December 2010

[Jeremy]

I continued to do a couple laps to get some heat into my engine.

I use spark plugs for this. I highly recommend it if you haven't tried them yet.

[mltavana]

I continued to do a couple laps to get some heat into my engine.

I use spark plugs for this. I highly recommend it if you haven't tried them yet.

On a hot day in Florida, it takes me a good 15-20 minutes to get my oil to 180F. The engine takes about 9 quarts of oil. It also has an aluminum block and an oil cooler. I would put an Canton oil cooler thermostat in it if I could fit it in the engine bay. Instead, I just duct tape off the cooler in the winter months.

It's a solid roller cam, so I don't really want to get the engine above 3000 rpm before the oil is warm and fluid or else I'm asking for lifter failure. At a cold start, my idle oil pressure is about 60psi. Once warm, it's about 25-30psi.

Yesterday morning, with 36F ambient air, the oil didn't get above 140F all the way to Brooksville, so I kept it in the low rpm range for the trip. My face didn't get above 38F. I think I'll wear my helmet all the way to the airport next month.

[snookwheel]

An off day for us, but a great time anyway. I left my needed wheel spacers at home and was getting some tire rubbing in the driver-side rear ... definitely bad for my concentration and the willingness to really throw it hard into right turns. Bumping up rear pressure up a fair bit barely helped. The fire extinguisher deciding to make a bid for freedom mid run wreaked havoc on the three cone slalom on the back stretch towards the finish.. (Glad I had a passenger! He caught it .... Thanks much!) All in all, a discombobulated day of autoX is a better day than a day with no AutoX. FYI, The trailer is safely tucked away in Howard's barn and ready for the next event.

We will be keeping a check list in each trailer from now on. Switching back and forth on the trailers is a recipe for forgetting stuff ya need.

I enjoyed checking out those AC Cobras. Thanks to you AC guys for letting me get some shots of them lined up with the Stalkers.

Scott

[mltavana]

Here's two shots using 360 Panorama on an iPhone:

[PaboShon]

I got my video done! Check it out and let me know what you think.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0GlJ5kewJOU" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[nc4me]

Cool vid Shon.

[mltavana]

I have two videos up. First, a short clip of me spinning out. The rest of the run is too embarrassing to post. Just a little throttle and the thing gets away - the tires start to break at 2800rpm.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FrwnRsU-AZ4" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Second, a semi-respectable run. I had better runs but I didn't charge the battery on the camera so it crapped out after the second run. I'm in second the entire time. I played around with starting in first and shifting, as well as keeping it in first or second the entire time. For SPC, staying in first works for me, for Brooksville it's start in first and shift to second.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQ60mNAVTfI" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Jamie]

The course design discussion is getting interesting enough that I split off a separate topic into the course discussion forum. Do pile on.

viewtopic.php?f=7&t=862

[Native]

I got my video done! Check it out and let me know what you think.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0GlJ5kewJOU" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Neat. I love the Offspring.

[mltavana]

I got my video done! Check it out and let me know what you think.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0GlJ5kewJOU" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I like the right front fender shot. And now I know what Soundgarden was singing about in 1994 - Black Hole Sun - look around 3:33 for an example.

[PaboShon]

I got my video done! Check it out and let me know what you think.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0GlJ5kewJOU" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I like the right front fender shot. And now I know what Soundgarden was singing about in 1994 - Black Hole Sun - look around 3:33 for an example.

If you check out my videos from the October endurocross, the blackhole sun was out that day too.

[PaboShon]

I have two videos up. First, a short clip of me spinning out. The rest of the run is too embarrassing to post. Just a little throttle and the thing gets away - the tires start to break at 2800rpm.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FrwnRsU-AZ4" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Second, a semi-respectable run. I had better runs but I didn't charge the battery on the camera so it crapped out after the second run. I'm in second the entire time. I played around with starting in first and shifting, as well as keeping it in first or second the entire time. For SPC, staying in first works for me, for Brooksville it's start in first and shift to second.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQ60mNAVTfI" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Wow...you must have the HD version. The clarity is really nice! Makes me regret not getting the HD model now.

I really like your cam position. You can really see the course and your hand movement. I am still playing with mine trying to get it just right.

[Native]

Fresh POINTS!. Get 'em while they're hot!

[Doug]

Why.

[Jamie]

Why.

Uh-oh...someone had to do the dishes last night for being slower....

[Native]

He can join Scott in the "Got beat by a girl" club.

[snookwheel]

He can join Scott in the "Got beat by a girl" club.

It's a fine club! Yellow_Colorz_PDT_04

(Just never let your neighbors find out.... they enjoy it waaay too much!)

[Loren]

Hey, I wanna see what my Z4 looked like on course. Who's got photos? Video? Crayon sketches? Vivid descriptions? All of the above?

[Rosko]

Great event. Thank you, everyone!

I haven't been to Brooksville in a while, and didn't care that much because I like the St Pete site (even though I have to drive out to the sticks to get there:). However, it was good to return. The slalom there and slalom back routine wore on me a little bit, but the course Jamie designed really spiced it up. I'll find his thread and comment further.

There are some good battles going on every month. I like the E2 battle the most. The two Mustangs VS the two Miatas. If this fellow, Chris Baron, is fairly new to autocross, he is extremely fast. We all know Drew kicks ass. But I have faith in Chris and Steve. I think they're gonna reel those beasts in. C'mon guys! Mazda > Ford!

Doug Adams acquired his RX8 and immediately tightened his fist around class G. Awesome! The RX8 contingent also has Chung who is getting better every event. That car is super impressive. I see a threat in the making.

More shout-outs...
Randolph Barrera who drove his first FAST E3 battle of the year in the Prelude, and came out on top.
Jeff Miller looks like he's driving that Focus well. Even when you drive great, sometimes you can't win your class.
Brian beat Loren outright in his 240. You can't underscore that accomplishment enough!

[nc4me]

I hear you, Chuck. It's a bit more difficult to make up time by taking turns faster (which my car is capable of doing, just not the driver) than it is on the straights. Although, my current driving ability is what's causing ME to be unable to make up that ground. Drew and a couple of others mentioned to take advantage of my modified status and mod the car. Some things are coming sooner then I thought (this thursday), but I might not install the items until next season and just focus on my driving. Getting more sleep this past event helped my focus a lot. I got about 6 hours, normally I'm on 3-4 hours the day of an event.