Another day on the course

[cjstringer]

Well, I was at it again yesterday. No official results posted yet, but I got second in class. (Damned cones) It was actually an unbelievably fun day at the track. 75 cars and 6 runs a piece.
This was supposed to be an HP track, at least that was the intention of the STS designer. He messed up. almost everyone in G-stock was as fast or faster than those in STS. It was a sweet day. Most of the stock classes were even faster than many of the mod classes. It was crazy.
A very humid low 80 degrees day with NO wind. Basically everyone was coated in a shiny layer of sweat all day. BUT, the little bluemobile seemed to like it and did a GREAT job of putting the competition in their place. Can't say the driver was fully there though. He was still a little hung over from the party at the Indy 500 the day before. (Mr. J. Daniels and I had some long discussions)
Anyway, if it weren't for one still standing but solidly bumped cone, I would have taken first over a car with race tires by .002 seconds.
All in all it was a great day and I got another chance to hang out with some funand competitive drivers!
How has everyone else been the past couple weekends?

 

[BigBlue]

I raced this past Sunday...won my class, but I was extremely disappointed in my driving. I just don't push the car hard enough...or when I do, I take the turn too fast and end up scrubbing off way too much speed through the turn...it's really frustrating.

Some of the guys seem disappointed in my times as they always hear the car is good handling from magazines...the thing is that I am sadly just not that great of a driver yet.....I liken it to this...I'm really good at some video games.....I couldn't expect to just give that same video game to somebody and expect them to be "competitive" with me right away...it takes time. Ah well...I'm disappointed nonetheless.

My MP3 is my first "real" car I've ever had, so I guess I just have a lot more to learn. It was a fun day overall tho....a lot of sweet cars including a Viper....altho I did beat the Viper so that was good for bragging rights lol.

 

[cjstringer]

If you get a chance, and I know this will sound dumb, but ride along with a GOOD driver in a CRX if there are any in your region. Somehow the guy that showed me did it in his CRX and I was able to improve almost 7 seconds a lap. The handling habits are similar, though our car it much tighter and more crisp.
Riding with someone that is really good, maybe even in a neon, could translate into much better controlled late breaking and control. Also, don't be afraid to floor it. I was hesitant my first few times out, but now I want to push the pedal through the firewall half the time. Just can't get enough of the rev limiter.

 

[cjstringer]

Ok, the results are finally posted from my last 2 events. I put the info in my sig. Not finishing as well as I was earlier in the season. I think the warmer weather is giving the race tires an advantage now. I'm still running my stock tires, but I'm still happy with the results. Finishing in the top 5 of over 70 isn't so back straight off the showroom floor.

 

[dolphin]

cjstringer,
I looked at your results and read the course notes. Not bad but , part of the reason for your result was the "long fast straights, small slaloms". The MP3 is a great car but the fewer and shorter the straight-a-ways the better the car likes it. The course design can have a large affect on your time and PAX numbers. Cars and drivers that I beat all year have creamed me on a course that some Camaro driver sets up that is all straight-a-way, sharp slow turns followed by another straight. Most courses, I can stay close to their raw times and beat them on the PAX times. On that type course, it is just do the best I can and then beat on the next course.

 

[cjstringer]

Yep. I hate long straights. But I do like long courses. (55+ seconds) The PAX times are great, and usually really helps me in the overall. Somehow in the last event I was doing pretty well keeping the speed up. I wasn't impressed with the course design as I thought it would kille me having no power, but it didn't come out as bad as I was expecting.
My biggest problem is that I despise losing. I like to be competitive, and I am always as friendly as helpful to the others as I can be, but inside it's burning me up to not get first. Maybe someday I'll get past this stage.

 

[dolphin]

I like long, sweeping courses. Most of ours are something over a minute. I usually do well on the short choppy courses but I don't like them.

I have been autocrossing among other things for > 35 years but I still don't like to lose. I hae learned to accept the fact that I can and will but I don't like it. I try to help and teach people that want to learn even tho I know that at some point they will probably beat me.