Topic: SCCA Pro Solo at FedEx Last Weekend

[Ben L]

Did me first Pro Solo event last weekend, at FedEx Field.  Back on the big E lot, sealer and all.  What a cool format!  Two courses, side by side, set up to mirror each other as much as possible.  Two cars line up for a drag race start, with a Christmas tree.  Major advantage to he who cuts a good light, and no time on the run for a red light.  After a pass on one side, immediately switch to the other, then do it again, for two runs on each side.  No waiting between runs.  Best time on each side over the two day event was your score.

Very formal and official.  All cars had to wear a bunch of sponsor stickers, and there was contingency swag and money around. They put our Cobras in the R1 (race tire) class with fully gutted sticker tire cars, so we all got crushed, but I did not finish dead last at least. We had to weigh in and go to impound after our runs. They also enforced a noise limit which led to some creative scrambling Saturday night.  A few of Larry Casey's better runs were DQed for sound.

Some very competitive GXPs running in BSP.  Two local guys co-driving Eric Kreimelmeyer's heap, and one from Maine.  Definitely autox at a higher level.  It was hotter than hell, and a little intimidating, but great fun.

Here's a couple of laps from Saturday, one left side, one right, so you can get an idea --

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBBMDQ3OHh8

Here's the Sols in action --





And my FFR coupe, picking up the right front tire.

[Kelu]

  cool, so this was something like drag racing with curves? 

[Ben L]

Think drag racing, and instead of turning around after your pass, running an autox course.  Then immediately lining up and doing it again.  And again.  It is the coolest racing I've done (except for track trials, which is still king).

[Kelu]

Sweet, thank you for sharing

[Critterman]

Can't wait to get home so I can see! 

[DeepBlueGXP]

Very cool, thanks for posting.

[elff]

Very Cool
Did you happen to see a Red Solstice in A Stock driven by 2 guys?
Dave Heining and Rob Leone?
They are local to my area and very fast. 

[Vanguard]

It sucks that you're on the other side of the world Kelu...I used to go out tho the Friday night drags out here almost every weekend.  After my first Autocross event, I've never gone back to the strip.

[Kelu]

Vanguard: STOP IT, stop doing my life even miserable than it is 

[Vanguard]

Maybe you should start your own autocross events!!  You don't have to worry about SCCA insurance over there for set up either, so it should be that much easier

Now you just need to find some timing equipment and tons of cones...

[kennysabarese]

Here is an article about Pro Solo http://jalopnik.com/5481621/drag-racing-with-corners

[kennysabarese]

Ben is your datalogger for G force mounted backwards? I've noticed in your videos that they seem to be backwards in the video. Accelleration is red, braking green, and left and right go the wrong way.

[Brad Kenny]

Great video!!! Love the pics, thanks for the great update. Sorry they moved ya'll into a tough class. Looks fun!!!

[Critterman]

Almost as much fun on the video as ridding with you, naw - it's not even close watching   Are you staying in first the entire time or short shifting just before you go into the first turn, it is hard to tell?
 

[Ben L]

Actually, the beauty of the long run of the drag start is I got to do a quick shift to second at the top of the tach at the end of the launch. 

Unlike almost every other autox, where it is a short shift.  Look close, you'll see it.

[LatinVenom]

Very good video. Although I am still not seen much of a drag race. It look like a very short straight a way and then right into the autocross.
The sound of his car was really sweet, specially the 1st few seconds.

[Ben L]

LV -- You are right its a drag start only, but its amazing how much of an advantage a good reaction time at the lights (anything in the .50 - .67 range) gives you you for the rest of the course.  Those tenths add up!

[Critterman]

Ben's car sounds great all through the course.  Casey's cobra on the other hand can rattle trees, break windows, and create vortexes in the sound enviroment.  But it to has a sweet sound.