We completed our first leg of the trip to St. Louis on Friday, we arrived at my cousin's apartment with the car and trailer, and feeling pretty good! We didn't hit much traffic at all, and pretty much had zero problems. The trailers hubs were a little warmer then Aaron would have wanted but he had just repacked the bearings so... we weren't too concerned.
After finding a parking spot at the apartment complex we parked the "race rig" and did a quick once over, we noticed that the licence plate bracket on the back of the trailer had suffered some damage, we didn't know how that was possible.. till we realized THE BIKES AND RACK WERE MISSING!!! EEK.
We'd driven through a little bit of a sketchy area and our hearts fell at the thought of our bikes having got run over by someone/something and having caused damage to someone else's car :(
My cousin and Aaron went to retrace our steps and see if the bikes were anywhere along the way... we didn't have much hope as we couldn't recall WHERE we may have dropped them, and we knew parts of the area we drove through were super sketchy.
I was pretty bummed as a knew the bikes weren't cheap, and I knew we would want them at the site at Nationals and just the fact that we were NOT starting out on a good note.
I got a call about 10 minutes later, saying the bikes had been salvaged!!!
They had undergone some damage but there were ok, and didn't look like it caused any other cars an issue, someone had picked them up and moved them over to the side of the road! We were SO lucky.
We got them back, realized the bike rack was broken, probably from the fall off the trunk, and we had sustained a bent rim, and some other minor road rash but we had them!!!
We think the bike rack straps just became loose as we were going along, and then when we got off the highway they bounced off! :(
We had decided we're going to give up our own personal space within the car and just lay the bikes across the back seat. It's better for our piece of mind since we learned... Bikes Don't Bounce.
Monday, September 7, 2009
Friday, September 4, 2009
Nationals Newbs!
We're about 95% ready to roll out and start our trip towards Lincoln Nebraska! We'll arrive there Wednesday about this time (10am)! Before then we have quite a journey on our hands, visiting 4 different family groups along the way, our car is packed with all kinds of random gifts and things we've been asked to cart from one place to another, it maybe the first time I go on a trip and come back with less then I went with!
In the back of my mind though all the visits are really a means to Nationals... on the path to the craziness that we have been assured to encounter at an auto-x with 1200 participants! In Aaron's class alone I think there are about 40 competitors! I can't fully grasp what we've gotten ourselves into but I'm excited and nervous all at the same time!
We roll out about one o'clock today... and we'll be sure to keep the blog updated with pix and blurbs along the way!
In the back of my mind though all the visits are really a means to Nationals... on the path to the craziness that we have been assured to encounter at an auto-x with 1200 participants! In Aaron's class alone I think there are about 40 competitors! I can't fully grasp what we've gotten ourselves into but I'm excited and nervous all at the same time!
We roll out about one o'clock today... and we'll be sure to keep the blog updated with pix and blurbs along the way!
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Thursday night, we headed to Canfield. Arrived, chatted, and attempted to go to bed early. Friday morning, up at 4:30am, and out the door an hour later and headed for Toronto. About 5 hour drive, with a stop fora stretch, some fuel, and a change into the wedding clothing. Arrived,and enjoyed the ceremony, then back to check into the hotel for a much needed nap. Some lunch, and the refreshed nap, we then changed and went to the reception. That was about from 8pm to 11pm.
Saturday we slept in, had a great breakfast in a nice downtown area of Toronto called Eaton, and then began our way out to Mosport to enjoy the weekends hosting of the American Lemans Series. The track is east of Toronto in the rolling hills. The venue allows for camping ANYWHERE. The roads to find good places to watch the cars on track are single lane dirt with the occasional mud pit. We attempted some driving to some locations only to turn around in brush piles and head back, with full articulation of the car's suspension, and trusting the all wheel drive that we'd not get stuck.
Saturday's racing was good action, and lots of pix. After the track was quiet, we followed our GPS signal to tell us to take a road which was unpaved. Real rally action in the Subaru! This took us out to the highway, and on to a nice restaurant close by that promised a 15%discount for race ticket holders. Nice place with pretty good food.Upon our check our server thought we worked at the track, and she brought the manager over. He asked about the track, and the events,which rolled into small talk of us being from Columbus Ohio, and him being a HUGE fan of Columbus' hockey team, the Blue Jackets. I held my own talking about hockey with a Canadian, and we were rewarded by this guys enthusiasm by him giving us $20 in gift cards and a free appetiser and the manager telling us to make sure we come back the next day. Saturday we finished with a visit to downtown Toronto to view the skyline illuminated and just cruise around.
Sunday we headed back to the track and enjoyed morning warm ups and cruising around the pits and paddock. We opted for the lunch break And pre-race non-track action with a return trip to our previous day's restaurant. After all, it was free! Again, great lunch, but lackluster service this time, happily it was free, and our jovial manager was back in action. We returned to the race track just in time to park on the hill side, and plopped down in the temporary grandstands that viewed some of the great action on the track. A great race with changing conditions as it would be warm and sunny, then instantly,cold and drizzle. Our umbrella got a work out.
Post race, we cruised right by Toronto and headed down towards Niagara. About a two hour drive, and made our way to dinner, and at10pm watched fireworks shoot our across the falls from our hotel's overlooking terrace. Monday we took lots of pix, and went on the world famous "Maid of the Mist" boat right that takes you right up to the face of the falls, and a nice soaking spray. We toured the touristy areas around the Canadian side and headed back to the hotel to head home. An easy pass back into America, as it's side of the falls is more of a state park, than a 3-D ride, casino laden Canadian side.
Cruised to Canton were we met my parents for dinner. They celebrated their anniversary. We enjoyed dinner and were back home by 9. Per a conversation with my Dad at dinner, sure enough the beginning of the race we attended in Canada, we were there, plopped in the grandstands,watching the racing action. Pretty cool.
Thanks for reading.
Saturday we slept in, had a great breakfast in a nice downtown area of Toronto called Eaton, and then began our way out to Mosport to enjoy the weekends hosting of the American Lemans Series. The track is east of Toronto in the rolling hills. The venue allows for camping ANYWHERE. The roads to find good places to watch the cars on track are single lane dirt with the occasional mud pit. We attempted some driving to some locations only to turn around in brush piles and head back, with full articulation of the car's suspension, and trusting the all wheel drive that we'd not get stuck.
Saturday's racing was good action, and lots of pix. After the track was quiet, we followed our GPS signal to tell us to take a road which was unpaved. Real rally action in the Subaru! This took us out to the highway, and on to a nice restaurant close by that promised a 15%discount for race ticket holders. Nice place with pretty good food.Upon our check our server thought we worked at the track, and she brought the manager over. He asked about the track, and the events,which rolled into small talk of us being from Columbus Ohio, and him being a HUGE fan of Columbus' hockey team, the Blue Jackets. I held my own talking about hockey with a Canadian, and we were rewarded by this guys enthusiasm by him giving us $20 in gift cards and a free appetiser and the manager telling us to make sure we come back the next day. Saturday we finished with a visit to downtown Toronto to view the skyline illuminated and just cruise around.
Sunday we headed back to the track and enjoyed morning warm ups and cruising around the pits and paddock. We opted for the lunch break And pre-race non-track action with a return trip to our previous day's restaurant. After all, it was free! Again, great lunch, but lackluster service this time, happily it was free, and our jovial manager was back in action. We returned to the race track just in time to park on the hill side, and plopped down in the temporary grandstands that viewed some of the great action on the track. A great race with changing conditions as it would be warm and sunny, then instantly,cold and drizzle. Our umbrella got a work out.
Post race, we cruised right by Toronto and headed down towards Niagara. About a two hour drive, and made our way to dinner, and at10pm watched fireworks shoot our across the falls from our hotel's overlooking terrace. Monday we took lots of pix, and went on the world famous "Maid of the Mist" boat right that takes you right up to the face of the falls, and a nice soaking spray. We toured the touristy areas around the Canadian side and headed back to the hotel to head home. An easy pass back into America, as it's side of the falls is more of a state park, than a 3-D ride, casino laden Canadian side.
Cruised to Canton were we met my parents for dinner. They celebrated their anniversary. We enjoyed dinner and were back home by 9. Per a conversation with my Dad at dinner, sure enough the beginning of the race we attended in Canada, we were there, plopped in the grandstands,watching the racing action. Pretty cool.
Thanks for reading.
Monday, August 24, 2009
Thursday we loaded up, and leaving at 4:30 sharp, we headed out to Lafayette Indiana. Home of the Subaru of America plant, the birth place of Simi's Legacy as well as the home of Purdue University. It was about 3 1/2 hours and an uneventful drive. About an hour to go, we spotted rain, and the last bit of the drive was a steady down pour. We arrived, and searched out a dinner, which ended up being a subpar visit to Chilis. Checked in the Hampton, and called it a night. Up at 7 on Saturday and a 5 minute drive to the Subaru Plant. The course was setup by the Indy region's club of volunteers. 89 Subarus showed to compete, and probably a dozen more to spectate.
The course was the exact same as last year, and was told the same as the year before. Changed tires, slapped on the magnetic numbers, and were ready to go. Simi ran in the ladies group first thing in the morning. She did well, and the car seemed happy. I ran the afternoon session with a slight drizzle, but times were dropping. My group was 45 cars, with 10 in my STU class, and the rest all running Street Mod. All the Street Mod guys were annoyed with my times some 5-6 seconds faster than theirs, yet I'm running my car at stock boost levels. I saw some old friends, and chatted and after our group was done we all had lunch. Subaru brought in make your own deli sandwiches, pasta salad, potato salad, fruit, and cookies. It was pretty good.
Post lunch, my group was already gridded so we ran again. My times in the morning session were getting chiseled away, so I had to go faster as well. I chipped down 3/10ths quicker on my final run, but found the morning session already secured the class win. Switch over to Simi's group, and she proved to be one of the fastest in her group. All said and done, the awards were given out, and Simi won the Ladies Challenge. An excellent effort, winning back to back. I won my class and finished second overall, beaten out by a former National Champion from Toledo. He's always fast. First place overall received a Subaru bar stool, and R/C car.
Simi drove home Saturday night, and we arrived around 9pm. We left the car untouched, trailer attached, and resting in the driveway. Sunday we slept in until 10am, then proceeded to make French toast and omelets. We watched Formula One practice, qualifying, and the race. Simi took an afternoon nap and I watched more racing on TV. Sunday night I worked on repacking the trailer's bearings, and cleaning up, and putting everything away. Simi cleaned house, and her sister and college roommate came over for pizza and salad for dinner.
The course was the exact same as last year, and was told the same as the year before. Changed tires, slapped on the magnetic numbers, and were ready to go. Simi ran in the ladies group first thing in the morning. She did well, and the car seemed happy. I ran the afternoon session with a slight drizzle, but times were dropping. My group was 45 cars, with 10 in my STU class, and the rest all running Street Mod. All the Street Mod guys were annoyed with my times some 5-6 seconds faster than theirs, yet I'm running my car at stock boost levels. I saw some old friends, and chatted and after our group was done we all had lunch. Subaru brought in make your own deli sandwiches, pasta salad, potato salad, fruit, and cookies. It was pretty good.
Post lunch, my group was already gridded so we ran again. My times in the morning session were getting chiseled away, so I had to go faster as well. I chipped down 3/10ths quicker on my final run, but found the morning session already secured the class win. Switch over to Simi's group, and she proved to be one of the fastest in her group. All said and done, the awards were given out, and Simi won the Ladies Challenge. An excellent effort, winning back to back. I won my class and finished second overall, beaten out by a former National Champion from Toledo. He's always fast. First place overall received a Subaru bar stool, and R/C car.
Simi drove home Saturday night, and we arrived around 9pm. We left the car untouched, trailer attached, and resting in the driveway. Sunday we slept in until 10am, then proceeded to make French toast and omelets. We watched Formula One practice, qualifying, and the race. Simi took an afternoon nap and I watched more racing on TV. Sunday night I worked on repacking the trailer's bearings, and cleaning up, and putting everything away. Simi cleaned house, and her sister and college roommate came over for pizza and salad for dinner.
Monday, August 17, 2009
Saturday morning, another points event. Ran in the first group. Car felt ok, but still is a Jekyl and Hyde machine. Sometimes I think it has a personality. Simi said she was fighting the car, but it started to get better with tire pressure adjustments. I ended up liking the car, but hating the course. Come to find everyone hated the course. Never fast, never flowing, just string after string of very slow speed, super tight corners. I was patient in the corners, allowing the car to rotate and blew out a huge 1.2 second lead over my class. They were baffled. Blazing heat the afternoon, followed by final results. I was first in class, 4th overall.
Saturday afternoon we were home by 4, and we found it a good time to nap. Slept until 6, then dinner at 7, and I found myself still quite tired, and was back asleep by 9. Simi got a 2nd wind and stayed up a little later.
Sunday arrived, and it was a normal quick event in the morning, and then a single elimination round in the afternoon. The course was backwards of Sunday, and modified to be much more flowing and fast. Sunday morning, my car was the exact same as Saturday, but it was impossible to drive. It just didn't want to do anything. I fell back and was 2nd in class, loosing by a few tenths.
Sunday afternoon, the field of 64 cars were all sent out. Simi was in the group, and she drove great. The fastest 32 of the field moved on, and that was paired down to the sweet 16. My run to make it into the sweet 16 the car came alive. It blasted the course 8/10ths faster than any run, and felt PERFECT. I was the #1 seed, having a 7/10ths lead overall. At the sweet 16, instead of having #1 go against #16, names are drawn from a hat. I was #4, so I was placed in the #4 spot. So much for that reward. I had a clean, decent run, but was slower, and just scraped into the great 8. My next opponent was a very fast Ford Shelby Mustang, who was actually first overall on Saturday.
He did his run, I did mine. He told me he had his fastest run of the day against me, and we heard his name announced on the loud speaker. I thought it was over, a valiant effort, but alas, I actually won that round. His name was announced as NOT moving on to the final four. In the final four, I was matched up against another Subaru in the same class. My times were quicker, but approaching the fastest part of the course, the car pushed wide on greasy tires, and I had to let off and brake. Hit a cone for a 2 second penalty, or let off and hope the coasting around didn't destroy me too much. I let off, and my time faulted. The other Subaru advanced on a clean run. It was in the final round, where it lost to a very quick Honda, giving the Honda guy the overall victory.
I lost not because I was beaten, but because I screwed up. Final four was a great effort, but at the wrong time the car acted up and tossed me a curve ball. It really is just this thing that you never know how it's going to react. I'd like to think it was just me, but my wife drives it too, and she is in the same boat. Sometimes it punishes you, sometimes it rewards you. Predictability needs worked on, and hopefully in time I can get it there.
Thanks for reading.
Saturday afternoon we were home by 4, and we found it a good time to nap. Slept until 6, then dinner at 7, and I found myself still quite tired, and was back asleep by 9. Simi got a 2nd wind and stayed up a little later.
Sunday arrived, and it was a normal quick event in the morning, and then a single elimination round in the afternoon. The course was backwards of Sunday, and modified to be much more flowing and fast. Sunday morning, my car was the exact same as Saturday, but it was impossible to drive. It just didn't want to do anything. I fell back and was 2nd in class, loosing by a few tenths.
Sunday afternoon, the field of 64 cars were all sent out. Simi was in the group, and she drove great. The fastest 32 of the field moved on, and that was paired down to the sweet 16. My run to make it into the sweet 16 the car came alive. It blasted the course 8/10ths faster than any run, and felt PERFECT. I was the #1 seed, having a 7/10ths lead overall. At the sweet 16, instead of having #1 go against #16, names are drawn from a hat. I was #4, so I was placed in the #4 spot. So much for that reward. I had a clean, decent run, but was slower, and just scraped into the great 8. My next opponent was a very fast Ford Shelby Mustang, who was actually first overall on Saturday.
He did his run, I did mine. He told me he had his fastest run of the day against me, and we heard his name announced on the loud speaker. I thought it was over, a valiant effort, but alas, I actually won that round. His name was announced as NOT moving on to the final four. In the final four, I was matched up against another Subaru in the same class. My times were quicker, but approaching the fastest part of the course, the car pushed wide on greasy tires, and I had to let off and brake. Hit a cone for a 2 second penalty, or let off and hope the coasting around didn't destroy me too much. I let off, and my time faulted. The other Subaru advanced on a clean run. It was in the final round, where it lost to a very quick Honda, giving the Honda guy the overall victory.
I lost not because I was beaten, but because I screwed up. Final four was a great effort, but at the wrong time the car acted up and tossed me a curve ball. It really is just this thing that you never know how it's going to react. I'd like to think it was just me, but my wife drives it too, and she is in the same boat. Sometimes it punishes you, sometimes it rewards you. Predictability needs worked on, and hopefully in time I can get it there.
Thanks for reading.
Monday, August 10, 2009
GL Div at Grissom
Drove out on Thursday night. 3 1/2 hours to Grissom. Hampton Inn for the night(s). Friday test and tune. 40 second course, unlimited runs. FUN! Dialed in tire pressures, and shocks, and pulled a full second against the closest competitor. Saturday, day one of racing, did my runs and found the car quite different, even though I didn't change anything. It just had some understeer compounded by power on oversteer. Hard to drive, yet same surface, different course, but blame it on the pressure of competition. I was down 2/10ths ending Saturday. Sunday started, closed the gap to 1/10th but still in 2nd place. Sprayed down tires, radiator, intercooler, engine, and myself as it was 96 on the car's temp gauge, and at the Air Force Base miles of open air made the constant 15mph wind feel like standing next to a hair dryer. My 2nd run the car felt great, like it did on Friday. I didn't change anything, I just drove. I pulled 5/10ths ahead of 2nd place which put me 3/10ths ahead overall. Second place driver over drove the car on his final run and lost time securing me the win.
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