NHMS oct.31-nov.1

[StephanAlfa]

I need a stacker.

I'm bringing desserts!

Hey Mark, it this for "BALLAST"???

I am bringing BOTH set of dry and rain tires just in case..., I am hauling this time.

[boltonite]

Awesome event. The weather cooperated, several track records were [re]set and a few class championships decided by tenths of a seconds. Congrats to all the winners.

It was a record turnout for an end-of-season event, kudo's to the organizers who again beat the odds and got all the sessions and ~24 TT run groups staged and still managed to leave time for some open track (weird to see cars lapping with their headlights on), hopefully the DRIFT will capture more of the details and the drama.

I also wish to thank those who attended and assisted with the BBQ, I was a bit preoccupied but it was nice to meet so many new members and a few old ones -- there were at least 2-3 past club presidents and officers in attendance, it speaks volumes about the legacy and character of COM.

-Fred F

[cuda6666]

The reason you were preoccupied was that you were making Chicken Sate that equalled anything I had in Indonesia or Malaysia.

Thanks again for your efforts.

[DanB]

Fred,
Thanks again for the cookout. I hadn't eaten all day when I got to it. Tres magnifique, and it might have saved my life!

Hey Frank, I sentcha a PM!

[cuda6666]

PM'd you back.

[Kai Noeske]

Thank you all! It was a blast!

Met great people, learned a ton, spent much time on the track, had great instruction from Marc,
got a chance to go solo for the first time, survived the first time trial,
enjoyed the costume BBQ (thanks Fred!), learned how to de-grease a track,
even received a shiny trophy in the end
will be back next season!

Hope I did not slow the fast people down too badly. Thinking about a faster car next spring.

Soon! Hope to see some of you sliding on a frozen lake or indoor karting to bridge winter!

Kai

[TroyV]

Not at all Kai. I had a blast watching you wing that car around the corners, lifting the inside rear tire at almost every turn. I was thinking to myself......Holy shite!!!!.....is that Corolla?!?!

[Kai Noeske]

Troy: Yes, it always lifts the inside rear leg, like a dog on a light pole; fortunately, it does not leak ... it's worse at AutoX'es


(photo by Dan Mull)

[Don P]

Kai -

The most impressive thing about the photo is that you seem to have learned what it takes most others longer to learn; and that is you (one) drive with your eyes. Look at the head position --- perfect !! Were you ever a motorcyclist? Motorcyclist most often learn the lesson the hard way....

[Kai Noeske]

Don -

Thanks - I never rode motorcycles. One time I looked over my shoulder at the wrong time - riding my tricycle downhill aged 4, I jerked the handlebar and went airborne. I ride my bicycle a lot, that may have had a similar effect to a motor bike.

However, while autocrossing with Renegade Miata, I have been lucky enough to have Lee Walsh as an instructor, pointing and commanding "LOOK LEFT! LOOK RIGHT! LOOK OVER YOUR SHOULDER! ..." - THAT definitely helped!

I keep finding that turning one's head also helps tremendously on the track to get the braking and corner steering input right.

[horizenjob]

I'd like to send out a thanks for all the patience, helping hands, advice and even tolerance while my brother and I sorted out his old Formula Ford. It's been six years since the last outing and only twice in the last 15-20 years, so the cobwebs were pretty thick. The event turned into a huge car control seminar for us, and I am still piecing it all together.

I think we had our tires over inflated, we never got any wear on the outside edges ( not even road contact ). I noticed after a practice late Saturday if you put your hands on our slicks the outside half was cold, especially on the left side of the car. Thinking about that now, I think that added up to some very tricky handling - if you put a good side load on the tire you got onto the cold rubber and lost your traction. With the left outsides cold, that added up to a real handful going over both hills.

Since we weren't up to speed we should not have been running pressures near what the hot pressure should be.?

The final insult to our pride is that despite practicing a bit with the GoPro, the only footage we were able to get is a rather lengthy in car discussion about turning off the battery to save power. Grrrr. Having a bystander then turn the camera on after being belted up might not work... LOL So if anyone wants to send pointers here for their youtube footage, at least I can watch myself being lapped...

[breakaway500]

First time I came up behind that Corolla,I honestly thought it was going to tip over in turn 11,seriously! I backed way off.. Very good job piloting that Toyota tricycle!

Marcus,I think you need some fresh tires.Rubber just gets hard with age,and nothing will make them stick like fresh stuff.

[Kai Noeske]

Yikes! I had hoped that 'BooooooooH' crayoned on the rear window would be the scary part of the car, not my driving... sorry!

[breakaway500]

I don't think it's your driving. The only other time I have seen a Corolla look that out of shape was the local pizza delivery guy at the end of my street. I would say it is the nature of the car.

[Kai Noeske]

I know they just do that. Turns out the base model I got has no front sway bar (little did I know). Anyway, I tried really atrocious things at an autox school and even if you are all the way in the bump stops, rear wheel 2 ft up, front inside wheel also hovering, it does always slide, not roll - at least with the Falken Azenis on. I won't move to R compounds though.

Apparently, Volkswagens (Rabbits, Sciroccos) have the same habit. This month's Sports Car Mag had a national solo champion Integra looking that way, too.