Already 10 spec iron and 10 CMC cars signed up. Should be a blast at Atlanta!
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Already 10 spec iron and 10 CMC cars signed up. Should be a blast at Atlanta!
And 26 AI!
I hope they split up the classes somehow cause that's going to be a double yellow race after turn one with that many fast cars. And I really hope they don't do those stupid standing starts either.
I wouldn't rule out standing starts yet if I were you. Start sending nice polite emails to whoever the AI National Director is and also I'd try and see if you can figure out who the race director for that group will be ahead of time and also ask them nicely & politely. Never too early to lobby.... Ditto with the split groups but that's probably going to be a tougher road to go down towards any meaningful change as often hands end up getting tied by the schedule, only so much time in the days and it's now a more compressed schedule (3 day event versus 4).
If there are standing starts y'all will get lined up starting pretty close to the turn-in point for T1, so that corner won't be the one where I'd expect a pile-up from a standing start. Isn't it usually T3 where things seem to go T.U. on the 1st lap more often anyway? Usually someone hops too much curb, spins, and everyone starts swarming around them or jumping over to the motorcyle cut-through section of track and it's a bit chaotic merging back but not awful (imle).
Nationals is (supposed to be anyway) the best of the best so I wouldn't predict what will happen based solely alone on just regional level races with a wider mix of talent, car prep, etc. negative nancy ;)
Nationals is not always the best of the best as anyone is allowed to go if they participate in 5 events. There is no "invite" from point standings like with SCCA. So I will nicely request some things and hope for the best.
Maybe they could let AIX and AI run as a group and SI and CMC run as a group. Personally we would rather be gridded based on qualifying times and if that means we are in with the AI cars ,so be it. We don't really care one way or the other on standing starts, but don't really care to much for the inverts.
I think you would be surprised at how many would go just to be part of a large scale event.
Probably the same sort of people that would cherry-pick their way into a decent enough points position (or whatever other qualifying route) to get an invite. Shurg.
Anywho as a participant in '06, '07, and '09 I really didn't spot any/many poor efforts. Certianly none that were memorable anyway.
Yah if AI and AIX were were in a separate group that would be perfect!
Raises Hand. Had my car not been totaled this year I would have made the trip to Nationals and I haven't had a top 3 finish in 5 years I bet. Though I might have a better shot at a top 3 at Nationals rather than a regional. I would have bet that I finished higher at Nat's than I do in most races in Texas, too. I mean why do I go to the expense of doing the regionals just to have the 55 fly by me? There are plenty of people that go to Nats. that aren't even front runners in there region-or maybe they are front runners in a weak region.
you can keep up with the pack and aren't dangerously unaware of what's going on (like being lapped by AIX/AI if/when that happens). You're not the sorta guy they're complaining about. I think.....
That's why I think a lot of people like nationals cause the Dyno is right there to keep everyone honest. That's why I've always enjoyed going. Plus having somewhat of a real tech inspection is a plus also.
PS... The 55 is just a fast driver, and he's put some good work into the car over the past few months also so don't imply something unless you got proof to back it up.
You obviously haven't run AI at nationals then.... I can recall at least 4 events that were a joke.
Be sure to rally and vote as a group in the first AI drivers meeting against standing starts. We voted against them in 08 and 09 and got our wish. Nationally competitive AI cars all have tiny clutches that breed stalls and accidents. Just make sure the rules for pace up to green on a rolling start are voiced and ENFORCED and the rolling start should be fine.
edited for additional positive information.
When I went to Nationals in Mid Ohio I had no business going and I new it, I wanted to participate in THE large scale event.
My goal was to compete and not screw up anyone's race. I decided before I left, if I can finish in the top 15 I would be VERY happy.
I accomplished my goal, had a blast and learned a ton! Nationals is a lot of fun, but it's expensive (especially the way I did it). If you are confident in your driving abilities and good with dealing with faster traffic then pack up your car and come hang out with the Texas group in Atlanta.
When we get there we can all gather and sign a petition against standing starts haha. I was the only one who raised my hand last year against it so I had to suck it up and do it. This year I would prefer not to do it. It will be safer and probably a lot smoother as far as less problems.
That's the problem with reading print on a screen. Haha
The 55 has definetly turned it up a notch over the last year. Almost like flipping a switch??
Oh wait, where's Glenn. That's illegal. BRYAN!!!
They generally inspect a good list of items for compliance at nationals. I can't remember the last time we were inspected for anything but weight and socks. Generally, tech is supposed to do the inspection. Series management is supposed to request what they would like tech to inspect...
Richard P.
Very much aware of that. I get aggravated when people suggest that we aren't thorough. I am always paying attention to all classes and looking to spot things that are not with class rules for all series. I report those to the series directors regularly. What they do with them is beyond my control. I catch things all the time, like coil packs that aren't within the rules, glove box covers that are absent, bumper covers from a "not allowed" model, hell I've seen people with the wrong type of ECU.
So we can handle this a few ways... I can submit a tech sheet with a bunch of stuff and hold everyone hostage for 15-20 minutes post race as people cook in their monkey suits and hit more items that take time to police, or we can do the bare minimum and use the evil "trust" word... I've been more relaxed this year with tech plans to see how it worked. I personally have not had a single person approach me about the lack of tech, or they thought someone was trying to get away with something. For that, there is always a protest form.
So, if each one of you want to send me your thoughts, I can certainly ramp up the inspections post-race, do spot inspection in the pits, etc...
Remember, Glenn and I work for you.
Oh, and also, if you want more tech AND want to keep bouncing into each other, we are going to be in tech a LONG time... Most races I spend 15-30 minutes AFTER the majority of you leave dealing with contact forms, reviewing video, and consulting the RD and CCR's.
Ross, I for one (and I bet all of the rest of the AI/CMC crowd) are thankful to have you doing our tech. I know it's a thankless job but I appreciate the time you give. I think Aaron was just saying at nationals (if ran correctly) you should know you got beat by a better driver and not a cheater. We don't have time for all that at our local races.
JJ
That was the jist of it. I'm sure it came out wrong cause I'm typing, and was nothing personal toward Ross or anyone. I wasn't blaming anyone or saying they were doing a bad job. My point was that at nationals there is an in depth inspection where we actually have to pull a wheel off and have stuff checked. We can do that at a local level to, it's not a big deal and doesn't take very long to measure a restrictor plate or something simple. At the very least I think we should measure restrictors and compare to the drivers logbook. That's all I'm sayin.
I would hate to see more tech after the race, I want to get out of my suit. I have no problems with spot checks, they seem to work. I like, AND TRUST, everyone in this current group and I think it will stay that way. I know I'm still relatively new, but I just don't see cheating as a problem in this group.
Mark,
With as close as our group "can" run and the cat/mouse that we play due to HP/weight rules make it VERY fair... I just seem to need some more HP, as I just can't match the legs on the Coyote motors... I to have no worries about our current group. Now MSR-H was the exception and not the rule and that is EXACTLY the situation in which spot checks work.
Thanks Jerry, that goes a long way. Our directors are on the ball normally with tech plans. There are some directors who wanna pick and choose when information is important to them. Will has been great with helping work these issues out. NASA really does have a great team of people.
Yeah, just be glad this isn't the SCCA.
Autocrossing with them wasn't toooo bad but I've heard nightmares about the road racing program.
My favorite has to be the carb butterfly screws...
The two are not mutually exclusive. We "do" tech at the scales because that's where the scales are and one of the every race items is weight. Nothing stops a director from putting a little pink sticker on a car and note to check track, belts, LCA length, etc. later and release the car/driver to the paddock.Quote:
Originally Posted by marshall_mosty
Personally I would like to see some more "black box" data, from random cars, with the data made public. Yes, I understand there could be performance information in that. But there's always SCCA...
Random computer swapping.....