The downshift was necessary to get out of the dig, where the Solstice was killing us. If you were carrying speed into that sweeper, then your were most likely way too far away from the inside cones, which would have increase real estate and kill at least a second in that U-turn. I went really tight without pinching, and shifted to first to get a jump out of the dig. On saturday it gained me half a second on that last run, since I did everything else similar to my previous runs. If I didn't go to first, then the Solstice would have me for lunch

 

Congrats Jadrice! I was standing with the Schoonmakers at the end of their heat when you came up to talk with them. I've known Alan and Adam for years. Great guys!

 

That's interesting, yeah I basically went outside before it so i came in at as much of an angle as possible so I stayed tight in the turnaround ( I was just barely on the inside of the manhole cover or whatever it was) but kept up my speed. The second day it worked since I basically stayed in vtec. The first day I should have done it your way. The only place I lost real estate the 2nd day was in coming in wide from the slalom and coming out wide, but I don't think I lost much from that.

Anyway that definitely gives me something to think about, thanks.

 

He was fun to watch!

 

Thanks Jadrice!!! You're the man. A brilliant two-day drive to take your bagillionth National Tour win, epic!!! So much fun running with you man, a great experience.

Edit: I did end up nabbing top PAX on Sunday!!! Haha. Oh man. All smiles over here. I think my heart is still pounding from Sunday's runs...

Link to Pax Results: http://www.sccaforums.com/forums/for...e/posts#405710

 

Nicely done! Makes you want to run an S2000 again doesn't it?

 

So overall, just an awesome time. The most fun I've had at a National Event. Jadrice Toussaint = superb driver, superb setup man, and just a great person. It was truly a pleasure running with him. He is relaxed, but hyper focused and intense when appropriate (I think similar to my attitude at events which worked well for us) and very passionate about autocross (you all know how I feel about it, ). I loved every minute of it. I also learned a lot of very good new trade secrets running from him; setup methodology and car preparation sorts of things that are valuable for anyone that is competing at the top of a hotly contested B-Stock class with some amazing talent across the country.

The event was fantastic. Just hopping in to the car on Saturday morning, I gave it all I had and had some blistering pace, but managed to nearly spin, or put it in the horrific off-line marbles in one of the sweepers on each run. With no seat time in the car I struggled with the setup and overdrove the car; I had to learn the setup as quickly as I could and took some chances to do so, and just started to figure it out on my 3rd run, though I still parked it in the marbles in the turnaround, but otherwise nailed the course on my dirty 63.5. That was 62 second pace for sure for me, and we both definitely could have done low 62's on day one!!! Jay beasted the "130R" sweepwer at the end and went bowling for cones apparently! Like Jay said, the car was very light and twitchy for us Day 1, which Jay fixed going in to Sunday, and the car was transformed in balance on Sunday. Still, on Saturday he banked a conservative, but still very solid 63.1 on his second run prior to ensure he would have a shot for the win on Sunday in a tight battle with Paul Kozlak, and he delivered! And yall should know - Jadrice is a great competitor - timing failed to call in a cone that he knew he had hit on his 2nd run on day two - a run that would have given him a few tenths worth of insurance over Paul - and Jay made sure that the sheets were fixed. That's some sportsmanship right there.

The car itself is a BEAST. The CR is just digusting in it's raw pace. Vicious acceleration (especially in the mid range), brilliant grip with the 275's and much more "optimal for R-comp use" spring rates front and rear, with AP1 ballpark weight add up to a machine that is just about as perfect as you can get for a typical autocross course. It was an absolute blast to drive; the sickest autocross car I have ever driven. I wonder if CR#2 is for sale? hahaha!

The setup on the car is magic too, and I think Jay has nailed it. I'm not going to delve in to his setup too much; I respect his competitive advantage and I'll let him share if he wants to. But the car is not your typical BS s2000 that needs alot of front bar to work well and therefore results in more of a pushy car in sweepers. Jay's car is setup to be early and tidy on the brakes and get on the power early in corners and rotate on power at exit; the back end following the front in great balance. It's a very easy setup to drive 8/10ths, but very difficult to master as you either get it right and blaze the sweepers or you're out in the marbles. The car is also not a car you dive in to a slalom heavy on the brakes with, or apply significant throttle in the slalom with - the fastest way through the slalom, as Jay clearly described, was fast at entry, but with a very smooth and steady maintenance throttle. It's hair-raising, but silly-fast if you get it right. Jay did his work to get this car right; a monster in sweepers, and forcing you to be surgical in slaloms. This setup - and I mean specifically his setup, (seperate from his chassis) is a completely commited, drive it right and fly, or overdrive and crash setup. Superb.

Last, I really made some adjustments to my driving technique to extract the most from Jay's setup on Sunday, and combined it with staying particularly tight on the cones in the sweepers, (being off them completely killed my runs on Saturday.) This, combined with great rear tires allowed be to really push with confidence, and really NAILED many of the corners and allowed me to "link the subtle slip angles" of suspension unloading and lay down some heart pounding precision runs. Really, the magic was all in the back of the car (all due to Jay's credit in taking care of the tire issue) and gave me the confidence to attack. It was a special moment setting the pace on day 2 - with Jay letting out a roar after I ripped the 61.5 + 1 on my first run. To have Jay rooting me on like that was special. Thanks Jay. I also let out a series of obnoxious roars when he layed down the 61.4 + 1 (which I didn't know he hit a cone on until he told me!!).

The next run was fixing a few small bobbles and laying down a clean 61.1. Everything worked perfectly. The car could have done a 60.8 I think on my third, but I pushed just a little too hard at entry in to the left hand "1st gear" turnaround which cost a few tenths. Jay had a brilliant "3rd sector" on his third run, and I think would have been knocking on the door of 60's were it not for the triple first gear downshift, haha!

Taking PAX on Sunday and raw timing super-stock was particularly awesome! And the kudos from other racers was a great feeling. I'm glad that I was able to show my potential on Sunday and do Jadrice and you other great S2000 drivers proud!!! We're a fast bunch, me thinks The only thing I regret the whole weekend, was not winning Jay another tire, hahah!!


ROFL Comment of the weekend that me and Jay enjoyed from a random corner worker after he found we were the 95/195 CR Drivers: " Yeah you guys were fast, it must have been a B-Stock Course..." Jay and I exhchanged glances and knowing chuckles

Though, there is one secret I will share, the whole reason for the dominance of Jay and his CR...stayed tuned to this thread for a photo coming tonight

I <3 Autocross.

-Nick Barbato

 

Nicely done! Makes you want to run an S2000 again doesn't it?
[/quote]

Yes Sir. I want a CR!!!

 

Thanks Jon!!

Great driving by you in STR.

 

Ha!

It certainly wasn't an F-mod course. I'm bruised and battered! We're gonna have to go through the car looking for damage before Toledo. How can a National Tour be run on such a bumpy lot?