A challenge: Autocross November 22

So, ok. We get over 100 posts and 1500+ views on this thread, and 8 Ferrari's and some fat billybob dude with a 'vette shows up to the event....WHICH ROCKED !

We have to work on the F-chat participation here guys. First order of business, when is the next one ?

I'm on the Speedventures email alerts, so I'll be looking for the 2010 schedule, keep you posted.

 

Rad...did you notice you were so fast on the auto-x course the starter was starting you when the car ahead of you was 3/4 of the way done with the course!

For the roval I think the fastest modified Z06 at the saturday vette challenge ran 1:45. I think my faster T1 friend ran 1:50? and the best my chicken a$$ could run was 1:57 in a similar T1 car. I don't need more horsepower. I need some skill and bigger balls. I am all over people in the infield but loose huge amounts of time on the NASCAR turns.

So 3 of the auto-x ferraris have been on bigger tracks. Hopefully I can convince the rest of you to give bigger tracks a try some time. If you want to take the next step think seriously about doing the driving school with alfa romeo club in feb, 2010. The school is really fun and broken into three on track groups: performance driving/hpde (like speedventures), time trial and wheel to wheel race group. You get alot for your money with each of the three track groups spending 1/3 time in the classroom, 1/3 time on a skidpad, and 1/3 time on the streets of willow track. See arosc.org if interested.

 

I was behind Rad in grid a couple of times (in more ways than one!), and your right, they were holding him longer. Rad is pretty "RAD" on the autoX, eh ?

+1 on the Alfa school. I'm in for that again in Feb, well worth the $$ and a great group of guys !!

 

I bumped this because I think this event deserves it, it was epic.

Was very family friendly, lots of comeraderie, really fun on so many levels. Brought together were F-chatters from many arms, Haus of pizza, FCA track events, VCR, C&C and just the online forum itself. Lots of like minded people that had never met face to face, having a ROCKIN time! Pretty cool, and a REALLY fun day.

This kind of stuff needs repeating, IMHO.

 

It was definately a great event. I had a blast, and am looking forward to doing it again. CalSpeedway is the perfect distance for me, only about 40 minutes from my home. We are there alot anyway for karting, so it just makes a lot of sense for an autocross venue.

Major props to speedventures for running the event. I loved the fact that we don't have to work the course, and can just hang out between runs.

I am also thinking that I would love to try a time trial on the roval at some point...


Hey JetX- How did the video come out? Any plans to post it on youtube or something?

Dom

 

Came out so-so. I post when back from Hawaii (yeah, I'm on Fchat and not on the beach!).

 

Here is a video from the AutoX course

http://www.vimeo.com/7843703

 

Here are two videos at California Speedway...

http://www.vimeo.com/7843709

http://www.vimeo.com/7843708

...

 

I saw you playing with what I think was your shock settings between autox sessions. Did that help ?

 

Rad,

Tell us about the roadcourse data aquisition system you have. How do you get the cool ferrari speedo overlay on your video with the gear changes etc? I like your set-up

 

Yes, it helped a lot. Lap times kept dropping both at the track and autoX. I needed two more track sessions to tune the shocks for the track, based on the information I got in the Traqmate and the car feedback, it was a little lose at the track and a little tight at the autocross. For the autocross, the shock tuning needed less rebound in the front, but I doubt I could have dropped more than 0.2 secs, so getting in the 36 secs laps was not realistic.

 

Great video and driving, I really enjoyed that !
also great meeting you.
Bill

 

I use Traqmate for data acquisition. I have been using it for about 4 years.

I know of two nice software applications to link the traqmate data and video, Dashware from Chase Cam (fairly new) and Trackvision, I use Trackvision. One of the members in the Trackvision forum developed the Ferrari dash.

You open Trackvision, look for the video file, look for the traqmate data file, then synchronize both files, and Trackvision produces a new video file with the dashboard.

With the help of a F-chat member Fast_Ian, I found an unused connector (4 pin white connector) in the shelf behind the passenger's seat. This connector has the RPM signal for the Traqmate. In the Traqmate you enter your gear ratios and rear tires diameter, so the traqmate can determine the current gear based on speed and RPM.

I use the Traqmate for several purposes, compare different tires in the same car, compare different cars, and obviously improve my lap times and consistency.

 

That is so cool, I just went to their website, I need this (bit pricey, but excellent).
Rad, do you use their proprietary bullet cam, or another video setup? The 2 or 3 cam pic in pic capability is just too cool for school !! Seems the ultimate tool to train yourself (ourselves). http://store.traqmate.com/

BTW, looks like SV does an autoX @ Fontana in June, August & Nov (historically). Lets try and put a June f-chat event together ? Aug gets hot out there. I'll watch for the 2010 schedule.

Hey,Brian (Jet-X), post that video when you can (regardless of quality, I need to "enroll" my wife ;-)

 

I use a Sony HDR-TG1. You can use any portable camcorder that records to solid state memory (no tapes, no hard drives, no dvd writing). There is an affordable camera Aiptek 720p HD that costs around $120, and it can go as cheap as $70 when on-sale.

Traqmate Complete is also an in-car lap timer.

 

Scott, sooner (winter/spring) would be good too ! I'll be doing the Alfa club TT/HPD school @ Streets in Feb as you mention above. Anybody else interested ? The skid pad work is a real education in car control and limits of grip, and the streets track is a blast. The AROSC guys are a great bunch, also, good dudes.

http://www.alfabb.com/bb/forums/arosc-alfa-romeo-owners-club-southern-california/157940-high-performance-driving-school-feb-27-28-a.html

I did the AROSC school in the rain one time, and no...., my Ferrari did not melt. It was hands down the most track fun and education I have had to date. Very safe, worst case a little spin onto the dirt. On board cam video below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=htLrC-H-ISo wet skidpad exercise

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xqvd5HiO2WI streets track, light rain.

June is a must do fchat auto-X & BBQ @ Fontana either way, IMHO !!

 

arosc.org is the alfaclub. Their school is very fun. 3 levels street performance only a seatbelt is needed and helmet, time trial racing against the clock, and wheel to wheel race group. It is so fun I've done race school 4 times. Feb'10 will be the 5th time for me.

 

This weekend, Dec. 5th and 6th, Speedventures at The Streets of Willow.

 

AROSC will be at the WSIR big track in january too. I'm hoping for rain!

 

Wise,wise man...