Sil80redtop said:I'm not sure what the total ratio of swapped cars was, but you had to go down to 7th to find the first one.
Are you excluding the first place finisher? Wasn't there, but I thought I saw an LS under the hood of the black SN95, but I may be wrong.
I think he means 7th to find the first non swapped car. 1-4 were for sure, with 2-4 being the 3 LS repowered cars(hint hint)
java230 said:I know what Ed looks like now from watching the live feeds :D
I learned that Ed isn't an old guy like my mental image of him was.
In reply to mazdeuce :
No worries, I spent pretty much all of my time on the white Spitfire (my son's car).
I did learn that I should make sure to get the story out to staff more on what's happening - Blair & Dave of "Cowbell Customs" (the black MX5 with orange wheels on Friday) both came over by 10 AM Friday and helped out all day to get the Spit the last 4 runs of regulation autocross and one drag pass. I think they definitely had the 'Spirit of the Event' too but people thought they were on our team and nobody really knew the whole story.
Miatas... they had all 6 of their runs done in the first hour.
In reply to Ed Higginbotham :
Ugh was that not you at the Auto Cross on Friday? I swaer I heard it as Ed.....
What I did learn: Keith Tanner was missed.
What I did not learn: Who one of the Judges was.
echoechoecho said:I learned not to put your helmet on a cone in grid or it will get run over....
I also learned that bumpstops as a spring on the street is a poor idea, my kidneys still hurt from the short drive home on saturday lol
Oh that was yours. I saw when that was about to happen and tried to yell to the driver to stop...it is easy to forget there's a cone next to your wheel when you've been parked there a long time.
John Welsh said:What I did learn: Keith Tanner was missed.
What I did not learn: Who one of the Judges was.
- SVreX, Paul
- Racer Walsh Guy
- Amelia Island Concourse Guy
- ??? Name Tag gave him the title of "Media Darling"
That was Jason Cammisa, formerly of Motor Trend magazine as well as host of Motor Trend TV. He's a fan of our magazine, and as a guy with 8 cars in his tiny California driveway ranging from projects to drivers, he's definitely one of us.
I think i spoke to Jason for well over an hour on Friday. Excellent pick for a guest/judge. Thanks for getting him out there!
GSmith said:In reply to mazdeuce :
No worries, I spent pretty much all of my time on the white Spitfire (my son's car).
I did learn that I should make sure to get the story out to staff more on what's happening - Blair & Dave of "Cowbell Customs" (the black MX5 with orange wheels on Friday) both came over by 10 AM Friday and helped out all day to get the Spit the last 4 runs of regulation autocross and one drag pass. I think they definitely had the 'Spirit of the Event' too but people thought they were on our team and nobody really knew the whole story.
Miatas... they had all 6 of their runs done in the first hour.
It was nice hanging with you guys wish the end result would have been better. Been going through years of spares I think we have a nice start on next year's engine for him.
I've got some ideas on how to clean up the nose for drag use too. ;)
2018 should be FUN.
Patrick said:Sil80redtop said:I'm not sure what the total ratio of swapped cars was, but you had to go down to 7th to find the first one.
Are you excluding the first place finisher? Wasn't there, but I thought I saw an LS under the hood of the black SN95, but I may be wrong.
I think he means 7th to find the first non swapped car. 1-4 were for sure, with 2-4 being the 3 LS repowered cars(hint hint)
Then that makes sense.
I learned a few things...
1. The serious competitors are much more serious than I expected.
2. A pro driver can wheel a completely garbage car to a better time than it deserves or should be capable of really.
3. Launching a Saab 9000 turbo from 3k rpm, on slicks, on a well prep'd, VHT laden track, may end badly for the transmission.
4. Even after breaking our car, we still had fun because the people at the Challenge are so awesome.
5. It's worth the extra $27 a year to get the highest level of AAA.
6. The Last Chance award is like getting the "sportsmanship" award in grade school; it means that the other kids let you play along even though you don't have a chance in hell of winning. Still, it's mighty nice of them to let you play anyway.
7. Unless you've built your car right, or you're in the running for an award, make it easy on yourself, and the judges, and just take the 12 points for the concours.
8. I shouldn't have waited so long to start attending.
spin_out said:We need large name tags with out real and screen names so I could have met Mazdeuce (or maybe I did and don't know it.)
There's still time to remedy this, at least a little bit. Go to the Challenge Yearbook thread and post a picture and your team info.
See we do need nametags. Ben my team photo is directly under a photo of you and your kids on the first page.
Darkbuddha, some great comments there.
A) Congtrats on winning an award. A lot of people come for years and don't take home any hardware. (Assuming they ever do actually give you a physical award. No breath holding recommended there.)
B) This was out 11th challenge and we took the 12 points, even though the car got a 13.3 the year before. People taking the 12 gives the judges more time for cars that truly need more than 3 minutes.
java230 said:In reply to Ed Higginbotham :
Ugh was that not you at the Auto Cross on Friday? I swaer I heard it as Ed.....
I mean I was at the autocross and may have been in the background a couple times, but I was never on the mic.
Stampie said:
I learned that Ed isn't an old guy like my mental image of him was.
You're not the first person to assume that. Maybe I type like an old man.
In reply to Ed Higginbotham :
I think it's your last name. I get a mental image of the old Frodo Baggins. 
In reply to Ed Higginbotham :
Ugh ok, who was running the mic? I feel stupid now.... 
JG is always near a live mike...
stafford1500 said:JG is always near a live mike...
troof.
I loved this thread from last year so I'm bringing it back.
I learned that Fantastik will remove tree sap from a freshly painted car.
Armor All Car wash wipes are awesome. The wheel cleaner wipes, not as much.
That watching from home isn't nearly as awesome as being there.
That there are priorities other than cars
That spec miata slics work
I can teach cheap paint via text
I learned that if you show up with no car, there is absolutely no way to avoid being sucked into the parking lot build, no matter how many times you say, “I’m not getting sucked into this, I’m not getting sucked into this”
Stampie is super cool.
It doesnt take a lot to do very well, as long as the execution is there.
Parking under the bleachers is the right plan.
Follow seth for the best shade.
Gainesville raceway cheese fries are shockingly good.
I need a bicycle.
ShawneeCreeks wife makes some jammin banana bread.
I need to suck it up and hotel if I go again, regardless if I enter.
In reply to Mndsm :
Those fries are the best aren't they?
You'll need to log in to post.
