caffeineslug.com: High-altitude cone-dodging

July 24, 2005

High-altitude cone-dodging

Sunday was the first autocross in the Saab, with the RGRSCCA running in Santa Fe this month (a bit less than an hour's drive from Albuquerque). Thanks to some tire pressure advice from Jay Balducci, former "plain-'ol-WRX-on-street-tires" driver, the car felt pretty good. Well...not at first. You see, it was a bit of a slow course. Slow enough that you put it in second, then you wonder why you ever did such a thing.

First run I shift into second at the first turn, and boooooog. I don't shift the rest of the run, and it's like the car has a 2000rpm redline that it just will not exceed under any circumstances. Finish with a 63.3, Teresa has a 64.4.

Second run I decide that I better at least downshift for the clump - yep, it's not just Arizona, apparently New Mexico has them too. Ok, so it was one cone, but it was reeeealy tight, and not a bit of fun. I think Teresa took the clump cone better than me all day. I take off some time though, 61.4 for me, another 64.4 for Teresa, but +1.

Third run, the lag is pretty frustrating, and there are just so many slow turns on this course, plus the tires aren't offering much. First gear it is! I don't shift into second until the very end of the course, which is essentially a straight. I finally break into the 60s with a 59.8, but Teresa takes off loads of time with a 60.3. Hmm...only a half second back.

Fourth run, more of the same. First gear, trying to be smooth with the throttle, blah blah blah. Go a bit faster, 59.4. Teresa improves more though, to a 59.5. Only a tenth behind me. Was I worried? Does Ron Burgundy play jazz flute? You bet.

Fifth and final run. I know I need to take off a LOT of time, lest I bear the brunt of much scorn come Monday morning. I don't know what was happening this time, I think I just pushed a little more everywhere, turned a bit earlier, and the car just kind of floated around the cones and through the gates. It was actually kind of nice. ;-) I crossed the finish line, not knowing where I would stand, hoping I would widen the gap just enough. As I rolled up to the timing lights, I saw the glow of the five-eight-oh, which I knew was plenty. Teresa's next run was a couple tenths faster. She congratulated me on the good run, then I think she hit me. Something like that. :-D

How does that stack up to everyone else? It was a totally stock car on big tall RE92s, how do you think? S-L-O-W. Results sorted by pax are here. I was 19th with a 916. Paul Brown takes top pax in a small car on a course with a bunch of slow turns? Unpossible! :-P

That said, there were some things left to be desired about how things were run. I think this was a bigger event than they usually put on, and it was a new location, so there are always problems associated with that. 40-second (est.) overlap + 5 runs + 2 run groups = long day. The course doubled-back on itself a couple times, so it took a while before you could send the next car. 36 cars in a run group meant that it was a long time before you could run again, too. Of course, it was much worse if you were a course worker, as I was standing out there in the sun for about 3.5 hours for the afternoon work assignment. I'm a bit red now, as we didn't have a chance to pick up some sunscreen before the event. Bad idea.

A few of the cool cars I thought I'd mention. There was a Conquest (see below) in all it's 80's-retro glory, 2 red FD's, including one in SM2 that looked absolutely perfect, and an SM2 NSX that looked almost as gorgeous. Oh, and there was a new C6 that put a wheel up on a curb while trying to pull into a parking space. Nice.

Onward with pics!
This is ALL of the stuff we brought to the event, including two jackets in case it rained. Weird!

Grid lineup.

The curb-hopping C6.

The fender-ful Conquest.

Ah, an actual picture of the car!

And in motion.

Teresa attacking the clump cone, while Ben wishes he had a better zoom (you'll have to click to see anything):

Hey, who took all my camber!