Let's see some RX-8s out there for a change!

 

Im going in my Miata.

 

Well, that's better than nothing, but who am I to complain, since I'll be bringing up the rear in Stock A with my S2000?

 

Don't forget PIR on 21-22 May. Seat time is seat time....

 

I've got to get to PIR this summer. However, I just did a track day at Pacific Raceways, so not this weekend.

EDIT--It looks like I'm going to run PIR autox on Sunday. I'll be in my S2000 (Stock A), unless the weather is really gross, in which case I'll co-drive my son's Toyota Celica All-Trac (AWD rules in the rain).

 

Well, I went to the PIR autocross yesterday. It was fun, although I sucked (best run, by far, in the fun runs). A nice way to spend a day with one's son (he's better than I am, but I drive a better car, so we're pleasantly competitive).

One benefit, however, was that I was in the second run group in the afternoon, during the deluge, and I was very pleasantly surprised with how well my car/tire combination stuck--reasonably fast, under the circumstances (46.xxx), without spinning or otherwise losing control. I would not have thought it.

There were two RX-8s in the am, and one in the pm (as well as an RX-3, which lost a ball joint and his front left wheel ). I drove my S2000.

 

Only yellow S2000 I saw was Ron Bauer's and he was racing his Miata instead. Did you go 124Spider? I was real busy because Kari and I did the NWR event in the morning, then went over and setup the practice on the other end and had fun with Ron Bauer, Annie, Kevin Dietz, Abe, and Karl Coleman plus a couple others so I wasnt watching that afternoon session (but stock was in the morning anyway. I was the announcer at the BSCC event on Monday.

 

Ugh. :o

Actually, Ron ran in Annie's S2000 in the second morning session on Sunday. Did a 57.xxx. Boy can he drive!

I ran Stock 1 on Sunday morning, first run group, and had the worst day I've had since novice days (all of a few months ago). It is discouraging getting up at 5:30 in the morning to get three runs, and not be able to run in the afternoon. I need more than that to learn the course, and figure out how to drive it.

What was that other thing going on at the other end? I asked several people as we left, but nobody could tell me. A practice would have been fun.

 

Seems like rain runs are all we have had this year. I ran STU in the morning session. Only spit rain on us in the morning session. But it was cold! When my tires finally warmed up (5th run) I was down to 42.xxx.

 

Yeah. I ran a 43.xxx on my fifth run in the morning.

Heck, I'd rather drive to Portland to get nine runs that drive to Bremerton to get three runs!

 

On the other end that was the practice that me, Karl Coleman, Kevin Dietz, Ron Bauer, and Kari setup plus some people from the BSCC set the course up and did 5 runs in the morning, me and Karl Coleman setup the timing lights etc. We all got 10 runs in for $15 before we got tired out and called it quits. There as I think 10 or 12 drivers total, the runs were going so fast we couldn't get back from our run fast enough to get to the starting line and my street tires overheated since everyone drove my car like 15 runs in a row. Abe Douglas drove his car so much his tires were down to the steel belts and Kevin and Karl were like man this car handles like crap hahaha. Sorry you missed it we will have to meet next time.

 

Bummer; that would have been fun.

 

My son and I ran in the morning sessions at Bremerton too. This was my first event in forever, other than the Boeing Autosports driving school a few weeks back. We met up with Icemastr and Kari for drive over. BTW. nice spin Kari.

I ran in the first run group (Ti Grey 2004 RX-8). I was, in a word, pathetic. I did well in the slalom sections but tried to carry too much speed into the tighter corners and had severe understeer. That put me way off line and I got a bit flustered and missed gates on all three runs. I would like to claim that my OEM Bridgestones with 19K miles were to blame but I have to admit that I was not driving very smart. I think the fact that we only got three runs in made me push a bit too hard before I was comfortable with the course. My strategy for the next event is to take more advantage of the excellent brakes and try to avoid the understeer (i.e., go slow to go fast). At least I was consistent, around 71 seconds each run.

My son ran Novice in the second group in an 87 RX-7. He got some clean runs in but isn't pushing the car hard (yet). His best scratch time was around 74 seconds.

We both had good time but completely agree with 124Spider's comment about getting up at 5:30 for 3 minutes of seat time. More runs would have been great. Unfortunately we couldn't stay for the practice at the other end of the airport. I think we both could have used it.

I hope to see you guys again at the upcoming events.

 

Well, as long as my son keeps pushing me to go to these, I'll keep plugging. I'm doing the Evolution school in Packwood in July. That's supposed to be a great way to really learn how to do this, rather than just feeling one's way, three or four runs every several weeks. I am told that, in addition to very good instruction, you get about 30 runs a day.
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