2008 PCA/COM thread

[Andrew]

So is there any construction I should be worried about on my trip down to DCTC this Sunday? I plan on going 35e south to 52 south.

Looks like it's going to be a beautiful day :D

If anyone is looking for a gas station I found one near by at

16022 Coates Blvd Rosemount, MN 55068

Assuming it's still there anyway... I don't know how up to date the website I'm using is.

[111R]

No major road construction going 35E/52, but 52 Southbound is down to one lane due to bridge work somewhere near the exit to DCTC. I think it's the bridge over 140th St which is just north of the turn off. It shouldn't cause a delay at that time of the day. Northbound is clear.

[AQuimby]

Wish I would have sighned up for this one. Man I can't wait to try out the new car! I guess my wedding anniversary is more important.;)

[speedyham]

The Hwy 61 bridge into Hastings is down to one lane right now, so there will be a little more traffic on 52 than normal.

[speedyham]

Wish I would have sighned up for this one. Man I can't wait to try out the new car! I guess my wedding anniversary is more important.;)

What your wife has to realize is that marriage is a partnership, and that each of you will have to give up certain things to make each other happy. If she really loved you she would want you to autox Sunday and to make it special she'd come along and adjust your tire pressure between runs.







:lol: :lol: :lol: I suggest following that advice only if you want to be single and missing half your stuff.

[JCN]

"I want half Edddiiiiieeeeeeee."
---Unfufu.

:lol:

[AQuimby]

What your wife has to realize is that marriage is a partnership, and that each of you will have to give up certain things to make each other happy.

You must not be Married.:lol:

[idget]

So is there any construction I should be worried about on my trip down to DCTC this Sunday? I plan on going 35e south to 52 south.


http://www.dot.state.mn.us/metro/news/08/05/16-35eresurfacing.html

It was pretty backed up today.

I usually take 36 to 35e to 52.
I think I'll take Snelling to 94 to 52 instead.

[Andrew]

http://www.dot.state.mn.us/metro/news/08/05/16-35eresurfacing.html

It was pretty backed up today.

I usually take 36 to 35e to 52.
I think I'll take Snelling to 94 to 52 instead.

thanks for the info

Also where should I park for the event?

[speedyham]

thanks for the info

Also where should I park for the event?

Just pull into the tech college, stay to the left and you will see a lot of cars parked off in one lot. It's pretty obvious once you get there.

[Andrew]

Just pull into the tech college, stay to the left and you will see a lot of cars parked off in one lot. It's pretty obvious once you get there.

I mean, are there lanes like at valley fair where certain classes have a west and east lane?

[JRTritsch]

I mean, are there lanes like at valley fair where certain classes have a west and east lane?

When you sign in it should be all set, don't worry, most people just show up and find out when they get there...like me ;)

[SaturnRaycer]

So is there any construction I should be worried about on my trip down to DCTC this Sunday? I plan on going 35e south to 52 south.
This route shouldn't pose any problems. Registration opens at 8, so you'll probably be coming through the 35E to 52S ramp about 7:15-7:30 AM.

35E is closed between I 94 and West 7th St, so you may find more traffic on 52, but early in the morning it usually isn't bad.

[Andrew]

Today was FAN-FRICKEN-TASTIC. Thanks for putting up a good autox PCA/COM.

:D :D :rockon :rockon 8) 8) :) :)

[dman]

Uhm, yeah, interesting course layout :)
Although I'm a little disappointed that I never hit 3rd gear ;)

[speedyham]

This event was wonderful. I liked the fast course with just enough tight spots to trip you up if you weren't looking far enough ahead. I'm looking forward to the next PCA/ COM.

[Andrew]

Uhm, yeah, interesting course layout :)
Although I'm a little disappointed that I never hit 3rd gear ;)


yeah the course wasn't as technical but the bottom line was I had a great time. :D

[ricksellner]

Just got back from one of the most entertaining autocross in years. Yes less is always better when it comes to course layout. Yet I found myself far from being perfect. Great event they may have set the bar very high for other events. I love the broken run groups keeps everything fresh in your head. Weather was a bit chilly but other then that wouldn't have changed a thing.(other then my driving hehe)

[MustGoFaster]

Just got back. Had a great time as well, and left happy with my times. Had a little gear box scare at the end of the day, it wouldn't go into to 1st. Was a simple fix that involved removing a free floating screw from the shifter assembly inside the car. :oops:

[111R]

Very, very fun event and well organized. COM/PCA should be proud at how well everything worked out. Despite getting beat by Wally, I am happy with my times and had a blast doing it. Great job Wally getting into the 57s!

[Drew]

My compliments to COM and PCA as well for a very well run event. IMO, the course was "just right." It was quick and fun, but challenging in spots. Thanks to all for your hard work that gave us all such a great day.:)

Personal note: This was the first time I'd been back to DCTC in a few years, and the day brought back some good memories from when I started autocrossing. Great to see some more familiar faces that I didn't see at the Valleyfair events.

[marks_lude]

Congrats to Andres! It was just us two in AS but we kept the battle tight, and he edged me out by about .2 for the win. Nice runs!

As far as my runs go... I was fighting wheel lift all day which turns my rear end into an open diff basically... Little bit frustrating on the right spots but I still had a blast all day.

I'll get some video up very soon, but its a bit shakey and might make you motion sick. I made the camera mount at 11pm last night and It needs some revisions.

[SUV-ETR]

Also had a good time! Like many I spoke to, I couldn't seem to improve in my afternoon runs for some reason, but the event ran very smoothly and the weather was PERFECT. I thought the course could have flowed just a little better (a little less of the super-slow-to-super-fast-to-super-slow-and-repeat), but it was very fun and challenging.

It is always cool when you just know in your heart that a faster run is lurking out there, but that everything has to happen juuuussst right to pull it off. Even if you don't ever quite manage to make it happen by the end of the day, it is fun to try. (Or maybe I'm just saying that to make myself feel better! :p ) I really liked the uphill right-left chicane just before the finish. On the course walk I thought it would be impossible to carry much speed through there, but on my last run I think I found the trick and the car just danced through it...very rewarding.

Big congrats to Wally...nice 57! :bigeyes:

[miata#37]

COM and PCA put on a very well run event. The whole operation flowed smoothly and came off with no glitches that I noticed.

The course wasn't that complicated, but there was something to getting it right and maximizing your speed out of the tight corners for the following acceleration zones.

Congratulations to Jay Mckoskey for stepping it up to the top of the STS2 field. (Of course you know, Jay, we'll all be gunning for you at MOWOG 3 now... ;) )

[G. Jay]

Thank you PCA/COM for a very well run and fun event. I ended up liking the course more than I expected after walking it. There was a large speed change from fast to slow parts which made for challenging line choice.

Thanks to Katie for her instruction. I believe I understand even though I couldn't demonstrate that. I need to keep working hard on the slaloms.

The day went well even though I couldn't find any additional time in the second session. Thanks Chris and thanks to the rest of the STS2 Crew for another great fur ball.

[MNBubba]

Let me add my shout out to the organizers, timekeepers and other officials.

Me and the C-4's first ever, and we had a blast, even though based on my times, I can't say I brought any honor to the marque.

Obviously, I'll have to keep trying till I get it right....

[Matt D.]

It was a fun event for sure. I was never able to figure out the course and my car never quite did what I told it to do, but it was good day either way.

[dman]

Here's a look at the course (~7MB) (http://kabanamat.googlepages.com/run3.wmv) for those who did not go. Those who did go - could throw some line advice at me, that would be much appreciated. I think this is my fastest morning run, which I don't think I improved upon in the afternoon, which is kinda sad since it seems I have been leaving lots of space between me and cones, and turning late for some of those.

[ricksellner]

I think it looks great better then all of my runs. So I guess I'm not the one to help you. (heheh)

[Amy]

Congratulations to Jay Mckoskey for stepping it up to the top of the STS2 field. (Of course you know, Jay, we'll all be gunning for you at MOWOG 3 now... ;) )

Is "gunning for you" some new slang for "paying a mobster to break your kneecaps"?

Watching the STS2 battle is almost as much fun as driving. It just keeps getting better as new people take the lead.


When are results going to be posted?

[Ivan]

Had a great time too. Was super frustrating not to match my morning run times during the afternoon. The challenge of trying to tune and drive for the sharp/slow corners and the big sweeper was exciting. Should have some in-car vids posted tonight.




When are results going to be posted?

Wally usually posts a spreadsheet of results (on the event's myautoevents.com page)within a day or two of the event. One of us will convert it to .pdf for those who don't have Excel or openoffice.

[murph]

I had a lot of fun. I wish there had been some competition for me in DS, but the course was more challenging than it looked.

I'm still working on re-learning slow-in-fast-out this season, but at least the rear end was in check.

[magicsammy]

luckily I was able to buy a spot for this event.

The course workers got quite a show from me, spinning, swearing and a hootin' and a hollerin'.

I had traction issues in the morning and the big sweeper at the top of the hill was a real challenge but I ended the morning with a perfect 1.00.000 time.

As previously stated, I knew there was lot more time to be had out there.

first afternoon run, about the same as the morning - ehh.

second run, started clenching teeth and making faces - nailed the launch and squeaked out a 58.8 - OK

third run, last chance, let's do this. - sat at the line for a couple seconds after the go ahead, revving the engine to get a good jump, starter stepping back cause he knew what was coming. Let out a good loud rebel yell and took off with WAY too much wheelspin. No time to worry about that, gotta drive into that first sweeper hard and tight, right on the edge, then tap the brake and get around that pivot cone down the downhill straight. Got around the pivot corner without hanging the tail out, great, now yell 'GO, GO, GO, GO!!!' to get my little 1.8 to squeak out all she's got down to the slalom, brake hard and try not to hit cones as I thread the needle. Don't hear any thumps, so swing out wide, squeeze the brake then turn tight to the cone and squeeze the gas as much as I dare, a little slippy but it's good, swing wide left and turn tight to the right cone, don't forget to look uphill, and gas!!! Up the inner sweeper as hard on the gas as I dare while staying close to the inside cones, tap the brake and roll around the pivot cone juuust right, now to face my demon the big sweeper at the top of the hill that has caused me problems all day, start yelling something "GO, GO, GO!!" or "Stick, stick, stick!!" then get on the gas and hang on, bumpin' and sliding but under control and fast, dive down on the double cones before the offset, hard but smooth braking to zip through the offset, then more hard but smooth braking before that dang left 105 degree turn. "slow in, fast out". Who said that? Roll through corner pretty well, I don't think that would ever feel good, on the gas charge up the hill, more yelling I think, swing out wide left, brake firm, then floor it through the uphill offset, shoot through there with a bit of wobbling and hopping but just keep going to that impossible little pivot turn before the finish, brake, turn, gas and shoot across the finish a bit sideways.

58.0 - more yelling, then bask in the afterglow.

Later, on an instructional run with David Vite, I tell him how he did and what he should do. On his next and last run, 57.914, just .003 behind Wally's awesome 57.911.

What a great day! Driving, teaching, and as Starter, inducing several people to do smoky burnouts on the launch.

What a hoot. Thanks to all that made it possible.

[davidv]

Later, on an instructional run with David Vite, I tell him how he did and what he should do. On his next and last run, 57.914, just .003 behind Wally's awesome 57.911.

Thanks for the awesome instructional run Steve! Braking earlier and accelerating out of the corner was the key for me. It seemed odd to brake that early but the times show it was clearly the fastest way around the course. Also going over the run in my head helped too.

[Tyro]

Results in PDF form..

[AliensRgr8]

Congrats Dave on your Top PAX finish!

[murph]

wow David and Brandon, nice driving!

I felt like I drove well, but certainly not #7 PAX well... sweet.

[G. Jay]

Here's a look at the course (~7MB) (http://kabanamat.googlepages.com/run3.wmv) for those who did not go. Those who did go - could throw some line advice at me, that would be much appreciated. I think this is my fastest morning run, which I don't think I improved upon in the afternoon, which is kinda sad since it seems I have been leaving lots of space between me and cones, and turning late for some of those.

My only observations would be what looked like a lot of room between the car and some key cones, those being the tight left and right after the first slalom and possibly the last left before the finish. Since these are very slow areas the penalty carries for several seconds down course. Those may be the ones you are already aware of but that's what I see. Take my free advise for what it's worth.

[washburn]

See? You let Washburn drive your car, you are going to get faster!! :) :)

Nice going Dave, wish I could have seen it!!

[AQuimby]

Where can I find the PCA/COM event Schedual?

[Scuba_Steve]

I too had a great time, in my second autocross since the novice class. My most memorable event was my first run in the afternoon. After having hit the revlimiter in the morning on the straight before the slalom, I decided I was going the shift to 3rd on my next run.

Here is the sequence of events as best I can remember.
1) On the straight, before the slalom, I'm at redline
2) Shift to 3rd
3) keep the pedal to the floor
4) I'm near the first cone, brake hard.
5) Crap I'm nearing the second cone shifting back to 2nd and still braking.
downshift to 2nd, crap, I just hit 4th instead of second
6) Correct my shift to 2nd, OK I'm still way to hot, and can't clear the 2nd cone, screw it, I'm going to hit it head on and blast through to the hard left.
7) THUMP. why is that corner worker chasing me, what is that noise, Hmmm, there is a cone stuck under my car.

All concentration was completely lost at that point :)

[Ivan]

Where can I find the PCA/COM event Schedual?

Corvettes of MN site looks like it's down. No more PCA autox's on the schedule. Looks like one more autox hosted by COM this year, the NCCC Super Sunday in August (http://forum.mnautox.com/forums/calendar.php?do=getinfo&e=331&day=2008-8-24&c=1).

There's also the Corvettes do Brainerd (http://forum.mnautox.com/forums/calendar.php?do=getinfo&e=251&day=2008-6-1&c=1) weekend coming up soon.

[Ivan]

... Should have some in-car vids posted tonight.
...

And, it's tonight.

Run2 ~6MB (http://diggity-dank.com/videos/pca0508i_2.wmv)

[phile]

Thanks for the awesome instructional run Steve! Braking earlier and accelerating out of the corner was the key for me. It seemed odd to brake that early
Do I have to tell that Jackie Stewart story again? SIFO!

[marks_lude]

Sorry about the shakeyness and wind noise. Both will be fixed for next event.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MOtcR0bE5Ss

All 5 of my runs. notes on each are in the video details. best run was my 5th at 4:37 where I ran a 59.7xx. There was still time out there for me to gain because I decided to test my drift skills at 5:15 :p . the course looks a little tame in the video because it was filmed in wide screen and I dont have a program to rip it so it uploads in wide screen. oh well.

You can notice a bit of jerky driving. trust me, its not hard to be very busy with the wheel in an s2k. You can also hear wheel lift resulting in wheel spin in many of the tight corners. A second of 0 acceleration certainly helps to upset the balance of a car haha.


These are the notes on the video copied over for each run
""run notes.
Run1 - Sloppy first run as usual. didnt tighten the camera mount enough.
Run2 - ok run
Run3 - Slam a cone, try to guess which one hahaha. I think it'll be pretty obvious. I believe this was my only cone of the day.
Run4 - ok run
Run5 - fastest run of the day, 59.7xx. I test my drift skill also :)
Run6 - video skips, sloppy last run anyways.""

[dman]

My only observations would be what looked like a lot of room between the car and some key cones, those being the tight left and right after the first slalom and possibly the last left before the finish. Since these are very slow areas the penalty carries for several seconds down course. Those may be the ones you are already aware of but that's what I see. Take my free advise for what it's worth.
Thanks, yeah, all that room frustrates me, and the sad part is that I'm leaving it not only on the pass side, which is probably ok during first few events on a 'new' car, but on the driver side too, I think I need to start braking earlier. And I need more time between runs so that I can watch my runs carefully :)

[blackZ06]

Sorry about our web site being down--not an unusual occurance these days, we will be checking that out.

All of COM and Suburban Corvette's events that are open to the Met Council are listed on the schedule that appears on the the Met Council home page.

In addition to Suburban's Corvettes & Friends Do BIR that is coming up in a couple of weeks, COM is sponsoring one more autocross this year. It will be at DCTC on Aug 24, a Sunday. While it will allow National Council of Corvette Clubs members to run for national points, it is also part of the Met Council AutoX Series. Therefore, it is OPEN to ALL MAC members or anyone else wishing to compete. Registration for this event will open on myautoevents.com apporoximately 30 days prior to the event and will be limited to 100 drivers.

Hope to see many of you there in August.

[davidv]

See? You let Washburn drive your car, you are going to get faster!! :) :)

Nice going Dave, wish I could have seen it!!
Having you drive the car showed me that the car is capable of fast times. I just need to be more aggressive.

[Matt D.]

I just need to be more aggressive.
And I need to be less aggressive. :verymad:

[davidv]

See? You let Washburn drive your car, you are going to get faster!! :) :)

Nice going Dave, wish I could have seen it!!
Having you drive the car showed me that the car is capable of fast times. I just need to be more agressive. It also helped having to chase Brandon most of the day. At one point we were going back and forth with the lead in STU.

[marks_lude]

And, it's tonight.

Run2 ~6MB (http://diggity-dank.com/videos/pca0508i_2.wmv)

Sorry about the shakeyness and wind noise. Both will be fixed for next event.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MOtcR0bE5Ss

...
You can notice a bit of jerky driving. trust me, its not hard to be very busy with the wheel in an s2k. You can also hear wheel lift resulting in wheel spin in many of the tight corners. A second of 0 acceleration certainly helps to upset the balance of a car haha.

I cant believe the difference smoothness haha! I think I have alot to work on. You are a very smooth driver Ivan

[Ivan]

I cant believe the difference smoothness haha! I think I have alot to work on. You are a very smooth driver Ivan

Wow... that's a first. Nobody has ever used my driving and "smoothness" in the same sentence (except when coupled with "lack of").

But Thanks :D It is something I'm trying to work on.

[marks_lude]

Wow... that's a first. Nobody has ever used my driving and "smoothness" in the same sentence (except when coupled with "lack of").

But Thanks :D It is something I'm trying to work on.
Well, granted you Mowog 1 (or was it 2) video looked more like me :rockon , your PCA/COM video looked much more smooth than any of mine felt all day.

[SUV-ETR]

Wow... that's a first. Nobody has ever used my driving and "smoothness" in the same sentence (except when coupled with "lack of").

You DID look much smoother than in the past. But that was also the first time you've beaten me co-driving the same car. Perhaps some correlation? Hmmmm?

OK...no more Mr. Nice Guy. :evil:

Neal

[washburn]

You DID look much smoother than in the past. But that was also the first time you've beaten me co-driving the same car. Perhaps some correlation? Hmmmm?

OK...no more Mr. Nice Guy. :evil:

Neal

Ooooohhh...."Happy learned to putt".

[Ivan]

You DID look much smoother than in the past. But that was also the first time you've beaten me co-driving the same car. Perhaps some correlation? Hmmmm?

OK...no more Mr. Nice Guy. :evil:

Neal

Perhaps :p


Ooooohhh...."Happy learned to putt".

LOL! "The price is Wrong, Bi**h!" (http://youtube.com/watch?v=oido07Vjki0)

[Matt D.]

LOL! "The price is Wrong, Bi**h!" (http://youtube.com/watch?v=oido07Vjki0)
Haha! :lol:

[chuck b]

Congratulations to Jay Mckoskey for stepping it up to the top of the STS2 field.

Sweet!
Did fixing the proportioning valve on the brakes make that big of difference? or were you in the zone?
out

[G. Jay]

Sweet!
Did fixing the proportioning valve on the brakes make that big of difference?
out

I'm not totaly sure what all went right. The brakes felt much better, I drove more aggressively, tire temps were perhaps better and I got lucky. I really need to figure it out so I can do it again. Any tips from the Brakeman? The car is good, the driver needs work.

[MAYcar]

STS2 Target! Catch him if you can!