July 20 Points Event #5

[zoomzoom]

We started the day with 150 bottles of water. Enough for the drivers and course workers, but not enough to the large number spectators that helped themselves.

Next event, I'll bring 192 bottles, and perhaps put a sign on the coolers that says 'Drivers Only'?

[JimR]

I could tell from the cone counts that it was a challenging course. It had line choice and rewarded it, but punished being behind the car more than usual. I loved June's course, but I'll admit this one was more intense than I liked.

It's getting to the point where peculiarities of the Ducks surface tend to funnel the course in ways that aren't making me happy. The offsets and slalom-esq elements in the back section of the course are less creativity on the part of the course designer and more keeping out-of-control cars away from holes, rough patches, or concrete barriers. It's narrow back there to begin with, and now the difference between too fast and too busy is getting tough to maintain.

More ruts between the metal shed and the hill mean the course has to bottleneck more at that point. At the first event this year, a car put two wheels on dirt right there. There are also pallets of lumber by the shed that make my inner SSS a little nervous. Speed control through there is going to be important for as long as we continue to use Ducks. I see the opportunity for broken A-arms and upside down cars if someone goes too fast sideways over those ruts. That was always a really fun, fast spot in the past. There couldn't be a worse places for ruts.

The final left up the hill gave you a ton of choices on entry, and the correct one was to make a very late apex. It was over 90 degrees to the next gate. You either gave up early and turned in late, or went in too fast and scrubbed off a ton of speed. Either way, you went through the finish in a straight line at a reasonable speed and didn't risk running over the timing lights...which are a little sickly and have to sit close to the course. The asphalt has gotten really, really wavy where I originally wanted everyone to turn in, so it wound up being a little sharper than I wanted.

A number of people have designed courses this year, and they've all been entertaining. We can still run decent events on this site, but it may require some awkwardness around the bad spots.

Anyone work in the paving industry? If several acres of asphalt accidentally got diverted from road works to the Ducks lot one night, I'd help drive the steamroller!

[JimR]

We started the day with 150 bottles of water. Enough for the drivers and course workers, but not enough to the large number spectators that helped themselves.

Next event, I'll bring 192 bottles, and perhaps put a sign on the coolers that says 'Drivers Only'?

If you look at it one way, we're a victim of our own success!

But really, the only people who we need to keep hydrated are the course workers, starter, grid, etc. Maybe instead of buying even more water, we could get some cheap coolers or insulated lunch sacks for the work stations and trailer to stow some water bottles for workers.

Everyone else, especially the spectators, can go down the street to the gas stations if they underestimated the need to drink fluids while, umm, being outside all day on asphalt in hottest part of Summer. I brought plenty of my own.

Last resort, the park is open during the warmer months, and has sinks. The water fountain didn't work, but people could just bring a disposable cup from home. I recommend "Solo" brand cups. Ha.

[Unstable]

at KC, they have coolers at each corner and cups.
probably cheaper because some people *cough*Chris*cough* have problems getting water into the cup so they don't use as much. (quit trying to blame the "breeze". LOL)

Other benefit to the coolers are you can number them so there is never any confusion as to what corner it is.

[The Huff]

I personally struggled the most with this course, more so than any I had run before "Only 4 , but still". It was deceiving during the walk through, I didn't think the cones on the back straight were nearly as spaced out as they were, until I was in my car doing everything I could to keep from missing them. I did however, learn a lot about heat adding PSI's. I didn't know anything about that, but when I was told to check, I had gained nearly 3 PSI's from when I had checked it earlier in the day. To bad it was just before my last run, which was also my best, after dropping the extra air that had snuck in. Thanks Korry, for the use of your tools and the advice on the front end setting of my shocks. Justin

[Unstable]

Kinda surprising how the tires generate PSI for the little amount of time you are on the course. My Hankooks usually take 4 runs to level out.

Its good that you are talking with some of the vets. Most the OMR guys don't bite and are glad to help you improve your game.

[magilson]

I really liked the course. It gave me a lot of opportunity to hone my turn-in skills. I felt like I was able to really get control of my car by throwing in early and using the oversteer I've tried to set up in the rear suspension. Maybe it looked nasty to the corner workers but it felt right to me. I was able to stay on throttle much longer, anyway.

That first sharp right hander was a tough one. Youl could carry so much speed, too much, into it and so I was fighting the car to barely make the next left. And that final left turn was trickly, no doubt. I feel like I only hit it right one time, and because of it I had more speed than I was used to and took out a cone in the next corner, lol. Run 5 was going to be so perfect... Ah well. The inevitable 180 degree turn at the back of the lot has given me a lot of opportunity this year to practice easing into the throttle of an overpowered FWD open-dif car. No complaints here about that kind of practice!

I liked it and thanks again Jim!

[markyf]

I thought it was a great course and well organized like usual. There were a few too many cones that were always in the way for some reason. I liked how you could go faster than you thought and then just hang on.

I 100% agree that the water should be for members or entrants only, or sell them for $1 each to spectators.

[scoTT]

There were a few too many cones that were always in the way for some reason.

I hear you on that one....

[JimR]

Matt, have you had a chance to take a stab at the results? Were they a mess?

[Unstable]

Matt, have you had a chance to take a stab at the results? Were they a mess?

http://www.omrsolo2.org/Solo2Results/2008/July/fin.htm

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