SCCA San Diego National Tour - trip report

The forum to talk about hitting cones.
User avatar
Chris Swearingen
Member
Posts: 87
Joined: Tue Oct 02, 2007 9:14
Contact:

Postby Chris Swearingen » Wed Mar 19, 2008 9:14

Just got back from San Diego. Had a great time. The event site is awesome. The whole course is visible from the paddock. The lot slopes up and away from you. The course itself was about 1100 feet by 850 feet. Lots of technical sections with some higher speed sections as well.

I went out with Driving Force Motorsports. Their rig is pure luxury. Some pictures are up on their gallery here.

The car ran great. The Revolutions Performance tune didn't let me down, even in the cells we had to guess at. All that oxygen in the air was really nice to the car. I wound up 5th in SM2, but much closer to the top guys than in previous outings. Clayton Cobb, in another Revolutions Performance car finished second in SM. He was back an forth for the lead with one of the top cars in the country and hit a cone on his last run, which would have given him the win.

Here are videos of the course from both days.


Saturday Run 2

Sunday Run 2

Image
--Chris

User avatar
tsx_guy
Senior Member
Posts: 7438
Joined: Wed Sep 19, 2007 9:14
Contact:

Postby tsx_guy » Wed Mar 19, 2008 9:14

congrats! looks like it was a good time. glad things worked out for you in regards to your car.
"20<cut off="">"</cut>

MazdaTom
Posts: 2191
Joined: Fri Sep 21, 2007 9:14
Location: Highlands Ranch
Contact:

Postby MazdaTom » Wed Mar 19, 2008 9:14

Cool.
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
1997 Explorer XLT - 4.0 SOHC V6 Controltrac 4x4
mods- 30" BFGs, AAL + TT = 1.5" lift, more to come

User avatar
Colombia28
Posts: 4216
Joined: Wed Sep 19, 2007 9:14
Location: Lone Tree
Contact:

Postby Colombia28 » Thu Mar 20, 2008 9:14

Very cool Chris! The car sounds amazing!
Image
2008 Cosmic Blue Speed3 - NEW :D
2006 Copper Red Mica 3 hatch - SOLD :(
ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ

Huzer21

Postby Huzer21 » Thu Mar 20, 2008 9:14

That looks fun...and having never seen an autocross even in person, the cones everywhere just confuse the heck outta me! I'd just be creating my own course out there, haha!

User avatar
Colombia28
Posts: 4216
Joined: Wed Sep 19, 2007 9:14
Location: Lone Tree
Contact:

Postby Colombia28 » Thu Mar 20, 2008 9:14

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Huzer21 @ Mar 20 2008, 12:25 PM) [url=index.php?act=findpost&pid=34104]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/url]</div>
That looks fun...and having never seen an autocross even in person, the cones everywhere just confuse the heck outta me! I'd just be creating my own course out there, haha![/b]

Im the same way. I just don't understand how you know where to go.
Image
2008 Cosmic Blue Speed3 - NEW :D
2006 Copper Red Mica 3 hatch - SOLD :(
ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ

User avatar
RX-7 Chris
Posts: 7800
Joined: Tue Oct 02, 2007 9:14
Location: Colorado Springs
Contact:

Postby RX-7 Chris » Thu Mar 20, 2008 9:14

I'd like to try but was thinking the same thing. Also I have not figured out how to fit a helmet on in my little car.
1984 RX-7 GSL-SE [size=84]My restomod project[/SIZE]


1964 Ford Galaxie 500XL flat black w/ white interior, 2 dr fastback, 390 thunderbird, C6 auto, 2500 rpm high stall converter, shift kit, AC, Holley 750 cfm

[size=100]RIP 1983 RX-7[/SIZE]

My Car Blog

User avatar
Chris Swearingen
Member
Posts: 87
Joined: Tue Oct 02, 2007 9:14
Contact:

Postby Chris Swearingen » Thu Mar 20, 2008 9:14

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (RX-7 Chris @ Mar 20 2008, 12:52 PM) [url=index.php?act=findpost&pid=34117]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/url]</div>
I'd like to try but was thinking the same thing. Also I have not figured out how to fit a helmet on in my little car.[/b]


Why do you think I drive a convertible?

It looks a lot worse than it is on the narrow angle view from my camera. You usually get a course map, and always have time to walk it several times to see how it will look. Often you have a work assignment before you run, so you also get to see other cars on the course from pretty close up. The national events tend to have more technical features which require more cones to define. Local events typically have less of the sea of cones look about them. And to top it off, at local events you can get a ride with somebody or take a navigator with you or both if you want.

It does take some getting used to, I don't know of anyone who has never gotten lost on a course. That's part of the challenge. On a road course it's the same turn every time and you can keep practicing until you get it down just right. In autocross its a different turn every time, you can walk it as much as you want, but at a national event, you run it THREE times and hope one of those is just right, and that all the other just right corners happen on the same run. Best time of the three counts.

Come out to a local event and give it a shot.
--Chris

User avatar
RX-7 Chris
Posts: 7800
Joined: Tue Oct 02, 2007 9:14
Location: Colorado Springs
Contact:

Postby RX-7 Chris » Thu Mar 20, 2008 9:14

I may or may not run this year. I need to get myself a helmet. What do you recomend for a good inexpensive helmet that I could use for SCCA and drag?
1984 RX-7 GSL-SE [size=84]My restomod project[/SIZE]


1964 Ford Galaxie 500XL flat black w/ white interior, 2 dr fastback, 390 thunderbird, C6 auto, 2500 rpm high stall converter, shift kit, AC, Holley 750 cfm

[size=100]RIP 1983 RX-7[/SIZE]

My Car Blog

User avatar
GR-8
Posts: 5335
Joined: Thu Oct 11, 2007 9:14
Location: Denver/ Lakewood
Contact:

Postby GR-8 » Thu Mar 20, 2008 9:14

Fun.....Nice Vids.

The sea of cones isn't to complicated once you are actually on the course. Not sure from inside a car but standing right beside it it really doesn't seem hard to follow. Just go.
Image

ImageImage

User avatar
Chris Swearingen
Member
Posts: 87
Joined: Tue Oct 02, 2007 9:14
Contact:

Postby Chris Swearingen » Thu Mar 20, 2008 9:14

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (RX-7 Chris @ Mar 20 2008, 02:37 PM) [url=index.php?act=findpost&pid=34158]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/url]</div>
I may or may not run this year. I need to get myself a helmet. What do you recomend for a good inexpensive helmet that I could use for SCCA and drag?[/b]


Scca autocross has both loaner and rental helmets, but require at least a M2000. I would think that drag and road race would require a SA rated helmet, but I don't know for sure. Helmet specifications/ratings come out every 5 years, so current state of the art would be SA2005 and would likely be excepted everywhere.

SoloTime(now a sponsor of the SCCA National Tour, see the sticker on the rear quarter of my car) has open face SA2005 helmets for as little as $150and full face for $250.

You can get an open face M2005 for $70 at most motorcycle shops.
--Chris

User avatar
RX-7 Chris
Posts: 7800
Joined: Tue Oct 02, 2007 9:14
Location: Colorado Springs
Contact:

Postby RX-7 Chris » Thu Mar 20, 2008 9:14

thanks for that info. I need to make it out to see you run again.
1984 RX-7 GSL-SE [size=84]My restomod project[/SIZE]


1964 Ford Galaxie 500XL flat black w/ white interior, 2 dr fastback, 390 thunderbird, C6 auto, 2500 rpm high stall converter, shift kit, AC, Holley 750 cfm

[size=100]RIP 1983 RX-7[/SIZE]

My Car Blog

User avatar
Chris Swearingen
Member
Posts: 87
Joined: Tue Oct 02, 2007 9:14
Contact:

Postby Chris Swearingen » Thu Mar 20, 2008 9:14

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (RX-7 Chris @ Mar 20 2008, 03:08 PM) [url=index.php?act=findpost&pid=34182]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/url]</div>
thanks for that info. I need to make it out to see you run again.[/b]


The next local event that I will likely be at is April 6th in Denver. The next Springs event I will make is May 11th. I am in El Toro, California next weekend for a Pro Solo. Kind of an autocross with a drag light start. Local schedule is here.
--Chris

turbo99jetta
Posts: 524
Joined: Fri Sep 21, 2007 9:14
Location: parker
Contact:

Postby turbo99jetta » Thu Mar 20, 2008 9:14

sweet. sounds like you had an awesome time!


Return to “Autocross”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 51 guests