I beat the AutoX masters today.
09-07-2008, 07:10 PM
#1
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St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11,'19,'22
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I beat the AutoX masters today.
Today was competition day and I show up early and the event organizer approaches me to inquire if Joan can drive my car today. I say "Sure" she doesn't have to ask. Turns out Steve Burger and Joan Clark (both won the SS and SSL division) in my group last season broke their '01 Z06 (MAJOR DIALED IN CAR) yesterday during practice.
Our group has produced MULTIPLE national champions in Autocross, so it's a TOUGH group. Despite having a C6 Z vs. Steve's C5 Z, I've never beat him. I'm battling with Joan in SS this season and we are neck-and-neck. Going into today, she had me by one point.
Leaving today, I beat BOTH Steve and Joan. Granted, it's my car, so seat time helps, but both have driven my car before.
It tells me that I can in-fact drive. Car setup is a HUGE issue. We are now discussing having Joan and Steve co-drive my Z06 next season. I have NO CLUE how to work on cars. Steve is a wizard in that. I'm going to get some Pfadt shocks and a front sway bar in the next 30 days. They would contribute to the Hoosiers for the season and Steve will work on the car and get it dialed in.
I think I have a car that can win outright in this group.
I can't wait.
Best Guess, I finished 7th or 8th raw time out of 90+ cars.
Will post a video later.
Our group has produced MULTIPLE national champions in Autocross, so it's a TOUGH group. Despite having a C6 Z vs. Steve's C5 Z, I've never beat him. I'm battling with Joan in SS this season and we are neck-and-neck. Going into today, she had me by one point.
Leaving today, I beat BOTH Steve and Joan. Granted, it's my car, so seat time helps, but both have driven my car before.
It tells me that I can in-fact drive. Car setup is a HUGE issue. We are now discussing having Joan and Steve co-drive my Z06 next season. I have NO CLUE how to work on cars. Steve is a wizard in that. I'm going to get some Pfadt shocks and a front sway bar in the next 30 days. They would contribute to the Hoosiers for the season and Steve will work on the car and get it dialed in.
I think I have a car that can win outright in this group.
I can't wait.
Best Guess, I finished 7th or 8th raw time out of 90+ cars.
Will post a video later.
Last edited by Datawiz; 09-07-2008 at 09:15 PM.
09-07-2008, 08:37 PM
#10
Melting Slicks
nice job! I've been at events with both Joan and Steve - both excellent competitors 
sounds like a great deal for next season...
I grew up in Fort Myers/Cape Coral... I've got to get back down there with the car to run at Buckingham one of these days... I've heard its a fantastic site
sounds like a great deal for next season... I grew up in Fort Myers/Cape Coral... I've got to get back down there with the car to run at Buckingham one of these days... I've heard its a fantastic site
09-07-2008, 08:40 PM
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nice job! I've been at events with both Joan and Steve - both excellent competitors sounds like a great deal for next season...
I grew up in Fort Myers/Cape Coral... I've got to get back down there with the car to run at Buckingham one of these days... I've heard its a fantastic site
sounds like a great deal for next season... I grew up in Fort Myers/Cape Coral... I've got to get back down there with the car to run at Buckingham one of these days... I've heard its a fantastic site
Steve and Joan are such nice people. I enjoy hanging around with them. It never crossed my mind to not let them run my car.
It was worth every penny.
09-07-2008, 08:46 PM
#12
Melting Slicks
that's pretty 
I know concrete is hard on tires, but I love it! Good sites with that surface are getting REALLY hard to come by anywhere in the SE...
I know concrete is hard on tires, but I love it! Good sites with that surface are getting REALLY hard to come by anywhere in the SE...
09-07-2008, 08:58 PM
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My best run:
This was a 73.538.
FTD was 70.8
This was a 73.538.
FTD was 70.8
09-07-2008, 09:11 PM
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I'm sad I didn't run the video on Steve's run. I was working the course. It was a true delight to TRULY hear my car being run by a great driver. It sounded SO mean and powerful when Steve drove it.
Joan's best run (74.4):
Joan's best run (74.4):
09-07-2008, 09:25 PM
#15
Melting Slicks
That place is freaking AWESOME!!! I would LOVE to have a place that big to run where drivers get 70+ second runs! Today we were lucky to get 5 runs at an average 40 seconds!!!
VERY nice driving
VERY nice driving
09-07-2008, 09:30 PM
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According to the odometer on my bicycle, today's course was exactly 1-mile long.
I love running there.
09-08-2008, 09:03 AM
#17
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You may have demonstrated what has already been postulated...the C5Z is a better autox car than the C6Z. If Steve and Joan can beat you in Steve's C5Z and can't beat you in a C6Z then maybe it's because the C5Z is the better car for autox.
Just a thought...
Just a thought...
09-08-2008, 09:31 AM
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Mine is 100% stock except for the Hoosiers. Steve has done a lot of shock, front strut and lowering to his. I think with the same setup on mine, it would be the car to beat.
09-08-2008, 09:59 AM
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The C6Z has been available for 3 years now and has yet to win a trophy at anything higher than a local event, FWIW.
But who knows, in the right hands maybe it could be made to work. It's just that the C5Z, the Elise and the GT3 all won National Trophies in their first year of availability.
Last edited by TedDBere; 09-08-2008 at 10:06 AM.
09-08-2008, 10:13 AM
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Sounds like a good day! I still want to come over there for one of your events, as the parking lot courses we have are starting to get old. Steve and Joan are both very fast drivers. I've never edged Steve, but managed to beat Joan once in my 2000 FRC (I think she was having an off day). I'm looking forward to competing against them now that I have a Z06 that will be on V710s.
Won't that put you out of SS?
Won't that put you out of SS?
