Yep, Katie, you were a whole .3 ahead of an underprepped GS car in an
underprepped SM car. I will say that the Oakland surface is better than the
last time I ran it. However, it still does not grip well at all and the debris
buildup off the popular line is significant.
It seems to me that Jesus is making some objective statements on the condition
of the surface and how it affects different cars differently. The people who
are making it an "issue" are confusing the site condition and putting on a fun,
successful event. One does not require the other.
Personally, I had fun running my new grocery getter around on brand new, barely
scrubbed Kumhos. While I occasionally talk up my performance in proper trash
talkin' fashion, I shouldn't be PAXing in the top 10 in an undeveloped car (on
a run a full second off of my best scratch) unless factors like a soft GS PAX
and very poor traction figure in.
None of our Bay Area sites (Oakland, GGF, or 3COM) are any good for car setup,
unless you only run those sites. As a frequent National event competitor, I
run at these sites for the enjoyment of flogging my car around and seeing
friends, and run up in Sacramento when I need to prepare seriously (and have
fun and see other friends). YMMV.
-Andy
--- "Kelly, Katie" <kkelly@spss.com> wrote:
> You're right, Jesus, no one was having much fun at that event. That's why
> there were so many people. They remembered what a lousy time they had the
> LAST time they came out, and brought all their friends, too. The biggest
> complaint I heard was, "This is not going to prepare me for Nationals, my
> sole reason for living."
>
> Fifteen total whole people did not lose to GS, including this M3 driver,
> David Bonar in his BSP 'Vette, and more.
>
> I am just sitting here amazed that this has become such an issue to a person
> who didn't even run in the event. What's the deal?
>
> Katie
>
> Jesus writes...
>
> I'll agree on the calmer approach to do well at that site, Jeffreys
> RX7tt is not as high on HP as other ASP cars can be, like Campbells
> Viper and I'll bet he didn't use 1/4 throttle on his last run(where's
> the fun in that), the RX7tt is narrower than a Vette, M3, or Viper, fits
> on the "clean" line much better. The results speak for themselves as for
> condemning the Coliseum surface, Yes, it's getting better, but still way
> off of what a good asphalt surface will give for traction. I'll also
> agree we don't have many choices for sites, and as long as SFR makes
> money, there's no problem, right? Sites like Oakland just aren't good
> sites to train for Nationals in my humble opinion, I probably won't run
> many events there. However it is fun to go and watch people struggle to
> control their cars. :)))
>
> Jesus
> P.S. it's not fun to have a big bad Vette and get beat by a measely
> little Miata. IMO (I have run on that surface, and I remember it) ;-p
> (that's supposed to be tongue-in-cheek)
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