SCCA Solo Nationals

[Reijo]

It's all over ... thanks to the rain and slightly drying conditions, Dina jumped into the 3rd place trophy position!   Good job!

[MurrayPeterson]

Dina's trophy is under protest, with massive amounts of drama.

From Dina's email:

So long story short the chief of our course threw out partial first runs once the storm hit. They should not have started the runs. So everyone started over with a clean slate in the rain. I came in third. The results are being protested then appealed and I think there is an appeal on the appeal. The real results won't be known for a few weeks - but provisionally I am now in 5th, but that is under protest. Feel sorry for the 2 ladies that could win our class - completely changes the results, and contingency etc. Sucked for everyone. All I know is I had a blast racing in the rain and really enjoyed my day

[Wayne Dyck]

This being my 3rd SCCA Solo Nationals attendance, I thought I'd share my take away experience...

1. This is the single largest annual participant Motorsport event in the world. The experience is one of a kind and should not be missed by any autocross enthusiast, no matter their experience level.

2. Competition at the pointy end of each class is fierce. But don't kid yourself, competition throughout each class is just as fierce. Everyone is looking to improve their placing, each and every run.

3. Weather can, and usually does, play a part in some classes outcome. Be prepared to run your best each run. You may only get one run that truly counts.

4. For me, being a non pointy end participant, there is comfort in car familiarity. Jumping in a car for a couple events prior is not conducive to best effort.

5. Camaraderie between fierce competitors is second to none in this sport.

Preliminary plans are underway for next year.

[threeotwo]

Had a great time down there.  Felt I drove pretty well on the east course but struggled with the west course, had lots of big sweepers that we generally don't get to practice here at home.

My videos,
East: https://youtu.be/7241lFc-STg
West: https://youtu.be/R2VJOC9HIkg

[Mkelder]

Was great watching your videos everyone. Anyone know if Ryan and Wayne have some? Julie?

[Reijo]

 Bryan Heitkotter, east course:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tqkmwKhPl34

West Course:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oTtOXCJ8k9M

Not perfect but very smooth in general and really looks ahead.

[Reijo]

OK want a laugh?

Here's Marshall Grice at El Toro just before Nationals (Marshall had FTD on the west course and won A-Mod and FTD for Nats in KJ Christopher's ACME Special ... ex-Bowland Bros car ... that has won Nationals before ... which I ran in 2008 and got 3rd in ... and much modified since that time).  Turbo'd motorcycle  engine ... maybe Hayabusa or Kawasaki???    280 hp, about 900 lbs WITH driver:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6z4cFLzlzMg

They will likely post Nationals videos here soon ... travelling back to LA now.

[JulieT]

Was great watching your videos everyone. Anyone know if Ryan and Wayne have some? Julie?

  no video, but judging from the amount of other people's rubber on my tires, my line is not the one you want to see anyway! I agree with Wayne- great event to experience.

[Wayne Dyck]

Bryan Heitkotter, east course:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tqkmwKhPl34

West Course:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oTtOXCJ8k9M

Not perfect but very smooth in general and really looks ahead.

Not that you can tell from the videos...
But Bryan Heitkotter was driving his newly refurbished blue '07 350Z HR motored car in place of his ex Brian Peters '03 350Z.
Prior to Packwood this '07 350Z car belonged to some old slow guy in Calgary 

[Mkelder]

That A mod doesn't have a gas pedal anymore, now it is a fast forward pedal.

[Stuart]

That A mod doesn't have a gas pedal anymore, now it is a fast forward pedal.

One announcer a few years ago made the following statement
"if you see someone who looks like they are having a seizure, don't worry as it is probably just an A-Mod driver visualizing the course"

[Reijo]

That A mod doesn't have a gas pedal anymore, now it is a fast forward pedal.

One announcer a few years ago made the following statement
"if you see someone who looks like they are having a seizure, don't worry as it is probably just an A-Mod driver visualizing the course"

Haha ... might have been referring to Gary Milligan who used to stand there mimicing the direction changes with his hands held out as he visualized the course in his mind.   

[Sprockett]

Was great watching your videos everyone. Anyone know if Ryan and Wayne have some? Julie?

The event was not my finest hour. Day one I set my fastest scratch on my first run...can't remember the last time that was the case. The run looks a bit pedestrian and it felt that way too. Everything I tried to change afterwards didn't result in time.

Day 1 East Course
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RIx7XR3flxY

Day two, again had the same scratch time twice in a row and was determined to push like mad on the last run. I dropped about a second but plowed down the slalom as you'll see. I actually entered it so much faster that I over braked and then turned into one of the first couple cones cause I was going too slow...after that I just lost my rhythm. Garbage.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=baMEr4H0Lww


Wayne didn't always start the camera I can upload his videos if he would like to see them.

[Reijo]

Here's a good video from an F500/F440 in FM:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pd04QXfDkDc

[94boosted]

My fastest runs both days (thanks Cam).

East: https://youtu.be/vSMO9_Vn9aA
West: https://youtu.be/o-FhnJCQ1FI

As you can see in both videos, especially day 2 (West) I'm simply under driving the car, don't know what happened but I got to the line and simply forgot how to drive, I was not looking ahead, not smooth with my inputs and driving nowhere near the limit of the car. A combination of unfamiliar surface (concrete) and an unfamiliar car on unfamiliar tires I'm sure had something to do with it but really it was just very poor driving on my part.

The experience as a whole is eye opening, the venue is so large and the level of vehicle prep that some people do is unbelievable. It was really cool to be a part of and big thanks to Cam for letting me co-drive his car.