I hear you ran the STU car this weekend...any report?

not that well, tried a few things that didn't pan out for that surface ...

not that well, tried a few things that didn't pan out for that surface ...

So you're not in my mind.........You're local? :uhh:

if you consider a 4 hour drive local ...

if you consider a 4 hour drive local ...

4hrs + 5000 ft elevation = the general viscinity. :wink2:

first time I've driven the car with the new power changes at anything other than 5000 ft elevation, 1st gear power is explosive down near sea level ... :SHOCKED:

first time I've driven the car with the new power changes at anything other than 5000 ft elevation, 1st gear power is explosive down near sea level ... :SHOCKED:


Baggy, do you you really think it possible to include the word "explosive" in a description of the RX8's power band? Maybe "invigorating" or "peppy", but "explosive"? :yelrotflm

"explosive" as in "On-Off"

I posted the U-tube vid of me hammering 1st gear at 5000 ft on asphalt without issue, it would immediately jump sideways on the Atwater concrete, but traditionally Yokohama Advan Neova tires don't work well on that surface for whatever reason ...

"explosive" as in "On-Off"

I posted the U-tube vid of me hammering 1st gear at 5000 ft on asphalt without issue, it would immediately jump sideways on the Atwater concrete, but traditionally Yokohama Advan Neova tires don't work well on that surface for whatever reason ...

Gotcha.

Evidently the course was pretty choppy with minimal flow. I would think it was hard to determine what the car was really doing.

Unfortunately, the 6/2-3 AAS event at Atwater has been cancelled. Between now and end of June, we only have Candlestick 6/3 (bah), Marina 6/17 (double bah) and Oakland 6/24 (ok, maybe we'll see you and DKNV there?).

Any two day events coming up in Reno area?

Yeah, I was a bit disappointed in the course, which unfortunately wasn't all that different from the last several Reno event courses :(. Really square corners with tight runouts, typical novice course design stuff.

This weekend is the big annual North (Reno)-South (Las Vegas) Challenge in Hawthorne. NV. That's quite a haul for you though since its about a 2 hr drive from Reno into the middle of Nowheresvilledesertarea

http://sccaforums.com/forums/permalink/109459/109459/ShowThread.aspx

North-South sounds like a fun event...except the drive. The shortest distance would be over Tioga pass...not sure that would be too much fun pulling the trailer behind the RV.:Eyecrazy:

Are you kidding me......

"Here is what you get for your $55 entry fee: Two days of autocrossing, Saturday night banquet, Trophy’s, Memento 2003 Tee Shirt, Pizza party at awards presentation and more fun than you can stand!"

That's only $20 more then a single day SFR event.....

Sounds like fun......I kind of miss the days of local clubs, smaller events and a more festive atmosphere.

Are you kidding me......

"Here is what you get for your $55 entry fee: Two days of autocrossing, Saturday night banquet, Trophy’s, Memento 2003 Tee Shirt, Pizza party at awards presentation and more fun than you can stand!"

That's only $20 more then a single day SFR event.....

Sounds like fun......I kind of miss the days of local clubs, smaller events and a more festive atmosphere.

Maybe I should just drive the car and stay at a hotel...that IS quite a deal!

last year DKNV's RX-8 was on fire there and I was the Overall PAX winner on what can only be described as hang on for your life course designs

but they also experienced a second major incident in 3 yrs and a Nat'l staff SSS has to be flown in to guarantee safety, so nobody knows what will come as a result

last year DKNV's RX-8 was on fire there and I was the Overall PAX winner on what can only be described as hang on for your life course designs

but they also experienced a second major incident in 3 yrs and a Nat'l staff SSS has to be flown in to guarantee safety, so nobody knows what will come as a resultIt was more, like, Team was on fire there.

So, I saw on the entry list that Glenn Duensing is coming, I believe he's the divisional SSS assigned to verify a safe course. He's also signed up to drive. I don't know him, anybody else?

..Unfortunately, the 6/2-3 AAS event at Atwater has been cancelled. Between now and end of June, we only have Candlestick 6/3 (bah), Marina 6/17 (double bah) and Oakland 6/24 (ok, maybe we'll see you and DKNV there?).

Any two day events coming up in Reno area?Isn't there an event at Mather, some Shriner's charity event, the first weekend of June?

There is a 2-day Reno event June 9/10, I have been warned, though, that the course design is likely to be similar to what Mark has mentioned previously.
June 24 - Sears Point, NASCAR! (Oh - I mean Infineon; Nextel Cup.)

some pics from Atwater below, determined today that the new wheels need much lower pressures which was holding me back, she's coming around ... :)

edit: revised to url links rather than img links

http://www.pbase.com/bryanh/image/79321403/original

http://www.pbase.com/bryanh/image/79321483/original

http://www.pbase.com/bryanh/image/79321557/original

http://www.pbase.com/bryanh/image/79321558/original

http://www.pbase.com/bryanh/image/79321559/original

pics be broke-like

(what, 25 char limit? ridiculous :Eyecrazy: )

ok, some work on reload, but not all. getting permission errors…

I changed all from img to url links, try them now

To link to PBase images, just copy/paste the URL in your browser. Or, attach "/original.jpg" to the end of that, which you can also enclose in IMG tags.

Here's a good link for an example:
http://www.pbase.com/bryanh/image/79321366/original

Car sounded mean by the way. :)

thanks for the advice Bryan, and great pics by you as usual :wavey:

too bad Woody didn't come to the North-South Challenge, best course I've run since the San Diego Tour :ylsuper:

thanks for the advice Bryan, and great pics by you as usual :wavey:

too bad Woody didn't come to the North-South Challenge, best course I've run since the San Diego Tour :ylsuper:

I would've loved to have been up there, but the drive w/trailer plus having a bunch of stuff to do around here (still have a house to sell) added up to "no go".

Next weekend was supposed to be a two day deal up at Mather AFB at the Sacramento chapter Shriner's event, but I decided to help out SFR and teach at the autocross school on 6/2 and then run the 6/3 event...both at the 'Stick. Too bad, I hear the Mather site is great and the event is for a good cause...and lots of our local fast guys/gals are going to be there.

The STU car looks great. It may be the hot rodder in me, but I'm a sucker for a car with a good "stance" and the white car definitely sits nicely on it's wheels:)

we're planning to run at least one day at Mather next weekend

got a contract on my house in TX this past Friday :)

we're planning to run at least one day at Mather next weekend

got a contract on my house in TX this past Friday :)


Mather should be fun. I wish I could go and make a weekend of it, but no such luck. You and DKNV should try to go for both days!

Glad to hear you accepted an offer on your house...I hope its a good one :)

When we listed our house about a month and a half ago, we received a full price offer four days after the broker's tour...eight days later, they bailed out...whytf would someone enter a contract with not intention of performing?:rant:

Anyhow, here's wishing the best for your sale, baggy, and also wishing that we get our's sold, too...this carrying two mortgages stuff is a total waste of $$$ :icon_no2:

this carrying two mortgages stuff is a total waste of $$$ :icon_no2:

I have been doing that since July. :banghead:

no such luck my butt, you're only committed for one day at the school, get your weak heiney over to Mather on Sunday for a real autox :spank:

I have been doing that since July. :banghead:


I thought your house in AZ was rented? If I don't sell mine in Alamo by the end of June, I'll rent it out...only problem is, I have so much equity in the place that I either make a very small % return on the rental income (cash return on invested equity), or refinance, pull out equity and go flat on cash flow...either way, unless prices start to go up again significantly (doubtful, over the next 1-3 years), it's a losing investment :icon_no2:

no such luck my butt, you're only committed for one day at the school, get your weak heiney over to Mather on Sunday for a real autox :spank:

Nah, once I'm into the Candlestick weekend, I'm going to finish it off...besides, I need the regional points ;)

...besides, I need the regional points ;)

he steals candy from babies too ... :lol2:

Nah, once I'm into the Candlestick weekend, I'm going to finish it off...besides, I need the regional points ;)

well you didn't miss much from what I gather

we only went Sunday AM and I was disappointed

apparently they had 200 entrants for Saturday on a course that was just a bunch of straights connected by tight 180s, didn't get done until 7 - 8 pm that night :uhh:

Sunday was supposedly a bit better but we still had to downshift to/drive 1st for five of the six 180s, kind of the same crap we've been getting locally. My setup works great for asphalt, but pushes on concrete. It wasn't worth changing over a couple of runs :hahano:

Yep, I didn't hear many good comments about the course.

Candlestick, on the other hand, was an awesome course with both tight stuff (boxes, offsets etc.) and a couple of 2nd gear buzzer events, including a section which had two linked slaloms...good times.

You and DKNV considering coming down to the Marina event on the 17th? I know it's a hike, from up country...there's also a BMWCCA event on the 16th. I may just go down Sunday mid morning and run in the afternoon.

You and DKNV considering coming down to the Marina event on the 17th? I know it's a hike, from up country...there's also a BMWCCA event on the 16th. I may just go down Sunday mid morning and run in the afternoon.


I think that's a local event weekend for our area, not that we (or perhaps "I") wouldn't consider running somewhere else if the local course design situation doesn't improve. To their credit, most are open-minded about reviewing & discussing the situation. As always though, there's a few who want to preserve their status in the small pond ...

as long as it's asphalt I'm game, there's no sense in me pursuing concrete events anymore

Well, Marina is concrete, so I guess that isn't going to work. Not only is it concrete, it also is one of those surfaces that will make even a very neutral car push, so you definitely wouldn't learn anything, there. :(

he steals candy from babies too ... :lol2:

Are you saying there is better BS competition where you are? :hahano:

He might be making it look easy here in the SFR region but I doubt he'll find much better competition anywhere outside of a tour.

BTW - Are your times faster then BS?

We have lots of good drivers in the region, for sure...of course, our BS guys don't have to wait for a Tour to run against the two of the best, all we have to do is go South or North ;)

Actually, SFR is kind of soft this year, compared to the last few years. We do have some real up and comers and current National Champs we are running with, but we haven't been seeing a few of the really established National Champs like Sias and McKee much this year...too busy having babies and doing life, I guess :)

Hey Team, so that was *you* at Mather yesterday, ehh???:D: glad to have met ya, even tho i din't know who you were at the time. slick setup you have, and glad the morning group ran long, so I could catch a few of yours and your co-driver's runs after my arrival.

the afternoon groups were smaller than the AM groups; unfortunately, they didn't give us back our 4th run, even tho there was plenty of time to do so. Guess it was a fairness issue (bah!!).

I ran OK, but as you mentioned, was challenged by the slow corners. I know I lost time downshifting on a couple corners, but staying in 2nd woulda been slow too. I would've liked to see a longer slalom(s) too.

Mwood: out of curiousity, what is yr house in Alamo listing for? we are wanting to move to the 680 corridor if we can get our Tracy house sold. Pricing in that area seems more sane than 12 months ago, but still quite expensive coming from where we are now. (u can PM me if you prefer)

We have lots of good drivers in the region, for sure...of course, our BS guys don't have to wait for a Tour to run against the two of the best, all we have to do is go South or North ;)

Actually, SFR is kind of soft this year, compared to the last few years. We do have some real up and comers and current National Champs we are running with, but we haven't been seeing a few of the really established National Champs like Sias and McKee much this year...too busy having babies and doing life, I guess :)

I guess what I am trying to get at is where else are you going to find local competition where you get 6-8 competitors together in comparable cars and similar comitments? Heck, SCCA cannot even get that at most of their events:confused: I think it's pretty cool we have the type of competition we have have locally. It sure beats most of the other classes I have competed in over the years.

As for not having the hotshoes come and run with the local boys.....I can understand why they get tired of it. To me, most of them have lost the spirit of the sport....They've taken it to very high places but unfortuneatly created a pond where only few can swim.....The best chance they have to find competition is to travel thousands of miles. What fun is that?

As for not having the hotshoes come and run with the local boys.....I can understand why they get tired of it. To me, most of them have lost the spirit of the sport....They've taken it to very high places but unfortuneatly created a pond where only few can swim.....The best chance they have to find competition is to travel thousands of miles. What fun is that?

I know you are not talking about me... I run in BS and stay away from PAX just to show my love for all the "local boys". :D: I also steal candy from kids just like wood. :hahano:

I know you are not talking about me... I run in BS and stay away from PAX just to show my love for all the "local boys". :D: I also steal candy from kids just like wood. :hahano:

You may be better prepared and more experienced then your competition but at least you run a reasonable set up. Besides your cheater wheels and constant supply of fresh tires it's pretty easy to copy your formula:kiss:

Plus, your competition can go around saying that they were beat by the National Champion....Who know's, maybe they're the second fastest BS drivers in the country?

I'm not trying to stir the bucket any more then it needs to be stirred but I think Mike is driving pretty good right now and I do not see his competition locally holding him back from getting better. If nothing else it's pushing him forward becuase they're starting to get faster......Present company excluded:banghead:

Are you saying there is better BS competition where you are? :hahano:

He might be making it look easy here in the SFR region but I doubt he'll find much better competition anywhere outside of a tour.

BTW - Are your times faster then BS?


I proposed a PAX-based Pro class for 2007, which is where I run; only the first 3 runs count for class purposes, all runs count for the Overall event PAX challenge. Even then, I have no interest in regional points/championships. My interest is simply to get myself and the car running in synch for National purposes. Only DKNV runs BSL on R tires, the other BS drivers run on an additional street tire factor. Further, they scheduled regional 2-day events on the same weekends as all the west coast National Tour/Pro events, including Nationals. It makes it almost impossible for a National competitor to win a hotly contested regional class or the Overall PAX on a points basis.

I proposed a PAX-based Pro class for 2007, which is where I run; only the first 3 runs count for class purposes, all runs count for the Overall event PAX challenge.


Baggy in a PAX class? :rollingla

That's about the funniest thing I've heard in a looooooooooong time :rollingla

Baggy in a PAX class? :rollingla

That's about the funniest thing I've heard in a looooooooooong time :rollingla


I don't believe in PAX for serious competition, but it's OK for fun which is all a regional event is to me ... in this case it preserves the standard class trophies and championship for the people whom it matters.

Hey Team, so that was *you* at Mather yesterday, ehh???:D: glad to have met ya, even tho i didn't know who you were at the time.



yeah, afterall there are so many STU RX-8s out there just like mine :lol2: <-- j/k

I almost asked if you were familiar with the forum, but just assumed you weren't since you seemed not to have been familiar with the car that has been documented so well here :dunno:

http://www.rx8club.com/showthread.php?t=86994

yeah, afterall there are so many STU RX-8s out there just like mine :lol2: <-- j/k

I almost asked if you were familiar with the forum, but just assumed you weren't since you seemed not to have been familiar with the car that has been documented so well here :dunno:

http://www.rx8club.com/showthread.php?t=86994


I recall the thread, but for whatever reason any of the exterior pics of ur car didn't register in my memory. maybe u need to wear a paper bag in real life too, to aid the recognition process :uhh:

anyway, glad u made it out to our Sac chapter event. Cheers....

...but we haven't been seeing a few of the really established National Champs like Sias and McKee much this year...too busy having babies and doing life, I guess :)Sias' were at Mather, along with some other notables.
Which is kinda cool, because you can potentially benchmark how you are driving compared to how they are driving. Potentially. For example, the McCormick/Elder-mobile was there, and if I had been able to get near their time (which, STU should be beating their time), I would've been feeling like I may be improving. With my 3rd run spin, 'twas not to be. Ego beaten back down, I'll humbly attempt to kick ass back in my own pond this weekend at Reno-Stead. :lol2:

...and glad the morning group ran long, so I could catch a few of yours and your co-driver's runs after my arrival. Nice to have chatted with you. Maybe we'll catch you at some other event sometime.
-dk

Well, Marina is concrete, so I guess that isn't going to work. Not only is it concrete, it also is one of those surfaces that will make even a very neutral car push, so you definitely wouldn't learn anything, there. :(

We're actually open that weekend, but concrete is not exciting me enough to pursue running another consecutive weekend in a row not to mention the drive ... :uhh:

Well, Marina is concrete, so I guess that isn't going to work. Not only is it concrete, it also is one of those surfaces that will make even a very neutral car push, so you definitely wouldn't learn anything, there. :(
So Mike, is it much like Atwater? It's been sooo long since I've run at Marina (2000, maybe 2001). Hopefully Marina isn't too understeery, there's only so much adjustment in my setup.

we're planning to run at least one day at Mather next weekend

got a contract on my house in TX this past Friday :)


Well I beat Woody on the house selling race, closed on mine yesterday :)

Well I beat Woody on the house selling race, closed on mine yesterday :)

Congrats, bagged one.

We are in contract and the buyer lifted all contingecies yesterday, so my downside if they walk is I get to keep about $30k in hard money deposit ;)

Scheduled to close July 9th...where's that "crossing fingers" smiley? :uhh:

Back on topic, anyone going to the July 7-8 AAS event at Atwater? It's the Larry Park Memorial, so expect a very fast course. Last year there was plenty of 3rd gear action, including one left taken flat in 3rd...in the Z06 :ylsuper:

I'm driving a C6 on Saturday and (probably, unless I wangle a modified or prepared ride...may have a shot at a very fast BP ride) a BSPV '69 Corvette on Sunday...good times!:)

probably not since I'm planning on the next two Oakland events instead and August is booked solid for racing

but then there's always that last minute desire to go somewhere ... would likely be SUnday only or something, the two day weekends really wipe me out

probably not since I'm planning on the next two Oakland events instead and August is booked solid for racing

but then there's always that last minute desire to go somewhere ... would likely be SUnday only or something, the two day weekends really wipe me out

Yeah, two day weekends make it hard to get wound down and ready for work on Monday, for me. But, AAS is a blast. Really good people, some of the fastest autocrossers on the coast, a bunch of very cool cars (big tires, big horsepower) and plenty of runs (at least 5, but you can take 10 if you want, usually) on the best site in the country (right, Jason? lol). Also, the Larry Park Memorial is the "big" event and includes an organized bbq Saturday night on site. You guys should go for it...book a room at the Super 8 in Merced for $50/night...:)

Well I beat Woody on the house selling race, closed on mine yesterday :)

Beat you both... Last week, got a check today. :)

Beat you both... Last week, got a check today. :)


SOB, he did it again :banghead:


.

SOB, he did it again :banghead:


.

Yeah but I cheated. :) Sold it on contract and dont get the bulk of the money for six months. :rolleyes:

I forgot that I'm out of town throught the 7th so no AAS for me, there's no point abusing the car on concrete prior to Nats so it's just as well

Yeah but I cheated. :) Sold it on contract and dont get the bulk of the money for six months. :rolleyes:

That doesn't count then...so, tentative results on the "who sells first" challenge:

1. Baghead. Funded/closed/paid in full.
2. Woody. Funded/$30k hard dollar deposit/Scheduled to close July 9th.
2. ULLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLOSE. Partial pay/bulk in 6 months.

:lol2:

Whatever...I wish I just held on to my old house. This experience has been both painful and costly. :icon_no2:

And I came in last again, in the camp of still looking to buy our first house in Bay Area =)

Anyone who's got hydraulic lift installed in the home garage? Any pointers on what kind of garage I should be looking for during housing search?

Anyone who's got hydraulic lift installed in the home garage? Any pointers on what kind of garage I should be looking for during housing search?


one with a high ceiling :D:

Just a casual research shows many different lift configurations: 2-post, 4-post, floor-scissor, and etc. Some interesting links:

Guides:
http://www.europeancarweb.com/tech/0703_ec_hydraulic_lift/index.html
http://workshop.bobvila.com/Article/883.html
Manufactures:
http://www.aclifts.com/autolifts/2post.asp
http://www.americanautomotiveequipment.com/2-Post-Lifts-s/1.htm

Under $2000 is very doable $-wise, I'll just have to work on selling the idea to SO =)

I have a couple of friends with lifts in their garages...of course the one garage (tho one where I'm doing the restoration of my Tiger) is a little over 6500 sq ft, so finding space isn't a problem...

Anyhow, if you want I can find out what they went with and why. I do know that, once you've had access to a lift, crawling under a car on jack stands is even harder...:lol2:

I'm just dreaming at this stage. Can't even get a STS2 Miata project passed by her...

Will ask you if & when we get the garage (with house) of course =P

That doesn't count then...so, tentative results on the "who sells first" challenge:

1. Baghead. Funded/closed/paid in full.
2. Woody. Funded/$30k hard dollar deposit/Scheduled to close July 9th.
2. ULLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLOSE. Partial pay/bulk in 6 months.

:lol2:

Whatever...I wish I just held on to my old house. This experience has been both painful and costly. :icon_no2:

I got the money...now this is all that's left...:lol2:

http://www.rics.org/NR/rdonlyres/3FC8D70B-ECB0-4DBB-82FE-A24146CD0090/0/sold.png

Oh, by the way, this weekend's AAS event was kick axx...if you like higher speed autocross...I hit an indicated 105 in a stock motor, auto trans C6 on Saturday, when things were really open and nudged the rev limiter in 3rd in a SS class Z06 (about 95'ish?) on the "tighter" Sunday course :)

meh, concrete ... (never thought I'd say that)

congrats on the house

see you at Oakland on Sunday?

meh, concrete ... (never thought I'd say that)

congrats on the house

see you at Oakland on Sunday?


I know concrete is not really "relevant" ;)

...but, Atwater is a great place to autocross :)

Hopefully I'll be at Oakland, I may just take the RV and go fishing next weekend, life's been a little hectic and I need a "time out"....