[Whiskey11]

I just got back from another fun filled day at Lincoln Air Park abusing the 'stang Today was interesting, a.) because I almost didn't make it in time to actually race, b.) because it was raining and c.) because it wasn't the nationals field, it was the Hangers field which has different pavement than the nationals field and is "less grippy" it is also significantly smaller.

My work decided this last week to spring a mandatory range day to qualify with our hand guns or NO JOB!!!! So I left Omaha at 0945 from that (yes I qualified) and had to be in Lincoln, at the Air Park by 1030 for tech and registration. Normally it's an hour and 15 minute drive with moderate traffic... Today, I arrived at 1022 (do the math ), got tech inspected, registered and on the novice walk at 1030. PHEW!!!!

Course was interesting. Designed by a Miata driver who apparently likes fast courses with wide gates... it wasn't that tight or that technical and didn't really favor the Miata all that well. That left me confused. At any rate, it was a fun course even in the rain. Here it is:



1. is a Slalom
2. is another Slalom
3. is a Chicago Box (and an annoying one at that)
4. is a really strangely laid out sweeper using a strangely large amount of cones
5. is what makes this field unique. At 5 is a junction in the pavement that meets at a rise. The line is the peak of that line and both sides drop fairly rapidly on both sides. Several of the "rally" cars (STI's, Evo's, etc) actually caught some air on this peak.

I'm not sure on the times, but today I really wanted to focus on killing off my tendency to drive too fast into sweepers and cause the car to understeer. Today the car felt REALLY well balanced. I'm not sure if it had to do with tire pressures (38PSI front 35PSI back, COLD) or just better driving on my part. I'd like to think both! I had one moment of annoying understeer and it was very very short. I'm VERY glad it rained as the rain means the A6's get put away and street tires come out to play. Well some people were just stubborn and rand the A6's anyway. I was the only one in F-Stock (Not sure where everyone else was????) so won by default, but comparing my times with several cars around me, I feel very good. My Fastest time (clean and scored) was 53.7xx with the fastest car on the track running in the low 40s times. However, there where a few car drivers I talked to, a late 70's Camaro owner in ESP, ran a 54.xxx something on A6's, a 2001 SS Camaro (and friend of mine, actually, ex-owner of the Grey 2011 5.0 Mustang at previous events) in ESP on street tires ran a 52.3xx, and a Mid 80's Notch Mustang in ESP on street tires (running local street tire PAX) ran a 53.4xxx. There was an 89 5.0 in ESP next to me that was running on A6's and was in the 50-52 range. I can't wait for the official results! I did kill 4 cones today, 2 in the first run, 1 in the second, 1 in the last run.

I was allowed one fun run on a completely dry course and ran a 51.324 while running the car practically flat footed. Shame I didn't push it that hard while times were being done for scores!

Anyway, no day is complete without the videos. Five runs, five videos. Here ya are:

Run #1:

2009 Mustang GT - Lincoln Air Park Hangers - 18 September 2011 Autocross Run 1 - YouTube

2009 Mustang GT - Lincoln Air Park Hangers - 18 September 2011 Autocross Run 1 - YouTube

Run #2:

2009 Mustang GT - Lincoln Air Park Hangers - 18 September 2011 Autocross Run 2 - YouTube

2009 Mustang GT - Lincoln Air Park Hangers - 18 September 2011 Autocross Run 2 - YouTube

Run #3:

2009 Mustang GT - Lincoln Air Park Hangers - 18 September 2011 Autocross Run 3 - YouTube

2009 Mustang GT - Lincoln Air Park Hangers - 18 September 2011 Autocross Run 3 - YouTube

Run #4:

2009 Mustang GT - Lincoln Air Park Hangers - 18 September 2011 Autocross Run 4 - YouTube

2009 Mustang GT - Lincoln Air Park Hangers - 18 September 2011 Autocross Run 4 - YouTube

Run #5:

2009 Mustang GT - Lincoln Air Park Hangers - 18 September 2011 Autocross Run 5 - YouTube

2009 Mustang GT - Lincoln Air Park Hangers - 18 September 2011 Autocross Run 5 - YouTube

I know it sounds stupid, but the more I drive this car, the more I love it. There are not a lot of cars in the world that you can thrash on an autocross course all day then turn around and drive it home and average 32 MPG!!!!

Anyway, you know the drill, analyse away

[Whiskey11]

Booo! Results just posted and apparently my best run (actually a 53.402 not 53.7xx) I hit a cone and they didn't announce that!!!! Bleh!!!

Here are my times:
Run 1: 61.941/2 (57.941 before cones)
Run 2: 59.733/1 (57.733 before cones)
Run 3: 54.706 (only clean run)
Run 4: 55.402/1 (53.402 before cones)
Run 5: 55.275/1 (53.275 before cones)

To make things irritatingly bad... If I hadn't hit cones on either of the last runs, my PAX times (43.202 for run #4 and 43.099 for run #5) would have PAXed me at 11th overall instead of 24th!!!! That's frustrating, but it's part of the game! Next event I plan on doing the local Street Tire PAX to make help out that much more!

[ReverendDexter]

I actually prefer running in the rain. It really rewards smooth driving.

[Whiskey11]

Originally Posted by ReverendDexter I actually prefer running in the rain. It really rewards smooth driving.

I would agree! It also means no sun burns! Just lots of wetness. I can deal with wet to have a semi level playing field and not come home looking like a lobster even after applying sunscreen 10934108349134 times during the day.

[Jazzer The Cat]

Originally Posted by Whiskey11 "... I know it sounds stupid, but the more I drive this car, the more I love it. There are not a lot of cars in the world that you can thrash on an autocross course all day then turn around and drive it home and average 32 MPG!!!! Anyway, you know the drill, analyse away

This does not sound stoopid at all

A couple weeks back a thread was created in The Clubhouse of what car you would want to drive in the last 24 hours of your life, or some such. I think I was the only one who said that the car I own would be on the top of that list. I understood the question, but just like you, the more I drive my car, the more I enjoy it

Jazzer agrees with his pepe Whiskey on this one

[Whiskey11]

Originally Posted by Jazzer The Cat This does not sound stoopid at all A couple weeks back a thread was created in The Clubhouse of what car you would want to drive in the last 24 hours of your life, or some such. I think I was the only one who said that the car I own would be on the top of that list. I understood the question, but just like you, the more I drive my car, the more I enjoy it Jazzer agrees with his pepe Whiskey on this one

It's funny, in the back of my mind, I feel as if this is what separates myself from the national level drivers in my region. All of them would be willing to flop cars in a heart beat if it meant a significant edge. I don't think I'd give up on my car until it reached Modified rules and even then, I think I'd stand back and be proud that I wasted so much money on such an awesome car. Then again, I get attached to my cars.

One of these days I'd like to get some different tires on this car! Anyone running those Dunlop Direzza Star Spec Z1's on the street as well? It's either that or I was considering (gasp) the Continental ExtremeContact DW's for DDing. Not sure how the Dunlop's do in the rain (which it does a lot of in the Midwest in spring/fall) for daily driving.

[ReverendDexter]

Lots of guys in the club Jazzer and I are in run Star Specs on the street. So do a bunch of guys on the GRM board. They all rave about how well they wear. I drive to the events on mine, and when I get my top sorted back out, won't have any qualms about running 'em on the street.