Yo no hablo 'plan'.....??   

I hope to bring the MR2 out some more, but I'm going to need some help getting it set up properly.
Which car I run will probably be subject to progress on that front... plus mood, weather forecast, and
the occasional goat entrail.

But I hope to give you at least a few more opportunities to take 1st by something other than default.   

Quick search brought up 3 vendors online that sell VIR outlines.
(several configurations and sizes)

http://www.trackgraphic.com/store/products-se.aspx
http://www.trackdecal.com/prod/tracks.html
http://www.ihatestickers.com/motorsports-track-maps-c-2_11


Also found some cool info pages about VIR:  
  http://www.na-motorsports.com/Tracks/VA/VIR.html
  http://www.trackpedia.com/wiki/Virginia_International_Raceway   (incl. typical GPS telemetry)
  http://blog.axisofoversteer.com/2012/09/VIRtrackguide.html  ("How to drive FASTER: V.I.R.")

ASP sounds pretty wicked....   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asp_(reptile)

If you watch our autox videos on YouTube, you may have noticed some
of the "related" clips in the sidebar say VMSC but don't look familiar.

They're from the Victoria Motorsports Club in Canada.   http://vmsc.ca/
I like to check out what they are doing sometimes.
They even have a "Winter Series", hard to believe that far north!

This is a nice video montage from one of their recent events.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tiuWNW6XYAg

I haven't had time to watch it all yet, but one of the early clips shows a
"real" Mini (not made by BMW ) getting sideways.

Thanks for all the effort to get everything straightened out.

(Don't you love doing results?     )

The MR2's 2013 season debut!
4th run was fastest.  I pushed harder after that but didn't go any faster AND hit a cone.

I'm sure all those expensive suspension and steering mods will be awesome once I figure
out how to adjust them properly.  This time, we basically just bounced around the course.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7dWo3XkIOxk


p.s. While my video was uploading I checked out one of the videos in the sidebar, and found someone from the "other" VMSC making similar comments about his suspension.   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=845-7ZU4ss0    Yep, just like me... except for the FTD bit. 

I can co-OD with Engelbert in June.

While you're there, can you take Lonnie out of A-Mod and put him in CStock?
It was probably a cute joke at the time, but it shouldn't be in the official results that way.

My head loved the course.  My back, not so much! 
Really got to learn how to dial that MR2 suspension in properly.

Speaking of which, we missed #23 on Sunday....  ever going to pick up your trophy?   

I was thinking we could eat at the Oak Tree Tavern Thursday night.  It's not exactly
cheap, but it is convenient, and it's a fun way to begin the weekend.  They have nice
tables with chairs and menus or we can just eat in the bar.

Also Friday night is the (now 'unofficial' but no less happening) FSR cookout. 
They ask for a $5 donation to help recoup costs but that's it.  All you can eat.
BYOBevg... and if you can think of something to bring down with you that will
still be in good condition by Friday night, contributions are welcome.

Then, depending on how picky you are about food freshness, you can probably
snag more burgers / hot dogs Saturday night as they grill up the leftovers.

Still at the 'proposal' stage, right?
Good to keep an eye on these things as they progress.

Should we ask how much it weighs?   

I thought I heard an echo in here... someone else was asking about a month ago.
Here's a copy of my answer:

First step is to check out the Downloads section on this website.

Up at the top of this page, next to the club logo, mouse over the "Home" link and select "Upload / Download Files".  On the second page of Public Files, download the "2012 SCCA Solo Rules" and the "2012 Classing - Easy" docs (latter is available in both Excel & PDF).

Scan the Easy doc first, and look up your mods to find which category your car should be in.
Then open the SCCA rules doc, and skip ahead to the section on your category.  Find your car in that section to get your class.

If you get a clear answer from all that, then great!  You're done.
But it's not always that simple, and we're happy to help. 

I've never looked at it from an RV perspective, but I think that turn from Broad St (i.e. the Milton route) onto Race Track Rd might be a bit tricky in a long vehicle.  Based only on that, I'd lean toward the Calvary route.  Check it out with Google street view and see what you think.

The only downside to taking Calvary is that there isn't much on 360/58 where you turn off, if you want to shop or gas up before getting to the track you have to get closer to Danville.  (There are gas pumps at the track but they definitely charge you for the convenience!)

Look, Ma, no hands!!!





p.s. to Keath: the pics don't seem to be organized into an album, just go to the photostream and click through.  Second heat pics come first, then around page 19 or 20 you get to first heat.

For the record - the organizers make a good effort to match up instructors with students, based on car & experience.
It's not a perfect system but it usually works out okay.

If so then there were a number of awesome cars out there yesterday.   

(Cool effect, btw!)

There are some worker assignments that can be performed sitting down.
Anything inside the trailer, for example, or spotter.
And these days even the starter can do his job from a chair. 

The trick is to get to registration early enough to snag one of those jobs.
(Or, volunteer in advance to do early gate duty.)

Thanks for getting them up so fast!!  
(And thanks to Travis, whose absence gave me first place in class.  lol)

Gotta say, the 2nd heat showdown of the "46 Club" was a real nail biter!!


Dumb question - how come the detailed results only show five runs?

Instructor assignments have been posted, same DE Documents page.

They'll be announced at the drivers' meeting Friday morning, so it's optional
whether you print or even look at the list before you go.  I don't recognize the
names of any of our instructors (mine included) so I can't offer any insights.

     https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=4669169377928&l=9f42a85758

It helps to not have a passenger.

Actually that's a good spot too.   Let's shoot for that then.

Let's see, making a few assumptions for our so-far-silent partners it looks like we'll need space for:
1 RV
3 tow vehicles
4 trailers
6 cars

Did I miss anything?

Shucks -- that's not Chris, that's a C1.    Besides it doesn't have a fibertail.

I'm staying at the Lodge, I think the Cheneries are too.

It would be neat if we can all set up in the paddock together.   (Even if you're staying on site,
you don't normally go all the way back to your room between sessions.)  I'm bringing an EZ-up
canopy and a table & 2 chairs, plan to set up on Thursday as soon as they let us in the paddock. 
I don't mind marking off an area for several cars if I'm early, but it can get kind of awkward if
everyone else is really late.     Anybody else think they might get there Thursday afternoon?

I like being in section 1 or 2 on this map:   http://virnow.com/files/2012/04/NPaddockUtilitiesMap.jpg
since it's close to all the organizational action (tech, meetings, classrooms, food, bathrooms, etc).

You can leave stuff in the paddock overnight, it's pretty safe.  I wouldn't leave anything
really valuable, or that would get messed up by a little weather.  But it's an easy way to
mark your spot so you don't have to find a new one every morning.