No longer a novice....

[quendi]

I posted this on Monday to NebariNixar's personal forum. I hope you don't mind that I share it with you as well. The reference to LRM is the Nixar's latest novel entitled Low Red Moon.


I engaged in activities yesterday that I never imagined myself doing. I would like to share the experience with all of you since it involves LRM and Farscape to an extent.

My best friend Nick and I both have high performance sports cars. Unfortunately, when using these cars on the road, you really don't have the opportunity to drive them the way they were intended. So, with much convincing from Nick, we registered to compete in a local auto-cross event at the Dixie Fairgrounds in Winston-Salem, NC.

Now for those of you unfamiliar with auto-cross, essentially you have a course that is about one mile long set up with cones and chalk. The cones are laid out to create twists and turns, slaloms, large sweepy curves and such. The object is to get through the course as fast as you can without hitting any cones.

There were probably 60 cars in the competition with 70 drivers, drivers can share a car. The cars are broken down into different classes depending on modifications and engine size. Nicholas and I ran with our regular car classes, but we raced as "Novices" against 17 other novice drivers.

Unbelievably, after two heats of two runs, I came in first place. I had no intention of really competing with the other drivers. I felt this was more a competition with myself, relying on my 25 years of videogame experience to do well. I'm certain the countless hours of Gran Turismo 3 and Project Gotham Racing 2 bolstered my abilities. I was completely gobsmacked by earning top dog, as was Nick since he has the beefier car.

I'm so impressed with my little Talyn. Yes, I named my car after the Farscape character, but only with the approval of many 'Scapers. I did not expect my car to handle as well as he did since he's completely stock. I was happy to get in some CRK advertising since there ended up being a very diverse group of drivers at the event, ranging from alterna-boys to ricers.

I just wish I had remembered to put my very large "Watch Farscape" magnet on my car.

[NYPinTA]

See, video games are a good thing. ;)

:D

[VBKatLou]

Congratulations quendi. :)

"It is like Space Invaders!" :rollin:

Jewel of the Nile

[atlantagirl]

Congrats!!! Won't this make a great story to tell Ben!!?? :D :D

:vroom:

[grinner]

What type of car do you have and what class is it in? I typically run in Street Modified or Street Prepared.

[quendi]

Originally posted by grinner
What type of car do you have and what class is it in? I typically run in Street Modified or Street Prepared.

Thanks for the accolades everyone, it was very exciting indeed.

Grinner, I have a completely stock 2003 Acura RSX Type-S. He falls into the Dstock category, but I raced in the novice class since it was my first time. Now that I've won novice, I must race in the DS class. I am planning on making some upgrades to the car, ie suspension, wheels and tires. I'm hoping that helps me shave off a few seconds.

[grinner]

whatever you do... don't do more than 1.5 on the toe out on your wheels. You won't do anything else but go thru tires. Get sticky tires.

I run an all wheel drive turbo car and go up against some very interesting vehicles.

[quendi]

Originally posted by grinner
whatever you do... don't do more than 1.5 on the toe out on your wheels. You won't do anything else but go thru tires. Get sticky tires.

Thanks for the advice. I have pretty much resigned myself to -1 degree of camber on the front wheels only. According to Mugen, that's the optimum setting for street and track use.

I run an all wheel drive turbo car and go up against some very interesting vehicles.

Are you in a Imprezza WRX?

[grinner]

Nope a 1988 Mazda 323 GTX. It is a 1.6l turbo car. However, that engine/tranny is coming out and a 1.8l engine and tranny from a 1991 Mazda 323 GTR is going into its place. Then the engine will be stroked to 2.0l so I should be able to have 260+BHP without going above 8lbs of boost. If I were to boost the engine as much as I do now... I run 18lbs of boost on the 1.6l, I should get about 320+BHP. All this in a car that weighs less than 2200 pounds. That will be a Scooby killer:)