No love for any of the rest of us poor baxtards?

Blytheville is...Blytheville. The site is pretty darn good, lots of room to ramble, reminds me of Atwater...with much less grip. Tomorrow should be interesting, very slalomy (is that a word?) course and should be fast.

 

Blytheville is depressing.

 

Have fun guys. If you hear a Banjo, run.

 

Why? It only plays when the fun's about to start!

P.S. Best of luck everyone!

 

Day one is in the books. edj threw down a great third run and has about a quarter second on Carter. Ruggles had a strong first run, but couldn't improve and is third, with Harvey hot on his heels. I had some problems...first, remembering what the RX8 was about after a year or so, second...well, finding second, as I missed shifts on both run two and three (actually ending up in fourth gear on run two)...add in a cone on my only decent run and it is gonna be a "one day Mike" weekend at best, for me.

I think the reports on the site at Blytheville are going to be pretty consistent, with most feeling that the grip, while not bad, is maybe less than you would expect from concrete. It could just be a matter of getting grit and sand worked out of the surface, but the consensus (from those that have run both this year...at least the ones that I talked to) is that Lincoln has a better surface, particularly when you throw into the equation the fact that there are a number of areas that are somewhat "Forbes like" at B-ville, breaking up and crumbling as potholes form...there also isn't an overabundance of space and the courses are, well, airport like...out and back...due to the shape of the site. They do allow camping on site, which is nice, and it is still a pretty big place to play, but it seems, all things considered, that National made a great choice in Lincoln for the big dance...

The people of Blytheville couldn't be any nicer. There is a fire station adjacent to the entry gate and the firemen threw a bbq for everyone last night and many of the townspeople came out to say "hi" and thank us for choosing Blytheville...pretty cool. They also did another impromptu dinner tonight, again just to thank SCCA and to build the relationship. Autocross is seen as a good thing for the local businesses and they really do WANT us to run here...for a guy from California, where between sound ordinances, axxhole politicians and council members and those hell bent on saving the spotted salamander (or whatever "cause du jour"), it is a refreshing and welcome change.

 

Link to preliminary Day 1 results: http://www.scca.org/documents/result...rovisional.pdf

 

Congrats to Carter on the win, and Harvey for being Mr. Quick on day 2! Also great work by Jones and my boy Ruggles for trophying!

Link to results: http://www.scca.org/documents/result...ay%20Final.pdf

 

admit it, you wouldn't pick me to win either

Those RX-8s are really tearing up STX ....

DSP beat BS by 2.5 sec, sounds about right

 

Random thoughts (scrambled brain from the Arkansas heat):

.322 sec covered the top 4 spots, that was a fun B-stock battle. Eric's final run on Saturday was really strong, add in the fact they were running with a torn motor mount, and it looks even stronger. Mr.Ruggles shows once again the 350z is still a player. Carter got it done with consistency both days, nice work.

Congrat's to Bart and Hubert B. for putting the E-stock smackdown on us, that was fun and painful to watch at the same time.

The Genesis Coupe looked right at home on the Solo2 course, the car had Hoosier's only and looked well composed on course.

Nismo 370z is now classed in A-stock.....hmmmm.

Chris H

 

That's reminds, need to send you a pm about something....

 

Chris, it was good to see you again. You and Mike looked great on course, Sunday, too bad you didn't have that same set up on Saturday

Carter does win the "Isley award", proving consistency is key to these two day events...besides having to be fast

I was impressed with Jason's laps on Saturday in the Z, as the course was so transition happy, but wasn't surprised Sunday with the more open course with the acceleration zones. Still, he did a great job, for sure.

Also, I have to thank Eric again for letting me drive the car, particularly after we broke the motor mount on Saturday. I don't think it effected the car too significantly, as we coulda/shoulda run the times on Sunday. I know my last lap was going to be in the range with Carter/Jason, but I totally screwed the pooch on that finish element and got out on the marbles...oh, by the way, I hit a cone on that run just before the finish...which wasn't reported

Anyhow, glad to be back home and glad I had the chance to run Blytheville.

 

Link to PAX results: http://sccaforums.com/forums/storage...-RTP.Final.pdf

Looks like Bartek & Hubert tore things up in ES (3rd & 5th in PAX)!

 

I concur with everything Mr. Wood has to say about B-ville. I think once it starts being used regularly as an autocross site, the surface will be pretty good. The grip online was fantastic in the 4th heat...but if you got offline, watch out. Once the local region runs over some areas of the course, they'll get better grip overall.

A Stock was a crazy battle, too. My co-driver ended up losing 1st by .03. I am starting to learn the CR a little bit-I moved from 10th to 6th on day two. I think I'd still be a little faster raw time in an RX-8, but by the time Lincoln rolls around I should be ready.

 

Actually, I think much more of the Blytheville surface after seeing it "evolve" over the weekend. Like you said, the grip on line was great on Sunday, due to the surface really taking on good rubber. But, after looking at how things changed, I really believe that the only source of the off line sand/grit was particulate that had been trapped in the expansion joints and that none of it really came off the surface...which is very good, imho, because that means with a good sweeping/vacumn truck job before events, the off line crxp should be de minimus...

All I can say is it was GREAT to get back on smooth concrete...even though I wasn't able to really take advantage of it

 

No doubt he gets the award for most improved in 2009. RX-8 or Z, he is right at the top... No one give him a fast car to drive at natls.

 

Yep, Jason is really good, I'd say...one of those guys who is so smooth, the speed is deceptive

 

what do you mean "we", Paleface? it broke on your run...

thanks to Mike for warming the tires although it was hot enough that a tire warmer
was not necessary.

good to see all my BS buddies again, even if i screwed up on Sunday and let a few
sneak past me. maybe i'll do better at the pro. ha!

off to the stealer for a new engine mount which i'll get to install Friday afternoon.
everybody is invited to come by and supervise, especially if you've done it before.
i think it's only 3 bolts.

 

Eric,

How did you guys realize the engine mount was broken?

 

a lot of vibration in the car when idling and especially when you let out the clutch
to start moving.

i have pictures of the mount with a big tear on the top.

the interesting thing was once i got going it didn't seem to bother the car.

 

Eric,

If you have some pics please post. I don't have those symptoms, but want to keep an eye out as I continue to autocross this car.

Thanks!

-Chike

 

Chike, Eric and I did a little research Saturday evening on the motor mount issue. It appears that the earlier cars had the problem and that Mazda redesigned the mount and also issued a TSB, so the later cars (like yours) should be safe (?)...must be so, I read it on the 'netz.

http://www.finishlineperformance.com...21-06-1559.pdf

 

Thanks for all the kind words guys....still need to work on consistency though. Was on my way to a flyer third run on Saturday and blew it at the last turn. That will teach me, never screw up a run right in front of the announce vehicle when Hayward is the announcer.

"Here comes Ruggles, fast into that last slalom......juuuuuuuuuuust a bit outside"

Doh!

Anyway, was great to see the B-stock crowd and meet some new folks. It's funny when you have to introduce yourself by screen name! MWood, you are one hell of a sweep car driver

See you all in DC/Toledo/Nats!

JR

 

http://picasaweb.google.com/edj787/BlythevilleNT#

 

Someone is not current on their TSBs. That is the old mount. The new one is worth 5hp.

 

probably why it broke in the first place...