SCCA autocross event May 2 Marshaltown IA

eclipseGS · Apr 23, 2009

Hey all, there is another autox event coming up next weekend and there will be several of us going. Im trying to set up a small meet here in Ames then all of us cruise out to a day of autocrossing. Anyone up for it? Event starts at 9?? Figure we meet up at 8 at the Phillips 66 gas station on south Duff then roll out at 8:15. Whos with me?? :hellyeah:

1. eclipsegs (Kyle)
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gs-t SPYDER · Apr 24, 2009

1. eclipsegs (Kyle)
2.gs-t SPYDER (Adam)
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gs-t SPYDER · Apr 28, 2009

Just to update everyone this event is on May 4th. Hope to see some pple there

eclipseGS · Apr 28, 2009

Sunday may third actually. But it doesn't look like very many people get on here anymore LOL

the "laser" · Apr 30, 2009

im not for sure since my GF wants to go paint to get money, so i MAY need a ride LOL

. adam? kyle?

redleader36 · May 10, 2009

This was definitely the funnest course i have been on so far. This would have been the ideal course for any beginners who are afraid of getting lost in a "sea of cones"!

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The course had almost no cones save for the ones blocking off the paths we weren't using. The officials also warned us that digging into the grass with even one wheel was a DNF. The result was a timed autocross course that just followed the paved track! It was like a road course! It was so nice to not try to decipher cones on the fly!

The location was great as well. There was a nice, loud PA system with an announcer rattling off your times. There was an open concessions stand selling sodas, burgers, brats, nachos, and etc. There was actual plumbed restrooms, and there was lots of places to watch from including the shaded concession stand area to the 2 sets of grandstands! The weather must have hit high 60s and there was no breeze.

The course was a lot trickier than it may look from overhead. There were 2 major elevation changes and 2 large straightaways that ended in turns that would come up way too quick. There was a certain corner on the far side of the track that gave both Thansenite and myself trouble.

The compound turns were tricky to figure out too, you really had to look ahead.

redleader36 · May 10, 2009

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This event was just like driving on a small road course! The course was set up so that we started 3/4 of a lap from the timing equipment. That meant we had 3/4 of a lap to get the tires warm, practice certain corners, whatever. Once crossing the timing light (green on the pic above) the timed lap started. You would buzz one whole lap around the track and exit right after the finish (black/white on pic above). This meant we got 2 laps every run for a total of 10 laps throughout the day.

My first run was sadly my second fastest. I really wasnt driving very comfortably. I knew i needed to smooth things out. I also noticed that I was taking a long time to brake and that I could brake harder and later. I finished with a lap time of 47 seconds and some change.
My second run was my "fun run". I tried braking later in some of the corners during my warm-up lap and i felt a little of the snap oversteer i felt at Adventureland. I thought I would try to use that to my advantage. Once i was over the start line, i braked late and hard for the downhill hairpin. the back end of my car rotated just the way i had hoped it would. I took the first straightaway as fast as my b18 could and braked a bit harder. The back end rotated through again! Brilliant! I booked it through the long straightaway and waited to brake. I hit the brakes just a bit harder and all of the sudden the back tires broke loose and I skidded sideways to a stop. WEEE!! The engine had died yet I had stayed centered on the course and never touched the grass. The engine took a few cranks to start up again, but I got it running and finished the rest of the lap at a conservative pace. I finished with a 66 second time.
The third run I took a bit slower and I was visibly cautious around the far back corner. 48 seconds.
The fourth run I tried to really smooth everything out and focus on finding a good line through the course. 49 seconds.
My fifth and final run felt really nice. I was booking it through the straights and dove hard into the corners. I made sure those tires were squealing most of the course. I also was getting the hang of the snap oversteer and was using it on the tighter corners. I was really becoming aware of when the rear tires were about to break loose. I finished with 47.0 seconds. My fastest, most controlled, and proudest run.

redleader36 · May 10, 2009

Thansenite's pics:

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You don't need RWD to drift!

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redleader36 · May 10, 2009

gs-t SPYDER · May 11, 2009

This event was so sweet. I cant wait for the next event at this track :hellyeah:

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SCCA autocross event May 2 Marshaltown IA

eclipseGS

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