by "TheTurbochargedSquirrel" (thatsquirrel)
Published 09/24/2017 at 18:58
by "TheTurbochargedSquirrel" (thatsquirrel)
Published 09/24/2017 at 18:58
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STARS: 4
Went to the SCCV event at Thunder Road Speedway in Barre VT. Autocrossing on a banked oval is tons of fun. The course was super fast and I actually had a ton of grip with my not great for autocross tires.
Here’s a rough map of what the course looked like though the surface was reworked and there are differences to the infield. Start at the dot and loop around twice to the X. The squigly bit on the front stretch was one of the tightest chicaines I have ever driven and right before the turn around was the single biggest troll gate I have ever seen. It was only about 7 feet wide and screwed with you both as you were entering the full lock hairpin and when you were trying to make a run to the finish. I only made 2 runs where I didn’t take that gate out at least once.
In the end my best run was a 67.091 with 1 cone (that damn final gate). This was good for 45th overall (out of 50 cars) and 5th in class (out of 6 cars). I’m kicking myself for a lapse of concentration caused by stability control intervention which caused me to hit 2 cones on my way to a 66.128. That time would have put me 36th overall and 3rd in class.
In the end I am happy with the results. I wasn’t pushing and trying new things because there was too much risk associated with going off at this venue. My goal was simply to have fun and not be last and I achieved both goals. At next weekends event I am going to be turning off the traction and stability controls and experimenting in the name of finding speed.
I also need to figure out what kind of witchcraft the 2013 Cooper in my class used to run a 60.214.
"MM54" (mm54mk2)
09/24/2017 at 19:10, STARS: 0
Neat. When I lived in Erie PA (and a couple times since I’ve visited) I did autocross at the lake erie speedway, which is basically a paved oval / bowl, so the course almost always included on full-on banked turn. It’s a good time.
"TheTurbochargedSquirrel" (thatsquirrel)
09/24/2017 at 19:19, STARS: 1
It was a really cool moment when I figured out that I go all the way from the exit of the infield to the front straight without lifting. Too bad I ruined that run by slaughtering the first 2 cones of the tight chicane when I got confused by stability control reacting to me ripping off the banking at 65+ in a really strange way.
"MM54" (mm54mk2)
09/24/2017 at 19:26, STARS: 1
The gopro lens doesn’t really show it, but around 0:15 is going around the banking, not flat-out though haha
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"TheTurbochargedSquirrel" (thatsquirrel)
09/24/2017 at 19:31, STARS: 1
Flat out was only really made possible by only having 115 HP and a brand new surface on 20* of banking. I was one of only a handful of cars to do it.
"LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com" (limitedtimeonly)
09/24/2017 at 19:55, STARS: 0
Driver skill is very upsetting witchcraft. Guy with same car as me is always faster.
"TheTurbochargedSquirrel" (thatsquirrel)
09/24/2017 at 20:09, STARS: 1
It is. The event next weekend is going to be dedicated to experimenting with different techniques to try to figure out how I can close that gap. 6 seconds a run is quite disheartening.
"LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com" (limitedtimeonly)
09/24/2017 at 20:30, STARS: 0
At least in my case it is usually 2 seconds difference. Still frustrating.
"AkursedX" (akursedx)
09/24/2017 at 21:02, STARS: 0
I too have an MBR-autocross video. About :45 in is where you get the best view of the banking.
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"MM54" (mm54mk2)
09/24/2017 at 21:21, STARS: 1
Either they’ve run that same pattern multiple times or this was the same day my video was taken. I remember the part on the banking you could take the top or bottom first (you did opposite me) but the ending was slightly different. Not sure if it moved in the afternoon maybe, or if it’s a different day that they used the same layout.
Do you go there regularly?
"AkursedX" (akursedx)
09/24/2017 at 21:25, STARS: 1
Wow, now that I watched yours again, it does look similar. I think mine finishes shorter though. This run was from late June of this year I think. This is my first season of auto-x, but I have done 3 MBR events and hope to do a 4th on 10/8 (My home region is Western NY and MBR is about an hour away)
"MM54" (mm54mk2)
09/24/2017 at 21:31, STARS: 0
My video is from August 2015, one of the last times I’ve been there. They must like that track (I enjoyed it). It’s about a 2 hour drive for me but I have friends in the area that are there regularly (have the red Mini with all the JCW parts). I’m hoping next year to make it to as many events there as possible as well as my local NE Ohio SCCA, which I’ve yet to be to an event for despite living here for over 2 years.
Here’s another video that lets you see the 2015 layout a bit better.
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"Trunk Impaired 318" (matteocscaptura)
09/24/2017 at 22:44, STARS: 0
Counterpoint: Autocrossing on a banked oval can be terrifying.
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"Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)" (rduncan5678)
09/26/2017 at 14:47, STARS: 0
Its worse when theres a guy WITH A PRIUS who has beaten me in my Miata before. Sure I was still on all seasons and stock everything then and he was on RE71Rs but it was still a fucking Prius.
But then the other way around now and my somewhat prepared Miata (and a shit ton more experience) beating Vipers and GTRs and other crazy fast stuff is always fun.
"Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)" (rduncan5678)
09/26/2017 at 14:51, STARS: 0
Oh man, you already missed two gates , gotta dial it back after that anyways since the run was trashed! Good save though and keeping it out of the wall. That had to require a change of pants.
"LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com" (limitedtimeonly)
09/26/2017 at 15:15, STARS: 0
What crazy person puts RE-71Rs on a Prius?! I now regret not autocrossing my Prius at least once when I had it, but I can’t imagine that it would be satisfying enough to want stickier tires.
I feel a bit bad for the rookie in the Mustang who is always slower than me. I think it’s a GT, too. But, yeah, success with a Prius must take serious skill.
"Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)" (rduncan5678)
09/26/2017 at 15:57, STARS: 1
The same guy who runs this thing
He also put an exhaust on the Prius the last time I saw it.
"Trunk Impaired 318" (matteocscaptura)
09/27/2017 at 01:29, STARS: 0
It was my first run of the day and since I had already missed the gates it seemed like a great time to test the limits of the car.
"Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)" (rduncan5678)
09/27/2017 at 08:35, STARS: 0
Haha well you sure found the limits!