05-14-2007, 08:57 AM
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George Schweikle
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Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Lexington, KY
Posts: 1,968
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Autocross
Autocross is a lower level of motorsport, but still competition. While there's a great thread in the Spider section about the battles of John M and Budsy (Little italian), I thought to start a more general autocross thread. Here are a few pictures to start...(quiz for the day; what needs to be repaired on my car?)
__________________
George Schweikle
Co-chairman 2011 AROC Convention: ALFAS IN THE BLUEGRASS, Lexington, KY
1976 Spider (Dedicated Autocrosser, "SPICA, No Carbs")
1991 Spider Veloce (Retirement cruiser)
Scuderia Non Originale
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05-14-2007, 09:15 AM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Apr 2003
Posts: 1,698
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Besides the fact that you should be protested for running the wrong bumpers?? 
We were *supposed* to go out to our first 2007 autocross yesterday, but sadly, while prepping the car Saturday, I found a very, very bad inner tie rod end. I'll replace it tonight, but still have not autocrossed this season.
If anyone is interested, AROC Detroit is hosting an DCSCC Champ autocross this coming weekend (5/20) at Oakland University in Rochester, MI. This *was* supposed to be the lot for the national convention, but trailer parking is of higher priority than we are, so we are forced to find a different lot.
Sorry, George, all you learned from last year went out the window...
Along those lines, my new "racecar" is coming along slowly. Finally getting around to welding on the body panels, and still finding new rust to repair. Now I have to weld in a new tube for the radiator support cross member. Not a big deal, but still a PITA. I'm hoping to have her on the road for the end of the season, perhaps even take her to the track in the fall.
Can't wait to get out there again!
Eric
ps- Bud and John "battling"?? Ah, the real reason of global warming.... so much CO2 coming out of their mouths!!  Lets see how they do at our convention. I will guess they will both be beaten by Ines and Dee. 
Last edited by turbolarespider; 05-14-2007 at 09:22 AM.
Reason: trying to be funny
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05-14-2007, 10:51 AM
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Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 324
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Nice looking spider, how competitive is it in your class?
I didn't notice anything broken but it looks like there is a cable hanging low next to the rear passenger side tire.
I just did my first AutoX event in the Philly region SCCA.
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84 GTV6 - 3.0L, headers, Sport Rear springs, Bilstien Shocks, LSD
87 Milano Platinum 74 GTV
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05-14-2007, 11:42 AM
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South Texas Member
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Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Corpus Christi, TX
Posts: 890
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George,
I would say Brake lights. Looks like your on them in pict. 3 (or was it 4).
Beautiful car by the way. I have that great shot of you sliding in the rain a few years ago as one of my screen saver slides.
Here are a couple of me and mine..
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Get out there and DRIVE!!!
Bill
'78 Spider
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05-14-2007, 12:13 PM
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George Schweikle
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Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Lexington, KY
Posts: 1,968
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Hi Bob,
How competitive in class?. It depends on what size fish you are in what size pond. I have had FTD in autocross at the last four AROC National Conventions but was 18th out of 27 cars in D street Prepared at the SCCA National Championships in Topeka last year. If you just started autocrossing, watch the really fast guys, even in stock class cars. Some of these people are simply amazing, and some of my local competitors have joined this crowd. Example; at last week's local SCCA event, the total time between the top five DSP cars was .415 second.
I have a friend who drives a DSP Nissan Sentra, and he got tired of me always being faster so, when he asked how to improve, I recommended more seat time. Well... Andy runs every weekend from March to November. Guess who's faster now? (of course, his being over 30 years younger doesn't hurt either).
Yep, the cable showing in picture #4 is the emergency brake cable. Gotta secure that thing before the Convention.
It appears in your pictures that you are giving the GTV-6 a good run. These (actually all Alfas) are very rare in big SCCA Autocross events although we used to see a guy out of Utah that did very well in a GTV-6.
 Quote:
Originally Posted by bobsiopener
Nice looking spider, how competitive is it in your class?
I didn't notice anything broken but it looks like there is a cable hanging low next to the rear passenger side tire.
I just did my first AutoX event in the Philly region SCCA.
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__________________
George Schweikle
Co-chairman 2011 AROC Convention: ALFAS IN THE BLUEGRASS, Lexington, KY
1976 Spider (Dedicated Autocrosser, "SPICA, No Carbs")
1991 Spider Veloce (Retirement cruiser)
Scuderia Non Originale
Last edited by conedriver; 05-14-2007 at 06:35 PM.
Reason: Added local event results
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05-14-2007, 01:33 PM
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George Schweikle
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Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Lexington, KY
Posts: 1,968
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Hi Eric,
Quote:
Originally Posted by turbolarespider
Besides the fact that you should be protested for running the wrong bumpers?? |
Quote:
...If anyone is interested, AROC Detroit is hosting an DCSCC Champ autocross this coming weekend (5/20) at Oakland University in Rochester, MI. This *was* supposed to be the lot for the national convention, but trailer parking is of higher priority than we are, so we are forced to find a different lot.
Sorry, George, all you learned from last year went out the window...
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Aww phooey... I really liked the Oakland University site (as long as you provide adequate run off area at the finish. Check out the website articles of the "$100,000 carnage" after a Porsche ran past the finish at a Solo event in Oregon). Would you know if the Fiat Lancia Freakout will use the site for their autocross the week before the AROC convention? (or if they will have one at all?). We had planned to come up a week early to run the event, but haven't really found any details on the Fiat Lancia website.
Quote:
Along those lines, my new "racecar" is coming along slowly. Finally getting around to welding on the body panels, and still finding new rust to repair. Now I have to weld in a new tube for the radiator support cross member. Not a big deal, but still a PITA. I'm hoping to have her on the road for the end of the season, perhaps even take her to the track in the fall.
Can't wait to get out there again!
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Pictures of your new racecar?. will you have it at the convention?
Quote:
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ps- Bud and John "battling"?? Ah, the real reason of global warming.... so much CO2 coming out of their mouths!! Lets see how they do at our convention. I will guess they will both be beaten by Ines and Dee.
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"Global Warming" is great... I'm gonna post this in their thread.
__________________
George Schweikle
Co-chairman 2011 AROC Convention: ALFAS IN THE BLUEGRASS, Lexington, KY
1976 Spider (Dedicated Autocrosser, "SPICA, No Carbs")
1991 Spider Veloce (Retirement cruiser)
Scuderia Non Originale
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05-14-2007, 02:29 PM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Apr 2003
Posts: 1,698
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Quote:
Originally Posted by conedriver
Hi Eric,
Hah... AROC Competition code sections A and A1, parts D, says there's nothing wrong with using those bumpers just as long as I claim the additional points (so there...).
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Quote:
Aww phooey... I really liked the Oakland University site (as long as you provide adequate run off area at the finish. Check out the website articles of the "$100,000 carnage" after a Porsche ran past the finish at a Solo event in Oregon). Would you know if the Fiat Lancia Freakout will use the site for their autocross the week before the AROC convention? (or if they will have one at all?). We had planned to come up a week early to run the event, but haven't really found any details on the Fiat Lancia website.
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I would not count on them having an autocross- we ran their last year (as you know), and will not do it this year, since we will be in the final stages of the convention planning (actually, the event starts the Saturday prior if you count the lake huron tour).
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Pictures of your new racecar?. will you have it at the convention?
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Doubtful. She still requires lots of work, and I also have a '60 Sprint that should get finished. I'm SO swamped with projects, and I have a 2 week development trip in June...
As for pictures, picture a red GTV on jack stands with lots of bondo dust all over her. That's it..
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"Global Warming" is great... I'm gonna post this in their thread.
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[/quote]
please feel free to source that to me...
E
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05-14-2007, 03:52 PM
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George Schweikle
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Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Lexington, KY
Posts: 1,968
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Actually, this is covered under the Street Prepared "Update / Backdate" rule.
Quote:
Originally Posted by turbolarespider
I was talking SCCA... ilegal light stainless bumpers... |
__________________
George Schweikle
Co-chairman 2011 AROC Convention: ALFAS IN THE BLUEGRASS, Lexington, KY
1976 Spider (Dedicated Autocrosser, "SPICA, No Carbs")
1991 Spider Veloce (Retirement cruiser)
Scuderia Non Originale
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05-14-2007, 04:50 PM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Philadelphia
Posts: 883
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Hey All,
I've begun an AutoX campaign in my GTV6 as well. Bob and I are both in the Philly area. He was running some R-Compounds in GS while I was running some Ecsta MXs in STS. I left a lot of time out there on the course but still finished 'mid-pack' in STS. Though the local dominator Cy Lee was about 7 seconds in front of me, so I still have much improving to do. 
Also his car is completely maximized for the class, while I just have some Bilsteins.
And it's true, some of the local guys are fantastic drivers. Watching Dave Newman (SCCA National Champion in XP) drive his 1970 911 must be like watching DaVinci paint. It's epic.
Enjoy these pics of the most recent Philly Warminster Community Park AutoX (and please ignore my distance from the cone in the second picture ):
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James
1984 GTV6
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05-14-2007, 05:43 PM
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Location: San Jose, California
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Nice pictures!
These have been up before, but this thread is actually appropriate!
I'll have some more photos after this weekend
__________________
1987 Milano Platinum - check for many new items. [B][COLOR="Red"][URL="http://alfabb.com/bb/forums/showthread.php?t=42980"]PARTING OUT[/URL][/COLOR][/B]
1989 Verde - Harsh shocks and SS rears, 27mm torsion bars, stainless lines, pads, 16X7.5 rims, 4.10 rebuilt platinum tranny, poly bushes, and RSR 28mm front and 25.4mm adjustable sways!
1984 GTV-6 - 80K miles
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05-14-2007, 06:33 PM
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George Schweikle
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Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Lexington, KY
Posts: 1,968
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Don't apologize, just tell people "it's an extreme late apex setting up for the next corner"
Quote:
Originally Posted by Echo Leader
... Enjoy these pics of the most recent Philly Warminster Community Park AutoX (and please ignore my distance from the cone in the second picture ): |
__________________
George Schweikle
Co-chairman 2011 AROC Convention: ALFAS IN THE BLUEGRASS, Lexington, KY
1976 Spider (Dedicated Autocrosser, "SPICA, No Carbs")
1991 Spider Veloce (Retirement cruiser)
Scuderia Non Originale
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05-14-2007, 08:07 PM
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Darkside Member
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Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Nebraska
Posts: 2,252
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Great Thread
Great idea George to start this thread! As you know I will be doing the autox at the Detroit Covention and it will be my first time. Do you have any advice for the people who have never autox before?
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05-14-2007, 08:38 PM
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Registered User
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Join Date: May 2004
Location: San Jose, California
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Don't worry about shifting gears, leave it in second.
You can gain a lot of time by braking efficiently. Get a feel for when you need to apply the brakes, and get on the hard, and mostly before the turn.
I say mostly, b/c with the exception of highly skilled/well practiced drivers, you will want to get your braking done before turn in. If you are hard on the brakes and attempt to turn in, you might lock up the front wheels and sail straight ahead.
And please don't keep turning the wheel if you're understeering! The only way you're going to get the car back in line is by reducing the steering a little, slightly getting on the brakes, and even pulling the hand brake (Yes, this technique does work...in a timed environment even).
__________________
1987 Milano Platinum - check for many new items. [B][COLOR="Red"][URL="http://alfabb.com/bb/forums/showthread.php?t=42980"]PARTING OUT[/URL][/COLOR][/B]
1989 Verde - Harsh shocks and SS rears, 27mm torsion bars, stainless lines, pads, 16X7.5 rims, 4.10 rebuilt platinum tranny, poly bushes, and RSR 28mm front and 25.4mm adjustable sways!
1984 GTV-6 - 80K miles
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05-15-2007, 04:47 AM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Philadelphia
Posts: 883
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Quote:
Originally Posted by conedriver
Don't apologize, just tell people "it's an extreme late apex setting up for the next corner"
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Quote:
Originally Posted by msiert
Great idea George to start this thread! As you know I will be doing the autox at the Detroit Covention and it will be my first time. Do you have any advice for the people who have never autox before?
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Enjoy yourself! As a novice, I think the most helpful thing was to walk the course multiple times, and when doing so walk the line you'll be taking (or attempting to take.....see my reply to condriver )
If you can get the course pretty well memorized (enough to not get lost), you'll have the time of your life. It's really addicting.
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James
1984 GTV6
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05-15-2007, 05:35 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by msiert
Great idea George to start this thread! As you know I will be doing the autox at the Detroit Covention and it will be my first time. Do you have any advice for the people who have never autox before?
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Top 3 reasons that we all autocross.
I know we will have a walk through for everyone- probably broken into 3 groups, one for me, one for George, and one for John Hoard- for anyone interested in a course walk.
I'll be desinging the course to be fairly easy to follow, but perhaps not so easy to go fast- George knows what I'm talking about. It will be fairly wide, with different colored cones on each side of you, plus a chalk line.
Plus we will also be doing the 2 sec per cone, 5 sec per missed gate, so if you still manage to go off course, you'll get a time.
Note- for those of you who have been autocrossing 105/115 cars for a LONG time w/o a panhard rod, the course WILL be generally going counter clockwise. Can't let George find areas of weakness, now can we?
Also, if you've raced with the SCCA only, throw that out the window in terms of style. For our event, there are no heats, and none of you are required to work. You can run whenever you want, including hot laps. We will accept your desire to work, and will reward you with free fun runs at the end of the event.
It was funny to see George and Dee do this down in Florida- it really took them a bit to figure out how we run... But we do this all for participant fun- since we all know who is going to set FTD well before the event starts (that would be George if you didn't know). There will be a handful of people really gunning for George and Dee (myself and Ines included), but in the end, all of you are going to have a really, really good time. That is, and always will be, our goal.
Eric
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