alfadriver said:
KyAllroad (Jeremy) said:
Well, I have a $2,000 NC to put back together. If it shakes out as well as I hope and expect it to, double autocross is gonna be right up my alley!
And, just an aside here, I feel like having the “pro-driver” wheel your car to a fast time should at least have an asterisk by the result. Drive yo own E36 M3 people!
Realistically, the asterisk goes to the driver who drives their own car. FTD in the owner driven car is pretty darned rare at the challenge since the pro drivers were introduces in 2003. Remember, this is a competition of cars, not drivers. And having driven my own cars at a Challenge, I'm totally Ok with the pro drivers.
I agree, the competition is more about the cars than the drivers, for me at least. Last year I did not use a pro driver at all, mostly because I was troubleshooting the car all day and there wasn't much to be gained. If the car is in good shape this year I sure will let a pro drive it, just to see how well it can do.
In reply to Patrick :
Too bad I guess, I've said before I spent 30 years on Hi Banked Ovals and an occasional flat track, as a Kid though I was all about Road racing . after buying a couple cars and racing against Castrol, Jaguar and Factory sponsored Teams For Plastic Trophy's. moving over to a show that Pays Cash was Easy . Any way, here we are.
Wonder if we can get an event started that runs every W.E.in season, that brakes up cars in competitive classes and ran 1 or 2 hour races with about 4 classes For CASH Money. It Cost me 25.00 dollars to come through the Gate with a car, Late model Paid around 2000.00 to win 2nd 1000. 00 3rd was 500, and so on through 10th. lower classes paid less but even Street Stock paid a grand.
I think the champcar and crap can cars cost as much to start a race as we would win, That's way Out Of Proportion. unless you have a chance to win it back.
But this is about the Challenge, I say Make Laps at Road Atlanta, Drag on the Back straight (or front) drive across the street to the Oval make some Laps and /or Then drive them up to Atlanta Drag way. Yes I said Drive, I am sure we could get a Parade permit to allow us to drive up there. And Hey GRM can close the season with the Challenge and open it with the Mitty at Road Atlanta.
In reply to GTXVette :
Wish I could give more than one thumbs up
In reply to Justjim75 :
Or some sort of road course would be awesome
FWIW.....im bringing an 84 Caprice to the challenge next year
Just curious.....why would Gainesville tell you the Challenge is harder on their facility than the GatorNationals?
Jerry From LA said:
Just curious.....why would Gainesville tell you the Challenge is harder on their facility than the GatorNationals?
It’s a joke. Tom was pulling out his inner JG
i’m excited the track will be fixed for next year, the surface and especially the shutdown area past the first turnoff are whooped big time
We talked it over last night and decided that The Challenge is ... well a challenge so bring it on.
Patrick said:
Jerry From LA said:
Just curious.....why would Gainesville tell you the Challenge is harder on their facility than the GatorNationals?
It’s a joke. Tom was pulling out his inner JG
I was thinking they might be talking about fluid spills and metal parts dragging on the track 
GameboyRMH said:
Patrick said:
Jerry From LA said:
Just curious.....why would Gainesville tell you the Challenge is harder on their facility than the GatorNationals?
It’s a joke. Tom was pulling out his inner JG
I was thinking they might be talking about fluid spills and metal parts dragging on the track
Or perhaps the tennis shoe residue from pushing a car down the track.
Or the pavement-softening effects of barfed-out Pep Boys ATF.
Has using another geographical location ever been considered? I know it would be further to drive for GRM staff, but you might attract some different competitors...
In reply to FIYAPOWA :
The Challenge really does take the efforts of the whole GRM crew to pull off. I’m not sure they could do it anywhere further than a couple hours from GRM HQ.
I like going to Florida in the fall. A few years back they threatened to have it in June at hyperfest. Much closer to me, but at a poor time of the year for me to take off.
In reply to FIYAPOWA :
Apparently they tried an event in California and got ONE competitor. California would be perfect for me 'cuz Gainesville is about as far from as you can get in the continental US. I would welcome a central US location (Nebraska?) but considering the amount the entry fee is and the level of participation by the GRM staff, I understand the logistics don't really work for an off-site site.
In reply to Pete Gossett :
Very true. Throwing it out though, it'd be possible to out-source work and scheduling (I don't have a Challenge car, but I'd be happy to just work or help out). Just considering that it's a long weekend event at a drag strip/parking lot, it wouldn't be impossible for it to happen at another venue. You know, how SCCA moves the Runoffs every year (I think)? As a side idea, combine the Challenge weekend with a LeMons/Champcar event, and there could be a road course event, plus you might have some pro drivers there anyway.
alfadriver said:
GameboyRMH said:
Patrick said:
Jerry From LA said:
Just curious.....why would Gainesville tell you the Challenge is harder on their facility than the GatorNationals?
It’s a joke. Tom was pulling out his inner JG
I was thinking they might be talking about fluid spills and metal parts dragging on the track
Or perhaps the tennis shoe residue from pushing a car down the track.
I am having them recapped now, That really was kinda Slap Stick Comedy wasn't it, I had a ball.
Tom Suddard said:
We're still playing with site plans, but we're pretty sure we're going to be able to have a nearly 1/8-mile straight to start the second autocross. We'll time that portion separately and give out a special trophy to whoever is fastest.
Still working on details, but that's at least a little bit of a chance to drag race.
I think that’s a pretty awesome compromise.
It's not called the Easy, it's called the Challenge for a reason. This is not just a drag racing event with other stuff thrown in to fill the rest of the weekend. Honestly, to me it is more about camaraderie, supporting the event, and hanging out with a bunch of good people. Saul Goode racing has switched gears (with no clutch, lol!!!) To make our creation competitive for the current event list. I challenge all of you to do the same. We will be there, and I hope all of you will be too.
Just a suggestion. How about in the future, we have a mystery event that gets told to the builders at the track. That way, people have to build multi-purpose cars that do everything well?
GREAT Idea, One year at Road Atlanta, STAINLESS STEEL BRAKES DID A 0 TO 60 TO 0, THEY HAD A V-8 SOLTICE,I had my Buick, the fastest was a supercharged crown vic with 13" brakes. so a (stealing here) launch box start and a narrow box to stop in, that could be a hoot.
p.s. Parachutes Optional. HEY it's the Challenge.
In reply to SaulGoode :
I like the idea of a Challenge Roulette. Let's see we could have short autocross (open and tight), long autocross (open and tight), reaction time, 60 foot time, 1/8 mile (ET and Trap), or 1/4 mile (ET and Trap). That'd give us 10 events that could be chosen from randomly right before the Challenge. Know it won't happen but the looks on some people's faces when they see 1/4 mile Trap and reaction time selected would be priceless.
Scoobie took 3 seconds to get off the line...... had an Amazing top end.
Stampie said:
In reply to SaulGoode :
I like the idea of a Challenge Roulette. Let's see we could have short autocross (open and tight), long autocross (open and tight), reaction time, 60 foot time, 1/8 mile (ET and Trap), or 1/4 mile (ET and Trap). That'd give us 10 events that could be chosen from randomly right before the Challenge. Know it won't happen but the looks on some people's faces when they see 1/4 mile Trap and reaction time selected would be priceless.
Just to point out one thing- reaction time is 100% driver skill, not car. And IMHO, 60ft time is about 50/50.
And since this is an event to feature the cars..... Well.
In reply to alfadriver :
I just wish they’d have pro drivers available for the 1/4-mile too. Surely Garlits wouldn’t mind helping out next year?
FIYAPOWA said:
Has using another geographical location ever been considered? I know it would be further to drive for GRM staff, but you might attract some different competitors...
As someone who lives in north idaho....closer would be great.
40 hrs of driving one way prevents me from doing this every year. If it was half the distance i would have done several challenges by now
In reply to Antihero :
If I had to drive 40 hours one way, I'd consider filling the car with spares and tools, ship it and fly down.
