RNG Ideas

Tim M

Tim M

PRESIDENT, Member # 015
GCC Member
Location
St. Charles
First Name
Tim
Last Name
Mauldin
Since the drags are out for this year and foreseeable future, what other ideas do you have that would make RNG a better event?
 
Does anyone know if the drags definitely out altogether, or would Gateway possibly consider 1/8 mile runs rather than the full 1/4 mile as a "compromise"?

The auto-X and track time are obviously great, but the drags have been like the 3rd leg of a tripod for the event. That said, I understand their safety concerns with the speeds we attain in the 1/4 mile in cars with short wheelbases and minimal safety equipment in many cases (guilty as charged on that myself).

I am at a loss for an "alternative" that would reflect the all around capabilities of our cars along with track and auto-X, but hopefully someone will have an epiphany on the subject.

C'mon folks, put your thinking hats on - October isn't that far off.
 
I guess I will wait for Dean to answer that, but to my understanding that the drags are being discontinued due to safety. What do you think about a 0 - 100 - 0 times? What about an event like a slalom through cones? Anybody watch Bullrun on Speed? They had some interesting events.
 
If you would have seen that crash last year, there wouldn't even be a question. He was lucky to be alive. He had all of the safety equipment, and still wasn't running close to the top speeds of the day. There's some very fast cars at the event with little or no safety equipment at all, and some very inexperienced drivers (ME). I'll miss 'em too, but I would not want to watch a suicide at the track.

I do like the sound of slaloms event !
 
How about a controlled burnout competition (similar to London)??

I like the slalom idea. The 0-100-0 could be potentially as dangerous as the drag racing.
 
The 0-100-0 could be done on the parking lot, not a lot to hit there like the drags or roadcourse. As for the drags, know you limitations. If you've never done it, don't or take it easy. No need to show off.
 
Purple Venom said:
The 0-100-0 could be done on the parking lot, not a lot to hit there like the drags or roadcourse. As for the drags, know you limitations. If you've never done it, don't or take it easy. No need to show off.
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And that came from the guy we call Hollywood?!:eek:
 
Cobra Drifting Competition

I have never successfully drifted my Cobra one iota, but that doesn't mean it cannot be done.
 
Just had a couple of more ideas -- if I can remember them.....

How about a 200 foot-long area where the object is to get the lowest E.T. stop-to-stop. You would launch as fast as you can and then must stop with your front tires within a certain area. Teaches launch techniques as well as braking limitations. Might be especially good for a certain purple Cobra.

How about some basic trick driving skills like sliding sideways into a parallel parking spot and reverse spins. This could get drivers much more comfortable with their cars. This might fit in well with a skid pad to determine under/over steer and how to control/compensate.
 
That 200 foot acceleration/stop between the lines run sounds like a REAL good possibility to me. I'd enjoy that.

(It might give the SB guys more of a chance against the BB guys.
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What! Another SB guy? Mark, we need to recruit some BB guys, or go help Paul and Clyde finish theirs. How could you monitor the speed? Honor system? :rolleyes:
 
TBULL, not much math involved. It shouldn't be too complicated to do. All you need is someone at the finishline with a stopwatch who pushes a button when he drops his arm to start you, and pushes the other button when he sees that you are fully stopped. If you go past the finish line, or stop more than say 10 feet from the finishline, the run is disqualified.

I think we should volunteer someone not too essential to use the stopwatch who's pretty quick on his feet in case someone gets squirrelly at the end of a run. Like maybe Clois (we gotta keep him off the track as much as possible with his new coupe - it looks like it will be VERY quick). I'd volunteer to do it, but I'd make too big a target - sort of like the guy at the driving range who drives the cart around picking up the golf balls, and I'm so slow that I'm not a threat to anyone in my class. :D
 
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So, what would stop me from doing say 90, and coming to a stop? I save a few tenths and feet in the process.
 
200 feet isn't much of a test. You'd barely get going, so stopping wouldn't be too hard either. The point of this run is to test acceleration, stopping power, driver control and finesse. Now, if it was 200 yards - that would give plenty of room for acceleration and high speed, and then picking your braking point and stopping power will test control and skill. Take the best pass out of 3 attempts. If you stop more than say 5 feet short you'd get a 1 sec penalty. Cross the finishline by more than 3 feet - 2 second penalty.

Could even throw in a couple of slalom cones at the head.

Just my .02
 
ROUSHAC said:
I think we should volunteer someone not too essential to use the stopwatch who's pretty quick on his feet in case someone gets squirrelly at the end of a run. Like maybe Clois (we gotta keep him off the track as much as possible with his new coupe - it looks like it will be VERY quick). I'd volunteer to do it, but I'd make too big a target - sort of like the guy at the driving range who drives the cart around picking up the golf balls, and I'm so slow that I'm not a threat to anyone in my class. :D
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Dave, You would make a fine target, something to actually shoot for with an extra point for knocking you down :D. As far as timing, If the regional SCCA group that runs the Autocross could be talked into it, their lights and timers could be used to take the human factor out of the timing so there could be no claims of a slow stopwatch reaction. The event would never fly if anyone was put in any kind of danger anyway. It would have to be a finesse and braking power thing, I don't think Gateway is going to allow anything higher than Autocross speeds out on the lot.
 
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