Charlotte Match Tour Autocross [Update: Videos]

"LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com" (limitedtimeonly) 04/02/2018 at 10:15 • Filed to: Autocross

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Had fun this week with the SCCA autocross Solo National Match Tour visiting Charlotte. It was a convenient way to experience even higher level competition from all over the eastern half of the country. Some pictures at end of post [edit: video links in middle, original post made on Saturday, 3/31/2018].

On Friday I was within a half second of my rival/friend from last year, but that left me 9th out of 11 in the class. I was a bit frustrated because I couldn’t figure out what I needed to change to improve.

After thinking about it overnight and doing a quick course walk with one of the class leaders, I figured out a few things I could work on. I managed to actually do one or two and picked up my time today.

Everyone else improved, too.

But, I’m optimistic that I have a path to getting more competitive with the top people in time.

[Videos: Run #2 from autocross this weekend:

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Run #3 is slightly better, but I knock the camera near the end with my helmet:

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It was very cold this morning and while we were warming up the cars in grid, my rival jumped in my car to chat and stay warm. Then another guy in the class jumped in the backseat. Another came to my window to chat, and I invited him to jump in, too. We all wanted to run the course in one car, it would have been hilarious, especially as they all would have been pointing out what I should be doing with headsmacks.

Fortunately the weather was good despite the threat of rain. But we had cars coated with green pollen, inside and out since the cars sit with windows down so much of the event.

Oh, there is a father and son team that I pit with, and their car had transmission problems on Thursday during the test and tune. They managed to remove the transmission and tear it down, find that it was something they could address, and put the car back together by the end of the day to compete (and win) on Friday. People helped out a lot, and it was impressive mechanically and as a community event. It captures almost everything that is great about autocross.

There were some great people, great driving and interesting cars. I managed to think to take pictures of a couple.

Liam Farrell > LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com 03/31/2018 at 18:30

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That mustang though.....

LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com > Liam Farrell 03/31/2018 at 18:33

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It is an incredible car with a Mustang-like skin.

LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com > Liam Farrell 03/31/2018 at 18:36

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I was working course every time it ran and it was a delight to watch perform.

vondon302 > LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com 03/31/2018 at 18:53

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A bad day racing is better than a good day working.

That mustang build is nuts.

Neat

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com 03/31/2018 at 21:19

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Honestly I love the less competitive, local events WAY more than the big high level stuff. I find it more fun to get more runs, people have a more relaxed attitude, and it’s overall much more about fun and safety rather than just competition. Even there, things get plenty entertaining and competitive. Test and I used are still my favorite events though. Even though there is literally no competing at those, it’s just the 20+ runs that make it so much fun.

LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) 04/01/2018 at 07:54

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As competitive as it was, there was a lot of mutual support and appreciation, at least in my class. And the competition pushes me to improve, which I like. Plus, the ones who travel are really committed, and most therefore share a passion and enjoy getting to know others, which makes the social aspect different than the local events where I enjoy seeing the regulars.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com 04/01/2018 at 22:50

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I think my thing is I also am not ever properly built for the class so competition is like out the window before I show up. But yeah I definitely get why it’s fun sometimes. The few times I’ve had two or three actual competitors with near identical setups, it was kind of really fun to have those tenth of a second back and forth runs.

Long-Voyager > LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com 04/02/2018 at 10:23

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That Mustang is sweet!

LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com > Long-Voyager 04/02/2018 at 10:30

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One person posted video of it on course to the club Facebook group, and I am tempted to try to grab it and repost here.

BeaterGT > LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com 04/02/2018 at 10:32

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Those Z06s are making me jealous I’m not out there running! It would probably be a spin-fest.

LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com > Long-Voyager 04/02/2018 at 12:34

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I’ll post a link to FB

LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com > LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com 04/02/2018 at 12:35

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Link to a Facebook post with more pictures of the “Mustang” and some video on the Test and Tune track:

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Long-Voyager > LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com 04/02/2018 at 12:38

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Amazing!