<VV> Road trip/.Street Race

[levair at aol.com]

     We just got back to Indiana from our vacation trip to Florida to 
vist Sharon's relatives and attend the  St Augustine SECC/CFA autocross 
event.  It was beautiful weather  in Florida, and of course exactly the 
same in Indiana--go figure.

     This event just cannot be missed regardless of the weather. It is 
close to the ocean and a breeze is always there, plus a short rain 
shower every day after lunch, but immediately drying off.

     The course reminds me of a  surburban housing development without 
the houses. All of the appropriate green street signs are at the 
intersections. All of the connecting grippy asphalt streets have 
sweeping turns between the intersections. There is even a culda sac/ 
skid pad. The skid pad seems to be made of polished marble. One drop of 
rain means instant spin out, which I unfortunately discovered to the 
spectators and my passenger's delight. .
   This site must be used for police pursuit training.
    I brought the  SCCA specific  EM Corvair roadster primarily for the 
easier/cheaper  towing, but the great break in the fuel prices made 
that moot. Next year at the Convention I intend to bring the Corvair  
event specific Stinger; unless of course the fuel is $4.00 again.

     Fast Edie Meadows (one of the fast guys who didn't bring a car) 
designed 3 great flowing courses.  One for the Sat. morn Test and tune, 
a  tighter  one for the Sat. afternoon timed runs (with the slick skid 
pad)  and a really fast one for Sunday morning that was .9 miles long. 
On Sunday, I was able to use third gear all of the way around even 
through the alternate choice lane changes and the slaloms on the 
straight to slow the straights down. Even so I was able to red line in 
3rd gear at the end of both straights (3.27/std. Saginaw).
    The only other pylons were to block off unused routes. No one got 
lost and only about 6 pylons were hit the entire weekend.
     This was in effect a small road course visible by all spectators 
ala the Marshall Town small track.
   A neat feature was the use of two competeting club cars from rival 
Corvair clubs. Each had at least 6 drivers.
   the scores were to be averaged and a club winner announced. Each car 
was TOTALLY  stock---something you never see in SCCA. Stock tires, 
shock, carbs, antiroll bars, etc. Plus all of the parts were about 45 
years old-contributing to some strange handling.
    I was asked to drive both with one lap practice lap  to set some 
handicap guide lines. The both handled like early models  (see previous 
  paragraph-last sentence) and the time difference was negligible. It 
was great fun and certainly de ja vu for me. You certainly have to 
think ahead.
    I was able to win because all of the super fast guys that I invited 
to run didn't show---you know who you are.  Club president, Tim Mahler 
drove VERY well and might have won on the PAX if we had one.
    I recommend the Sunday course for the Convention, what ever that is 
worth. I'm speed addicted.
    It was a great vacation in all respects. I really enjoyed the super 
friendly Corvair family. We even had free Sub sandwiches for lunch. We 
had lots of fun runs with passenger/victims.
      Some one elese will have to post the winning cars and times.
   It's your loss if you miss this event in 09.
    We also had a great tour of Vintage downtown St. Augustine and a 
supper at a fine Italian restruant  there with friends. .
   It's too bad that you can't do it all; I understand that I missed a 
great event at Indy also.

Warren