Texas National Tour

[murph]

ok, getting anxious... tickets from MSP to ATL are sitting at $240. That's not bad! 3/13 is my 31st birthday, thinking about a birthday present to myself, anyone else interested in going?

[murph]

ack, just looked up the address, didn't realize it's in the middle of BFE, closer to Jacksonville, which is $345, plus would require a rental... eh, maybe not.

[porkbone]

Planning on the Texas national tour instead....

Mar 27-28 Texas National Tour Mineral Wells Airport (Dallas / Ft. Worth)

[murph]

hmmmm... I know I could find a decent codrive there... and tickets are $160...

[porkbone]

hmmmm... I know I could find a decent codrive there... and tickets are $160...
yessss....... We are thinking of trying to trailer the Lucky Lugnut Civic down, with someone who wants a co-drive and happens to have a truck and trailer! :D

[SUV-ETR]

We are thinking of trying to trailer the Lucky Lugnut Civic down, with someone who wants a co-drive and happens to have a truck and trailer! :D

Hmmm...I know a guy who knows a guy...he has a dog...

[magicsammy]

this is tempting but have not driven a FWD in anger in a long time

[porkbone]

this is tempting but have not driven a FWD in anger in a long time
the lack of power would likely frustrate you to the point of insanity!

Neal, I know a guy too........ and I like dogs!

[oldtoyota]

What is the site like?

[murph]

it's an airport, I believe it's concrete.

[murph]

So who's in for splitting some hotel rooms?

[porkbone]

So who's in for splitting some hotel rooms?
We're talking about the Texas tour now right? If so....

Pat and I would probably room with Neal (and Katie? Ivan?)

And yes the site is pretty huge airport. Less than an hour west of Ft. Worth.

[JCN]

I'm interested. Really thinking of bringing our car down. Who has vacation days to burn, can fit in our Sparco Evo, and wants to road trip? The co-drive and tow gas would be free. PM me if interested.

[JCN]

Friday
9:15am - 9:45am Evo Advantage* Drivers Meeting/Tech
9:45am – 11:00 Evo Advantage Instructional Course Runs
10am - 7pm SCCA Tech Inspection
11am - 2pm Test N Tune ticket sales
11am – 12pm Evo Advantage Test N Tune Priority Grid Line
11am - 3pm Test N Tune Course open
4pm - 7pm Registration check-in**
Course Open for Walking
Welcome Party
7pm Chiefs Meeting

* Pre Registration required
**No new entries after 7pm
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Saturday
6:30am Site Opens
7am – 8am Late Check-in/Tech*
8:30am Mandatory Drivers Meeting
9am – 4pm Heat Competition
6pm - 8pm Course Open for Walking

*Pre-registered entrants only
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sunday
6:30am Site Opens
8am - 4pm Heat Competition
4pm Trophy Presentation

[shane86]

I'm interested. Really thinking of bringing our car down. Who has vacation days to burn, can fit in our Sparco Evo, and wants to road trip? The co-drive and tow gas would be free. PM me if interested.
Ooo... 2 outta 3... :lol:

nah... don't bother looking like i'm interested in going anyone... i'm a broke sucka for a few weeks.

[SUV-ETR]

I'm interested. Really thinking of bringing our car down. Who has vacation days to burn, can fit in our Sparco Evo, and wants to road trip? The co-drive and tow gas would be free. PM me if interested.

I think you should throw the Motons, the seats, and a set of street tires on the CR... :evil:

Neal

[murph]

If you want to drive the 330 down you're welcome to a co-drive, I don't have enough vacation time to burn and desire for a 16 hour each way drive.

[MAYcar]

Interesting thought, talking to Muskrat were considering heading down with his FMod car. Probably could slip the Lugnut Civic in there with the FMod car and pull the parade with my truck. Maybe leave Thur evening, get there Fri morning, do the TnT. Motel Fri and Sat, leave Sun after the event, get back Mon sometime. Split gas and driving.

Any thoughts?

[JCN]

I think you should throw the Motons, the seats, and a set of street tires on the CR... :evil:

Neal

I actually purchased a set of TC Kline DA Konis for the CR... still sitting in the box. I have an extra set of 17" OEM wheels that could be drilled out and mounted on the front. Also have the 18" Ultraleggeras that could wear 255s...

Alternately, I could have someone bring down some mounted Hoosiers on the OEM wheels and swap when down there. There were CRs that ran Nats on OEM shocks and swaybars....

I'd also be up for the Maykar/Muskrat caravan if the Lugnut had room for another driver.

[washburn]

Interesting thought, talking to Muskrat were considering heading down with his FMod car. Probably could slip the Lugnut Civic in there with the FMod car and pull the parade with my truck. Maybe leave Thur evening, get there Fri morning, do the TnT. Motel Fri and Sat, leave Sun after the event, get back Mon sometime. Split gas and driving.

Any thoughts?

You think we could get them to both fit?

[MAYcar]

I was thinking put the FMod car in backwards and the Civic in fowards with a set of ramps to get it over the top of it (I can fab something up that I think would work, Beemer has a picture of what I'm refering to).

[JKarsten]

I love to split gas and hotel with people if I can find a co drive with someone down there, I don't fit in sparco evo. I will have to try and contact some folks.

[MAYcar]

I believe it's concrete.

Word from Texas is the surface is asphalt.

[JCN]

I love to split gas and hotel with people if I can find a co drive with someone down there, I don't fit in sparco evo. I will have to try and contact some folks.

You're more than welcome to road trip down with me if I tow. Gas is on me.

[asujosh1]

I'm interested. Really thinking of bringing our car down. Who has vacation days to burn, can fit in our Sparco Evo, and wants to road trip? The co-drive and tow gas would be free. PM me if interested.

Damn, I was good until the 'fit into the seat' part came up.:flame:

[JCN]

I could be convinced to take the CR instead....

[washburn]

I was thinking put the FMod car in backwards and the Civic in fowards with a set of ramps to get it over the top of it (I can fab something up that I think would work, Beemer has a picture of what I'm refering to).

I think we would be interested in this. I did this with a friend years ago., I backed my Formula Ford into a Vee nose trailer, we picked up the front end and hing it temporarily on a hook. We then bolted in a cross member, and set the front tires on this cross member. Strapped it down, and pulled the nose of his Honda S2000 right under the car. Worked great, but there was a little fab required.

If you really think you can pull this off, I'm sure Chris would probably be on board for travelling together. We could have an STX seat in the car, but it's a narrrow one!!!

[MAYcar]

Me and the Muskrat are committed! Sounds like Lucky Lugnut will be coming with.

Average high temp end of March is 73, come on and join the fun!

[JRTritsch]

Heading south to come join me for the winter...well I mean when its still winter there ;)

I'm tempted to join the fun since I'm only a few hours away...but I just had to replace a transmission and I'm feeling poor...maybe by the end of the month I'll be in as well. Would be fun to see a few of ya'll there!

Can you do a weekend membership for the national tour?

[JCN]

Me and the Muskrat are committed! Sounds like Lucky Lugnut will be coming with.

Average high temp end of March is 73, come on and join the fun!

I'm packing a set of street tires so I can drive top-down around town.

[JCN]

VACATION REQUEST APPROVED!!!! :rockon

It's on like Donkey Kong!

[G. Jay]

...Donkey Kong!

Donkey Kong? Where? When? Now that's motivating.:rockon

Have fun in TX. Color me green.:D

[murph]

Booked my flight, Texas here we come!

[porkbone]

Booked my flight, Texas here we come!
any idea what you will be driving?

[JKarsten]

any idea what you will be driving?

ssm S2000

[JKarsten]

Ryan K was looking for a STX Civic ride maybe.

[JCN]

WANTED:

Road trip drivers for the trip to Texas.
March 24th (Wed) after work - March 29th (Mon) in the evening.
Days off work: Thursday-Monday.

Free gas and hotel in exchange for splitting the driving down.
Nonsmokers only.

PM me if interested. It'll be 70 degrees in Texas. If you just want to get away from Minnesnowta and cheer on MAC'rs, you're welcome to!

[JKarsten]

WANTED:

Road trip drivers for the trip to Texas.
March 24th (Wed) after work - March 29th (Mon) in the evening.
Days off work: Thursday-Monday.

Free gas and hotel in exchange for splitting the driving down.
Nonsmokers only.

PM me if interested. It'll be 70 degrees in Texas. If you just want to get away from Minnesnowta and cheer on MAC'rs, you're welcome to!

Am I still on that list?

[JCN]

Absotootly! :rockon

[murph]

any idea what you will be driving?

As Josh said, I'll be Charles' co tire warmer, (driving may be questionable at this point in the season!) should be a lot of fun. We're also signed up for the Evo/TnT on Friday, so hopefully that'll help with the rust.

So do you guys have your plans firmed up? Caravan w/ Mark?

[JRTritsch]

So does anyone know if a weekend scca membership is ok for the tour or do you have to do the whole year...seems a bit much for one event when I've already joined two other non-scca clubs locally!

[JCN]

I think it is. You can send them an email to confirm.

[shane86]

Usually national events require season membership.

[JCN]

I don't really know. I do know that they took weekend memberships at Divisionals last year.

[shane86]

Yeah, national tour is going to require season reg.
Divisional is run by the local group, not home office. so they can write provisional rules as they see fit.

[JRTritsch]

Guess I'll have to skip this one...its just too much for this poor lifelong student to afford :rolleyes:

[JCN]

Guess I'll have to skip this one...its just too much for this poor lifelong student to afford :rolleyes:

If your car is working by then, you might be able to trade a co-drive for some cash to offset your membership dues.

I'm bringing down a bunch of people looking for co-drives...

[JRTritsch]

Well the cars been back together and ready to go...although I don't know how competitive it will be on that level. Of course no one knows about STR yet. But thats ok I don't need to do a national tour yet...there are 3 nearby divisional events that I can do for the price of doing just the national tour :).

[porkbone]

Registered today...

[MAYcar]

I'm in! Now if the car owner can get himself registered...:rolleyes:

[JCN]

I have a friend down there with a 430 whp S2000 who is going to run in SSM against Strelniecks. Hmm. Maybe wuss out and go XP? :D

[washburn]

Registered

[verlumpt]

Looking good that I will go. Looks like I'll end up in an STU STi though.

[JKarsten]

Looking good that I will go. Looks like I'll end up in an STU STi though.

That will be cool, I will be there. Still hunting to a co drive though.

[verlumpt]

Josh, shoot me an email. Might know of something for you.

[porkbone]

only 9 more days to register before a huge price jump... get in now...

[verlumpt]

can't make it :( boo.

have shocks for the Honda and tires on the way.. yeah!

[murph]

can't make it :( boo.

That's a bummer Jon, though hopefully we'll see you a couple more times this year. I noticed a few of your neighbors signed up, should be a good event!

Any word on an Evo TnT like last year? I need another one, badly!

In other news, I finally signed up, Texas here we come!

[JCN]

Registered!

[toddfreem]

Entered. Driving FL to TX.

Todd

[JCN]

Dang, Todd! You're not messing around this year! :)

See you down there!

[murph]

Entered. Driving FL to TX.

Todd

That's awesome! Wishing my life was so mobile. =]

[toddfreem]

That's awesome! Wishing my life was so mobile. =]

Fortunately, retired in January. It's good we aren't competing in Mineral Wells this weekend. Today's (Sat.) forecast is a high of 38 with wind/rain/snow mix. Upper 60's for next weekend. First heat could run in the mid 50's. See you there.

Todd

[murph]

Upper 60's for next weekend. First heat could run in the mid 50's. See you there.

Hear that Charles? That's the sound of 285's.

[JCN]

It might get up to 74 degrees! Sweet!

Okay, final roll call:

Murph, Ivan and Charles: Mineral Wells Holiday Inn Express
Arriving Thursday around dinnertime and leaving Sunday after the event.

Todd Freeman

Pat, Chris, Mark Y, Mark M.

[porkbone]

It might get up to 74 degrees! Sweet!

Okay, final roll call:

Pat, Chris, Mark Y, Mark M.

We are at the Mineral Wells Holiday Inn Express
Arriving Friday around 11am and leaving Sunday after the event.

[JCN]

Okay, final roll call:

Murph, Ivan and Charles: Mineral Wells Holiday Inn Express
Arriving Thursday around dinnertime and leaving Sunday after the event.

Pat, Chris, Mark Y, Mark M.: Mineral Wells Holiday Inn Express
Arriving Friday around 11am and leaving Sunday after the event.

Todd Freeman

[toddfreem]

Okay, final roll call:

Murph, Ivan and Charles: Mineral Wells Holiday Inn Express
Arriving Thursday around dinnertime and leaving Sunday after the event.

Pat, Chris, Mark Y, Mark M.: Mineral Wells Holiday Inn Express
Arriving Friday around 11am and leaving Sunday after the event.

Todd Freeman

Budget Host Mesa Motel
Arriving Thursday evening and leaving Sunday after the event.

Todd

[JCN]

Budget Host Mesa Motel
Arriving Thursday evening and leaving Sunday after the event.

Todd

Todd, I PM'd you....

[MAYcar]

HEADS UP!!!

For those of us heading to Texas this weekend I found this on their website.



A handful of us setup the National Tour courses yesterday in Mineral Wells.

All I can say is.... bring a full tank of gas!

The course is over 1 mile long. (take a survival pack, gps, a full charge on your cell phone & extra water for your course walk! )

Onething broke his car he was having so much fun testing the course!

BTW, before you go crazy & start ranting, he's not running the Tour. -No unfair advantage on his part.

Hope everyone entered before last Friday @ 4pm!!

Looks like we got a big field of out of state competitors.


That's right, he said over 1 mile long! Can't wait!!:ibanana:

[JCN]

Hmm. Maybe we should bring the big Hoosiers... with a course that long, there should be enough heat, I'd think...

[JCN]

Windy... Long... Fast... Drunk

[SmokingTires]

Windy... Long... Fast... Drunk

The way autocross should be. Really wish I could make this one, sounds like a blast. You guys kick some butt!!!!

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_gkGhMJWUKCE/SjCCOFK5yCI/AAAAAAAAARg/phMX9Ahl2os/s400/Wish+you+were+her.gif

[Andres3165]

Windy... Long... Fast... Drunk

http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n59/ruaghost/abb8fd22.jpg

From the Start
http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n59/ruaghost/8cf90e1a.jpg

Andres

[73GT]

Hey looks like fun,I hope the weather nice


I like their generator:)



Lee F.

[shane86]

my jaw literally dropped when i saw that course map and the reference photo.
i'm really starting to wish i'd cut and taken people up on their offers...

[aansorge]

Pat put down a crushing 2nd run, ahead of Hollis by .5 to .6. 3rd runs yet to come. Run times over 80 seconds!!!

[washburn]

I only came for the BBQ. Charles pretty much summed it up. WINDY. Great day though, the course is freakin' huge. We timed it at 23 minutes just to do a course walk...longer with Red Eye. Course was fun, fun, fun, although very favorable to horsepower cars. They were *really* having fun. We just did the "DeLay Plan"...keep your foot matted and steer as required. LOL Chris coned away a 5th place, making huge improvements in time each run. I am up on Andy by 8 tenths with a 83.7xx, Yeah that's right....on the 80's!!!

The Marks car has been running great. Ivan looks real fast in Charles's car...sorry no results. Taking a minute to get ready for Texas BBQ!!!!!! (If the wind doesn't blow it all away.)

[JCN]

:bigeyes: Ivan faster than Beth Strelniecks by 1.3 seconds...

He's in trophy position for SSM and not too far off Erik's pace. Pretty amazing for not driving the car in this configuration before. What an amazing driver!

Murph and I set secondary goals: He's faster than Pat's ST Civic (smoking runs, Pat!!!) and I'm faster than a 911 Turbo (I think). :D

Edit: slower than the 911 dagnabit! :D But the look on his face when I told him I had 80whp at 4000 rpm was priceless. :)

[murph]

Woohoo! Driving charles' car on this course is like a roller coaster! I'm sitting in third in XP, pretty happy to at least be beating ST. =) charles is looking good, not far off a multi time EP champ. Ivan's ripping it up, just 1.6 off streilniks, and a full 3 seconds ahead of me!

I wish I had my car here, it would do great n this course, I've never seen one so fast! (or long) ahh well, this is a great vacation, much fun and well worth the trip. Off to BBQ #2!

[Darryl]

I am up on Andy by 8 tenths with a 83.7xx, Yeah that's right....on the 80's!!!

Still walking around with the hundy Pat... Finish him off...... Lovin it.......

[aansorge]

Looks like Freeman is doing pretty darn good too...

Drink a Red Eye for me!

[G. Jay]

Wow, great job guys. The Lucky Lugernaught team are the only ones in ST or STS on Kooks. Hollis and several others are on Yokohamas, first time I've seen that I think. If their Kooks are full tread and green then they aren't close to their prime yet. Pat, you are the meter stick. Todd is in the hunt too.

[marks_lude]

Good luck today everyone. Can't wait to see the results!

[Andres3165]

Good luck today everyone. Can't wait to see the results!

Frigging S2000's :flame: ......lol :evil:....:)

Andres

[miata#37]

Looks like Washburn schooled 'em in ST! Way to go Pat!

[MNbiker]

Looks like Washburn schooled 'em in ST! Way to go Pat! I talked to Pat on the phone about an hour ago. He pretty much dominated ST, the car's working great, and Hollis had a REALLY bad day today. Needless to say, he likes the Hankooks. 8)

[Teddy.B]

I talked to Pat on the phone about an hour ago. He pretty much dominated ST, and Hollis bad a REALLY bad day today. Needless to say, he likes the Hankooks. 8)

Now if only some where available.

[JCN]

Pat and Ivan are amazing!

[shane86]

Now if only some where available.

2nding this...

[914 Dave]

Being lazy- is there a link to results somewhere in the prior 9 pages, or can someone add one?

[G. Jay]

Being lazy- is there a link to results somewhere in the prior 9 pages, or can someone add one?

http://scca.com/documents/resultfiles/results7.pdf

Great job all. Pat, what happened? That's just not supposed to be possible in that class. Fantastic drive.

[SUV-ETR]

Daayyyummm, Pat! 3 seconds on Hollis? I don't care how bad of a day he had...that's still just plain impressive. Seems like Pat discovered that they have woodsheds in Texas, too. ;)

Looks like everyone else did well too. I told Ivan before he left that it'd be pretty impressive just to be within two seconds of the monster RX7. I'd call that close enough. Awesome drive! And the first free Hoosier for the rice burner, I think? Nice.

[marks_lude]

Great job everyone! I keep stewing over the results and there are a lot of jaw droppers!

Pat's finish, WOW! Glagola's STR finish! The fact that Glagola did so well in an AP1 s2000 is welcomed news to me! BS s2000 4th in pax! The local SSM machine so close to the RX7 (great job Ivan!)

I wish I could have gone down!! That course looked massive

[SmokingTires]

Great job guys! Looks like it was a blast!

Congrats Pat and Ivan for putting in some amazing performances!

[MAYcar]

Let me tell you a little something about Texas, it's BIG! The event was kind of like going to McDonald's and the attendent asking if you would like to Super Size your autocross order. Why yes, I think I will! Wow! The course was like a regular autocross event, only larger. The Minnesota crew made a splash or two, there was even a mention at the awards presentation about our group.

Pat came in and showed them how to do it in ST taking 1st, Chris coned away his "Team One Out" of the trophies status on day one and was right with everyone on day two (except for Pat who was in another time zone).

Unfortunately for Charles, Matt, and Ivan someone brought a 3 rotor RX7 that was unreal. Charles and Matt put up a good fight in XP, Ivan rocked the S2000 in SSM. Ivan took the 2nd place trophy and looked to enjoy driving Charles' car. As Ivan completed his second run on day two the announcer was trying to figure out if he improved his raw time or not, "Ivan Austin comes through the lights with a 81.589 that looks like an improvement in his raw time over his first run, no wait, um, lets see, 7 cones on that first run, um well I don't know, at least it was clean!" Nice showing guys!

Todd Freeman met us via Georga where he was knocking off his winter rust. Todd finished 3rd, one out of the trophies and looked really sharp running around Texas.

Team Muskrat was running against a 3 time past National Champion and a multi-national trophy winner with 26 plus years of experience between them in F Mod. Combined we figured we had at least 14 runs in a F Mod car, and none in this particular one! I think we had them worried! We showed up on 3 year old tires and did the best we could. Mark M. adapted really quickly to the car and was running some really decent times. By the time the weekend was over he was really happy with the car. Some new tires and seat time and he'll be running with the fast guys! I had trouble with the seating position (lay down) and finding the course from down there. The car ran flawlessly the entire weekend.

I'm looking foward to next year, it was well worth the trip and I'm planning on doing it again. If you can fit it in your schedule next year make your plans and head on down!

[JCN]

What's more amazing is that the RX-7 was on sticker Hoosiers and we were on last year's 315s the first day and 285s the second day (a set of two new and two old tires).

Add to that Ivan never having autocrossed the S2k in the current configuration before Texas and the return of the "dynamic toe hub issue" for Sunday. And fuel cut on his last run....

It was great hanging out with Ivan, Murph, Todd, Mark M., Mark Y., Pat and Chris! It was a long drive, but I'd do it again. I'm bringing running shoes, though.... :p

[marks_lude]

I watched some videos... and I feel bad for anyone who had to work the far end of the course. Looked like a half mile walk to get out there!

[aansorge]

Video of an F125 cart at Mineral Springs National: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aC5IIaII6WQ&NR=1

[porkbone]

Daayyyummm, Pat! 3 seconds on Hollis? I don't care how bad of a day he had...that's still just plain impressive. Seems like Pat discovered that they have woodsheds in Texas, too. ;)
Yes, Pat is being modest. On day 1, Pat put a solid 0.8 second lead on the field, and all he had to do on day 2 was hold his own. On day 2, Hollis didn't really have a bad day so much as he was out-driven, and his tire choice seemed to be working against him as well. In our opinion, the Hankooks were simply better overall than the Yokohamas. And on a HUGE course, a little difference in grip adds up in a big way. Pat ended up putting another 2 seconds on the field, coning away a run that probably would have been good for top index. It's not like Andy had a "bad day" getting in cone trouble or anything, his best run on day 2 (coned) still was 2 seconds slower than Pat's best run (coned). The results speak for themselves.

It's amazing what a huge course does to the results. So many more elements, so many more cones, so many more opportunities to make an error. In one case (looking at data logs), Pat found that he got on the gas 0.8 seconds earlier than I did in a particular corner, and it cost me over a second on the clock. Little errors are huge on a big course.

[JCN]

Gotcone.com has pictures up!

http://www.gotcone.com/pgallery/2010_autocross/03_27-03_28_texas_national_tour/

[JCN]

For Derek, see the big cars hustle!

http://www.gotcone.com/pgallery/images/2010_autocross/03_27-03_28_texas_national_tour/img_6961.jpg

[JCN]

Murph driving:
http://www.gotcone.com/pgallery/images/2010_autocross/03_27-03_28_texas_national_tour/img_8920.jpg

[JCN]

http://www.gotcone.com/pgallery/images/2010_autocross/03_27-03_28_texas_national_tour/img_8927.jpg

Murph

[JCN]

http://www.gotcone.com/pgallery/images/2010_autocross/03_27-03_28_texas_national_tour/img_8901.jpg

Chris DeLay

[JCN]

http://www.gotcone.com/pgallery/images/2010_autocross/03_27-03_28_texas_national_tour/img_8582.jpg

Ivan

[JCN]

http://www.gotcone.com/pgallery/images/2010_autocross/03_27-03_28_texas_national_tour/img_8116.jpg

Pat

[JCN]

http://www.gotcone.com/pgallery/images/2010_autocross/03_27-03_28_texas_national_tour/img_7858.jpg
Hopefully meets the Phile panning stamp of approval...

[JCN]

http://www.gotcone.com/pgallery/images/2010_autocross/03_27-03_28_texas_national_tour/img_7508.jpg
Mark Moskal

[JCN]

http://www.gotcone.com/pgallery/images/2010_autocross/03_27-03_28_texas_national_tour/img_7413.jpg
Mark Yakich

[marks_lude]

HAHA Charles I love the gnarly conage on the sides of you car! There's one shot in that gallery that shows it off pretty well. Gives the car such character!

[MAYcar]

Todd Freeman too!!!

[MAYcar]

One for 914 Dave.

[MAYcar]

One for Jonathon.

[MAYcar]

And one for Jess and Karl.

[KrazyKarl]

It almost looks the same as my FP car ;)

[Derek69SS]

For Derek, see the big cars hustle!

Nice! ...although a '69 Mustang isn't really "big" by my standards. ;)