:-) I'm one of those folks who would walk the course as many times as I need
to feel comfortable with the course. Last event I walked the course 3 times.
I think it helped. Don't you think so, Jake? ;)
-Arnold (hoping someone won't take this opportunity to suggest limiting the
number of course walks one can have)
----- Original Message -----
From: "Navid Kahangi" <navid@interwoven.com>
To: "Jake Hodges" <jake_hodges@hotmail.com>; <ba-autox@autox.team.net>
Sent: Thursday, November 15, 2001 6:29 PM
Subject: RE: SFR rule
> Jake,
>
> I have refused giving rides to people many times. All you need to say is
> "sorry, I'm trying to make this one count." Nobody will think you are
rude.
>
> As for being sneaky, would you feel the same way about someone who walked
> the course 5 times? If you don't take advantage of something that is
> available for everyone, can you blame others who do?
>
> --Navid
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: owner-ba-autox@autox.team.net
> > [mailto:owner-ba-autox@autox.team.net]On Behalf Of Jake Hodges
> > Sent: Thursday, November 15, 2001 6:06 PM
> > To: ba-autox@autox.team.net
> > Subject: Re: SFR rule
> >
> >
> > Someone mentioned they wanted to hear a Novice's opinion on the topic.
> > Well, I'm a novice and I have an opinion, although it's totally
unrelated
> > and cannot further this discussion in any way whatsoever other
> > than to make
> > it drag on for at least six more posts as more knowledgeable
> > folks rightly
> > dismiss it as not being relevant.
> >
> > I've never ridden before my runs because I feel like it's sneaky. Now,
> > being sneaky isn't in and of itself a sin, but it doesn't feel good to
me.
> >
> > The few rides I've taken have been instrumental in the continued
> > existence
> > of tread on my tires. And the more I've learned, the more
> > valuable they've
> > been. My last ride with a certain fantastic driver (who pilots his
Volvo
> > S80 to greater heights than the Scandinavian sofa-mobile should rightly
> > attain, and certainly to faster times than my zippy Honda will ever
yield
> > with me at the helm) taught me worlds about how to handle a car. (Other
> > novices: Did you know it simply can't go full speed around
> > corners? What
> > an eye-opener for me!)
> >
> > Here's my complaint regarding the issue. When I'm two cars away
> > from that
> > green flag and thinking about the course, and someone strolls up to my
> > inviting convertible and asks for a ride. I feel rude to say no, but
> > regardless of how innocent and polite and appreciative and quiet and
> > motionless they can stay, having another person in the car is
> > distracting to
> > me. Perhaps when I "know what I'm doing" it will be easier, but
> > for now it
> > kind of takes my mind off what I'm doing and put it squarely on "this
> > person, no matter how nice, adds roughly [doing math] 14% of my
> > car's curb
> > weight to it's already bloated carcass." See how in the time
> > you've taken
> > to read that I've screwed up three critical corners which got me
> > on to the
> > straight wide and 1400 rpms lower than I where I should have been, so
far
> > out of VTEC that I might as well spin the car with the e-brake
> > and drive the
> > upcoming slalom in reverse?
> >
> > I know it's my own fault, and I wish I could give everyone a ride and
let
> > them drive my car and drive their cars all day and we could all
> > get drinks
> > together afterwards and then do it some more, again and again, dizzy
with
> > glee, but the frustrating fact is that I'm going to get less than three
> > minutes on the "classroom" for my $25, and I really want to make
> > them count.
> >
> > That's the hardest thing for an excited novice (well, for me anyway).
It
> > seems like so LONG until the next event. And the runs seem so
> > SHORT! MUST
> > DRIVE FASTER! MUST DRIVE FASTER!
> >
> > Have I mentioned that I love each and every one of you? I do.
> >
> > _________________________________________________________________
|