DMVR event March 21st

[aansorge]

Who is up for an autocross? Des Moines Valley Region is holding their first event of the season in a little over a week. Yea, you read that right. The event is being held at the Sandpiper Recreation Facility outside of Polk City, north of Des Moines.

More info at www.dmvrscca.org


adam ansorge

[weidnerpaul]

Adam,
Are we still on for co-driving each others cars?
Paul

[MNbiker]

I'll be there. I'm also going down for the Test & Tune the day before.

-Steve

[rdub]

I'll be there giving my new EVO its first outting.! WEEEEEE

[pinhead]

I signed me and my wife up for the test & tune, too. I'm pretty excited to get out there :dancin:

Do they have any sort of on-line registration? Or do I just show up in the morning and stand in line like the old days?

Should I book a hotel in advance? Anyone have any place they'd recommend? Or recommend to stay away from ;) :p

[Darryl]

Pinhead,

Your not headed to the remote areas of Meixco! Most hotels in the area should be free of critters that crawl accross your chest in the middle of the night!

Darryl

:zzz

[MNbiker]

DMVR is still old school for registration. However, they do a good job keeping their website updated with event info and results.

I don't believe there's a decent hotel in Polk City, so the closest options are 8 miles South to Des Moines or 8 miles East to Ankeny. IMHO the nicest reasonably-priced hotel within 10 mies is probably the Country Inn & Suites in Ankeny.

-Steve

[SalahK]

I'm planning on being there as well !

[aansorge]

For the Test and Tune, I believe you have to call Dan Slater (515) 223-1956 or Mike Slater (515) 992-3184 and the cost is 15 or 20 bucks. Expect to get mucho runs.

Paul, yea, I'll still co-drive with you. I have a newbie co-driving with me already, so you better not let him beat you in my Miata. He is Darryl Wrolsen's nephew and I'll be co-driving his beater Probe too.

Salah versus Randy in EVO's? You guys are going to murder those Iowa guys. Sandpiper loves all wheel drive cars as it is a very slick surface. It is also a ton of fun to drive in my Miata; plenty of on demand oversteer. Unfortunatly some of their fast guys are going to be down in Kansas for a big local event at some massive track. Sounds similar to our Valley Fair event.

Adam

[Darryl]

Adam,

Beater Probe, Hmmm. That's his baby like your CRX was to you!

Let's get him signed up for the novice school. I'll talk to him in the next few days.

Darryl

[weidnerpaul]

Adam

The MINI will also have three drivers, Alex Lowe will be driving it too --- his Miata is still in storage. I think we should figure the numbers out in advance so the first one there can reserve them all.
I have 1, 0, 7, 7 and can do 7, 10, 17, 71 or 77 and keep it in two digits, what numbers do you/your friend have --- we need to plan this so we are spread out for driver changes, should you and I each drive the others car first so we have seen the course B4 our first run in our reg car? Let me know what you think/want to do.

Chris B

Do you still want to meet at that Ioway McDonalds and caravan the rest of the way?
If anyone from the cities wants to caravan down we've met at the Lakeville McDonalds/Holiday around 6:00 AM in the past, I'll post time/confirmation after I hear from Chris if there is any interest in a caravan --- pls post on this thread if you're interested in caravanning down.
Thanks,
Paul

[miata#37]

Paul,
Assuming I don't stay down there overnight after the test-n-tune, I'm probably interested. I've got a co-drive in a schweet STS Scrirocco from Mason City so there would be another layer of coordination. Assume I'll be there, but if I'm not, enjoy your tea and keep cruising with out me.

-Chris

[MNbiker]

Originally posted by miata#37
Paul,
Assuming I don't stay down there overnight after the test-n-tune, I'm probably interested. I've got a co-drive in a schweet STS Scrirocco from Mason City so there would be another layer of coordination. Assume I'll be there, but if I'm not, enjoy your tea and keep cruising with out me.

-Chris

Chris,

Where were you planning to stay? I was going to get a room at the Country Inn in Ankeny, unless there's something passable in Polk City.

-Steve

[aansorge]

Paul,

I have the numbers 2,9, and 7, and its fine with me to start in the other guy's car.

Darryl, believe me, your nephew, Adam, doesn't have even remotely the same sentimental attachment to his Probe as I had with my CRX. How can you ever compare an auto 4cyl. Probe with the never say die, beat me like you mean it, please flog me for hours, autox, drag race, rally cross, track day beater that kicked some tail and got 36 mpg doing it for 10 freaking years!?!? Ok I need a Kleenex.

adam

[pinhead]

Originally posted by aansorge
How can you ever compare an auto 4cyl. Probe with the never say die, beat me like you mean it, please flog me for hours, autox, drag race, rally cross, track day beater that kicked some tail and got 36 mpg doing it for 10 freaking years!?!? Ok I need a Kleenex.



Ya, Honda pretty much went downhill after the CRX. The Type-R was a return to form, and the S2000 is pretty cool, but they should really make a genuine CRX again. I had an 85 Si, and I still have an 86 HF sitting in my parents yard ... whoops, does admitting that make me a redneck ;) :D I've thought about building the 86 HF into a CSP-mobile, or maybe even put a B16a in there and run SM2, but I'm frankly just too lazy to do it. It has a pretty nice body, though, and it's really straight.

Anyhow, I'm all registered for the T&T and plan to run the event Sunday, so I'm looking forward to meeting some of you Minnesotans down there!

[Darryl]

Adam,

Sorry!

Darryl:flame: Adam

Darryl

[SalahK]

Originally posted by pinhead
Ya, Honda pretty much went downhill after the CRX. The Type-R was a return to form, and the S2000 is pretty cool, but they should really make a genuine CRX again. Minnesotans down there!

The modern-day CRX is here; although instead of being Japanese, its German with a British accent !

Imagine a FWD car as agile and tossable as the CRX, but with the Braille-like Steering feel of a BMW. Oh, and a back seat for two small kids!

I can just see Paul Weidner grinning from side to side :D

[housecat]

that's a big maybe for me and matt. the ITR still needs its cv joint and there might be a hockey game we need to see.

[weidnerpaul]

Adam,
After the 21st you can see if you agree with Salah:burnout: :cone:
Does Darryl's nephew have numbers too? I'm thinking we drive each others cars with low numbers, let your friend/Alex drive our cars next then we drive them with high numbers. Does that work for you? I'll bring the list of your #'s and if I'm there first I'll reserve all the numbers, if you beat me there could you do the same? Whats Darryl's nephews name so I can sign him up???
Thanks,
Paul

[pinhead]

Originally posted by SalahK
The modern-day CRX is here; although instead of being Japanese, its German with a British accent !


Haha, Ya, I actually have a Mini on order, but not an S just a base model. I actually was thinking of the car as a modern 3rd/4th gen Civic Si rather than a modern CRX, but I was afraid to admit that for fear that the british car nuts would hit me like this :flame:

I am excited about the mini! I won't get it until late April, though :(

[weidnerpaul]

Not sure if I qualify as a British car nut but this is my comment for anyone getting a MINI, for whatever reason:
:alc:
or maybe
:beer:
Definitely not
:gunnin:
or :oneeye:

[Darryl]

Paul (Cute Car Guy),

His name is Adam Quimby. Sign him up!!


Darryl

[MNbiker]

Hey guys,

It sounds like the STi I had lined up for a co-drive on Sunday may not be able to make it. Anyone interested in sharing cars to get more seat time?

-Steve

[1/2mv^2]

Anybody know if the Test & Tune is full?

I might try to convince my wife that I need to go for the weekend.

[MNbiker]

Originally posted by 1/2mv^2
Anybody know if the Test & Tune is full?

I might try to convince my wife that I need to go for the weekend.

Contact Mike Slater to find out.
Email: mslater@worldnet.att.net
Phone: (515) 992-3184

[weidnerpaul]

If anyone is interested in caravanning down Sunday (Dodge Caravans optional) meet at the McStop/Holiday gas station in Lakeville (I think it's exit #70) between 6:00 and 6:15.
We will drive from there to the site, possibly stopping in Ioway to meet up with Chris B. Not sure if there will be interest in this, lots going down on Sat for T&T so pls post if you're interested...
Paul

[1/2mv^2]

Whelp, looks like I'm heading down saturday for the test and tune!

Whee!

Now, just have to get my polybushings installed by thursday before the alignment, and I'm all set!

[aansorge]

Paul,

That order sounds good to me. Adam Quimby has no numbers, so we'll probably use shoe polish. Any number is ok for that car.

[SalahK]

Originally posted by weidnerpaul


If anyone is interested in caravanning down Sunday (Dodge Caravans optional) meet at the McStop/Holiday gas station in Lakeville (I think it's exit #70) between 6:00 and 6:15.
We will drive from there to the site, possibly stopping in Ioway to meet up with Chris B. Not sure if there will be interest in this, lots going down on Sat for T&T so pls post if you're interested...
Paul

I'm interested. I'll see you at the Holiday unless I hear otherwise.

[miata#37]

In case any of you were wondering about the recent record snowfall down in the Des Moines area, I inquired and here's the word from event chair Mike Slater:

"YES, we got about 16 inches of Snow yesturday, but as of right now
about 1/2
of it has already Melted off. The forcast for the rest of the Week is
starting off in the 40's tomorrow up to the mid 50's on Saurday. I
believe
with the the location of the site, it will all be gone by Saturday
afternoon. I will check it thursday night to make sure, but unless we
get
another 16 inches between now and Friday night, I don't think there
will be
a problem.

The site is very open, the wind was blowing hard so I do NOT think very
much
would have stayed on the parking lot. Might even try to get out there
tonight. If I do, I will let you know.

Pass the word along, the Saturday events are STILL A GO."

I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

:) :cone: :) :cone:

[weidnerpaul]

Salah,


I'm interested. I'll see you at the Holiday unless I hear otherwise.

I'll be there, just one favor --- please.

You drive in front and attract all the MHP/IHP attention :dancin: :dancin:

Have you ever been there before?

Paul

[miata#37]

FYI: Here's the latest snow report from our event masters....

"Subject: Solo II Event for Sunday March 21

Dan has just checked the Site, Sandpiper, at 6:00 PM on Wednesday March 17.

There is NO Snow at all on Either Parking Lot. There are just a Few puddles of water and they should be gone by Saturday AT THE Latest.

The March 21st Event is a Go at this Point.

NO SNOW AT ALL on the Parking lots.

Thanks

Mike Slater"


Sounds to me like it's gonna be a good weekend to mount some falkens on the neon and go hunting for cute little British cars in GS.

-Chris
Usually miata#37:tease:

[weidnerpaul]

Chris,
Or you could bring the Miata and really beat me when I co-drive Adams car...

Paul

BTW I think the M&S Tyres look really good on the Neon :)

[pinhead]

Hey Paul - I went throug a british car phase when I was younger, but realized that I couldn't afford a nice one (after owning a triumph tr7 and an mg midget), and that I just wanted a car that I could drive. So I gave up on british cars until I figured I could afford one that didn't need repairs right from the get-go :flame:

------------------------------------------------

I was trying to link some driving direction to ask if they were okay, but the link isn't working... Guess I'll just go with what I've got and hope it gets me there!

[weidnerpaul]

Are you going on Sun only? If so caravan down with Salah and I.
meeting place McDonalds/Holiday McStop in Lakeville 6:00-6:15 AM.
Paul

[pinhead]

Originally posted by weidnerpaul


Are you going on Sun only? If so caravan down with Salah and I.
meeting place McDonalds/Holiday McStop in Lakeville 6:00-6:15 AM.
Paul

I'm going down saturday for the test & tune. At least that's my plan at this point.

[weidnerpaul]

Chris,

Two ???

Are you doing the T&T or do you want to meet on Sunday at that McDonalds?

Which car/class will I be competing against you in?

See you on Sunday,

Paul

[housecat]

Matt and I will meet in Lakeville too... See you at six o'clock!!

:dancin:

[weidnerpaul]

Great news, I'll see you there but I will be closer to 6:15, wait for me if I'm running a littte late...
Paul

[rdub]

WELL,The "minnesota mob" did there dance on the Ioweegians!
we all finished in the top 1/4 of the field (over 70 cars?)
Unfortunately,we only got 2 runs each in our respective classes
so thats a long drive for 2 minutes and 5 1/2 seconds of track time (my time)
Still was fun though streching the new Evos legs both on the track and the highway!
lets just say I doubled all the posted speed limits easily!

[pinhead]

I had a lot of fun, even if I didn't go very fast :dancin: The two run thing kinda sucked, but I suppose the $5 test and tune the day before made up for that :dancin: Still, I'd have rather had them make it like "two laps" or whatever, and give us 3-4 runs instead. But that's just me. I think my car was sorta good for that course, but I drove like a sissy. I was pretty tenative, especially over by "the beach", and I think I was too slow to get on the gas out of the sharp corners.

I think I told Chris that the test and tune was good practice for looking ahead, since the wind kept blowing the cones around, and so you were never driving the same course twice ;)

It was good to meet some Minnesotans finally. It was also funny to have Paul drive up next to me and ask, "hey, are you pinhead?" Hahaha. That could have gone a lot differently if it wasn't me - "what did you just call me? :argue: "

[aansorge]

They tried computerizing their system and it definitely cut into the day. Sometimes for a smaller club, simple pen and paper works a lot better.

I enjoyed the course, especially the fast sweepers. Yeah, it was a bunch of left turns, but it was fun. Glad I drove three cars though.

Miata - I ran my Miata for the first time with the new front bar and the Koni shocks. The car is much less jumpy now do to the lower compression dampening of the Konis vs. the stock Bilsteins. The front 1 inch bar helped plant the rear tires better than before, but not too much :D . Had FTD after first runs thanks to coneage by Salah and Randy and the fact that I had already run the course twice.

Mini - The Mini is everything people have said about it. Basically a better CRX (at least in stock form). It is nimble, has good power, great brakes, and quick steering, but has problems putting down the power. I loved it and Paul said I would have loved it even better if the course had had some slaloms. I was just 0.9 seconds slower in the Mini than in my Miata. First run in the Mini was interesting. The motor kept missing and it never seemed to generate much power. Sneaky Paul forgot to mention how to turn off the traction control. I was four seconds quicker the next go round, but the announcer said something about time to get new tires. . .

4cyl Probe with Auto - I was almost 10 seconds slower in this car compared to the other two (60 some second course). The main problem was the tires. The name of the tires was Douglas and they were horrible. The rest of the car didn't seem too bad. The auto made the starts a little slow, but left foot braking, enabled me to have the car downshift before the apex.

The Salah and Randy show - as predicted, these two would battle it out for FTD in their EVO's despite the presence of a Mod car. Randy had Kumhos, but the cold temps didn't give his as big an advantage as it may have on a warmer day. Salah had the advantage of experience behind the wheel of an EVO but as we all know, Randy switches cars like super models switch outfits, so he picks up quick. Both of them coned their first runs (making me champion for a fleeting moment), so it came down to their last runs. Both ran clean, but a bobble by Salah in an over the crest, hit the breaks, pin cone cost him and Randy won by .3 seconds.

[AlexL]

I drove like crap. I decided to take the first run fairly easy to get familiar with the car and the course, and not only was I slow (which I expected), but I DNFed. My second run was even worse. I stalled at the start, and when I started the car again, the traction control turned back on, but I didn't realize it until halfway through the run. It wouldn't have helped if I turned it back off anyway, because I don't think it could possibly have gained me the four or five seconds I needed to be where I should have been.

[SalahK]

A three hour drive is a lot for just two 60-second runs, but the course was fun in a peculiar sort of way so that made it worthwhile.

Visualization:
I told Nikki this and I'll repeat it again. "When the course is long and complicated like this one, You must sit down, close your eyes and pretend that you are driving the course. Do this a few times while actively thinking about the key cones and the general layout of the course. Time your mental run. If you get CLOSE to your actual time, you did a good job of visualization"

Safety:
My only real gripe of the event was that it took me about 30 minutes of arguing and gathering fellow competitors to petition a change to the finish line. Eventually the course designers did give in and move it back about 10 or 15 feet, thus making the clearly dangerous finish somewhat safer. Event safety should be planned with the lowest common denominator type of driver in mind. A novice driver with a lead foot, driving a powerful car would have had great trouble coming to a stop given the location of the original finish. I overheard that the organisers went through a safety class the day before. Obviously the class wasn't that effective. :sarc

The battle of EGOs (er, I meant EVOs ;) )
Randy did an amazing job of figuring out his Evo. We both had certain factors in our favor like a lighter fuel load, cooler temps, and more Evo experience for me, and Race tires & lighter wheels for Randy, but above all, Randy just DROVE incredibly well and clocked a 62.2xx to my 62.5xx. :drink: Both of us seemed to agree that we had at least another second if not more, that we could have knocked off, given more familiarity than one can afford with just 2 runs.

I can see it now. The Iowegians are going to start lining up at the Mitsubishi dealership, in the hope of beating out the Mod cars :D

[housecat]

The thing that amazed me the most was the 75+ drivers that showed up in the middle of Iowa on a freezing cold day to autocross. Someone mentioned that the event was announced in the local paper and I think that helps explain the incredible turn-out. There were A LOT of newbies. Maybe that's an idea for us if we don't get the turn-out we expect at our first events. But, we got to announce the ValleyFair event to everyone and it sounds like a lot of people were interested.

:)

[miata#37]

What housecat said. Cabin Fever (Spring Fever?) must have hit the midwest pretty hard for 75 autocrossers to make the journeys they did on day that wasn't much above freezing. I think the organisers were taken a little off guard.

The course: Although I did have fun on it, I think all the drivers should have demanded their rights. Seriously, we had no rights that day! Only a lot of different variations on left. (I told people that the native language of Iowa had 42 different words for "left turn")

I drove two cars.

My neon R/T: Wow that little car has serious autox potential. I tinkered with some left turn only rear toe settings. Toe in the left rear, toe out the right rear. The car did rotate. I may have to experiment with it some more.

Steve Garnjobst's WRX: Holy crap that car has some cajones when you get it up on boost! I can't say that I drove it all that well, but I did get to give a newbie a ride in it. When the ride was over, he turned to me with eyes as big as saucers and said, "....I can breath now...." *sigh* I remember when I got that ride. I didn't know a Contour could do those things...

[weidnerpaul]

Fun, Fun, Fun.

That sums up the day for me, I drove Adam's Miata and had a good outing in the MINI, I did what Salah mentioned above about visualizing on my second run --- although I was slower than my visualized time (1/2 sec)it does work --- and interesting to read about after I did it...
Paul

[rdub]

Since we ran in numerical order I was able to sit with the crowd and watch Salah make his runs before me,which was helpful in my learning curve.But what was fun was listening to the crowd of young motorhead kids (there were alot of spectators)
when Salah was makin a run! there were tons of explitives uttered that I can't type in here
But they where all good.Also it seems per them, that the CAR is the key!
2 Old school CM drivers even acknowleged that the EVO,while too much techno for them,was the coolest car they'd seen race in awhile.
And YES Salah,I agree with changing the name of our 2 cars to Mitsubishi EGO's

[phile]

>My only real gripe of the event was that it took me about 30 minutes of arguing and gathering fellow competitors to petition a change to the finish line. Eventually the course designers did give in and move it back about 10 or 15 feet, thus making the clearly dangerous finish somewhat safer. Event safety should be planned with the lowest common denominator type of driver in mind. A novice driver with a lead foot, driving a powerful car would have had great trouble coming to a stop given the location of the original finish.

Thanks, Salah, for making this effort.

We all have to do this at every event when we see something spooky. Remember that we will all be tarred with the same brush if any club has a major incident. Have the courage to demand safe courses.

When you are the organizer, don't fight it when there is a groundswell of such comment. Erring on the side of safety is always the best course.

[pinhead]

I was trying to visualize my runs, but every time I closed my eyes, I found myself in a Ferrari 360 Modena and all the courseworkers were bikini girls :oneeye:

[MNbiker]

Definitely fun! The Iowegians are a disorganized bunch, but they're also pretty friendly. They didn't seem to resent all the Minnesotans who came down to whip on them.

Random thoughts:

-Registration was an absolute nightmare. If MAC ever did that poorly, we'd have an armed driver's revolt!

-They had a TON of Novices at the event. They really should have been more assertive in offering ride-alongs for newbies, as too many Novices got lost on course. (We should take note of this for Valleyfair, as I could see Novices getting lost on the planned North Course.)

-Driving down Saturday for the Test & Tune definitely made the trip more worth it. I think I would have been a bit irritated, if I'd driven down Sunday for only 2 runs.

-Driving multiple cars is a great way to get more (and more varied) seat time. Chris, thanks for sharing the Neon with me - that little thing handles pretty darn well!

-I wish the STi I was supposed to co-drive had showed up. It would have been fun flogging that beast around the course. ;)

-I'm sure glad I had a total of 4 runs, because only the 4th one was decent. I guess if you're gonna drive like crap most of the day, it's good to finish on a high note. :p

-Watching Salah versus Randy was great fun. Salah was a bit more aggressive. Randy was a bit smoother. They were both REALLY fast!:D

-Steve

[miata#37]

There's some pictures up from the event:

http://www.chandajane.com/Nikon/2004-03-21%20-%20Sandpiper%20Autocross/

[pinhead]

Originally posted by MNbiker
-They had a TON of Novices at the event. They really should have been more assertive in offering ride-alongs for newbies, as too many Novices got lost on course. (We should take note of this for Valleyfair, as I could see Novices getting lost on the planned North Course.)


Ya, my wife commented on that, too.

I haven't done a MAC event yet, but back in MI the regions normally mark the outside of the course with a line of flour:

http://www.wormtech.com/albums/SVR-Great-Lakes-Tech-Center-5-18/7_G.sized.jpg

I've never done a national event, but I think they do the same thing, too. I think that something like that would have helped a lot in Iowa, although the 4 loops thing is still bound to confuse a few people.

Roger - who has applied the flour line many o' time

[pinhead]

Results are here:

http://www.slateracing.com/html/march_results.html

[rdub]

My Evo should be classed in AS(where I listed it) not street tire Pax
I,m not even legal with Kumho victoracers.

[weidnerpaul]

:dancin: :dancin: :dancin: And with street tyres/PAX the MINI beat both EVOs :dancin: :dancin: :dancin:
Of course I wasn't driving...
Paul

[rdub]

In my defense,I got 2 runs and how many did Adam get?!6 times to look at that course!
So no talkin smack yet!

[weidnerpaul]

It's my car, I can talk smack if I want, besides, it was his 4th run not his 6th and first run in the MINI with the crappy active suspension turned off :D :D :D
Paul

[StevenMosley]

PAX at local events is for losers. :flame:

Randy reigned!!

[aansorge]

Yea, but I had never even set foot in a Mini before, and my first run was done with the traction control on (I thought I broke the car, it ran like @#$!). And at that point, it was only my fourth run, but I don't think that helps out my argument. . .

Those bad a$$ EVO's just won't stand losing to a MINI.

[StevenMosley]

Originally posted by aansorge


Yea, but I had never even set foot in a Mini before, and my first run was done with the traction control on (I thought I broke the car, it ran like @#$!). And at that point, it was only my fourth run, but I don't think that helps out my argument. . .

Those bad a$$ EVO's just won't stand losing to a MINI.



PAX is a okay guideline, but it is not exact science.

Course, surface, car, setup. and million other variables are involved with determining how fast a person would be if we all drove the same car. The only fair way to resolve it is to run the same car. Even then you have variables to consider, but it would be a far better yard stick.

BTW: Hertz rents Infinity G35 Sedans with 260hp V6's, RWD, and 5 speed autosticks.


:alc: :alc:

[rdub]

IT was only my 2nd time around a race course in my car also!
na na na na boo boo

[pinhead]

Do I smell a grudge match?

Also rdub, it looks like they moved you out of the street tire class, you're currently the SS winner! I guess you must have been the only AS entry, so they bumped you SS or something.

[rdub]

Somethings smelly!
Yeh I have race tires so I wasn't a legal street tire guy!
It'll be fun seein how we all do!

[weidnerpaul]

[rdub]

NO,I was still 3.3 seconds faster,actual! not PAX crap
ENOUGH,Uncle,I give

[weidnerpaul]

We all know when the trash talk stops and the driving starts Randy will be at the top of the pack and I will be a dawg suckin dust...

Paul

[914 Dave]

Paul, I think your prior post, you know, the one with all the singing and dancing bannannannas has proven that whatever "it" is, you have lost it. ;)

See ya tomorrow at the meeting.

[weidnerpaul]

My Mind?

[miata#37]

I couldn't help but notice how dominant the MAC drivers were down there that day. It looks like they took home top honors in CS (Adam), DS (housecat), HS (Pinhead), SS (Randy), STX (Steve), and Street Tire (Adam). GS doesn't really count.

Perhaps we should stir up some friendly inter-club rivalry. I'm guessing the DMVR hot shoes might want a little payback since few of them were there that day...

[pinhead]

Originally posted by miata#37

GS doesn't really count.



Why not? I actually thought you had the drive of the day! GS was one of the biggest classes, and you smoked 'em :dancin:

[1/2mv^2]

And SM/SM2.

[rdub]

the level of ability of the MAC drivers is awesome!
we have alot of competent racers at our events.
Our only downfall is we don't get to race on big lots with better surfaces,or we'd have alot of Nationals trophies.
On that note,good job to Steve at the Pro Solo in Topeka,even though he wasn't first,he competed well and he builds a great car!!!(It got a trophy)
congrats

[miata#37]

Originally posted by pinhead



Originally posted by miata#37

GS doesn't really count.



Why not? I actually thought you had the drive of the day! GS was one of the biggest classes, and you smoked 'em :dancin:

I only say that because I'm a member of both clubs...

[weidnerpaul]

Chris,
When you win you're a MAC member.
Paul

[aansorge]

There are some good drivers down in Iowa.

Joe Tharpe wasn't there. He got second at Nationals last year in c-stock.

Tim Reinhardt was there but didn't run. He got 4th in GS at Nationals two years ago and 6th the year before that.

Brian Goodner wasn't there and is a former National champ in FS and always a contender despite not having a dime to his name.

John Jacobs was there and won STS in an XT-6. He is a great driver and deserves a better car. Unfortunately he thinks XT-6's are Porsches; he has five of them.

Mike Bronson is a very good driver. He is normally quick, smooth, and consistent but turned in a poor performance that weekend. Was he running Hoosiers?

Ron Ver Mulm is a top C-prepared driver. . . not there and rarely is.

The Scharenbergs are national level BM drivers but they were not there.

Paul Zimmerman was a DMVR member but passed away two years ago in a single car accident. He was the most impressive driver I have ever seen. He had many top ten Nationals finishes, always in the car NOT to have. 5th one year in GS in a Prelude versus the Type R's. He was something.

[miata#37]

I don't think Mike was on hoosiers that weekend. His drive really wasn't bad at all. And many of the drivers who were quicker than him were getting more than 2 chances to see the course at speed. I'm sure most people were still shaking the winter cobwebs out of their heads.

[rdub]

I am well aware of all the great Iowa drivers,I raced there alot in the early 90's
I was friends with Paul Z. and always had a good time racing him,Scott Smed,Brian Goodner,Bob Lenz,Mark Paar,and lots of others! My waterloo days was the best, when we still could race in DOWNTOWN Waterloo(it was a true blast to fly over the bridges at 60-70 Mph)The Greyhound track lot is fun too.
So I encourage folks to race in other cities ,its good competition,and fun to make friends.

[pinhead]

Originally posted by rdub
On that note,good job to Steve at the Pro Solo in Topeka,even though he wasn't first,he competed well and he builds a great car!!!(It got a trophy)
congrats


ya, I saw that, nice work :drink: I would love to have a nice ST or SP car, but setting the thing up is what scares me away from those classes! I used to have an STS integra, and then a CSP CRX, but I was never comfortable with that stuff. I never knew if I was driving badly and the car was set up well, or vice versa. I think it takes a lot of skill to know the difference. In the meantime, I have my hands full just trying to figure out what tire pressures to run :p

[MNbiker]

Originally posted by rdub
On that note,good job to Steve at the Pro Solo in Topeka,even though he wasn't first,he competed well and he builds a great car!!!(It got a trophy)
congrats


Thanks Randy!:)
I still have a ways to go, to catch up with you, but I'm making progress. I should have trophied at the Topeka Pro, but coned away my best run, then overdrove the subsequent (and final) run, trying to make up too much time.

My car setup skills are definitely ahead of my driving skills. Mike was FTD on both courses in the rain on Saturday, and indicated my WRX is set up better than his.:D (The 2nd fastest driver, none other than Bob Tunnell, was over a second behind.)

-Steve