2009 Peru National Tour
Grissom Aeroplex
07/04/2009 - 07/05/2009

Link to Event Page (http://scca.com/event.aspx?hub=3&event=13621)

Link to Entry List (http://ams.scca.com/netforum/eweb/dynamicPage.aspx?site=scca&webkey=9923d8a8-4595-4138-986e-5a66d470be49&evt_key=a7741124-b7ac-4eaf-be54-f9ab5cbb2b00)



Run/Work Order:

Run Heat 1: DS, ESL, STL, STS, CSP, DSPL, XP, DP, FP, GP, SSML, AML, DML, EML, FM, FJA, FJB
Run Heat 2: SSL, BS, FS, GSL, HS, STX, STUL, ASPL, ESP, CPL, SML, SMF, BML
Course open for walking
Run Heat 3: AS, CS, DSL, STSL, BSP, CSPL, FSP, XPL, DPL, EP, FPL, GPL, CM, FML, F125, FSAE
Run Heat 4: BSL, ES, FSL, HSL, ST, STXL, DSP, ESPL, CP, SMFL, SSM, AM, DM
Run Heat 5: SS, ASL, CSL, GS, STU, ASP, BSPL, FSPL, DPL, SM, BM, CML, EM, F125L, FSAEL

Work Heat 1: AS, BSL, CS, FSL, HSL, STXL, BSP, FSP, CP, SMFL, CM, FML, F125, FSAE
Work Heat 2: ASL, CSL, ES, GS, ST, STU, BSPL, DSP, FSPL, EPL, SSM, AM, CML, DM, F125L, FSAEL
Course open for walking
Work Heat 3: SS, BS, ESL, STL, ASP, DSPL, ESPL, SM, SSML, AML, BM, DML, EM, EML
Work Heat 4: SSL, DS, GSL, STS, STUL, ASPL, CSP, XP, DP, FP, GP, SML, BML, FM
Work Heat 5: DSL, FS, HS, STSL, STX, CSPL, ESP, XPL, CPL, DPL, EP, FPL, GPL, SMF


Good luck in Peru to all that are making the trip!

Looking forward to it! My first national tour event....I'm assuming I'm going to get killed! :)

Looking forward to it! My first national tour event....I'm assuming I'm going to get killed! :)

With more than half of your class being natls contenders there is a good chance of that... But the first time at one of those events is always a memorable one. :icon_tup:

Looking forward to it! My first national tour event....I'm assuming I'm going to get killed! :)
Drive to the best of your ability, stay clean and you never know where you might end up. I've seen some lightning-quick guys in this sport have no clean runs after a 2 day event.

I've seen some lightning-quick guys in this sport have no clean runs after a 2 day event.

Might even be one of the guys on that entry list. :yelrotflm

I had to check to make sure my name wasn't on there :suspect:

Hope it's not too hot, it can get pretty brutal there this time of year. I love the site, but the dips and bumps have been known to bust a few shocks or worse. :uhh:

I had to check to make sure my name wasn't on there :suspect:

Hope it's not too hot, it can get pretty brutal there this time of year. I love the site, but the dips and bumps have been known to bust a few shocks or worse. :uhh:

That would worry me, but our usual site here in town is a freaking minefield. Chanute hasn't broken my car, so I'm pretty confident. :)

The forecast is nice - low 80s. I can deal with that!

I expect to be destroyed as well, but that's okay. :)

Rumor has it, MOST of the dips will be avoided and you can expect some fast slaloms. Looking forward to a fun event.

Chris H

Been unseasonably cool there the past few days; when I left for Maryland Thursday morning it was 58 degrees F.

Spent 6 years at that place back in my USAF days, and the 'ride' I was used to understeered like a pig. Then again, you wouldn't try running a KC-135A through autocross, 'cause the cones would be blown into the next county after the first slalom... :D:

Good luck to all, may the winner be an -8!

Results through the end of heat 3/early heat 4: http://www.scca.com/documents/resultfiles/13621_Saturday%20Heat%201%20to%203.pdf

According to a post on NASIOC, morning run groups were dry, rain a factor in the afternoon.

hard to believe, this used to be a sellout premier event, now so many classes are undersubscribed :icon_no2:

The first heat was totally dry. It drizzled all through the second heat, but the course never really got wet. The sky opened up more during the third heat, though, and it's still raining. I am soaked to the bone.

I might be able to post video of the first course tonight. We'll see.

Heh, the preliminary results that we were handed on the grid showed me in second, but the website has Chris Bailey above me. Ties can't happen very often, and I'm sure we won't be in the same position after tomorrow. :)

The first heat was totally dry. It drizzled all through the second heat, but the course never really got wet. The sky opened up more during the third heat, though, and it's still raining. I am soaked to the bone.

I might be able to post video of the first course tonight. We'll see.

Heh, the preliminary results that we were handed on the grid showed me in second, but the website has Chris Bailey above me. Ties can't happen very often, and I'm sure we won't be in the same position after tomorrow. :)

your next best run beats his, you should be listed above him

Day 1 results: http://www.scca.com/documents/resultfiles/13621_Sunday%20Final.pdf

Great job in STX Nick. Hopefully tomorrow will bring dry weather.

Day 2 results: http://www.scca.com/documents/resultfiles/13621_Sunday%20Final%207-5.pdf

Congrats to Rogers for getting it done in BS.

Looks like my buddy Nick finished 3rd in STX @ his first NT in his RX-8! :)

yeah, but 1.7 sec behind a Talon = long way to go still :uhh:

I know, man, I suck. God, why do I even try? :rolleyes: I should have won my first time out, just like you.

Bullshit aside, I had a great time. I was close to a trophy, but I got beat by guys who know the cars they're driving, and that level of competition, way better than I do. I think the major thing I was missing was confidence. I didn't drive the way I do at home because I was always aware that there were a few hundred very good competitors watching me. I just didn't push the car. Every run was cautious, which is a silly reason to lose.

I think the car was capable of winning that event. Me? Apparently not so much. That's okay, because working on that part is pretty cheap. If I was several seconds off, I would be really disappointed. That I was close as I was is encouraging. Next time I'll be better prepared, and so will the car.

Nick,

Great going man! Cline finsihed one spot out of the STX trophies last year at Nats, and finishing ahead of him is definitely worth something. Krauss is definitely no slouch in the Talon, and this season alone already has a 2nd place at Finger Lakes NT, and wins at the DC Pro and now the Peru NT.

Competing on the national stage can definitely be nerve-racking for anyone. You'll feel more comfortable next time.

Joey Chitwood entry in DSP : http://picasaweb.google.com/Simi.Ritch/2009PeruNationalTourJuly45th#5355353016250298994

Chris H

I know, man, I suck. God, why do I even try? :rolleyes: I should have won my first time out, just like you.

Don't take it personal as it wasn't intended that way, just speaking from personal ST experience myself :dunno:

I would have flagged the previous PAX commentaries if I was taking a swipe at you ... :wiggle:

Joey Chitwood entry in DSP : http://picasaweb.google.com/Simi.Ritch/2009PeruNationalTourJuly45th#5355353016250298994

Chris H

That's the Peru site I know and remember :fingersx:

Joey Chitwood entry in DSP : http://picasaweb.google.com/Simi.Ritch/2009PeruNationalTourJuly45th#5355353016250298994

Chris H

I really don't understand how that happens.

Don't take it personal as it wasn't intended that way, just speaking from personal ST experience myself :dunno:

No worries.

I would have flagged the previous PAX commentaries if I was taking a swipe at you ... :wiggle:

I don't understand.

I really don't understand how that happens.

It's nothing new for BMW's...the E30 3-series often did/do the same thing on high grip concrete. NASA SPEC-E36 road racers have also complained of the same two wheelin' issue and they must run a spec Yokohama A048 on an 8" wheel.

Great to meet you this weekend Nick, the car looked great on the grid (didn't get a chance to watch you on course). Hope you can make it to some events in Joilet or Peru again.

Chris H

It's nothing new for BMW's...the E30 3-series often did/do the same thing on high grip concrete. NASA SPEC-E36 road racers have also complained of the same two wheelin' issue and they must run a spec Yokohama A048 on an 8" wheel.

Great to meet you this weekend Nick, the car looked great on the grid (didn't get a chance to watch you in course). Hope you can make it to some events in Joilet or Peru again.

Chris H

Okay, so it's common, but that still doesn't explain how it happens. :P

It was nice to meet you, too, Chris. You didn't miss much if you didn't see me run. You and your codriver were busy destroying your own class anyway. :)

I'll make the trip out to Peru again for NTs, but it's unlikely I'll show up there for local events. It's three hours of county highway driving. I have a full schedule of my own local events.

I suppose the draw would be to see how you and John drive, if I got the chance. I learn best by riding with people who are faster than I am. :)

Nick,

I'm not fully sure why it happens either but in the short time I've autocrossed, I've personally seen Schipkov's E30 BMW and Shields' E36 BMW both way up on two wheels. I've also seen pics of that fast FSP BMW 2002 up on two wheels as well.

I think most generations of BMW's have a low static stability factor (SSF) and the combination of meaty tires and a high grip surface (concrete) just makes them prone to tipping over.

Link to 300 pics from the 3rd and 5th heats at the Peru NT: http://mageep.smugmug.com/gallery/8809798_CzCHW#583455754_E5Lwn

As BS and STX ran in different heats, they're no action shots, but I did come across this one of Rogers changing tires...

http://mageep.smugmug.com/photos/583637911_3V3Fi-L.jpg

Did you run the 255 or 285 Hoosiers this past weekend Harvey?

STX and BS ran in the same heat. I have yet to see any pictures of my car on course.

Don't forget the Cameo appearance by the CSP and first time Nat'l Tour winner Ivan Austin on the left overseeing things....The Austin/Tovsen BS RX8 was down for this event with drive line repairs.

We ran 285's all weekend, the ladies (Gretchen/Angie) ran in the wet on Saturday. They will confirm that 295, Toyo R888 with 2/32nds tread depth and 5000+ street miles are not the hot rain set-up, but a great way to work on smooth driving inputs :crazy:

Chris

Damn - 295 Toyo R888's for the street Chris?! I like how you roll!!! :ylsuper:

I had a great time at the event, in spite of how slow I was. Met lots of great people, including the RX-8 regulars Chris, Roger, and Nick.

Was a learning experience...the main thing I learned is that you can not casually win, all the fast guys have focus and dedication.

Attached a pic of me on track :)

Was a learning experience...the main thing I learned is that you can not casually win, all the fast guys have focus and dedication.
Agreed. Eat, Sleep, Autocross as they say...

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d14/Chiketkd/Mazda%20RX-8/EatSleepAutocross.jpg

Plan on coming to Nats? Nothing like seeing the best drivers in the country go at it!

The Austin/Tovsen BS RX8 was down for this event with drive line repairs.

Trans or clutch? :uhh:

Don't forget the Cameo appearance by the CSP and first time Nat'l Tour winner Ivan Austin on the left overseeing things....The Austin/Tovsen BS RX8 was down for this event with drive line repairs.

Thanks again for letting Gretch get in some RX8 time. She had a blast driving with Angie.

Trans or clutch? :uhh:
Yes.
Replaced the clutch last week, which was needed. But that didn't take care of the ugly final-drive howl we picked up in Blytheville. The driveshaft echos so much noise, can't tell where it's coming from... even when listening underneath the car. Picking up a low-mile driveshaft and diff tomorrow, and if (when?) that doesn't work... trans next week.

Yes.
Replaced the clutch last week, which was needed. But that didn't take care of the ugly final-drive howl we picked up in Blytheville. The driveshaft echos so much noise, can't tell where it's coming from... even when listening underneath the car. Picking up a low-mile driveshaft and diff tomorrow, and if (when?) that doesn't work... trans next week.


I feel the pain ... :hahano:

Looks like the bicycling BMW from the Peru NT made Pat Griffith's Solo Lol blog: http://sololol.blogspot.com/2009/07/eat-fresh.html

Link to main page of blog: http://sololol.blogspot.com/

If you look lower down the main page you'll see one of my codriver!!! :lol2: :lol2: :lol2: