Equipe Rapide Pre-Pro mirrorcross May 31st

ER is hosting a mirrorcross in Mineral Wells on May 31st. It will consist of two mirror image courses with a drag race start. Two cars go head to head at our NHRA style Christmas Tree. After completing the run then you switch sides and run again. Competitors will take 8 runs back to back alternating left and right courses and then go back to the paddock. Competitors will get one run group in the AM and one run group in the PM for a total of 16 runs on course. The best time from the right and the best time from the left will be combined for your score. The SCCA Pro-SOLO is the very next weekend so the ER event is a great way to practice at the site with similar format. More info is available on our website www.equiperapide.com


http://autocross.com/er/shame-of-cones.jpg

Great poster!!

Will we have an opportunity to see our RT or 60'?

In.

We might be able to get the 60ft but not RT.

Sounds great. Hope it works out where I can attend.

In.

Because I know Jeffery will be asking, here is the course map.

http://autocross.com/er/2015_mirrorcourse_map.jpg

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Originally Posted by nomadtrash

Because I know Jeffery will be asking, here is the course map.

http://autocross.com/er/2015_mirrorcourse_map.jpg

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Geez ... at least spell my name correctly ... Jeffrey not Jeffery. BTW ... about time you get that map done!

In.

:clap: Oh Ken......

Also, as part of the set up crew for this event, I can promise you that the courses will be perfectly mirrored.

margin of error +/- 90%

Looks like a uterus.
http://media-2.web.britannica.com/eb...4-63F84BF3.jpg

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Originally Posted by OZMDD

Looks like a uterus.

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Great, now the green flags take on a whole new meaning.

With all the flooding going on and the Mineral Wells area being hit with several tornadoes lately. Does anyone know of any closed roads or areas we should avoid. I've never been there but have been told the best route is I20 then through Milsap. Any suggestions or foresight would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

I remember that course, the slalom entry from hell.

All roads are fine nothing blocked off, it drains pretty good out here.

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Originally Posted by BMcCann

:clap: Oh Ken......

Also, as part of the set up crew for this event, I can promise you that the courses will be perfectly mirrored.

margin of error +/- 90%

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good luck getting a perfectly mirrored course there's always something that throws it off.

I am very impressed with the leaps that ER had made with the mirrorcross starting system. It used to be someone holding up their arms and both drivers leave when the arms drop (or Andy's shirt goes up). It was pointless because your time did not start until you crossed the start lights and there was no penalty for leaving early other than missing out on the fun of launching with your competitor. Now, you have a true staging light, a Christmas tree of lights, and timing starts when the light turns green, so your reaction now matters. They also have a red light if you launch too early. Really cool and fun. Nice job on that part.

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Originally Posted by jrj512

I am very impressed with the leaps that ER had made with the mirrorcross starting system. It used to be someone holding up their arms and both drivers leave when the arms drop (or Andy's shirt goes up). It was pointless because your time did not start until you crossed the start lights and there was no penalty for leaving early other than missing out on the fun of launching with your competitor. Now, you have a true staging light, a Christmas tree of lights, and timing starts when the light turns green, so your reaction now matters. They also have a red light if you launch too early. Really cool and fun. Nice job on that part.

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David Whitener built the lights and controllers. They worked great. Thanks David.

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Originally Posted by jrj512

I am very impressed with the leaps that ER had made with the mirrorcross starting system. It used to be someone holding up their arms and both drivers leave when the arms drop (or Andy's shirt goes up). It was pointless because your time did not start until you crossed the start lights and there was no penalty for leaving early other than missing out on the fun of launching with your competitor. Now, you have a true staging light, a Christmas tree of lights, and timing starts when the light turns green, so your reaction now matters. They also have a red light if you launch too early. Really cool and fun. Nice job on that part.

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True that!

I have a suspicion to why there were so many timing errors today... The starting beam at normal drag strips is 2' from the stage beam. Today, we had that light way less than that...I'd say under a foot. I think what was happening was a car would go too quick up to the stage, go through it and inadvertently trip the timers. I think next year we should space those lights out much more.

Outside of that, I'm glad we only did 12 runs. If 12 is the plan for next year, I wonder if we could do 6 and 6 instead of 8 and 4?

There are definately ways to improve the system however none of the timing problems today were caused by the lights at the start. I'm pretty sure the problem was the right side finish reflector. The fixture got hit with a cone or wind blown enough that it wasn't lined up well with the laser. After we repositioned the reflector we didn't have any more problems.

The start was triggered by the green light on the Christmas tree. Both beams at the start only illuminated the stage or red light. Neither beam at the start affected the signal sent to the timer.

We have had issues in the past with a short circuit in a cable which caused the start or finish to trigger when a car was not there. I don't think that is what happened today.

Congratulations on a great drive today. 3rd place in PAX with right side fast run on Kooks and left side on BFD. I guess you will need to do a lot of tire swapping between runs next week.

This event was incredibly fun! I loved the drag race start. I'm glad I got to go to this one since I don't think I'll make the Pro Solo this weekend.

Had a great time despite some crappy driving.

Side note --- I always knew that these events are a ton of work, but I don't think I had a true appreciation until I helped with the clean-up and getting stuff ready to organize and pack into the trailer. Big props to the ER crew for everything they put into it.

I wm very glad to hear the tree worked!

Would you guys be interested in using the tree at more events? Even non-mirror single course events?

We like the idea of using the tree to start even if we just trigger the timer from a timing light.

I'd like to use the tree for starts too...as long as there isn't a 90* pinch right off the bat.

Those drag starts were lots of fun. I was surprised my 370 could actually keep up or even beat some of those high priced Porsche's and modified cars of all sorts. Only got beat to the apex by one car, but they red lighted so that didn't count. Big thank you for McCann teaching me how that xmas tree actually works. Thank you for the advice. Helped tremendously.

I enojoyed the tree and the time starting when the light turned green. I would love to see it at future events with the same functionality is here.

Now if we could get 60ft times...is there a way to do that with our current equipment?

Yes.

Fun event the entry to the slalom was fine.

I would be OK with the tree at some other events as long as they had a drag start. I am with BMcCann, I think a tree with a hard turn would not be fun.

Damned red light worked too. ::Fist::

Roxanne, You don't have to put on the red light...for squiddy.

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Originally Posted by jrj512

I am very impressed with the leaps that ER had made with the mirrorcross starting system. It used to be someone holding up their arms and both drivers leave when the arms drop (or Andy's shirt goes up). It was pointless because your time did not start until you crossed the start lights and there was no penalty for leaving early other than missing out on the fun of launching with your competitor. Now, you have a true staging light, a Christmas tree of lights, and timing starts when the light turns green, so your reaction now matters. They also have a red light if you launch too early. Really cool and fun. Nice job on that part.

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Big fun having "real" Christmas tree. Sounds infinitely better than a shirtless Andy. Reaction time would help dialing it in when to leave. Doesn't hurt that the straight line start gave me a chance to use that heavy motor that I tote around. Fun stuff!!!