Region: OVR
Car #: 88
Year : 1991 Posts: 2401
Status: Offline
posted
Howard, I want those guys in front of me where I can keep an eye on them (joking )
I like to paddock where I want, don't want to be crammed into one area.
I know this may be out of your hands Greg, but my biggest complaint is mixing standing start classes with flying start classes. And as always, SM only groups are best.
I didn't like gridding on the lower paddock at first but I got use to it, no big deal now.
Overall, NASA events have been minimal hassle, maximum fun.
I like the qualifying race format. Maybe adding some 'just for fun' enduros (1-1.5 hrs) at the end of the day.
I too vote for sunny weather in April, see what you can do about that.
Region: OVR
Car #: #88
SMIM: SM Posts: 15
Status: Offline
posted
I agree with Denny on his second comment. Having one little space can get a little close. We had a guy next to us last year that ran a generator all day, every day the whole weekend. That was a tad annoying. I also agree with the mixed standing starts. When you have a group catching a group before the green flag has flown that can cause serious consequences like what happened last year. It was a mess going in to thunder valley. If I'm not mistaken 3 cars were taken out. Other than that I loved all the NASA events we attended. But all the really fast people should go to Topeka! :-D Just kidding...the more the merrier. Deb
Region: NASA GL - SCCA Stl Cities
Car #: 32
Year : 1990 Posts: 276
Status: Offline
posted
quote: I know this may be out of your hands Greg, but my biggest complaint is mixing standing start classes with flying start classes. And as always, SM only groups are best.
quote: I agree with Denny on his second comment. Having one little space can get a little close. We had a guy next to us last year that ran a generator all day, every day the whole weekend. That was a tad annoying. I also agree with the mixed standing starts. When you have a group catching a group before the green flag has flown that can cause serious consequences like what happened last year. It was a mess going in to thunder valley. If I'm not mistaken 3 cars were taken out. Other than that I loved all the NASA events we attended. But all the really fast people should go to Topeka! :-D Just kidding...the more the merrier. Deb
The fiasco that you guys are referring to happen on the 1st weekend run by Dave and the new NASA team. I was at every other weekend and in my opinion, every other start worked great. The only exception may have been when we started with the Spec Neons, but we fixed that the next day.
In all, the split starts are much better than the alternative, which is all groups line up in one bunch by qualifying times. This is what SCCA regional does and it sucks.(in my opinion)
But good feedback, this is what I am lokking for.
Thanks,
-------------------- --------------- Greg Stasiowski #32 SM
1st i should introduce myself - allen, long time SM renter, but I finally bought a car. Long time ago I race an ITB Honda. Last couple years I ran time trial in my street car, and the ocasional race.
I'll be racing midwest nasa, and trying to get to MO as many times as possible. I'm poor, so I camp at the track. Stop by and say hello. My car is copper and grey, #3.
After the botched start last year, I will be watching for yellows in thunder valley!
Region: Detroit
Car #: 6
Year : 1990 1.6 Posts: 425
Status: Offline
posted
Greg, I didn't run any Nasa events last year. But I have a comment on split starts in general that I have seen in SCCA.
1. Split starts are very positive (providing the second group doesn't pull a move like Grattan 2005 and race before the green/SF line.
2. All split starts begin the slow second group of cars way way way too far behind the fast group. That forces the leaders of the fast group to encounter the slowest cars on the track way too early. This penalizes the fastest cars on the track.
3. Start the slower second group only about 10 seconds behind the first group not 20+ seconds behind. Cars would have been strung out at the point of catch up for the second group should they catch the first group in 4-5 laps.
-------------------- "To punish me for my contempt for authority, fate made me an authority myself"
Albert Einstein
Qik Nip
Loose Member '09 & '10 Great Lakes Regional Points Champion
Region: Cincinnati Great Lakes
Car #: 60
Year : 1990 Posts: 1487
Status: Offline
posted
Greg: At some NASA events, the paddock would benefit with a parking marshal. The last two regular season events I attended (at MO) the lower paddock was clogged with very poorly placed HPDE cars. I saw one HPDE 3 guy with a tire trailer taking up virtually as much space as I would have used with my 32' RV and trailer. Rick
-------------------- Fortune Cookie Racing SM 60 Directions for use: Race, Rumple, Repair ... Repeat!
Region: Saginaw Valley
Car #: 42
Year : 1990 Posts: 3
Status: Offline
posted
quote:Originally posted by steveracer: Greg, I didn't run any Nasa events last year. But I have a comment on split starts in general that I have seen in SCCA.
1. Split starts are very positive (providing the second group doesn't pull a move like Grattan 2005 and race before the green/SF line.
2. All split starts begin the slow second group of cars way way way too far behind the fast group. That forces the leaders of the fast group to encounter the slowest cars on the track way too early. This penalizes the fastest cars on the track.
3. Start the slower second group only about 10 seconds behind the first group not 20+ seconds behind. Cars would have been strung out at the point of catch up for the second group should they catch the first group in 4-5 laps.
Region: Saginaw Valley
Car #: 42
Year : 1990 Posts: 3
Status: Offline
posted
Steve,
Your idea #3 sounds good on paper, but the problem is getting the group 2 pole sitters to calm down approaching the start while following a group of race cars that "they want to pass"...naturally. Usually a some guys named...Sta..., Mel..., Sch..., you know the culprits. ;-)
When this happens, the whole SM field gets so stretched-out that the rest of the field is really PO'd, and rightly so.
There is also the safety factor...things can happen at the start for the first group, and you can't operate under the asssumption that their start will go off perfectly. Need a little buffer just in case.
Most of our tracks are pretty long, and when our Pace Car Driver is on the ball, and the Control communication is clear, we get it right.
Down at VIR this past Feb, they started a single race group with 3 splits, and ran perfectly. It really is a matter of Control and Communication with the Pace Car.
Region: Saginaw Valley
Car #: 42
Year : 1990 Posts: 3
Status: Offline
posted
quote:Originally posted by Qik Nip: Greg: At some NASA events, the paddock would benefit with a parking marshal. The last two regular season events I attended (at MO) the lower paddock was clogged with very poorly placed HPDE cars. I saw one HPDE 3 guy with a tire trailer taking up virtually as much space as I would have used with my 32' RV and trailer. Rick
Another excellent suggestion! In fact we're discussing ways to better manage the flow of traffic in the Lower Paddock at Mid-O for our upcoming April 21-22 event. Some discussion of relocating TECH. Ideas welcome!
Region: OVR
Car #: 88
Year : 1991 Posts: 2401
Status: Offline
posted
I've heard a rumor that classes will be paddocked together. I prefer to set-up where I want, which is in the grass (upper paddock?), where there's lots of room. I really don't like being stacked nutz-to-butz on top of each other.
Region: NeOhio
Car #: 26, 27 or 29
Year : 2001 Posts: 720
Status: Offline
posted
quote:Originally posted by Bob Thornton - Race Engineering: Ban Bennett from all races. He has a new career as a wildlife officer.
Just kidding Mark.
I was going to post the exact same thing! Banning Mr. Bennett would be a wise move. But, he was fired as a wildlife officer because the animals were out smarting him!!!
You should elect a leader. I would select Brian Post, he would be a great leader (and not because he is faster than Mr. Watts).
-------------------- Danny Puskar (push-car) Carbotech Performance Brakes 4031 Dearborn Place N.W. Concord, NC 28027 877-899-5024 danny@ctbrakes.com http://www.ctbrakes.com
Region: Steel Cities
Car #: 31
Year : 1992 Posts: 427
Status: Offline
posted
My suggestion is get the BeaveRun event(s) back. It's not very economical when the closest race is three hours away.
Another suggestion, is to have a class-only drivers meeting some time before qualifying. This has been done before, but sporadically. Not only does it serve to get to know one another, but also a good Q&A opportunity, Plus, we'll know who to buy beer for after the race, and who to pour beer on
quote: I would select Brian Post, he would be a great leader (and not because he is faster than Mr. Watts).
Come on Danny, that almost sounds like you think Post is faster than me. I doubt you think that. You just must have typed that quickly without proof reading it.
That's ok. Post actually painted his car this year and I didn't. I might leave the old fenders on to start the year off! He'll need those brakes to slow down and stay outta my way!
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I doubt you think that. You just must have typed that quickly without proof reading it. ![[Razz]](tongue.gif)
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