Auto-x : Flint, MI, Cendiv Points Event # 3 (6/6/04)

Wow, going from the grippiest surface you can race on, concrete, last weekend in Peru, IN to the slickest surface, sealed asphalt, this weekend in Flint, MI… it was a real challenge. I had little to no experience racing on either surface. In my region, I am use to racing on a real porous asphalt which would fall somewhere in between the grip level of the two.

I discovered that I was running waaaay too high of tire pressure on my first run. I think I discovered this during the tank slapping contest going through the slalom section, which also helped me launch a cone. After each run I kept dropping tire pressure, until I got the sidewall rollover I wanted. By my last run, I finally got it right.

My last run was definitely the quickest. The correct tire pressures helped a lot, but that last run was the “all out with nothing to lose run”… also known as 10/10ths.

I finished 3rd out of 5 drivers this weekend, which is much better then my 5th out of 5 the previous weekend. I was able to beat two of the drivers that beat me last weekend and was able to stay within 4/10ths of the leaders, so needless to say I was very, very happy with my 3rd place finish.

Here are the results:

BTW, I will be running the Z4 at the Toledo Pro Solo this weekend afterall, a frien is bringing all my wheels and tires in his trailer which will allow me to just drive the Z4 up, makes it doable for me

Originally Posted by TeamZ4

BTW, I will be running the Z4 at the Toledo Pro Solo this weekend afterall, a frien is bringing all my wheels and tires in his trailer which will allow me to just drive the Z4 up, makes it doable for me

Will you be able to make the Toledo National Tour the following weekend? I'm registered to run my car in B Stock. However, I might be co-driving an '04 330Ci in DS instead.

Hey Andy!

It was great to meet you and Amber this weekend. Nice run, that fouth one

BTW, I'm just outside of the photo you posted; if had been a little wider, you'd see me ready to chase cones on the left (turn 2).

Good luck with the rest of the season and hopefully we'll see you again at another CENDiv!

Cheers,

Originally Posted by TeamZ4

BTW, I will be running the Z4 at the Toledo Pro Solo this weekend afterall, a frien is bringing all my wheels and tires in his trailer which will allow me to just drive the Z4 up, makes it doable for me

Will you be leaving the Z4 at the site, or driving it back and forth to.from the hotel? I believe this is a key question.

Originally Posted by defcon1racing

Hey Andy!

It was great to meet you and Amber this weekend. Nice run, that fouth one

BTW, I'm just outside of the photo you posted; if had been a little wider, you'd see me ready to chase cones on the left (turn 2).

Good luck with the rest of the season and hopefully we'll see you again at another CENDiv!

Cheers,

Hey Shane!! Yes, it was really nice meeting you guys too.

I'm not sure if I told you this, but originally I pulled into the paddock clear over on the other side where the grid was. I unhooked the trailer and planned on pitting there. After a couple course walks I saw your car in that fenced in area and I told Amber that I think I'd like to hook the trailer back up and pit over there. "Why", she said, "because it's fenced in?". "No silly, because there's an E46 M3 over there!!"

I hope to see you at more of the events this year. Be sure to race the three Cendivs in Ohio (Toledo, Columbus & Cincy), if you can make it.

Originally Posted by ·clyde·

Will you be leaving the Z4 at the site, or driving it back and forth to.from the hotel? I believe this is a key question.

Who got their car keyed?!?!

I'm already paranoid enough about parking my car at the hotels over night!! I don't need to hear about stuff like this!!

Woohoo!! Looks like I'll be driving an '04 330Ci in D Stock next weekend!! Thank you Mike!!

His car has the OEM shocks/struts and OEM front sway bar... but at least we'll be on my A3S04s.

Originally Posted by Andy

Who got their car keyed?!?!

I'm already paranoid enough about parking my car at the hotels over night!! I don't need to hear about stuff like this!!

Nothing at all like that...but I'll hold my tongue...for now.

Originally Posted by Andy

Who got their car keyed?!?!

I'm already paranoid enough about parking my car at the hotels over night!! I don't need to hear about stuff like this!!

Don't draw conclusions.

Originally Posted by ·clyde·

Will you be leaving the Z4 at the site, or driving it back and forth to.from the hotel? I believe this is a key question.

Did he lock his key in the car?

The official results have been posted for the Flint, MI Cendiv event.

http://www.solo2.cendiv-scca.org/2004/result3.pdf

I just noticed that I ran a faster time then the guy who took 1st place in a C4 vette in A Stock!! What the heck am I doing in B Stock??! I tell you what, if I didn't absolutely love my car as much as I do, I wouldn't think twice about trading it in for a "top of the class" car. I just love it waaay too much to get rid of it. I'm torn.

Originally Posted by Andy

The official results have been posted for the Flint, MI Cendiv event.

http://www.solo2.cendiv-scca.org/2004/result3.pdf

I just noticed that I ran a faster time then the guy who took 1st place in a C4 vette in A Stock!! What the heck am I doing B Stock??! I tell you what, if I didn't absolutely love my car as much as I do, I wouldn't think twice about trading it in for a "top of the class" car. I just love it waaay too much to get rid of it. I'm torn.

Andy,

Your time was outsdtanding, but becareful comparing times from different heats. It seems that as the lot temps went up, the times came down substantially. That is one of the big problems with indexing IMO...

Good luck in DS!

Originally Posted by SoloII///M

Did he lock his key in the car?

You're a lot closer than Andy was.

Originally Posted by defcon1racing

Andy,

Your time was outsdtanding, but becareful comparing times from different heats. It seems that as the lot temps went up, the times came down substantially. That is one of the big problems with indexing IMO...

Good luck in DS!

That is true. You guys ran in the 2nd heat and I didn't run until the 4th heat, which it was quite a bit warmer by the time I ran. I didn't think about that. However, this isn't the first time I've seen B Stock times faster then A Stock. That is why there is a good chance a lot of the BS cars could be moving to AS next year. The S2000s are just faster then snot, IMO.

I'm looking forward to running the 330Ci in DS at the Toledo National Tour. I'm really eager to see how similar/different the Performance Package is compared to the Sport Package.

Thanks,
Andy

Originally Posted by ·clyde·

You're a lot closer than Andy was.

That's a good thing!! I'm glad you or Mark's car did not get keyed last weekend.

I think clyde is referring to Mark showing up late on Sunday morning and then realizing he left the Z4 key back at the hotel 15 minutes away I was suppose to have a spare key in my computer bag, but did not not sure where it is now

good thing I have plenty of experience changing tires quickly

and no, I will not be attending the Toledo Tour event, just the Pro Solo event this weekend

Originally Posted by Andy

Woohoo!! Looks like I'll be driving an '04 330Ci in D Stock next weekend!! Thank you Mike!!

His car has the OEM shocks/struts and OEM front sway bar... but at least we'll be on my A3S04s.

Ask him if he's still blaming his lack of first place finishes on the alignment I did on the front of his car...

I'll try to make it out to watch a few runs on Saturday.

Originally Posted by Andy

The official results have been posted for the Flint, MI Cendiv event.

http://www.solo2.cendiv-scca.org/2004/result3.pdf

I just noticed that I ran a faster time then the guy who took 1st place in a C4 vette in A Stock!! What the heck am I doing in B Stock??! I tell you what, if I didn't absolutely love my car as much as I do, I wouldn't think twice about trading it in for a "top of the class" car. I just love it waaay too much to get rid of it. I'm torn.

The PAX for AS is only .002 "faster" than the PAX for BS. The classes are very close. Not that PAX really means anything anyway.

I am really curious as to what is going to happen with AS and BS next year. Wouldn't it be cool to see Porsche 968s back out on the autocross course?

'course, it would be quite embarrassing if the S2k, Z4 and Boxter moved into AS and got their asses handed to them by a 17 year old piece of American plastic...

Originally Posted by Randy Forbes

Ask him if he's still blaming his lack of first place finishes on the alignment I did on the front of his car...

I'll try to make it out to watch a few runs on Saturday.

Hey Randy, I haven't heard from you in a while. I miss reading your posts!!

Yes, definitely come out next weekend, I'd like to get the chance to finally meet you.

Originally Posted by SoloII///M

I am really curious as to what is going to happen with AS and BS next year.

Yeah, you and me both!! Actually I'm keeping an eye on DS too, just incase they decided to bump the 330i/Ci to BS. This will be the deciding factor on which car I decide to auto-x next year.

Originally Posted by SoloII///M

'course, it would be quite embarrassing if the S2k, Z4 and Boxter moved into AS and got their asses handed to them by a 17 year old piece of American plastic...

if you were at the DC Tour and Pro then it must have been obvious that any AS azz handing will come from a '97 Porsche 993 being maneuvered by very capable hands & feet

well I'm heading out the door for the drive to Toledo , pullover and sleep in the car for a couple of hours and then stopping in Cincinnatti to see the guys at Koni

see you there Friday err, I mean today

Originally Posted by TeamZ4

if you were at the DC Tour and Pro then it must have been obvious that any AS azz handing will come from a '97 Porsche 993 being maneuvered by very capable hands & feet

I picked a good vantage point to watch both drivers of that car go around. Man, did that thing rotate. I have video of it. Maybe if someone can reccommend some vid editing software I can trim it down and post some of the 993's runs.

It was incredible!