First CFR SCCA PDX...: Grassroots Motorsports forum: Grassroots Motorsports Magazine

Subscribe get a full year for only $23.95 Sample Free Test Drive—no strings attached

April 17, 2011 5:17 p.m. DirtyBird222 SuperDork

This was my first HPDE and CFR SCCAs first PDX. Had a blast with the Si, planned to take my Trans Am but it's not running properly at the time! Makes me not even care about autox anymore haha. Got the OK to go solo after my first session which was a huge confidence booster.

Anyways here are some pics a friend of mine took and a small clip from one of the afternoon sessions. Adding more vids as the week progresses it takes forever to process and upload 1080p vids.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aH5uzNlkk7E

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kr3st/sets/72157626518009692/

and my buddy made this animated .gif lol http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v503/oryk/animation.gif
April 17, 2011 6:16 p.m. friedgreencorrado SuperDork

Now you know why this old road racer stinks at autocross!

Seriously though, congrats! It's a wonderful world out there, and I wish everybody that cares about our sport could do it at least once.

Gotta admit, tho..it's probably all that autoX that got you signed off for solo runs.
April 17, 2011 9:48 p.m. DirtyBird222 SuperDork

haha it was a blast man, so awesome. Got plans to turn the GRM challenge civic into a NASA Honda Challenge car or something in SCCA like ITA or another smaller class now. Cars already gutted, has a racing seat, etc.

Here's the second half of that session http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WSCQ2dfsDR8
April 17, 2011 11:12 p.m. David S. Wallens Editorial Director

Awesome. Glad the event went well. If I was in town this weekend, I would have been there with you guys.
April 18, 2011 12:18 a.m. friedgreencorrado SuperDork

Dirtybird, gotta admit..even though I'm an old SCCA club racer, NASA might be where you want to go with your old Challenge car. Regarless of where ya wanna go..READ THE RULEBOOK FIRST (apologies for the yelling). Don't build something that you can't actually use somewhere, dude..

Otherwise..where is that? Looks like Daytona infield, but I can't tell which config. I think I see ya going through "the kink" but then turning left? I'm so lost. Gotta track map you can post up?

EDIT (after watching 2nd half vid): Nice move on the `Vette! Don't it make ya feel good?
April 18, 2011 7:37 a.m. White_and_Nerdy Reader

The great thing about the less experienced run groups is that what you drive makes almost no difference if you know what you're doing. And yes, your autocross experience gives you a leg up on the total n00b. I had a blast at my first couple of HPDEs, passing cars I had absolutely no right to pass in my Saturn SC2.
April 18, 2011 6:51 p.m. DirtyBird222 SuperDork

That was the Daytona school course. Kind of an interesting looking course design when it's on paper. One of my buddies said "Looks like it could start to get hairy in turn 4"

Oh and I know all about reading the rule book first. I'm just saying the challenge car is already so close to being a race prepped car, it'd be the easiest to work with. The Trans Am has a ton of things done to it that I've spent lots of $ on that would make it illegal in most classes of racing for SCCA or NASA. Plus we only have $2010 invested into the civic so far.

And yes, felt great to do that to some of the faster cars on the track. I know in one session i had a good battle with an ITR prepped E36 325. It's a lot of fun to make a slow car go fast!
April 18, 2011 7:40 p.m. Jamesc2123 Reader

... is that REALLY the shape of that course....
April 18, 2011 7:53 p.m. friedgreencorrado SuperDork

It looks like it uses some of the infield parking roads. Check out the view from orbit, you can kinda place that track map with a little imagination.

http://www.mediabistro.com/sportsnewser/files/2011/02/daytona-international-speedw...

Aside to Dirtybird..if I'm right, I see now why you had to lift through the kink! I guess I expected the course to just run "The Doorknob" by itself, and got confused every time you had to turn left after it..
April 18, 2011 8:45 p.m. DirtyBird222 SuperDork

haha, if it went strait from horse shoe to horse shoe i wouldn't have to lift, but the rear brake bias on the Si makes it get a little squirly under high speed braking. Lifted and used a bit of trail braking to cure the ass end from coming out (just so used to driving RWD).