El Mirage May 2017

[Jack Gifford]

Anybody willing to skip the jive-talk and help this newbie understand what I'm seeing after repeatedly playing/pausing the video?
1> It appears that the course is darn close to the pits? [Yes, telephoto lens effect; I just wonder about the actual distance?]
2> For the whole time the roadster is moving backward, is the engine spinning the wheels forward?

[Guardrail]

Anybody willing to skip the jive-talk and help this newbie understand what I'm seeing after repeatedly playing/pausing the video?
1> It appears that the course is darn close to the pits? [Yes, telephoto lens effect; I just wonder about the actual distance?]
2> For the whole time the roadster is moving backward, is the engine spinning the wheels forward?

You're right about the telephoto lens - looks are deceiving. The course is 90ft. wide and is approx. 250 ft. from the spectators. As for the engine driving the wheels, I pushed in the clutch the moment the car started to come around. I hope this helps.
Willie "Guardrail" Martin

[jl222]

   Why didn't you brake at some point?  How did you know what direction you were heading going backwards?

              JL222

[Guardrail]

   Why didn't you brake at some point?  How did you know what direction you were heading going backwards?

              JL222

I did brake after everything calmed down - trying not to hurt anything. I figured I was going the right direction when I was backing up from the return road. I'm no world class driver, just one who has seen a few things.

[ronnieroadster]

   Why didn't you brake at some point?  How did you know what direction you were heading going backwards?

              JL222

I did brake after everything calmed down - trying not to hurt anything. I figured I was going the right direction when I was backing up from the return road. I'm no world class driver, just one who has seen a few things.

Having experienced a spin myself at just over 170 some time back {not on dirt} watching your execution on controlling the car as your rolling backward was dam near perfect. No need to apply brakes and cause some other unneeded coarse direction. Well done the way I see it.   

[SPARKY]

 

[Jack Gifford]

Good job. Thanks for explaining.

[mtiberio]

I just wanted to say thanks to John Wiley for the youtube video from down course...

I'm on his vid at 18:18 for my first rookie run...


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJSXb1p7Vo8

[tauruck]

  Why didn't you brake at some point?  How did you know what direction you were heading going backwards?

             JL222

I did brake after everything calmed down - trying not to hurt anything. I figured I was going the right direction when I was backing up from the return road. I'm no world class driver, just one who has seen a few things.

You saved the rubber. That was a pro job IMO. Nicely done.

[Guardrail]

 Thank you all for your kind words.

[tauruck]

No problem. Hope you all had a great time.

Mike.

[NathanStewart]

Yup, I'd say your spin roll out was great.  I saw you shooting off to the side of the course and thought 'uh oh, this is going to be bad' and then you just turned and let it roll out in a circle.  I thought that was an excellent move. 

And yeah, I spun.  Unfortunately the car doesn't seem to tolerate a less than perfect course.  Went 216.683 in October on a good course and then spun at 200 on my second run due to chewed up course (25mph cross wind probably didn't help either).  The course was horrible this event and I spun on my first run - right at 200 again.  Didn't bother making a second run.  I think if we have any hopes of making a decent run this year it'll be after adding significant weight to the car.  Until that happens, we'll be sitting out. 

Good luck to those who will attempt to run fast at Elmo.  I think the results of this past meet are indicative of what we'll be seeing all year.  I'm actually hoping we get some spring/summer rain to try and maybe fix the lake bed up some.   

[Eddieschopshop]

Yah Nathan, I think you are right.  this is what it will be all year.  I was dissappointed with the power I could apply till I saw what everyone else was doing.  Made me feel a little better,  but doesn't speak well for any potential "big" runs this year.