that do take that position should get a big thanks for the effort! Main reason I choose FAST over the other clubs is great attitudes.

Additionally, results were posted before I decided to look for them-excellent! Eric G, you might be in the running for rookie of the year! Maybe I need more stickers...

Phillippe: "underwear"...that is too much info!

[Alexis]

Jamie,

Alexis and I spent 6 hours working on her top after the event. I haven't heard back from her about it but I would imagine it's significantly drier in a rainstorm than it was!

It poured again last night and I am extremely happy to say that....it was dry!! Well, one minor leak, but I didn't have to sit on a towel today. The temp weather stripping looks pretty cool, too.

[Loren]

It seemed we were delayed in the AM getting the driver's meeting going-thought someone said we were shooting for 0940, but didn't happen until 1000 or later.

Chalk that up to LOTS of late entries causing reorganization of run groups at the last minute, and Dan's casual pace. We could have probably started the driver's meeting earlier while the run groups were still being worked out, but then it very likely would have been done before they were. What's 20 minutes amongst friends?

I enjoyed the course that Drew laid out, but it was on the short side...matched with only getting 5 runs-my autocross fix wasn't quite satisfied for the month. If we were trying to beat the rain...got it-understand, otherwise... Was the 72 entrants a complicating factor? I can also understand not wanting to turn folks away...

Drew knew his course was short. He liked it that way. It's what he wanted to do. I wouldn't want to do every course that short, but it was okay. Fun course.

72 entrants was DEFINITELY a major factor. There's a reason why we set our general limit at 60. I think what happened here is that we set pre-reg cut-off at 65 expecting some no-shows. (SPC is expensive, and we'd rather have a few too many entries than not enough) There were probably 10 or more no-shows, and their spots were given to the early-bird wait-listers who didn't pre-register, but were THERE. Then most of the no-shows showed up well after registration closed... expecting entry.

I don't think Steve is ready to put his dictatorial foot down on the late arrivals yet (I would be, and I know Jamie is), but I think it's time that people realized that it's VERY disruptive to the program if you're pre-registered and show up late. (or if you expect to compete and show up late) We don't want to come down with a heavy handed policy, but we will if we have to. Registration closes at 9am. Be there well before 9am! That's all I have to say about it.

What might be the benefit of >3 run groups? The small grid amount keeps the cars moving almost too quickly-hardly time to take a potty break.

The sweet spot for SPC is about 18-20 cars on grid. (three groups with a max of 60 drivers!) When we get over 70 drivers, we end up with either 3 groups and way too many cars in grid, or we go to 4 groups. I think 4 groups works better with that many drivers. The other benefit of 4 groups is that, while you might not have time to slack off while you're group is running, you get to chill out and watch TWO other groups rather than just one. It's a more relaxed format.

[Native]

Was the 72 entrants a complicating factor? I can also understand not wanting to turn folks away...

72 entrants was DEFINITELY a major factor. There's a reason why we set our general limit at 60. I think what happened here is that we set pre-reg cut-off at 65 expecting some no-shows. (SPC is expensive, and we'd rather have a few too many entries than not enough) There were probably 10 or more no-shows, and their spots were given to the early-bird wait-listers who didn't pre-register, but were THERE. Then most of the no-shows showed up well after registration closed... expecting entry.

I don't think Steve is ready to put his dictatorial foot down on the late arrivals yet (I would be, and I know Jamie is), but I think it's time that people realized that it's VERY disruptive to the program if you're pre-registered and show up late. (or if you expect to compete and show up late) We don't want to come down with a heavy handed policy, but we will if we have to. Registration closes at 9am. Be there well before 9am! That's all I have to say about it.

Loren put it much more nicely than I was going to, and everything he said is right. But I'm gonna repeat some of it:
The max we try to do at SPC is 65. We usually have about a 10-15% no-show rate. Which means room for about 10 walkups. (We did 20 at the novice school - a record). At any given event, we actually get about 10 walkups. We had 12 this time, and when we let them sign up, we had, IIRC, 15 open spots - that was around 8:50, so we let the walkups make it official. Then, as late as 9:30, almost all those preregistered showed up, which loaded us up, and slowed us down, because we accepted them all even though registration was officially closed. That was really nice of us, right?

Walkups and late arrivals are a major PITA, as they cause lots of last minute changes to run/work groups, manual computer data entry, etc. But, we try to accommodate them because the F stands for Fun and we don't want to stop someone from joining in if they decide to at the last minute.

So, an appeal: if you've preregistered, either SPC or Brooksville, please show up on time, that being early enough to complete the registration process before 9 am, not at 9, or after 9.

As Loren pointed out, I'm starting to feel like odd-man-out on this issue - and it's harder for me to hold my ground if folks can't make it on time. I admit, I try to please everyone, but when it comes down to punishing the majority to please the minority, that makes no sense.