SCCA Solo Nationals

[snaponbob]

Am I going to be the only Saturn at Nationals?? I am going in with no visions of a trophy. Total entries are nearly 1200 with 64 in A/Stock where I will be. With at least 5-7 GXPs converted to Z0KT specs and all the very fast S2000s and C4 Vettes I am going for a "moral" victory of "best of the rest". All the mods have been done (OZ wheels, 295/30X18 A6's, VERY aggressive alignment, Solo Performance single pipe 3" cat-back, Koni SAs, Saner front bar, K&N filter) and the car has gotten rather quick. It sure handles better than it did at the beginning of the season. If I can get into the mid 20s position I will be thrilled. God, I hope it doesn't rain!!!!

[SkySoldier]

I only have 2 things to say. 1) SIC'EM!!!!!!!!!! 2)As far as we are concerned, you've already won a moral victory.

[Daywalker]

Good luck Bob. I know you can run with at least some of the ZOKs with your setup if your driving is dead on. Just have fun and keep us posted.

[TulsaSky]

First Have Fun Second go fast and do your best Third keep us posted on the event

TulsaSky

[snaponbob]

Well, day 1 of a 2 day here in KC only went so so. But I know what I did wrong. Now, I have to correct it on Sunday.

[TulsaSky]

Go get em Tiger
Ok so you did not blow the doors off today, that was today no regroup and lets do your best

Keep us posted and seriously good luck tomorrow!

TulsaSky

[snaponbob]

Well, day 2 was better. Not GREAT, but better. I took second in A/S, PAXed 18th. I guess that the good news is I am starting to gain some consistancy. But I am also consistantly not fast enough. Once some consistancy is in place it becomes a matter of constantly pressing a bit more each run. I have not raced a car that can generate the cornering loads that this one will since my 77 D/SP Civic in the late 80's, early 90's. THAT is where the times will improve. So, a local event this coming Sunday, a T&T at HPT the following Sunday, and the "big show" the following Thrusday-Friday.

If anybody is within a 4-6 hour drive and wants to see autocross at its best, come to Topeka anytime from Sept 25-28. It might make for a long "day trip", but based on what I saw there at the recent Divisional, there will be some amazing cars and driving to be seen.

[KappaMan]

INFO ON AUTOCROSSING NATIONALS! Only one SKY, a Redline, driven in AS by our own Snaponbob... see below.

http://www.scca.org/eventitems.aspx?...ent=5632&hub=3
2007 Tire Rack SCCA Solo National Championships
Heartland Park Topeka


Tues/West - Wed/East
Heat
Run
1
FSP, DM ,CSPL, STS2L
2
CS, FP, CPL, GPL, AML
3
STS2 ,FSAE, DML
4
CSP, GP, AM, FSPL
5
CP, CSL, FPL, FSAEL




Tues/East - Wed/West
Heat
Run
1
DSP, SM2
2
HS, CM, ESL, SML, BML
3
SS
4
SM, BM, DSPL, SM2L
5
ES, SSL, HSL, CML





Thur/West - Fri/East
Heat
Run Work
1
ASP, FM, GSL, F125L
2
STU, ASL, DSL
3
GS, F125
4
DS, STUL, ASPL, FML
5
AS






Thur/East - Fri/West
Heat
Run
1
FS, BSP, STSL, EML
2
XP, DP, EP, BSL
3
STS, FSL, STXL, BSPL, ESPL
4
BS, EM, XPL
5
STX, ESP, DPL, EPL



In other words,

AS runs the West course on Thurs, and East course on Friday. (5th heat)
ASL runs West course on Thurs, East course on Friday. (2nd heat)
CS runs West course on Tues, East course on Wednesday (2nd heat)
CSL runs West course on Tues, East course on Wednesday (5th heat)



AS (11 GXP, 1 SKY RL, 62 total entries!, 26 S2K, 9 Vettes, 5 Subaru, 10 Porsche either boxter or cayman, ):

27 Heinig, Dave
Yorklyn, DE 2007 Pontiac Solstice GXP Red
Kumho South Jersey Region NE

38 Boyett, Robert
Prospect, TN 2007 Pontiac Solstice GXP
Clark Electric Falken Tennessee Valley Region SE

Rietow, William
Highland, MI 2006 Pontiac Solstice Red
GM Performance Division Hoosier Detroit CN

86 Dahl, Alan
Federal Way, WA 2007 Pontiac Solstice GXP Ylw
Charles Frank, goldsmith/Brotherton Hoosier Northwest Region NP

90 Flynn, Nick
Morgantown, WV 2007 Pontiac Solstice GXP Ylw
Team Zissou / Powered by Beamish Hoosier Steel Cities Region NE

127 Leone, Robert
Southampton, PA 2007 Pontiac Solstice GXP Red
Phoenix Performance Kumho Philadelphia Region NE

138 McCrispin, Alan
Huntsville, AL 2007 Pontiac Solstice Blu
Hoosier Tennessee Valley Region SE

170 Buxbaum, Bob
Lees Summit, MO 2007 Saturn Sky Redline Slv
B3 Racing Hoosier Kansas City Region MW

185 Bunce, Steve
Clarkston, MI 2007 Pontiac Solstice GXP Red
GM Performance Division Hoosier Detroit Region GL

186 Frank, Charles
Durham, NC 2007 Pontiac Solstice GXP Ylw
Charles Frank, goldsmith/Hendrick Hoosier North Carolina Region SE

190 Woodall, Manfred
Pittsburgh, PA 2007 Pontiac Solstice GXP Ylw
Team Zissou Hoosier Steel Cities Region NE

194 Stemler, Eric
Peoria, IL 2007 Pontiac Solstice GXP Blu
Team Sandbag Hoosier Chicago Region CN



ASL (4 Solstices, 10 total entries, 4 Subaru, 1 older Vette, 1 S2k)

90 Dallas, Angela
Grosse Pointe Woods, MI 2007 Pontiac Solstice GXP Ylw
Team Zissou & Crazy 8s Racing Hoosier Detroit Region GL

96 Frank, Donna
Durham, NC 2007 Pontiac Solstice GXP Ylw
Charles Frank, goldsmith/Hendrick Hoosier North Carolina Region SE

98 Meador, Kristen
Howell, MI 2007 Pontiac Solstice GXP Red
GM Performance Division Hoosier Detroit Region GL

198 Kolk, Carol
White Lake, MI 2007 Pontiac Solstice GXP Red
GM Performance Division Hoosier Detroit Region GL


CS (10 Solstices, 24 total entries, 11 NB Miatas, 2 NC MX-5s, 1 MR2):

45 Jacobs, John
Earlham, IA 2006 Pontiac Solstice Slv
WTR Solutions/ Clean and Green Kumho Des Moines Valley Region MW

63 Hammond, Christopher
Saint Louis, MO 2007 Pontiac Solstice Blk
SCCAForums.com Hoosier St Louis Region MW

87 Clements, Kevin
Berkley, MI 2006 Pontiac Solstice Red
GM Performance Divison Hoosier Detroit Region GL

94 Daubenspeck, Darren
Greenwood, IN 2007 Pontiac Solstice Slv
ST1 Racing
Indianapolis Region GL

99 Freiheit, Kyle
Redmond, WA 2006 Pontiac Solstice Wht
Forgeline/Brotherton Cadillac/TFR Kumho Northwest Region NP

145 Jacobs, John
Earlham, IA 2006 Pontiac Solstice Slv
WTR Solutions/ Clean and Green Kumho Des Moines Valley Region MW

163 Collins, Bud
Lake Saint Louis, MO 2007 Pontiac Solstice Blk
Hoosier St Louis Region MW

187 McIntosh, Timothy
Berkley, MI 2006 Pontiac Solstice ZOK Red
GM Performance Division Hoosier Detroit Region GL

194 Stone, Daniel
Sheridan, IN 2006 Pontiac Solstice Slv
ST1 Racing Hoosier Indianapolis Region GL

199 Lillejord, Mike
Redmond, WA 2006 Pontiac Solstice Wht
Forgeline/brotherton Cadillac/Team Pajama Kumho Northwest Region NP


CSL (6 Solstices, 11 Total entries, 3 NB Miatas, 1 NC MX5, 1 MR2):

63 Ruth, Joyce
O'Fallon, MO 2007 Pontiac Solstice Blk
Hoosier Racing Tire Hoosier Chicago Region CN

98 Sosa, Mary
Troy, MI 2006 Pontiac Solstice Red
GM Performance Division Hoosier Detroit Region GL

99 Zigler, Shelbi
Lynnwood, WA 2006 Pontiac Solstice Wht
KUMHO/Team Pajama Kumho Northwest Region NP

163 Collins, Lynn
Westborough , MA 2007 Pontiac Solstice Blk
Hoosier St Louis Region MW

198 Lemaire, Laurence
Novi, MI 2006 Pontiac Solstice Red
GM Performance Division Hoosier Detroit Region GL

199 Bauer, Annie
Kent, WA 2006 Pontiac Solstice Wht
Kumho Tires, Fordahl Motorsports Kumho Northwest Region NP



GOOD LUCK TO EVERYONE!

[snaponbob]

Originally Posted by Timm

Wow! he is the only one.

Uh ..................................... yup!!

I ran practice Sunday with decent results. My best times were above mid pack on the East Course, so I hope to place somewhere in the 20's by the end of the event. This assumes I don't have brain fade a f#$k it all up. The car is a s good as it probably ever will be. FWIW, the new Koni SA's are fantastic. It took my first two practice runs to realize that I needed to drop some air pressure for the lower traction vs. the KC sites, and that the front shocks were too stiff. I softened the tires and took some rebound out of the front and the car came alive. But the practice courses (actually they were the Pro Solo courses) had NOTHING in common with the courses for the Solo Nationals.

I have been working on "best of the rest" status. It is reasonable to presume that 2.0T Kappas are underdogs in A/S, with a few of the converted GXP ZOKTs possibly cracking the top 10, maybe even top 5. With 62 cars in A/S one has to favor C4 Corvettes, S2000"s and a couple of Porsches. After walking the event courses on Monday I could only repeat two words -- "Oh WOW". Absolutely two of the best courses I have ever walked in 27 years. EVERYBODY was scratching their heads. They will be fast, technically demanding, and probably a real hoot.

Some observations. Quite a few of the GXPs (if not all) will either be REAL ZOKs (2 I think) or converted. This means shorter stiffer springs, big bars, and a beefier rear frame channel. The GXP Z0K package lowers the car for sure and tightens it up. Although these parts DO fit the Redline, they are not legal in stock class. What I have done is a very aggressive alignment, Konis, and a Saner front bar. But a funny thing happened! Apparently the Bilstiens are mid-hi pressure gas shocks and the Konis are low pressure shocks. Streak is nearly slammed in the weeds and sits as low as the GXP Z0Ks !!!!! I know some guys that could now get in the car and trophy at Nats, but that probably won't be me. Thankfully the adjustablility of the Koni shocks can somewhat compensate for the 50% stiffer front bar, and it now responds to as little as a 1/4 turn of firmness in the front. (If anybody wants a set, PM me. I'll hook you up for the same price I got from a local reseller that saved me a TON!!)

So, that's it. Unless a meteor hits the car, I will at least be the fastest Saturn at Nationals!! The other one is an SC2 coupe!!! I head back out Wednesday to watch the runs on Wednesday afternoon, and cinch up the belts Thursday PM. No miracles expected, I just want to be well above mid pack.

[KappaMan]

Best 'o luck, bob!

giv'er hell!

[KappaMan]

West Course results:

T 1 91 Jason Collett 2001 Honda S2000 Hoosier Eastern Tenn 50.441(2) 48.386(1) 46.538 46.538
[191] Knoxville, TN For Sale SE
T 2 94 Eric Stemler 2007 Pontiac Solstice GXP Hoosier Chicago Reg 50.937(2) 46.745 DNF 46.745
Peoria, IL Team Sandbag CN (0.207)
T 3 181 Jonathan Roberts 2005 Subaru STi Hoosier Buccaneer R 47.985 47.707 47.405 47.405
[81] Richmond Hill, GA SE (0.660)
T 4 196 Jeff Cashmore 1989 Chevrolet Corvette Hoosier Milwaukee R 47.511 48.426 DNF 47.511
[96] New Berlin, WI I C Good CN (0.106)
T 5 182 Joe Tharpe 2004 Honda S2000 Hoosier Des Moines V49.680(1) 47.514 47.610 47.514
[82] Marshalltown, IA The Tire Rack MW (0.003)
T 6 191 Steve Wynveen 2001 Honda S2000 Hoosier Milwaukee R 48.364 47.954 47.655 47.655
[91] Germantown, WI mercuryracing.com CN (0.141)
T 7 193 David Hedderick 2001 Porsche Boxster S Kumho Houston Re 52.026(2) 55.991(3) 47.689 47.689
[93] Pearland, TX HiperFuels.com/BuyRaceGas.com/ SW (0.034)
T 8 147 Scott McHugh 1989 Chevrolet Corvette Kumho Cal Club Re 48.135 47.956 48.056 47.956
[47] Santa Clarita, CA Kumho / McRacing SP (0.267)
T 9 86 Alan Dahl 2007 Pontiac Solstice GXP Hoosier Northwest R 59.702(2) 51.820(2) 48.139 48.139
[186] Federal Way, WA Brotherton Pontiac NP (0.183)
T10 183 Christopher Carris 2004 Subaru STI Hoosier New York R DNF 48.347 48.208 48.208
[83] Hopewell Junction, NY HOLUNFIE NE (0.069)
T11 76 Aruch Poonsapaya 2001 Honda S2000 Hoosier Chicago Reg DNF 48.370 48.273 48.273
Harwood Heights, IL CN (0.065)
T12 21 David Roberts 2001 Honda S2000 Hoosier Central Kent 49.735 48.938 48.275 48.275
Richmond, KY GL (0.002)
T13 185 Steve Bunce 2007 Pontiac Solstice GXP Hoosier Detroit Regi 56.754(4) 48.283 49.220 48.283
[85] Clarkston, MI GM Performance Division GL (0.008)
T14 85 William H Rietow 2007 Pontiac Solstice GXP Hoosier Detroit 51.222(1) 48.339 48.528 48.339
[185] Highland, MI GM Performance Division CN (0.056)
T15 90 Nick Flynn 2007 Pontiac Solstice GXP Hoosier Steel Cities R 50.406(1) 54.263(3) 48.370 48.370
[190] Morgantown, WV Team Zissou / Powered by Beamis NE (0.031)
T16 73 Terry L Tabor 2000 Honda S2000 Hoosier Central Flor 51.473(1) 48.391 DNF 48.391
Oviedo, FL StellarStickers.com SE (0.021)



20 27 Dave Heinig 2007 Pontiac Solstice GXP Kumho South Jersey 53.235(2) 49.693 48.535 48.535
[127] Yorklyn, DE NE (0.006)

37 127 Robert Leone 2007 Pontiac Solstice GXP Kumho Philadelphia 53.228(2) 50.068 49.397 49.397
[27] Southampton, PA Phoenix Performance NE (0.062)

47 190 Manfred Woodall 2007 Pontiac Solstice GXP Hoosier Steel Cities R 50.427(1) 49.961(1) DNF 49.961
[90] Pittsburgh, PA Team Zissou NE (0.019)

49 70 Bob Buxbaum 2007 Saturn Sky Redline Hoosier Kansas City 51.957(1) 49.997 54.122(2) 49.997
Lees Summit, MO B3 Racing MW (0.026)

51 138 Alan McCrsipin 2007 Pontiac Soltice GXP Hoosier TVR 50.346(1) 52.644(2) 50.385(1) 50.346
[38] Huntsville, AL SE (0.095)
52 38 Robert Boyett 2007 Pontiac Solstice GXP Hoosier Tennessee V 54.210(1) 50.348 50.396 50.348
[138] Prospect, TN Clark Electric SE (0.002)

55 186 Charles Frank 2007 Pontiac Solstice GXP Hoosier North Carol 51.072 50.618 66.595(1) 50.618
[86] Durham, NC Charles Frank, goldsmith/Hendrick SE (0.130)

[snaponbob]

OMG. I sucked SO badly on Thursday that I was embarrassed to be me. I finished way low on the list. Friday was much better! I improved from 48th to 38th. Not something to brag about, but this was a super stout field.

The two courses were just the best two courses I have ever seen. The "Blob" was my Thursday course. VERY technical. I was completely overwhelmed by the entire event (my first National - VERY different in every way), did not sleep well on Wednesday night, skipped breakfast, and was generally in a haze all day. The "Blob" required great attention, rewarded proper execution, and severely punished sloppy driving. I was properly punished. The Friday "Airport" course was far different. I slept even worse (I was completely absorbed with how badly I did, and some gratuitous snide remarks from a couple Solstice pilots), but DID eat properly. I took some of the input from some people without ego issues and dumped a bunch of air pressure for Friday. I also decided that the car was expendable if I made a big mistake! I didn't, and I drove much better. The "Airport" course received rave reviews and was fun to watch and run. (The courses may be viewed at http://sccaforums.com/forums/permali...ad.aspx#265155 ) I simply moved the seat up two more notches (really) and "got up on the wheel" as they say in NASCAR. The lower I set the tires (per the GM factory GXP guys) the better it got. I dumped air every run! Had I run as well on Thursday I would have finished in the mid-20's as I wanted. "If-I-woulda-coulda!!!" I didn't, and I finished 38th out of 60, 1.5 seconds out of trophies. Like I said, tough crowd.

Lessons learned for next year;
1) Eat and sleep better.
2) Stay closer to the "line" that everybody else ran.
3) Show up with MUCH fresher A6's. Mine had 50-60 runs on them, and felt like it.
4) The ZOK package is certainly better than the standard GXP/Redline package, but it isn't the "magic bullet". I am quite sure that a better driver than me with a Redline can trophy with what I had.

For a first effort at Nationals, I feel pretty good. I wanted to place about 8-12 places higher, and could have done better, but I got what I deserved. I beat some other pilots that have beaten me in the past, a few GXPs were behind me, and one got a piece of "crow" to feast on. Thanks to a couple guys at GM Performance and Pontiac Motorsports Autocross Team for some helpful input. All in all, a HUGE hoot.

[Daywalker]

Congrats Bob,

Dont worry, it sounds like you had a good time for your first experience. The tips from the other AS competition I am sure was well worth the trip. What pressures did you end up running? I feel sure fresh tires would have helped a lot as well as most were not likely running on 50 to 60 run tires. Crow is always a good meal for those that deserve it.

[snaponbob]

Originally Posted by Daywalker

Congrats Bob,

Dont worry, it sounds like you had a good time for your first experience. The tips from the other AS competition I am sure was well worth the trip. What pressures did you end up running? I feel sure fresh tires would have helped a lot as well as most were not likely running on 50 to 60 run tires. Crow is always a good meal for those that deserve it.

PM me. I'll give you some of the low down, including the crow eaters.

[RobL]

Originally Posted by Daywalker

Crow is always a good meal for those that deserve it.

Maybe you can tell me who actually ate crow?

Bob and I got off to a bad start with him making some incorrect rule statements and I corrected him. Things spiraled quickly downhill from there. But when I found out that signed up for Nationals and he was going to make the big trip, I let him know that things were water under the bridge. Here: http://sccaforums.com/forums/thread/262390.aspx He even returned in kind and said the hatchet was buried.

Here is where the two faced liar comes into the scene. I hear from friends of mine that Bob here, while being friendly with the other AS competitors, is saying that his only objective at Nationals is to beat me. Not do well, not learn, not be sociable, his only objective is to beat me.

Guess what Bob - my sh!tty driving beat your sh!tty driving:
28 Robert Leone 2007 Pontiac Solstice GXP Hoosier 93.606
38 Bob Buxbaum 2007 Saturn Sky Redline Hoosier 94.191

I think the results speak for themselves as to who ate crow.

[snaponbob]

Originally Posted by RobL

Maybe you can tell me who actually ate crow?

Bob and I got off to a bad start with him making some incorrect rule statements and I corrected him. Things spiraled quickly downhill from there. But when I found out that signed up for Nationals and he was going to make the big trip, I let him know that things were water under the bridge. Here: http://sccaforums.com/forums/thread/262390.aspx He even returned in kind and said the hatchet was buried.

Here is where the two faced liar comes into the scene. I hear from friends of mine that Bob here, while being friendly with the other AS competitors, is saying that his only objective at Nationals is to beat me. Not do well, not learn, not be sociable, his only objective is to beat me.

Guess what Bob - my sh!tty driving beat your sh!tty driving:
28 Robert Leone 2007 Pontiac Solstice GXP Hoosier 93.606
38 Bob Buxbaum 2007 Saturn Sky Redline Hoosier 94.191

I think the results speak for themselves as to who ate crow.

The difference is that I never jumped up on a soap box and lectured people as you have with me and others. I also had rather modest expectations which I alone set and unfortunately missed. Had I had my head straight on Thursday I would have been exactly where I wanted to be. Your unsportsmanlike snide remark on Thursday is what motivated me to say what I did. Here is a thought!!! Everybody was SO convinced that the Z0K package was a magic bullet. I kept hearing it was worth a solid second on a 50 second course. Maybe. It was SO funny to see people crawling around my car looking Z0K parts because the car sat as low as they did. Guess what? Koni SA's. I still stand by my statement that the shock access rule is STUPID. People were looking in my rear wheel wells on Sunday. Cute. The presumption that I was cheating is BS. The car is absolutely legal. BTW, I never said that I would not come to HPT is part a, b, or c wasn't available. You did, and THAT was not lost on others on the SCCA forum and was amazing for me to read after you "commitment" remark earlier this year. But up until your remark on Thursday (and I didn't even know who you were until the next day as you didn't even have the class to introduce yourself, as so many other GXP owners did) occurred the ax was buried. Your smartassed remark was just that, and opened the grave the ax was in. So don't get your shorts in a knot over my desire to at least come away with a moral victory. With all the noise your generated about the Z0K package being so great, you shouldn't be bragging on a .5 second combined victory. As can be seen, the results were all about the nut behind the wheel. Another difference between us is that I am openly (and correctly) embarrassed about MY driving. But I am working on improving my situation, not trying to knock the props out from under others. Go find another pinata.

edit; after looking at your post again, I learned a great deal from the Koni guys, the Pontiac factory guys, some other GXP owners, and others. Being "sociable" is a choice, and because we had (apparently) mended fences does mean you were on an "A" list. Frankly, I was socializing with those that have been civil to me, including many from the Solstice forum. I had no feelings whatsoever about you and your attendance at Nationals until your low rent remark on Thursday afternoon. Even some people that didn't know either one of us asked that was about!! So, as far as what I learned, in some respects I learned more than I wanted to know.

[Daywalker]

Originally Posted by RobL

Maybe you can tell me who actually ate crow?

To be honest when Bob made this statement I had no idea who he was talking about and I made a general statement not directed toward you are anyone in particular. I guess I dont need to tell you....you just told on yourself.