Thanks, and no problem. I just wish we weren't wrenching on it between every run. It's hard to believe that we beat on it for 3 weekends before this one and had no issues. I think the clamp is failing as it feels like the threads are stripped... Nice meeting you too. The guy from S3 magazine who Tommy took for a ride wants to do a story on the car now! Good PR for the sponsors.
Heyward just made an announcement about the upcoming Novice school: http://soloatlanta.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=1420 If you are interested be sure to sign up when it opens because they usually fill up quick.
Novice School is good, cheap and effective. You will get many runs, and will learn how to do the basics of Auto X. Evolution School is a bit expensive, but well worth the price. You will have an instructor that has usually competed in Nationals, they will walk you thru all te basics, course layout, how to look ahead, etc... If you have the money, and are serious about Auto X, the Evolution School is the best thing you can possibly do. Novice Schools are pretty much just a day of Fun runs, with a little instruction here and there.
The Evo School is great. You will learn alot. I have always compared my times with Milo. Before I did the Evo School, he would generally beat me by about 10 seconds or more. My first event after the Evo School, he still beat me, but only by about 2 seconds or less. Hugh improvement after doing the School.
Our region schools are good, and they are getting better this year. We have a novice chief who has really put some effort into improving the program, and Heyward (chairperson) has backed him up. The quality and quantity of instruction will vary depending on who you pair up with. I'll be the first to admit that there are some instructors at our schools that have no business instructing (though Heyward is trying to eliminate that). There are also some people that want to pair up with you in hopes that they'll be able to drive your car at some point. I usually pick one person per group to work with, and stay with them throughout the day (sometimes I will pair them up with another instructor of my choosing if I think they have learned most of what I can teach them). Basically, you will get lots of seat time, but the quality of instruction will vary depending on who is in the car with you. Try to pick out an instructor early and ask them to work with you. That being said, the Evolution school is much better. You have about 1/3 as many people in the school (which is why you pay about 4x as much). Every instructor is a VERY good driver, and many are national champions. You will get more seat time and you are gauranteed to get good instruction. The instructors will also drive your car with you as a passenger, which is what made the biggest difference for me. Rob Faulkner whipped it around the course twice, and I was instantly about one second faster. For me I went from being an also-ran to competing regionally for the HS title.
Registration for the novice school is open now! Hurry up and sign up if you are planning to make it. These fill up quick!
+1 for the novice schools, I went to both last year. I'm forking out some extra cash for the evolution school this year .
Mere - I think you'll get a lot out of the Evo school. For you I think it can be that "next step" that we are trying to create locally with the Driver Development Program. The advantage is that they're only working with 12-16 people in the Evo school, and we're trying to work with 40 in the DDP.
Joel, Is it best to use the v710s for the evo school? This is what we were planning to do, as that is what she is running for events, but I read somewhere that you learn more on street tires. What is your take on this? -- Brian
I really think you should run the tires that you plan to drive on at events, as long as you understand that they'll get some significant wear. Part of the experience is finding the limit (as a driver and as a passenger), and that will be very different on street tires. Just so you know, the course is very short and tight, so even though you drive 20+ laps you won't get the same wear as you would with 20 laps at a regular autocross. That's just my opinion. The idea behind street tires being more beneficial is that they will teach you to be patient. With the course as tight as it is, you'll need to be patient regardless of the type of tires.
Brian and I will be there.... I'll be running in the morning and the afternoon. I'm glad they are changing around the afternoon run groups, although I didn't mind watching brian snag cones for two hours
any autocrossers who are planning to go to the warehouse meet. Please put your numbers on the cars so we can promote the relationship between SOG and the SCCA
good idea... also anyone with the WRXatlanta autoX numbers, wear them proudly :bigthumb: team solo guys: do u think u guys could set up cones from the bluffs to SOG... i was thinking along the lines of a 30 mile slalom
Has anyone here that's tried to sign up for the Evo school actually received any kind of confirmation about their attendance? I thought I signed up a long time ago, but seeing as how the school is Saturday and I haven't heard anything since March(ish) I'm starting to get a little concerned.
Thanks, so I'll get something tonight... hopefully. Did you get anything last night/today? I didn't. I'm starting to get worried. I still haven't heard anything from anyone yet letting me know if I'm in. But, in case you didn't see, from soloatlanta.com/forums, there's been a small change in venue: "The regional novice school and the Evolution Phase 1 school planned for this Saturday (6/10/06) will be held in the Turner Field BLUE lot rather than the Green lot. Please tell any others you know who are registered."
That sounds like Jean... If you registered for the Evo school then just come out. The instructors will sort it out on-site if need be. Jean needs someone helping her organize the Evo schools badly (and checking her grammar as well).
A week and a half until the next event. I'll be there, but maybe not in my car. I blew a turbo oil seal on Sunday, and I'm out of town this weekend so I won't have much time to tear it down and put it back together. I'm hoping to drive Mike White's EP Civic
I want you to write down EVERYTHING he says about driving your car. It'll make you a much better driver. ...and then you can send me a copy, too.
I'd bet money on it! I'll be there on Sunday, but Stompy is on hiatus for a while. The motor needs to come out. I either cracked a piston ringland, or floated a valve (4 weeks ago) and then the turbo oil seal let go. I got the intercooler and intake manifold off last night, and there is oil everywhere. I'm thinking the turbo oil seal is tha cause of the smoke. I'm still not certain why cylinder #1 is down 70 psi, but it may very well be a floated valve from over revving at Huntsville and DC. For all other STi owners, check your motor mounts. They break way too easy, and when they go it's far to easy to get 1st instead of 3rd. When I checked mine (which was too late) one side was split and the other had backed out the bolts almost entirely.
I just updated the calendar in my first post to reflect that the 9/10 AMS event is now definite. I got confirmation from them on Thursday that we have the site. It's an awesome lot, so you should try and make it if you can.
Just wanted to bump this up for all of those looking for autocross info. Next event is on 10/8 at the Fairgrounds.
only last time... close friend's birthdays>autoX in fact another friend is having a birthday that same weekend... hopefully this time the celebration is on friday
Sounds good. I hope to see you out there this time. I miss seeing you guys at the events like last season.
u have no idea how much i have been missing autoX... i was planning on a turbo upgrade this month but i missed autoX sooo much that i decided to put it off for a bit... sad thing is that since the subaru challenge was supposed to be that saturday, i asked my friend to plan her party saturday night... now im gonna have to see if she can move it to friday
Definately will be nice to see you out there. October is a great month for AutoX, 5 events in 4 weekends Oct 1st: Middle Georgia SCCA event Oct 8th: SCCA Points #8 Oct 15th: BMWCCA #6 Oct 21st: Subaru Challenge Gainesville, FL Oct 22nd: SCCA Points #9 I hope to see more of you guys out at these events. -- Brian
If it wasn't the same day as the SCCA Points #9, I would go. It was fun last year when I went. -- Brian
I will most likely come out this weekend. Doubt I will run, but I will come out for Moral support and to watch. Maybe I will run. Just not sure about the computer, then again, I can always just shut it down. Guess it will all come down to how much money I will spend drinking Friday Night.
unless ya'll want to come to savannah (yeah, i know, quite a long drive). we have our autocross this sunday. www.buccaneerregion.com if anyone is interested in the schedule.