Mineral Wells Pro Reminder

[BMcCann]

Yes. They split it into 3 large groups. You drive one, work one, and rest the other. They do this cycle TWICE on Saturday and ONCE on Sunday.

If you do not drive in the challenges, you are asked to help work them in some way or another.

[Gernby]

Yes. They split it into 3 large groups. You drive one, work one, and rest the other. They do this cycle TWICE on Saturday and ONCE on Sunday.

If you do not drive in the challenges, you are asked to help work them in some way or another.

How are the runs divided between the 2 courses? Does everyone run both courses in each heat?

[rpmchris]

How are the runs divided between the 2 courses? Does everyone run both courses in each heat?

Short answer: you get 4 runs back-to-back in the morning (2 on each course), 4 more in the afternoon, and 4 more the next morning. Your best time on each course are added for a total time.

Long answer: drivers are staged and line up in order, one on each side of the timing trailer. Cars come to the starting line (remember, this is a drag race start), and the countdown begins. Once it reaches 0, the lights can come down anytime...yellow, yellow, yellow, green (and hopefully not red for an early launch). Drivers run one course, then when they cross the finish they switch sides and run the other, opposite side. This happens four times, two on each course, before going to impound. That happens three times over the two days, and the best of each left and right course are added together and the top 16 make it to the finals.

[jrj512]

It's easiest to just go with the flow.

[Steve E]

Damn fine event!!!! Thanks to all that made it happen... Neal come back and play.

[Gernby]

I have to say that this was definitely one of the funnest autocrosses I've ever attended, even though I wound up mid-pack! I loved running the mirrored courses, and think the drag race start would have been fun if I hadn't sucked so badly at it. I haven't run the numbers yet, but I think I might have made it into the trophies if I adjusted everyone's times to eliminate red lights, reaction times, and not staged.

Here's a video of a couple runs. The second run was my fastest on the right side, but got a DNF, due to me rolling back after staging.

[Squid]

Private video. Boo. Hiss.

[eliandi]

Well run event and great course design!

[BMcCann]

Here's my stuff. Big announcement: Howard said they are coming back next year! WOOHOO!!

[Nails]

First vid is private and second vid is half the size of a postage stamp!? Where are the standings posted?

[BMcCann]

...you know you can go full screen, right?

I think you can still see results at sololive.scca.com

[nealb]

Damn fine event!!!! Thanks to all that made it happen... Neal come back and play.

+1 thanks to Brad and Jenn and lots of other hard working folks

I'd run more autocrosses if they weren't at the bus lot or the gravel pit

[Gernby]

Private video. Boo. Hiss.

Oops ... it's fixed now.

[BMcCann]

I saw plenty of cameras out there....anyone upload their photos?

[Gernby]

I'm still trying to wrap my head around this, but I found out yesterday that the mysterious air leak in one of my race tires, which started after my morning runs on Saturday, was actually a puncture. I don't know what caused the puncture, but it's like a nail hole (without the nail). It's also too close to the sidewall for the tire shop to fix it. I don't think I've ever had a punctured tire like this, despite driving many hundreds of thousands of miles. It's kind of scary that this could have happened out at Mineral Wells after all that cleanup was done.

[OZMDD]

Or on the road to/from MW.
Just plug the tire yourself and carry-on. Tire shops don't want liability and they do want to sell more tires, so they are pretty picky about repairs. A small nail hole doesnt impact structural integrity. $5 plug kit and you are good.

[Gernby]

I do plan to plug or patch it myself, but I don't believe the puncture could have happened on the drive to Mineral Wells, since I was in the last group to run. The car sat parked for hours before I had my first set of runs, and the tire pressure was fine. However, the tire was completely flat a few hours later when it was time for my second set of runs.

[OZMDD]

The nail could have remained in the tire for a while, then wen t flat when it finally fell out. Or maybe the SCCA conspired to plant it in your tire to punish you for your many years of criticism for inadequate seat time at their events.

[Gernby]

Both are excellent points.

[lostlorin]

Tires flex, sidewalls flex even more. Save yourself a possible blowout from an internal separation. Plug AND patch it.