June 15, 2013 Tampa Bay Downs-post time

[shakedown067]

Got a few of my runs put together.
http://youtu.be/IT4lhZD7jKs

[Jeremy]

I like drag race starts and turns immediately after the start. What I don't like is how the turns at the start are usually designed. Like SPC last month, that start was horrible. It was a narrow little alley way that you had to tip toe through and really didn't prevent a hard launch anyway. Starting turns and finishing turns are something that could be worked on by the design committee. Watch some nationals videos. They always have turns at the start and don't look like anything ever seen here. That maybe because of site limitations, but I am sure a happy medium could be found. One thing that I have seen done in the past is pre-running the course in the tow vehicle, that will give you a good idea if an element is too tight.

I didn't like the finish turn at TBD either. Rest of the course was nice.

Here is my video.
48.9 +1 stupid finish turn cone.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_zN3Dr4Apjs

[Loren]

The intent of the finish turn at TBD this time was to slow you WAY down, and to ensure that all turning was done as early as possible so that you could get between the fence/light poles and the towers perfectly straight. There was only 25' available on each side, so by our insurance regs we can ONLY be going straight there. I could have maybe led you into it with more speed... but then that's more speed to kill after the finish, and also more speed going between two fixed obstacles, which both trump making a driver use their brakes.

It worked as-designed. Will we do it that way again? Probably at some point. Will we try some other things, including NOT going between the towers and the fence? Absolutely.

[jesup16]

I think this is now my favorite site. The course was fun, challenging, with a good mix up of turns. I really had a great time and I hope we can continue to use this facility.

Here's my best: http://youtu.be/5UQ58_Z-u_g

and a fun pic:
[img]http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e356/ ... 34284b.jpg[/img]

[garage west]

I forget where I'm going and kill some cones. Greg wanted me to screw up my run. I delivered.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OKwrBi9XYBg

[Loren]

Updated the Season Points. Pretty interesting stuff! The top three in many classes are going to be decided with the last event. I greyed out drivers that can't meet the required 5 events or that I didn't expect to.

[ddepante]

I wanted to thank all of you for putting on such a great event.

Eric, thanks for letting me ride along in your warp-drive-enabled Vette.
Drew, thanks for riding with me and for giving me some great pointers after the ride - they helped a lot.

[jaball77]

No disrespect to the top 10 guys, but it's scary to think what Drew could do with any of those cars that finished in the top 10. Drew is a natural !

The Mustang is no joke! It's not some turd he picked up off the side of the road (despite the paint). Coilovers, camber plates, a ton of tire... And on courses like this the torque definitely helped getting out of the slow corners.

[jaball77]

No disrespect to the top 10 guys, but it's scary to think what Drew could do with any of those cars that finished in the top 10. Drew is a natural !

I have it on good authority that Drew is actually a Hologram controlled by Ken Brock.

CC NSA

Ken Brock? Is that Ken Block's Japanese cousin?

[jaball77]

Here is my video.
48.9 +1 stupid finish turn cone.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_zN3Dr4Apjs

I like your line on the last corner before the finish.

[eborn986]

Cars making the right turn and entering the straight after the S-curves near the start, depending and at times, were very close to cars in the finish chute. There was some distance, but we'll learn the site and keep 'em a bit more separate next time!

I know that we have a learning curve at new site, and like I said, I had no problem with it after I knew that a car might be there. I just need a excuse for driving like a horse with blinders on lol !

Sorry if I scared you Brian - as per usual, my mustang was a little tail happy (read: this guy has a lead foot). Also, my 2nd run was atrocious...


Anyhow, this event was awesome! Love the venue (especially the ~3 minute drive from home) and love love love that course. I think this was my best event thus far despite finishing 6/11 in class. Looking forward to SPC next month! See you all then!

[eborn986]

Maybe a drag shootout between an 89 and that 66 stang? S U N D A Y @ the dragway........

Pretty sure that 66 is faster than my 89 in a straight line, but I'd go for it anyways

[Jeremy]

Did I get the Ron Rice Award?

52.795+6

Before my first run, Drew said "You can go a lot faster in that first corner than you think you can."
I had to prove him wrong.

[lddavis91]

No disrespect to the top 10 guys, but it's scary to think what Drew could do with any of those cars that finished in the top 10. Drew is a natural !

I have to agree, that's some damn impressive driving with a Fox body Mustang on street tires.

Thanks guys for again putting on a great event, particularly impressive considering it was the first time at the site. Air conditioned bathrooms at a Florida autocross site kick ass! Its a good site with a good surface, grippier than I expected after walking it and seeing the sandy spots and < 45 minutes from my house! I think I liked the course better at SPC last month, but that is probably just because I managed to beat Scott at that one. I didn't feel I had another 2 seconds in me or the car on that course, so I don't know that I could have beat him, maybe I just inspired Scott, or maybe it was the 3 hours sleep I was working with and doing my runs before noon which I'm just not accustomed too. At least the car didn't break, which makes two events in a row, I could get used to this. Unfortunately my truck did break, but $150 and a new battery later, all is well thanks to Austin for the lift to the parts store. Registered and looking forward to autocrossing in the afternoon again in St Pete in July.

[Loren]

Did I get the Ron Rice Award?

52.795+6

I don't know if they all got counted, but someone in a Subaru wiped out the entire wall coming out of the figure 8... had to be at least 10 cones. On the plus side, now he knows what Understeer is.

[snookwheel]

[quote=" I didn't feel I had another 2 seconds in me or the car on that course, so I don't know that I could have beat him, maybe I just inspired Scott, .[/quote]

You did inspire me.... to the point of putting some fresh scrubs on the front! They really did help, I've been trying to squeeze all the lifespan out of the tires because Goodyear ceased production on 'em and I only had a couple left. I should have switched out the rears too, my tail was swinging around a fair bit. Pm'd you, Les.

[BigBlue]

Did I get the Ron Rice Award?

52.795+6

Before my first run, Drew said "You can go a lot faster in that first corner than you think you can."
I had to prove him wrong.

You have much yet to learn about the art of being a cone assassin, but I think there is hope for you.



We will call you. You will answer. That is how this works.

[ddepante]

....

[Dave]

No disrespect to the top 10 guys, but it's scary to think what Drew could do with any of those cars that finished in the top 10. Drew is a natural !

I have it on good authority that Drew is actually a Hologram controlled by Ken Brock.

CC NSA

Ken Brock? Is that Ken Block's Japanese cousin?

That's the best laugh I've had all day!

[Loren]

Got a few of my runs put together.
http://youtu.be/IT4lhZD7jKs

Eric, your new avatar image is AWESOME! While it could easily have been staged and taken as a still photo... we all know that it WASN'T, which makes it that much more awesome.