Well Saturday I went to the SCCA event to watch the sol that was mentioned in a previous thread race. He did great and I noticed he had 35 series kuhmo's on with his exhause cut off just before the muffler. And as promised I have pics of his car and mine in the car show they had that day. Oh and a pic of my eyebrow where I busted it on the corner of the hood.
The event that is mentioned below is a Pro Solo, which combines autocrossing with a drag race start format. Pro Solo's been around since the very early 80s, and draws highly competitive fields. SCCA bought the Pro Solo biz in the mid 80s.
The courses are designed to be mirror-image (although that really can't be perfectly done). Times start when the light turns green, as opposed to traditional autocrosses, where the time starts when you break the start light beam. The best time from each course is added to give the final score and thus your finishing position. You take two runs on each course on Saturday AM, Saturday PM, and Sunday AM. There's a run-off (handicap system) for the top finishers on Sunday PM. Contingency and prize money is paid.
The other type of national level autocrossing administered by SCCA is the National Tour, which is more like your traditional autocrosses, with one course on Saturday and one on Sunday - best run from each day is added.
Walnut Ridge held a National Tour two weekends ago and the Pro this past weekend.
Dan Stone contributes occasionally on this forum. I'll let him chime in if he feels up to it. Dan is a very good driver, but hasn't won at the very top level (but then again, very few have).
I looked at getting a Z0K. I would have put Kumhos on it as well. Hoosiers are favored by the Miata crowd because of the size availability.
Before folks think that I'm dissing Dan, let me explain that the Pros and the National Tours draw the very best. Drivers with lots of experience and lots of local wins. The Miatas are highly developed and those who were in front of Dan have many accomplishments under their belt.
Anyone who's taking out a Solstice this year at this level has a learning curve. Solstice drivers will be limited by shock absorber availability, front sway bar availability, alternate wheel availability, and just general set up knowledge. At the top levels, these tuning aids, along with seat time in general, make a difference.
Dan's the current Central Division series champ in the class, by the way.
Before folks think that I'm dissing Dan, let me explain that the Pros and the National Tours draw the very best. Drivers with lots of experience and lots of local wins.
Agreed and the roster of C Stock drivers at both events at Walnut Ridge looked like a Who's Who of Solo 2. BIG names.
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Location: Under an invisibility cloak, somewhere in the Northeast
Dan is still fighting and learning. His Solstice isn't ABS equipped as his last car was, so he is trying to adapt and improve his style. He is also exploring the possible upgrades he can make. Been working with tires and thinking roll bar. He knew going in that he would be at a disadvantage to the Miatas, especially this week.
Lets all put our hands together for him. I wish him well carrying the Solstice banner into "battle".
I'm from Jonesboro...are you the "mysterious" ASU student? There is one mysterious manual and one deep in Jonesboro now. A mysterious automatic is due in any day and my aggressive automatic is due in late May/early June. I've met half-pint from the board--she is a Paragould "cool" and I know there is an aggressive manual in Paragould also. We all need to get together sometime.
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Aggressive, Automatic, Leather, Chrome, No smoker, XM or Onstar. SUZY Q - in memory of my mom! Got her on 6/5/06!!! Yee-hah!
I'm from Jonesboro...are you the "mysterious" ASU student? There is one mysterious manual and one deep in Jonesboro now. A mysterious automatic is due in any day and my aggressive automatic is due in late May/early June. I've met half-pint from the board--she is a Paragould "cool" and I know there is an aggressive manual in Paragould also. We all need to get together sometime.
yep I sure am the mysterious ASU student, the deep is a art professor's wife, the aggressive in paragould is a girl who is in high school that i know as for the others I dont know them.
The deep is my neighbor--Pat and Rogers car was what got me sold on the solstice. Anyway if you are on campus today, my daughter (Casey) is a little blonde walking around wearing a black solstice long sleeve T-shirt. I think she might have added you to her facebook unless there is another solstice on campus. When we get ours in we all need to meet!!!
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Aggressive, Automatic, Leather, Chrome, No smoker, XM or Onstar. SUZY Q - in memory of my mom! Got her on 6/5/06!!! Yee-hah!
Thanks for all of the kind words. C-Stock is a great class. A lot of good friends and competitors. We have a lot of fun. Yes, I do have a transition to make. In my MR2 Spyder I could jab either pedal to the floor without consequence...ABS and no torque. But my Sol has torque and no ABS...so I have to learn how to squeeze both pedals. Have been locking up the brakes, but did improve a little from the Tour to the Pro at Walnut Creek. I run a lot of events each year, so I'm hoping by mid-season things will be better.
As it has been mentioned, my car is stock. However, as mods are available I will be preparing the car. I do have a few ideas in mind and will be going to a T&T at the end of the month. The Z0K wasn't even announced when I bought my car. Nevertheless, I'm going to give this car my best shot. Thanks to all for the support.
Dan
