2009 Houston, Tx National Tour
Gulf GreyHound Park
4/4/2009 - 4/5/2009

Event Info

Site Address: Gulf Greyhound Park* Houston TX

Travel Information From The Region - The I-45 construction project (Webster area) will be under way beginning March 4th - Major delays are expected to occur during the time frame of the Houston Tour. Alternate routes for the Webster area include - FM 518/Bay Area Boulevard/ El Dorado Boulevard/ FM2351-Clear City Boulevard.

Entry Cap: 300

Site Restrictions: camping allowed on an individual basis. Approval comes from site owner.

Staff Hotel: Fairfield Inn* See information below.

Hotels suggested by the Region: Both are less than 1 mile from the site -

Best Western*10620 Emmett F Lowry Expy* Texas City, TX 77591* 409-986-6600

Fairfield Inn* 10700 Emmett F Lowry Expy* Texas City, TX 77591* 409-986-3866

The region has provided this site map (http://cms.scca.com/documents/Solo_Event/localmap.pdf) of the area.

Fee Explanation: Late fees are gone! We now offer an Early Registration Fee that is available until 4pm Friday two weeks prior to the event. The Standard Registration Fee is available beginning at 4pm Friday two weeks prior to the event and is non refundable. All times are Central time.

***Cancellation Policy- NEW**** All cancellations must be in writing - fax or email is acceptable(785-861-1713 or ndowning@scca.com). All cancellations must be received not later that 4pm central time, the Friday on week prior to the event. Refunds are only available on the Early Registration fee. Standard Registration fee's are non refundable.

Evolution Performance Driving School - Evo is the Official Driving School of the SCCA Solo program and will host the Evo Advantage Program at all 2009 National Tours. Click here (http://www.evoschool.com/) to register.

Houston National Tour SCCA website (http://scca.com/event.aspx?hub=3&event=13618)

Entry List (http://ams.scca.com/netforum/eweb/dynamicPage.aspx?site=scca&webkey=9923d8a8-4595-4138-986e-5a66d470be49&evt_key=1ad5b126-5881-437c-a9bf-440122316355)

Event Schedule

Friday

9:15am - 9:45am Evo Advantage* Drivers Meeting/Tech

9:45am – 11:00 Evo Advantage Instructional Course Runs

10am - 3pm SCCA Tech Inspection

11am - 2pm Test N Tune ticket sales

11am - 3pm Test N Tune Course open

11am – 12pm Evo Advantage Test N Tune Priority Grid Line

5pm - 7pm Registration check-in**

Course Open for Walking

Welcome Party

7pm Chiefs Meeting

* Pre Registration required

**No new entries after 7pm

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Saturday

6:30am Site Opens

7am – 8am Late Check-in/Tech*

8:30am Mandatory Drivers Meeting

9am – 4pm Heat Competition

6pm - 8pm Course Open for Walking

*Pre-registered entrants only

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sunday

6:30am Site Opens

8am - 4pm Heat Competition

4pm Trophy Presentation

I hope you all have fun. I was gonna go until my tranny broke at Dixie... :sadbanana:

I hope you all have fun. I was gonna go until my tranny broke at Dixie... :sadbanana:

:(
That sucks man. Hope you get it fixed and get it back on the road soon.

still contemplating...:unamused:



;)

Super low entries, apparently we are below the break-even point on this. Get signed up!

I am thrashing on the HS car, trying to get it finished before the Tour.

still contemplating...:unamused:
;)

Contemplating!?
What is there to cotemplate. Drag some of those who went to the Dixie Tour out here with you. :D

I'm not competing, but I'll be Cheifing (if that were a word).

I'm not competing, but I'll be Cheifing (if that were a word).

Cheif of what?

I'm out...:(....to many household things going on for me to break away..

Kick some booty..:)

Bill

Pat needs a codriver to push him.......Who's got a plane ticket (for me)?

:)

Jay

Cheif of what?
Course.

Course.


bah!... was hoping it was 'bacon'... 'Cheif of Bacon' would be much cooler.






something something i-before-e something...

Pat needs a codriver to push him.......Who's got a plane ticket (for me)?

:)

Jay

Yeah, I will probably end up running SM to be able to get tires.

Well looks like SM for me. No one want to come and play in DSP. :(

If I had the time, I'd seriously consider taking the Greyhound down there to run with you.... <sigh>

Good luck regardless!!!
Jay

Well looks like SM for me. No one want to come and play in DSP. :(
Pat,

How much have you tested the motor after your winter rebuild? Have you done any events or driven it to work a couple times? Do you drive the car to events or tow?

Best of luck this weekend! :devil:

P.S. Run/Work order is posted: http://scca.com/eventitems.aspx?item=288&event=13618&hub=3


Run Heat 1:
CS, ESL, GSL, HSL, STL, STS, STXL, STU, BSP, FSP, XP, CP, EP, FPL, GP, SML, SMFL, SSML, AM, BML, CML, DM, FM

Run Heat 2:
SSL, AS, BS, CSL, DS, ES, FS, STSL, STUL, ASP, CSP, DSP, ESP, FSPL, XPL, CPL , DP, EPL, GPL, SMF, AML, EM, FML, F125, FJA, FJB

Course Open for walking

Run Heat 3:
SS, ASL, BSL, DSL, FSL, GS, HS, ST, STX, ASPL, BSPL, CSPL, DSPL, ESPL, DPL, FP, SM, SSM, BM, CM, DML, EML, F125L


Work Heat 1:
SS, SSL, AS, ASL, BS, BSL, DS, DSL, FS, FSL, ASP, ASPL, CSP, CSPL, DSP, DSPL, ESP, ESPL, DP, DPL, EM, EML, F125, F125L

Work Heat 2:
GS, GSL, HS, HSL, ST, STL, STX, STXL, BSP, BSPL, FP, FPL, SM, SML, SSM, SSML, BM, BML, CM, CML, DM, DML

Course Open for walking

Work Heat 3:
CS, CSL, ES, ESL, STS, STSL, STU, STUL, FSP, FSPL, XP, XPL, CP, CPL, EP, EPL, GP, GPL, SMF, SMFL, AM, AML, FM, FML

Good luck out there folks!!! :taco::taco::taco:

^^^3000mi. + on the rebuild. He says it's running great.

Jay

That's awesome - thanks Jay. Kick some SM butt Pat!!! :devil:

So we have to work, walk course but have car on grid and ready to go before the walk is over, and then run? Me no likey.

-James, HS

Damn...should have picked up a co-drive with you there Patrick :p

^^^3000mi. + on the rebuild. He says it's running great.

Jay

Yep, I should be dynoing the car this evening at Cobb in Plano, TX on my way to Houston.

Good luck everyone....numbers for the event seem awfully low..:(

Yep, I should be dynoing the car this evening at Cobb in Plano, TX on my way to Houston.
Ooh nice. Please post up the gains over the previous motor!!! :taco::taco::taco:
Good luck everyone....numbers for the event seem awfully low..:(
Agreed. Looks like some solid talent will be in action though.

P.S. It was posted on rx8club that the lot was swept this past weekend for the NT! :)

Leaving tomorrow morning! Good luck guys should be a fun weekend.

Good luck everyone that's out there now. :)

--kC

Loving the diversity in STU! There is a 02 M3 (in the lead), a Stang, Speed 6 and a 08 STI.
Is this the M3's coming out party in STU?

Provisional Day 1 results are posted: http://www.scca.com/documents/resultfiles/Saturday%20preliminary5.pdf

H-Stock FTW!!

I am first in CSP as of today!!

You're ridiculous James

You're ridiculous James

Aw, shucks! ;)

Provisional results are up: http://www.scca.com/documents/resultfiles/Sunday%20provisional12.pdf

James got the job done in HS. Pat's DSP RS was 2nd in Street Mod. Foley was 3rd in SS.

So I never got the brakes fixed, they were SHOT (read: unsafe) but the event Chairs would not allow me to run in another HS car, as they both had 2-drivers each. So I said, f-it, let's just go fast, and got the job done. It was plenty scary!!!!

^^^^ Congrats....You crazy sob....;)

Now...spend some time with wife and kids and don't get into trouble..;)

Bill

Provisional results are up: http://www.scca.com/documents/resultfiles/Sunday%20provisional12.pdf

James got the job done in HS. Pat's DSP RS was 2nd in Street Mod. Foley was 3rd in SS.

I could have caught the leader but the surface was deteriorating and getting really dirt as the wind was blowing hard. It turned into a point at shoot course and I didn't have the HP. I got some video. There was alot of flat out running and 2nd gear rev limit and 3rd flat out.
Congrads to Henry's codrive for the win.

Anyone know the story with Fair and Hanchey driving the Evo X in BSP? All of their Sunday runs are listed as DSQ'd??? :confused:

Congrats again on the win James! Let's also not forget Wiggy with the STU win in a borrowed Evo. :D

Congrats James...and Patrick....Battles well fought..:)

There were a lot of bicycles!

Anyone know the story with Fair and Hanchey driving the Evo X in BSP? All of their Sunday runs are listed as DSQ'd??? :confused:
I don't think they ran on sunday. And I forgot to ask what the deal was with their classing.

There were a lot of bicycles!


I don't think they ran on sunday. And I forgot to ask what the deal was with their classing.
They ran Sunday but left grid before release from inpound, "me" and was DSQ.
I think they didn't care as they were suppose to run STU but couldn't get tires for the event.

How did the car feel Pat? Any thoughts on the new motor? Your times looked pretty quick in relation to other classes.

Nice job! 1 Hoosier is better than no Hoosiers!!!!

Jay

They ran Sunday but left grid before release from inpound, "me" and was DSQ.
Eesh. I hate it when people do that. :(
I think they didn't care as they were suppose to run STU but couldn't get tires for the event.
It probably didn't help Fair's mood that he coned every run too. :(

Karen

ggggrrrrrrrr no tires or contingency this weekend. That's what I get for running a pair if Nitto's and a pair of V710's....used Hoosiers are going on next time!!!! 275 front 225 rear methinks.

They ran Sunday but left grid before release from inpound, "me" and was DSQ.
I think they didn't care as they were suppose to run STU but couldn't get tires for the event.

They moved the car because Amy ran in the next heat and they had to grid. Their competitors were fine with it. The DSQ was a load of crap.

-Paul

They moved the car because Amy ran in the next heat and they had to grid. Their competitors were fine with it. The DSQ was a load of crap.

-Paul

Have to.. have to... HAVE TO let impound know.


All competitors (vehicle with driver or driver’s representative) will be impounded with their class after competing until released by the Chief of Impound or an official designee. Note it doesnt say 'until released by fellow competitors in the class...'.

As a competitor, I can say I'm fine with it... and not mean it, knowing they'll get DSQ, and as a competitor, it's not my call to say OK or not.

--kC

Have to.. have to... HAVE TO let impound know.

Note it doesnt say 'competitor'.

As a competitor, I can say I'm fine with it... and not mean it, knowing they'll get DSQ, and as a competitor, it's not my call to say OK or not.

--kC
Out of all the things to get DSQ'd for, this was total BS. Someone has an authority complex, me thinks. ;)

YOU have just re-affirmed why I hate running with the SCCA, Pat. We were 100 feet away in Grid B. Silly, silly technicality.

With waning participation in Tour/Pro events, petty little moves like this only further exacerbates the attendance problem. The National Staff on hand is partly to blame as they were itching to DSQ everything that moved - cars that had numbers fly off while on course, someone 2 minutes late to work, etc. It was just ridiculous.

Terry Fair

Look.... it's a national event. Not a local. Gotta play by the SCCA National Rules.

Hate yourself for not knowing them. Hate your COMPETITORS for them not telling you that you can't until Impound says it's time to go. This is *not* a new rule, nor is it the SCCAs "fault". Hate it all you want, you left impound before impound (or other official designee... another chief possibly?) said it's ok.

Not a power trip. Not a 'technicality'.


--kC

They ran Sunday but left grid before release from inpound, "me" and was DSQ.
I think they didn't care as they were suppose to run STU but couldn't get tires for the event.

What's funny is we did the same thing Saturday (as did everyone else that had cars driven in other classes) only we didn't get DSQ'd then. We're very aware of the rules, but I think it is funny that at a National Tour we'd get DSQ'd one day and not another for doing something everyone has to do when their car is driven back to back.

Pat, here's another way that could have been handled. You know what Terry and I look like. The event was in our own state where we're well known. Someone could have found us. We were in the grid area all day. Someone could have asked us where the car was and we would have shown that it didn't leave the grid area. I think a DSQ, while following the letter of the law, was not required. Besides, we weren't even competing for trophies. Seems harsh to me. This rule is there to keep competitors from leaving the grid, removing illegal items from their car, and basically getting away with cheating. We were moving the car to another part of the grid to prep for another driver. If we were competing for position and left grid, I would whole heartedly agree with DSQ'ing us, no issues there.

Don't worry we're calling Topeka today to discuss this and other very "SCCA like" events that happened this weekend.

It is not Impounds job to find people/cars. If they are not in the expected location and impound was not told about it then they should get a DSQ.

Someone could have found us. We were in the grid area all day. Someone could have asked us where the car was and we would have shown that it didn't leave the grid area.

Quoted for the comedy gold aspect :lol:

First off I did not work that part of impound on Saturday. They had me do the results on Sunday. I was not aware of where you were at till now. No word, even from your other class members had no idea where you at. I called to see if we could correct this. I am very sorry I an not god and can keep track of everyone. I was just following the rules. Someone else dropped the ball and didn't pass the word on.

It is not Impounds job to find people/cars. If they are not in the expected location and impound was not told about it then they should get a DSQ.
You armchair referee's here on the internet (that were not there) have to understand - Pat knows us and we'd just seen him the day before at Cobb, with our car there. Probably 50% of the people at this event knew us and our car, which was visible when parked 100 feet away from our Grid A spot (for our Run Group 2 driver that ran immediately after us) parked in Grid B. Our lone BSP competitor knew when and why we moved to Grid B a few minutes early, and he beat both of us. This was just a petty technicality that was taken way too far. We've already talked to folks at the SCCA National office and they agreed that this (and other issues) were not handled well. Honestly, this DSQ was just the last straw - other, bigger issues at this event were handled very, very poorly.

Again - with silly nonsense like this, the general "DSQ any infraction!" attitude, and other unprofessional outbursts by National staff that was displayed last weekend, just watch as the attendance continues to nosedive at Pros & Tours. I damn sure won't be spending my money to travel to these events anymore, especially when I can go to NASA or other organization's events and be treated fairly, as a valued customer, instead of as a nuisance.

In 20 years of SCCA competition I've never seen attitudes as piss poor as we saw displayed by some of the National staff at this event. Its pretty sad - I don't see this attendance trend reversing with some of the current event staff.

And for the record, Pat was just doing his job. A friend of ours was in the trailer when the National rep's decision was made to DSQ us.

As you're supposed to do, our registration noted that the car would be driven back to back in two heats. This is common practice for people that attend Nationals.

Our car was driven back to back in the same 2 heats as Terry/Brian's and we did the exact same thing on Saturday but we weren't DSQed.

Terry is not exagerating in the slightest that the nationals staff was itching to DSQ anyone for ANYTHING. I spent a few tense hours in the trailer (I will NEVER volunteer for that job again) and at one point the nationals staff started reading aloud and making fun of the comment/criticism cards that were handed in...

Our car was driven back to back in the same 2 heats as Terry/Brian's and we did the exact same thing on Saturday but we weren't DSQed.

Terry is not exagerating in the slightest that the nationals staff was itching to DSQ anyone for ANYTHING. I spent a few tense hours in the trailer (I will NEVER volunteer for that job again) and at one point the nationals staff started reading aloud and making fun of the comment/criticism cards that were handed in...

Unfortunately, there was a very definite *F-you* attitude in the way the National staff dealt with the membership. EX: F-prepared 'impound' - one staff member began screaming at FP competitors to open hoods/trunks. When it was pointed out that the howling wind might be a safety issue for lightweight hood/trunk material. The national staff member in question responded by yelling that she did not care, it was a national event impound, and she would not hesitate to DSQ someone for failing to comply.


Terry- where are these supposed pictures of a DP car spinning?

-Zack

Terry is not exagerating in the slightest that the nationals staff was itching to DSQ anyone for ANYTHING. I spent a few tense hours in the trailer (I will NEVER volunteer for that job again) and at one point the nationals staff started reading aloud and making fun of the comment/criticism cards that were handed in...
Wanted to point out that I personally witnessed the verbal abuse and stream of profanity thrown at David for doing a damn good job of running the Timing computer. David - we mentioned that incident in our letter that was sent to Nancy Downing @ SCCA, among other troubling things that went down at this event. I too will never volunteer to work in that mess of a timing trailer again.

Write your letters. There needs to be a brand new attitude from National staff at these events!

Meanwhile, here's some pictures from the event. :)

Friday practice: http://vorshlag.smugmug.com/gallery/7823632_YKQPG
Saturday-Sunday: http://vorshlag.smugmug.com/gallery/7823635_VGSHx


http://vorshlag.smugmug.com/photos/506864801_3sY64-M.jpg http://vorshlag.smugmug.com/photos/506864446_BmLuH-M.jpg

http://vorshlag.smugmug.com/photos/506891543_N6WgM-M.jpg http://vorshlag.smugmug.com/photos/506872701_Vg9bX-M.jpg

Terry- where are these supposed pictures of a DP car spinning?

-Zack
Oh they are uploading now... be patient. I cropped them and everything. :D

Cheers,
Terry Fair

Wow....the DSQ sounds like a bad deal all around. I can only hope that the national staff was having a bad weekend and will not be quite so uptight about things as the season progresses...... If the car had stayed in impound and the following driver missed the window (2 or 10minutes prior to heat) to grid, would those runs then be DNS? It seems like some things could've been handled differently. Has an appeal been filed? The times have been recorded, I don't see why they couldn't be reinstated should an appeals committee overturn the DSQ.

Genuinely curious,
Jay Storm

I hope this get overturned. I feel bad about it.
I was messaging you from the road earlier as I left Houston this morning.

Those pics show how bad the surface was. WOW!

Jay, the car felt great. It just wasn't a good test of the car with that surface inconsistencies.
My next event with probably be the Pro at Lincoln. I also think I got a bad trailing arm bushing in the spindle that need replacing. The car with pulling slightly to the left on the way home and would get worse hard exceleration.

Wow....the DSQ sounds like a bad deal all around. I can only hope that the national staff was having a bad weekend and will not be quite so uptight about things as the season progresses...... If the car had stayed in impound and the following driver missed the window (2 or 10minutes prior to heat) to grid, would those runs then be DNS? It seems like some things could've been handled differently. Has an appeal been filed? The times have been recorded, I don't see why they couldn't be reinstated should an appeals committee overturn the DSQ.

Genuinely curious,
Jay Storm

The only problem I see is the lack of Communication, I am still still new to this but I would have let a blue vest know I was moving the car.

And I don't see that this warrents a DSQ but we would not be talking about this if the above had happen.

Dave

The only problem I see is the lack of Communication, I am still still new to this but I would have let a blue vest know I was moving the car.

And I don't see that this warrents a DSQ but we would not be talking about this if the above had happen.

Dave

I have to agree. While it is "normal" for cars in multiple classes to have to move, it's still the competitors responsibility to find someone working impound and inform them of the move. If there are 3 drivers in the car then there's no reason this can't be done. You still have 2 people for tire pressures/spraying tires/fuel, etc.

That said the National staff knows about these situations and has to plan for them. To me this seems quite harsh and I'd be upset too.

As for the National Staff being edgy and itchy to DSQ. Is there new staff that want to enforce rules to a "T"? This is the opposite of my personal experiences over the last several years.

John

Two thoughts...

1) I've never had an issue with the national staff. They've always been great with me. Hopefully, this was a one time thing...

2) The DQ thing didn't sound necessary. I think it is one of those things that certain people get away with and others might be made an example of if someone is having a bad weekend. I've never had reason to really pay attention, but I never have a clue who is working impound until someone brings out results.

thanks for posting up photos Terry, some nice shots.

Doug

Dang, I need just ONE good photo of the green Impreza wagon in HS...anyone get any?

Sounds to me like it could easily be overturned. Lets hope that those involved, have filed an appeal. If not, then there isn't much that can be done now. Yes, communication has to be made with the event staff, even if heat schedluling on their part has caused the problem.
I hope this get overturned. I feel bad about it.
I was messaging you from the road earlier as I left Houston this morning.

Those pics show how bad the surface was. WOW!

Jay, the car felt great. It just wasn't a good test of the car with that surface inconsistencies.
My next event with probably be the Pro at Lincoln. I also think I got a bad trailing arm bushing in the spindle that need replacing. The car with pulling slightly to the left on the way home and would get worse hard exceleration.
That surface looks like our local event surfaces....:lol:

I'm 99% sure we'll be in Lincoln for the Pro as well.......Hope to see y'all there!

Jay

Those pics show how bad the surface was. WOW!

Jay, the car felt great. It just wasn't a good test of the car with that surface inconsistencies.
My next event with probably be the Pro at Lincoln. I also think I got a bad trailing arm bushing in the spindle that need replacing. The car with pulling slightly to the left on the way home and would get worse hard exceleration.

We hate setting cars up for that surface. It is unlike anything else on the planet. Any surface we setup in Dallas oversteers at GGP. You have to make a plow buggy to make it "work".

The FEMA and electric company trucks really did a number on the lot. It used to be when it was swept clean it would work OK.

^ Are there any other good lots around the Houston area?

^ Are there any other good lots around the Houston area?

There's a kickass concrete lot at Reed Road near the Reliant stadium complex that's owned/controlled by the houston rodeo I think. So far, they've been unwilling to let us use it except for once back several years ago. From what I'm told (it was BMT), things went well and they were happy with how the lot was 'left'... so it's not a "you ruined your chances" issue.

It's more political I think... there's warring factions in the city over the use of this thing and apparently if 'we' are allowed to use it, it opens a door or something.

This site is currently only used for RV/BUS parking during the rodeo season. That's it. It sits idle for like 340-odd days of the year. Shame.


... Just repeating what I've always been told about it... ymmv.

There's a kickass concrete lot at Reed Road near the Reliant stadium complex that's owned/controlled by the houston rodeo I think. So far, they've been unwilling to let us use it except for once back several years ago. From what I'm told (it was BMT), things went well and they were happy with how the lot was 'left'... so it's not a "you ruined your chances" issue.

It's more political I think... there's warring factions in the city over the use of this thing and apparently if 'we' are allowed to use it, it opens a door or something.

This site is currently only used for RV/BUS parking during the rodeo season. That's it. It sits idle for like 340-odd days of the year. Shame.


... Just repeating what I've always been told about it... ymmv.
That's exactly right, except the rate they want to charge us something like 10-15x what we pay for GGP. Same with Reliant, there's a bunch of lot that isn't used, but they want 10K to use a small portion for the weekend.

The only problem I see is the lack of Communication, I am still still new to this but I would have let a blue vest know I was moving the car.


The guys in the blue shirts won't come to grid until audit releases the results; audit usually takes 15 minutes so the next heat would have started by then.

I ended up the chief steward for Dixie and only DSQ incident was for wrong numbers. I'm surprised that a competitor was DSQ'd without their knowledge. Most of the time if there is a problem the national staff or chief of (insert job here) will page a Chief Steward and they will investigate and make a ruling. Hopefully the national staff can clear it up!

I hope this get overturned. I feel bad about it.
I was messaging you from the road earlier as I left Houston this morning.
No worries Pat - we are fairly certain it will be dropped on Appeal. Lots of things that were supposed to happen (like someone notifying us, notifying the chief of protest, etc) when someone is DSQ'd did not happen. Procedures were missed. Meh, we'll know soon.

Those pics show how bad the surface was. WOW!
Yep. The surface there turns to greased snot after only a handful of runs. You should try this in the wet - ha. These shots below show what I mean - they were taken during the first run group!

http://vorshlag.smugmug.com/photos/506873241_NWRdB-L.jpg

http://vorshlag.smugmug.com/photos/506890506_VaLkz-L.jpg

http://vorshlag.smugmug.com/photos/506891681_qk42v-L.jpg

The humps and bumps on this site are also a bit of a challenge to manage. We normally see cars with 1-2 wheels off the ground at GGP. AWD cars with electronic diffs don't like to see wheels leave the pavement. Our EVO X has a crazy amount of droop travel front and rear - to ensure that the wheels NEVER leave the ground under hard cornering - and I still managed to get one wheel up (see below) when "jumping" over one of the big humps at this lot.

http://vorshlag.smugmug.com/photos/507633128_VEWw7-L.jpg

http://vorshlag.smugmug.com/photos/506872877_jrDpX-L.jpg

Like Brian said - GGP is a "challenge" to setup for. :p We worked on our car as well as several AST customer cars at the practice on Friday and it definitely helped.

Terry Fair

So, how much of that inside wheel lift was the rear sway bar doing it's job (unlike having the car on a lift)?

Of course, if you didn't have one, or had a tiny one, I'll go back to my hole... <grin>

I don't know.... it looks typical to the not enough rebound to handle that 'bump' and the swaybar is counteracting the rebound with the other side loaded. There was plenty of this at Forbes field.

On the lift, the tires have plenty of time to go to full droop, both sides. One side isn't loaded like in the above picture, forcing the rear sway to not necessarily lift the rear tire, but to slow down/resist against the rebound from pusing it down to get the needed contact for that very short/brief period of time which is typical with high spring rate, higher than stock rear sway bars. (More bar, less spring. More spring, less bar).

--kC

Guys,
If you were to see GGP you'd know that there are humps big enough that you can't see the car sometimes (well roof only) on the other side literally 100 yards away.

http://vorshlag.smugmug.com/photos/506898919_d2MSG-M-1.jpg

That Evo picture is where the car was going over one of those humps while braking and turning. Most cars fully compressed then "hopped" over it. There's nothing typical about it.

It isn't possible to set a car up to magically do everything when you're on the world's worst surface like GGP. I can show you 100s of pictures of this Evo on normal surfaces (with the same bar settings and rebound) at several autocross and road courses where the tires never leave the ground. You should see BMWs on two tires going over that hump. And it isn't from lateral grip, the lot is just that bizarre.

On top of that, Roger Johnson puts turns right in these bad spots to confuse people. Andy Hollis told me he knows all the bumps at GGP and turns in where the car should center punch the cone only the car jumps over the hump and clears it. This is the extreme of what you deal with when autocrossing as we all know. Forbes being 60 year old concrete has more heaves in it where the concrete sections are poured. Those are sharp upsetting bumps to the car where the pavement is vertically displaced 1" or more immediately. GGP is (or was) smooth asphalt at one point that now has giant dips and jumps. Very different type of bump for the suspension to control.

We setup our E30 with no bar on the back and extreme droop using a remote reservoir shock and longer than stock shaft. The car went from "one wheel peel" to being able to accelerate out of corners with no limited slip. Pretty neat test. We're also setting up an S2000 for A Stock using a 1" longer than stock rear shock (prefectly legal) to see if we can keep the wheels on the ground without going to a bigger front bar, the common cure. Should be interesting.

Brian

Dang, I need just ONE good photo of the green Impreza wagon in HS...anyone get any?
Have you been able to find one yet?

Came across more pics from the event but didn't see any of your car: Houston NT pics (http://www.pbase.com/fv34/national_tour_2009&page=all)

Brianne Corn took a few pics that were supposedly great, but I have not heard from her...need to give her a call this weekend!

Brian and my DSQ has been quickly and quietly dropped and our times restored.

Brian and my DSQ has been quickly and quietly dropped and our times restored.

:banana::banana::banana:

Good!

--kC
(Don't let it happen again...) :lol:

Brian and my DSQ has been quickly and quietly dropped and our times restored.
That's awesome. Based on the information presented in this thread, it sounds like they made the right decision.

Good to know that it turned out well for y'all.

Jay
Brian and my DSQ has been quickly and quietly dropped and our times restored.

Brian and my DSQ has been quickly and quietly dropped and our times restored.

I made calls after I got you first PM.

Anyone seen any good pics of my car?