smeyers

The problem with Discount Tire is retention of the good tire technicians. Every now and then I'll find a good one, and then the next time there they are gone.

I too always bring loose tires and wheels.......never on the car. And pay with cash.

So are you guys quoting “dismounting, mounting, and balancing” for these prices? Old tires need to come off first, right?😉

It was traded to AutoNation Chevrolet Arrowhead about three weeks ago. Not sure if they are selling it there or another location. Tell them Scott sent you.😎 Funny, I just KNEW I should have called you first before trading it.........Damn. Konis, sway bar, exhaust, camber bolts......... all of it. AutoNation Chevrolet Arrowhead 9055 West Bell Road Peoria AZ 85382 (623) 748- 5317

Let me think, what cars like to slalom well? Miata, maybe? BRZ's? Damn, I used to have both of those. What was I thinking?😉 I did notice that each of the slalom rows have a different type of slalom. Single traditional, then a double cone version, and finally a "thick" with multiple cones for each element. Then the last row tosses in a (looks like) very short and narrow box to slow things down. Should be interesting. And we can guess all we want about what car any course favors, no one will know until that dust settles and the sun goes down. Despite the course designs, certain names seem to somehow keep rising to the top, Peters, Bucki, Balducci, Rowse, Wong.......... Guess they didn't get the memo about what cars the course favors.😂😎

Just one more “essential tool” for your collection.👍😎 Over the years when a special tool has been needed, that both does the job and saves time, I have learned to acquire them. I have quite the collection. If you ever need that special wrench for a unique Bugeye Sprite axle nut, I’m your guy to ask.😂 (not kidding).

Your car has experienced more than it’s fair share of mechanical massaging in recent times. Many pieces were unattached and then reattached. So in weeks to follow, a degree of settling will occur. Finding their new normal. Just that could explain the steering wheel. Easy fix. Check the toe anyway.😉

I have the Longacre toe plates, and they work just fine. Any name set would do the same, as would two straight aluminum or steel plates with two slots cut in them. Plenty darn accurate for our needs. Be sure to buy two measuring tapes exactly the same. Longacre comes with them. They will correct any toe issues, but will not straighten your steering wheel. That could be off, but your toe correct. You’d have to then only center your toe adjusters equally. They also would not address rear thrust angle, only the relative toe.

Nothing to work out, but thanks. I was all set to buy a Civic Sport, or Focus ST, or VW GTI, (or even BMW?) and luckily before doing so was very surprised to find that ALL of them had the pinch bolt front strut mounting system. Blew me away. I was interested in Street Classes. For such great sports sedans to all not have the ability to adjust front camber is such a shame. Not just from a purist autocross perspective, but also to have to flip tires on wheels at about half the tire wear is so……expensive and even unnecessary. Years ago (when I learned of this from my early Mazda3’s) I floated the idea to SCCA for all such cars just be allowed access in Street class to camber plates. Seemed to me to be a logical basic need. The official answer sent back was the expense involved was just too much. That made no sense to me, as flipping two to three sets of tires each season, across a few seasons surely was an avoidable expen$e. And it would add up. Basic camber plates are not that much. So I just decided to never again buy a car without access to simple (cam bolt) front camber, especially for local events. So, problem solved. Just avoid those cars. But it does limit one’s choices. You’d be surprised how many fun cars out there have gone to this cheaper alternative. And make no mistake, that is the reason. Cheaper. Of course, if a person who wants to enjoy these cars was not involved in track days or autocrossing, this would not be an issue, right..😉🤨😎 Thanks.

That Cam Crowd always takes the most interesting lines around the course. That’s why they’re so much fun to watch.👍😎😂

😂 Maybe. I want to know which was he’ll choose for the evil optional slalom. If Brian likes it, I like it.👍

Read here, from the AZSolo Website….. https://www.motorsportreg.com/events/pasr-solo-autocross-school-arizona-motorsports-park-scca-phoenix-az-910712?utm_source=apis&utm_medium=apim&utm_campaign=apic&utm_content=xml I had thought it was a two day event, so thanks for bringing this up. With all of our newer people, having this school is a both great idea and need. Glad to see us getting back to this.

Some surprising and interesting responses to the possible inclusion of a “hairpin” corner in local autocross courses. AKA, “Arizona Clump”. The full gamut of retorts. All the way from “Over my dead body”, to “Sounds interesting and a challenge, I’d like to try it”.😎 Here is the iconic Monaco Grand Prix “Grand Hotel Hairpin” corner, one of many in Formula One racing. AKA, a 180 degree corner. 😳 So if these highly skilled and accomplished drivers find this element a fitting and common event challenge, should not we accept that challenge too? They have mastered the techniques necessary to handle this well. So shouldn’t we?😉 Ponder that perspective.👍

I wondered if anyone would ask. Hasn’t been used for many years, but was a common element here for a long time. Took real technique. It was a simple, basic 180 degree turnaround at the end of a section, sending cars back that same segment. Good way to use space and add length on the smaller lots available many years. Usually required a downshift to first. That has fallen out of favor with the larger lots. Watching all of the failed efforts when people tried to find the “fast way” around it was ……interesting. There was no “fast” way. It was a…. 180.😂 Maybe time for a comeback?😉😎

For what it’s worth, at the last event at AMP, I am very sure I didn’t drive the same exact course or line as Brian Peters. Or even you. The optional slalom is not a “gimmick”, it is the same as how to take an open sweeper, or if you early apex or late apex any given corner. If you are FWD or RWD or even 4WD your lines will vary. Or should. Any course is chock full of many variables. Too bad you didn’t grow up around here. Then you’d know what an “Arizona Clump” was. And how to drive it. 😉 We don’t use those much anymore, but if we ever do…… I’m ready!😎😂 So from the map only, would you go left or right into this optional slalom? Then, after walking the course after it’s been set up, see if your choice changes. It very well could, depending on course setup.💁‍♂️

Regarding this question of optional slaloms, I too have served as Course Designer more than once over the years, and it was very common to have optional slaloms. Even after some events the drama/discussion would often continue over which direction was best. And often, the top drivers would each have excellent times even though they chose different directions. Go figure.🤔 Really adds some decision-making and thinking to an event. Hurrah to the course designer……”Bring it!” 👍😎😉

Will training, radio use, and some instructional behavior changes improve the accuracy w/o adding the complexity of numbers? Numbers won't solve missed downed cones or cones not called in within a timely & accurate manner because of inattentiveness. Training can be accomplished during cone clinics, novice walks, and during the drivers meeting. Yep…..simplest is always better, especially when it comes to involving a group of relatively inexperienced workers who only lack knowledge and practice. More complexity isn’t usually the answer. Better radio work here would help a bunch, followed by quick “cone over head” a close second. Observers are keyed into one car through the entire run, so the visual confirmation of a cone or no-cone would solve most issues. Always has.

I been thinking about this, and have decided that we just allow too many Miatas. So, simple solution…….Just ban Miatas and we’ll be just fine.😂 No numbers needed. I mean, just how many Corrados have you ever seen at an autocross, anyway?😉

Talk about a great "Turnkey" sale. Hell of a deal for someone that wants to join the sport with all of the "best stuff". It usually takes years of trial and error to put a package like this together. GLWS.

Totally and completely agree with this. I’d like to see numbers, but the process would need to be very simple and foolproof. Work course procedures need more work/training for all. Gotten sloppy.

Mark, in all seriousness, I’d like you to discuss these ideas with Lance and Jason B. We often do not have experienced people at some key positions. Sounds very simple, what could possibly go wrong? “Would not matter where cars grid”……..hmmm.

Chris M……regarding buying our own numbers……right now we are using grid numbers as car numbers, so please extrapolate that into how individual numbers would be used for scoring and grid? BTW, I still have my magnetics from when our Region 25 years ago tried assigning individual numbers to drivers. I know what numbers I want…😉

Want shade? Bring an umbrella. We do. Sid, what color should those numbers be 🤔? And two sets, right, one magnetic and one “Corvette”?😉 How would those be stored? Asking for a friend….😎

TireRack, when you buy the tires.

For a long time, (over 40 years) especially for local events, we’ve always used the “raise the cone above your head” for corner workers to make sure the cone gets counted. The Solo Safety Stewards monitor the launch times between cars to ensure adequate and safe cone replacement times. This is typically 25 seconds. Plenty of time to hustle out, signal and replace the cone, and hustle back to the station. Or wave your arms in front of you signaling no penalty. The corner worker does not need timing to wave back.😉 But it visually confirms the penalty. With a very wide range of inexperience within our worker corps this is necessary. That is the corner workers job. Not someone else's. This does not need to stop, just needs to be done correctly. Very effective. The Experienced Corner Captain working the radio is an excellent idea, but more work for Lance, as he’s got to know the more experienced individuals.