It theoretically should have been fun, but I spent 4 hours there, and more than 3 of those was waiting in line. There are 3 clinic courses. You can drive 8 laps total on them, but you have to stand in line for 20 minutes or more just to take 1 lap each time, and then go to the end of the line. Then you get 2 timed laps on the "real course", an hour apart. One lap - no practice, each time. The timing system was down several times, so we had to wait in line for about 45 minutes the first time, and over an hour the second time. It would have been more efficient to do it the traditional autocross way - 1 practice, and 2 timed laps. What really pissed me off was that I had to park with all the commoner cars. There should have been a special RX-8 corral.

 

another picture

 

MS RX-8

 

Sorry to hear that Bob. Were there any interesting booths and/or other things to do their besides drive?

 

Another MS RX-8

 

They had a kart track (for a fee), a food tent, souvenir tent, and a tent with a MS Miata, a MS RX-8, and a Mazda spec racer. They also had Mazdas that you could test drive, but again, the lines were long, especially for the RX-8 and MS Miata

 

Sounds like nothing has changed from last year's format except for the substitution of this year's new models.

 

Oh yeah, I forgot to mention that I got 18.75 MPG driving to and from the Mazda Rev It Up - mostly freeway, 80 MPH. I normally get 12-13 MPG around town.

 

That is why you go on Sunday.

 

Nobody told me.

 

I'm going tomorrow (Sunday) after 1pm. I'll make sure I park next to another RX-8

 

I have a lunch engagement today but will try to catch the last couple hours with my younger bro..

 

What were they selling? MS stuff (e.g.: hats, shirts, etc.)?

Thanks.

 

Ah, it wasn't that bad!

The lines for the clinics were only ten minutes from 10:00 till 1:00.

The Mazda 3's were fun to drive and were setup very nice.

Renee got TTOD in the car control clinic!

I wish we could have stayed so we could have had the chance to fix the two ducks we killed...

Vince

 

It was cool. I went to the Alameda one. I parked in between a Blue and Black RX-8. I saw about 6 other RX-8's out there in the parking lot. Anyone here there around 4 - 6pm?

 

Ok, it wasn't that bad. But I was upset that I had to spend so much time waiting. For the clinics, it would have been more efficient to let people take several laps at a time - get in the car, take a lap, stop, take another lap, etc. The getting out, getting back in line, waiting , getting in the car, adjusting the seat each time was a waste of time. For the timed laps, they could have let us take one lap, stop, and then do the second lap. There was no need to get out, then come back in an hour.

The souvenirs were Rev It Up stuff.

 

Underneath it all, Rev-It-Up is a marketing exercise. By separating your two runs, they ensure that you spend at least some time waiting around and hopefully taking in some of the displays and demonstrations that are available. They don't want folks to simply turn up, do the chalk talk, run twice, and disappear.

 

Hey Xyntax, I was there between 12 and 4. My blue rx-8 was parked right at the front to the entrace way VIP stylez =) Anyway, I did notice a red rx8 along with at least 2 other rx-8's at the event. I competed and got a time of 33.7 but unfortunately ran over a cone =/ Did you also compete and how did you do? Maybe I'll see you around downtown san jose around SJSU sometime...

 

The only problem I had was finding the darn place because it was so far out in the desert =) And the event signs were few and far, and extremely tiny (easily missed) My brother, friends and I had a good time although the lines were long, and it was pretty hot. I test-drived the Mazdaspeed Miata and that is one quick little sucka. The handling was incredible (might be a tiny notch above the rx-8) Off the line, it seemed just as quick as a rx-8. In summary, the car was a blash to drive and worth the hour of wait time...?

 

I meant a blast to drive...Also, I saw a couple of hot, young hoochie mamas there which were plenty motivation for me. Hey Xyntax, did you see any gurls like what I'm talking about...get any numbers? =) I would have if I wasn't so focused on the competion...haha

 

If they had this year's course last year, I never would have bothered to sign up. A slalom, a U-turn, and another slalom. That was it. My best guess is they set up the course that way because the Mazda 3 sucks and that was the best way to hide the fact. Weak engine means you brake too hard and it takes forever to get up to speed again.

Wait times for each practice were long and the wait for competition runs even longer. My first run started after the second was scheduled to start.

Karts were another dissapointment. A simple oval and the throttle so heavily governed you just kept your foot pressed in all the time.

Overpriced slow food that also took 30 min in line.

The SCCA autocross held the next day was much more fun.

My timed runs: 29.4 dirty, 29.7 clean.
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DC MEDICAL MARIJUANA

 

Weak engine???

Mazda said that they have 160HP at the wheels!

When will they stop lying...

29.7 clean.. That has to be close to the top right?

Vince

 

It's close but... [shrug]. I placed 6th on the pro board at the time but I'm sure it will go down after sunday's results are posted.
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Xm8 light laser spring airsoft

 

Were the cars set up similar to last year?

Meaning... did the practice cars have stock suspension and the competition cars have Eibach springs?

If so, how different did the two feel?

At Chicago last year, I thought the 6s on the practice course felt a fair bit different than the comp cars.

 

Very nice! What is your name and what car do you race normally?

Vince