How was Milwaukee...

[Darryl]

So how did it go for everyone...

Looked like a nice day, well, dry anyway...

[gsk8r]

Weeeeeeeeeeee!:D

Great fun as always! Katie and I got to run in a different run group from everyone else, so we got to pass on some tips to the rest of the MN crew and then watch them all kick some Milwaukee arse! Thanks to Pat Washburn for keeping the rivalry alive by pointing out how well the MN crew was doing every chance he got. Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I think 6 of the top 10 PAX were MN drivers???

I learned a TON, especially since I got to have Katie ride along with me each time which helped tremendously. This was my first time in anything but the Miata, so I had some growing pains in my first two runs (I literally plowed over 6 cones in the first two runs before I figured out how big the car was :oops: ). After that I was clean and my fastest time was 48.3 on my fourth run. The last two runs I continued to try to drive aggressively, but pushed it a little too far and overcooked a little of everything.

I thought it was a really well run event (except for the lack of lunch break) and our hosts were very gracious. Thanks to the WAI for a great event!


Thank you so much, Daryl, for letting us drive the BMW. It drives like buttah:rockon

[washburn]

Your BMW looks sweet in the hands of everyone who was driving it. Very nice, and quick. Neal paxed third I think. The Minnesota drivers were 6 out of the top 10 on index after the morning session. In the afternoon, it balanced out more and we lost some spots. Being announcer, I played this up a bit...of course I cna switch sides...I'm in neutral territory. Have to check finals results...haven't seen them yet.

The Evo was fun. Chris drove fantastic, ultimately putting up a time a half second behind me. (Edit: only 3 tenths. Crap...I'm going to have to work hard this season!!) We both botched our fastest runs. Well I botched my 3 fastest runs, so I stood on my fourth fastest, which Chris easily beat. Great car...Chris has put a lot of work into it. Couple minor wheel clearance issues, but nothing too bad. John and Steve looked great in the Miata.

All in all, a pretty good event despite very serious timing issues. (All times were hand entered into the PC. Nothing PC would communicate with anything timer, and the displays sporatically worked or not. Pretty frustrating day for the timing people, but most people did not know there was a problem.) We ran on the North lot, which I havn't done in years. This was due to an abundance of salt being used when they plowed the South lot. They thought people might need it for those unscheduled baseball games they hosted, the snow was made into big piles and they salted the bejeezus out of it. Anyway, I got a call Staurday morning that the drivers school had been postponed due to poor lot conditions. Yikes...I was thinking I would need to call all you guys to tell you not to come, but after I spoke with some people down there, it turned out to be OK. Good surface, just made for a lightly shorter course than normal.

BTW, we now know what "Paseo" means thanks to Neal.

Another edit: Looked at results (http://www.waiautox.org/2007/wai%202007%20event%201_pax.htm) IF I swing to the Minnesota side, it was a tie....5 out of top ten index finishes were from Minnesota. I *could* swing in the Milwakee direction and be on a winning team, but I am happy with a tie being on the Minnesota team. :) Alex Lowe was in 11th, so it was very close to tipping our way anyway. If you would have told me that this would happen as little as 3 or 4 years ago, I would have a hard time beleiving it. It's not just a great club, but one that's truly competitive against anywhere in the country. Cool!

[MNbiker]

Great job guys & gals!

Final results are posted online: http://www.waiautox.org/

[Ivan]

Yep, good time. Thanks Darryl. :D
Coned away my best run... gotta stop doing that. Car was really fun to drive, especially when I started "massaging" it around the course, rather than trying to force miata-like response out of it. Now I want one. Can't wait for Walnut Ridge in a coupla weeks.

Alex seemed to have an epiphany later in the day and found some good speed in his not-a-miata as well.

-Ivan

[aansorge]

Wow. Good job guys and gals. By the way, who is Tvan?

[the tick]

I had a BLAST driving Steve M's CSP miata (Thanks AGAIN Steve!!!!). What a hoot. I wasted my best run with a dumb cone hit, but still would have only moved my one place in PAX (but I think it would have put me up to #3 or 4 in raw time...)

As Pat has already said we were on the South lot instead of the more tytpical North lot. The course was still very fun, just a little shorter than expected. It was cool haveing a Minesota heavy Pax ranking (not to mention fun being in the top 10 by the end of the day!) I was the lead spot in the 2 driver car lanes, so I didn't get to see most anyone else drive, but what I did see....well the ST classes in MN are getting pretty strong!

[EWAustin]

Wow. Good job guys and gals. By the way, who is Tvan?

I was wondering that myself. If you scroll all the way down it says that Ivan Austin got a DNS...

[magicsammy]

Team Wrolson Wracing looked really good out there.

The Deutsch Performance team looked really good too.

John Mensch showed how fast my car can really go when driven properly.

I was very rusty but got an instructional run from Jeff Cashmore which was great. I still don't trust those dang Hoosiers and it shows. I am going to order some new Kumhos this week.

My new trailer is AWESOME!!

I think this is going to be a good year for team MAC.

Matt, where are those T-shirts with the new logo?!?!?

We need to represent - word. 8)

[ottocrosser]

What an incredibly fun weekend! It is great to be in a car where I can finally focus on my driving. I love the Scirocco, but I always wondered if it was me or the car.

I'm a bit worried now since Gretchen seems to be a natural at driving a BMW. She had a great fourth run. I think winning at Walnut Ridge won't be so easy.

[larry200]

Way to go!!!

-- Larry B.

[Ivan]

I was wondering that myself. If you scroll all the way down it says that Ivan Austin got a DNS...

Lol...

I have had many mis-spellings of my name over the years... this is the first time substituting a "T" for the "I" though. We changed numbers from the "97" with which I'd pre-registered. They must've misread the name I printed on the tech form.

[rdub]

good job MN folks and Wisconsin buddies as well
I'm callin ya Tvan from now on ok(old Ivan)
we need a name for Gretchen now

[AlexL]

The new car is awesome. My times weren't what I was hoping for, but the car is so much fun to drive I don't even care. :D

[ot81to]

Did anyone happen to take some pictures?

[phile]

Did anyone happen to take some pictures?

If they did, they are welcome to post pictures of Twin Cities autocrossers (yeah, even Washburn) here:
http://www.flickr.com/groups/59772766@N00/

[washburn]

Great job guys & gals!

Final results are posted online: http://www.waiautox.org/

After getting a chance to look over the results, if Chris and I could have had our fastest runs back clean, I would have paxed #1, and Chris #2. I guess the car is not too bad. Neal did it like you're supposed to..fastest run clean. Shoulda, woulda, coulda, but it's still fun to see.

[SUV-ETR]

Had an awesome day, once I actually got to the event. Some job-related crap on Sat night and Sun morning had me worried I wouldn't be able to run.

Gotta figure out how to not get beat by STS on raw time, but other than that a really good day. Like Gretchen said, the car is like butta. I think they had a transposition error on my last time, 'cause the clock and the announcer both said 45.6-something, not 45.8. And it definitely felt like my best run. But oh well. <shrug>

ST-classes definitely had an advantage due to the cold temps and still somewhat sandy/salty lot. Boosted AWD ST cars maybe even more so, but I think Pat and Chris both would have been at the top of PAX even on another day. They were both on fire. Despite cold Hoosiers, the Magicsammy Miata was within one second of the shifter kart after the morning runs, and both John and Steve got even faster in the afternoon (just not as much faster as the kart, unfortunately).

Katie and Gretchen were really fun to watch. From the 2nd run onward, they were "dancing" the car more than I've ever seen either of them do before. Working out on course, and hearing everyone talk about how fast "those guys in that BMW" were was pretty cool. A lot of eyebrows raised when Pat said their names over the PA. Katie was even in the top-10 PAX for a while there, and still ended up 14th, just ahead of CPL champion DeeDee Padburg, who seemed really happy with her runs today too. :rockon

[magicsammy]

A lot of eyebrows raised when Pat said their names over the PA.

yeah, Pat got their cheese heated up to fondue levels with his statement that after the morning runs, most of the PAX leaders were from Minnesota.

To their credit, they stepped up to the challenge and knocked a few of us out of the top ten... at least last Sunday :evil:

[Ivan]

Had an awesome day, once I actually got to the event. Some job-related crap on Sat night and Sun morning had me worried I wouldn't be able to run.

Gotta figure out how to not get beat by STS on raw time, but other than that a really good day. Like Gretchen said, the car is like butta. I think they had a transposition error on my last time, 'cause the clock and the announcer both said 45.6-something, not 45.8. And it definitely felt like my best run. But oh well. <shrug>

ST-classes definitely had an advantage due to the cold temps and still somewhat sandy/salty lot. Boosted AWD ST cars maybe even more so, but I think Pat and Chris both would have been at the top of PAX even on another day. They were both on fire. Despite cold Hoosiers, the Magicsammy Miata was within one second of the shifter kart after the morning runs, and both John and Steve got even faster in the afternoon (just not as much faster as the kart, unfortunately).

Katie and Gretchen were really fun to watch. From the 2nd run onward, they were "dancing" the car more than I've ever seen either of them do before. Working out on course, and hearing everyone talk about how fast "those guys in that BMW" were was pretty cool. A lot of eyebrows raised when Pat said their names over the PA. Katie was even in the top-10 PAX for a while there, and still ended up 14th, just ahead of CPL champion DeeDee Padburg, who seemed really happy with her runs today too. :rockon

I was wondering about the timing display too... can't be sure, but seemed like a 6 and 8 were transposed on one of my runs between announcer/display and the actual recorded times (which wouldn't have helped my standing anyways).
You know, I can't believe we didn't "geek out" and study the DL1 files on the way home. Was a pretty long day already though, never even crossed my mind. Are the data logs from the AX22 comparable to the DL1? Maybe when Pat is in town next weekend we can have a data studying session.

Thanks again for the lift in the Titan, sure makes the traveling nice and comfy.

[SUV-ETR]

Are the data logs from the AX22 comparable to the DL1? Maybe when Pat is in town next weekend we can have a data studying session.

They're supposed to be. Same software for all Racelogic products.

[AlexL]

They're supposed to be. Same software for all Racelogic products.
I think I've heard it mentioned that they aren't, but I find it hard to believe. Guess you'll have to try it out and see.

[washburn]

To their credit, they stepped up to the challenge and knocked a few of us out of the top ten... at least last Sunday :evil:

Only one dropped...still got 5 of 10.

[MNbiker]

Gotta figure out how to not get beat by STS on raw time...
Of course it was the fastest STS driver in the country, at the moment. If you can start beating Jason on a regular basis, you'll be in the hunt at Nationals. 8)

[Ivan]

...
I'm callin ya Tvan from now on ok(old Ivan)
we need a name for Gretchen now

Thanks :p

Well, following the same cipher they're using, I guess she could be Rretchen.


edit: LOL, you'd be "Candy" Williams!

[SUV-ETR]

Of course it was the fastest STS driver in the country, at the moment. If you can start beating Jason on a regular basis, you'll be in the hunt at Nationals. 8)

Shhhhh....don't jinx it. ;)

Besides, he was in still in his "cheater car". Last race for the poor thing, unfortunately.

In any case, I have to beat him by at least .2-.3. And he could easily throw a Quaife in the thing and start kicking my butt in my own class...or rent the car to a friend as-is and still be a serious threat.

But I'm *very* glad to have the STS/X crew in Milwaukee as a benchmark. We'll all push each other faster in the end.

Neal

[MNbiker]

....LOL, you'd be "Candy" Williams!
I LIKE that one! :lol:
(very fitting for the person who wanted to name my car "Sprinkles") :p

[porkbone]

Sounds like a great time was had by all!

I hope the weather cooperates 2 weeks from now, I'd like to make Milwaukee on the 29th!

[gsk8r]

"Tvan" wasn't the only name slaughter of the weekend. When announcing the top ten PAX at the end of the day, they somehow managed to pronounce Chris Deutsch "Douchay" and Neal Tovsen "Tovilson" as well. Douchay, Tovilson and Tvan. Sounds like a law firm.

We thought maybe they were just jealous and were butchering the names on purpose:lol:

[weidnerpaul]

"Tvan" wasn't the only name slaughter of the weekend. When announcing the top ten PAX at the end of the day, they somehow managed to pronounce Chris Deutsch "Douchay" and Neal Tovsen "Tovilson" as well. Douchay, Tovilson and Tvan. Sounds like a law firm.

We thought maybe they were just jealous and were butchering the names on purpose:lol:

I like
Douchay, Tovilson, Tvan and Rretchen
better.

[washburn]

Thanks :p

Well, following the same cipher they're using, I guess she could be Rretchen.


Ahh, excuse me, but if you're going to run on the Wrolson Wracing Team, it will need to be Wretchen.

"Take a Paseo on the Paseo in Paseo."

[gsk8r]

Wait a minute......:bigeyes:

wretch –noun
1. a deplorably unfortunate or unhappy person.
2. a person of d e s p i c a b l e or base character.

[rdub]

how about "Wrenchen" then

[gsk8r]

Much better! :D Perhaps if I learned something about the "insides" of a car it could be a fitting name.

Although Wretchen is purty dern funny! I did have an uncle who fondly called me "Gretch the wretch".

[SUV-ETR]

I did have an uncle who fondly called me "Gretch the wretch".

Based on the definition you put above, how does one "fondly" do something like that??? :?

[Tunie]

When I looked through the results, it took me a minute to realize that the Darrel in front of Neal wasn't of Wrolson Wracing. For just a minute, I had hoped that I'd be able to suggest a suitable massage oil for Neal to use on Darryl's feet. To murder Shakespeare in regards to your sig -- the lad doth protest too much, methinks. :p

--Trish

[gsk8r]

Based on the definition you put above, how does one "fondly" do something like that??? :?

Yeah, well, he was kind of a strange cookie. Guess it just rolls off the tongue:shrug: