Best of both worlds!

[SVXRide]

I ran in my first SCCA ProSolo event yesterday, and what a blast! ProSolo is different from regular Solo events in that there are two "almost" mirror courses set up with "drag race" tree starts and you actually line up against another car from your class and race against them. They've got lights set up so they measure your reaction time as well as your 60' time (as well as your total time for the course, duh! ). Having moved over to ESP class this year, I got to run with late model Camaros, Firebirds, and Mustangs with very, very experienced drivers (all of them participate at the National level, and one of the Camaros has won Nationals three times) - so, it was definitely a learning experience (the other drivers actually asked me if I had any questions about their cars!). I think they got a kick out of seeing an SVX running with them
Here's the course lay out (from the back of the t-shirt the WDCA SCCA folks were selling):




As soon as you got done with your run on one side, you'd immediately line up and run on the other side. You'd do this switching back and forth until you got your four runs done. They took a 15 minute break in the middle of the day, then did everything over again in the afternoon. The only difference in the afternoon is that they rearranged the pairings within each class based on your times from the morning - which explains why I ran by myself in the afternoon

My times for the day (note that each run slip has the exact time the run occurred):







Interesting thing is that my 60' times actually were right in there with the Camaros/Firebirds/Mustangs (and this was a parking lot surface - No VHT!!!)
(Chike - what was your 60' time for your best 1/4 mile time?). I was definitely "knocking the rust off" as the day progressed, as this was my first event of the year behind the BillStock wheel (yes, it's a different beast from Ben/Dave's RaceCar ). Car felt really good, with the exception of the "timebomb" flexplate noise which kept reminding me not to get too crazy with the power braking at the line (never went above 2k rpms). I only had one "red light" and that was on my last run in the morning when I was seeing if I could actually leave when the first yellow lit (almost, but NOT...)
I'd definitely recommend ProSolo to anyone who enjoys drag racing and/or autoX!!
-Bill
p.s. Chike - there was a WRX running DS that looked just like your's - had VA tags "X Blade"

[svxfiles]

Sounds like alot of fun!

[Chiketkd]

Originally Posted by SVXRide

(Chike - what was your 60' time for your best 1/4 mile time?)

Here you go Sir!

2.133 60ft

Originally Posted by SVXRide

p.s. Chike - there was a WRX running DS that looked just like your's - had VA tags "X Blade"

That's my good friend Steve St.John from my SCCA club (Blue Ridge Region). Where are the results for the Pro Solo posted (have a link)? Three drivers from my club went up to attend the Pro Solo - Steve St.J (D-Stock WRX), Ray Schumin (G-Stock Cooper S) and Will King (A-stock S2000).

I'm glad you had a great Pro Solo Bill! I'm still excited after an autoX I had today with the Triad Club at the Danville, VA Airport. I was about 1-2 seconds behind some drivers on r-comps in my class and got to meet Steve Rankins in person and see him drive his STI in STU and capture his class as well as FTD & FTP!

-Chike

[SVXRide]

Chike/Tom,
Thanks for the comments!

Chike - check the master SCCA site, under the ProSolo heading, under Results. I believe "X-Blade" did really well (I was working the return gate during his heat, so he drove right infront of me 8 times ), not sure about the other two.

2.133 on VHT at 65 deg air temp...yeah, I think your time might be in a little danger this year (it was about 80-85 degrees at FedEx)

-Bill

p.s. In the true spirit of Ben's "larger" discussion, I will have to note that all of the ESP Camaros were running 315/40-17 V710s on all four corners. The one Mustang was running 265/45-17 V710s all around. The 315s are seriously wide tires Talking with all of the drivers, they were 100% together on the 315 being the right tire for a car as heavy as the Camaro is...which just happens to be about 50-100# lighter than the SVX

[Chiketkd]

Originally Posted by SVXRide

Chike - check the master SCCA site, under the ProSolo heading, under Results. I believe "X-Blade" did really well (I was working the return gate during his heat, so he drove right infront of me 8 times ), not sure about the other two.

2.133 on VHT at 65 deg air temp...yeah, I think your time might be in a little danger this year (it was about 80-85 degrees at FedEx)

Thanks Bill!

[SVXRide]

ESP class

E Street Prepared Drivers: 8 Trophies: 3
T 1 141 Samuel A Strano 2002 Chevrolet Camaro W Kumho 32.490 32.202 32.339 31.823 63.590
[41] Brookville, PA Steel Citi 32.253 31.777 32.460 31.767 20
T 2 15 Brian N Burdette 1995 Chevrolet Camaro Z Kumho 34.313(1) 34.318(1) 32.147 33.700(1) 63.844
Sykesville, MD HomeSource Real Estate Susquehann 32.059 34.148(1) 31.741 31.697 (0.254) 16
T 3 87 Tyler G Stewart 1982 Chevy Camaro Pur Kumho 34.592(1) 32.475 RL 32.723 64.176
Damascus, MD York Automotive Washington 32.313 34.883(1) 32.085 31.701 (0.332) 13
4 41 Michael A Snyder 2002 Chevrolet Camaro W Kumho 32.697 38.782(3) 32.530 32.258 64.816
[141] Burtonsville, MD Stranoparts.com Susquehann 33.579 33.195 32.558 35.709(2) (0.640) 11
5 68 Philip L Knowles 2002 Chevrolet Camaro S Kumho 32.663 40.249(3) RL 32.955 65.122
Gaithersburg, MD Susquehann 32.459 33.151 32.621 RL (0.306) 9
6 22 Joshua J West 1995 Ford Mustang Cobra Kumho 35.393(1) 37.455(2) 33.954 33.349 66.042
Salisbury, MD Corner Carver Racing Washington DNF 33.244 33.077 32.693 (0.920) 7
7 57 Gary Gurchik 1991 Chevrolet Camaro R Kumho 34.016 33.728 33.575 33.872 68.188
Altoona, PA Central Pe DNF 44.481 34.613 DNF (2.146) 6
8 19 William E Cutlip 1992 Subaru SVX Blk Hoosier 40.904 RL 39.904 37.958 75.442
Dunkirk, MD Washington 41.748 39.650 38.977 37.484 (7.254) 5

Sorry about the columns not lining up. The first two columns are the morning times, the second two the afternoon. The top row is the second set of runs. The left column is actually for the right course, the right column for the left course (key - I had a "red light - RL" on my second run on the left course in the morning heat).

chike - "X-Blade" came in 4th out of 4 runners in DS

4 41 Stephen L St John 2006 Subaru WRX Gry Kumho 39.800(2) 35.053 35.036 35.183 69.276
Thaxton, VA May Bros., Inc. Blue Ridge 34.488 34.672 35.276 34.240 (0.637) 11


Ben,
There weren't enough Prepared cars for separate classes, so they grouped them all together. Anyone you know?

Prepared Index Drivers: 5 Trophies: 2
T 1 197 Tracy Ramsey 2000 Toyota MR2-Spyder Hoosier 31.564 32.053 31.892 31.183 52.970
[97] Hinckley, IL Team BlenderBlaster Chicago Re 34.594(2) 33.128(1) 31.106 30.770 (DP .855) 20
T 2 97 Lloyd Wilson 2000 Toyota MR2 Spyder Hoosier 32.681 32.128 42.104 31.344 53.100
[197] Bowling Green, KY Team BlenderBlaster Sout Chicago Re 39.042(4) 33.279(1) 31.077 30.761 (DP .855) 16
3 59 David Newman 70 Porsche XP Blk Hoosier 32.770 31.835 35.950(2) 31.919 55.315
Allentown, PA Used911parts.com Philadelph 31.519 31.023 31.977 31.025 (XP .880) 13
4 96 Richard Beecher 2002 Chevy Corvette Sil Kumho RL (1) 33.228 36.008(1) 32.936 56.940
Davie, FL CSC TURBOWERKS Florida Re 33.250 32.724 32.368 31.769 (XP .880) 11
5 1 Mike J Becker 1991 Ford Mustang Blu Goodyear 38.880(2) 35.160 35.474 35.084 59.235
Frederick, MD Weaponeer.net Washington 39.938 40.899(2) 37.859 35.017 (CP .845) 9

Quick count came up with a total of 225 drivers for the event.

-Bill (fastest SVX at the 2006 FedEX ProSolo......okay, the only SVX at the 2006 FedEx ProSolo ;-) )

[drivemusicnow]

Did one of those national level F-Body drivers happen to be a beautiful lady named Karen?

Shes a Pro-solo racer that I've talked to.. Really cool person, and a great driver... She's working really hard to make Pro-Solo everything it should be.

[SVXRide]

Originally Posted by drivemusicnow

Did one of those national level F-Body drivers happen to be a beautiful lady named Karen?

Shes a Pro-solo racer that I've talked to.. Really cool person, and a great driver... She's working really hard to make Pro-Solo everything it should be.

I think you're talking about Karen Kraus. Yes, she's beautiful and very cool to talk to. She and her husband now run an STI nicknamed "Stompy" (I think). This car is scary! It's tires extend a good 2 inches outside of the fenders!

T 2 34 Karen Kraus 2005 Subaru Impreza WRX Kumho 32.260 32.015 32.652 31.894 RL 41.000 54.001
Brownsville, MD Knowledge Performance Blue Ridge32.841 31.787 32.780 31.887 40.427 40.207 (BSP .848) 16

check the times in the 31s!!
-Bill
p.s. I checked the times for today and more than 75% of the drivers didn't even try to do the course (DNS - Did Not Start). Those who did were slower by almost 10 seconds - except the AWD cars, which were only down by 2-3 seconds. I don't believe Karen had rain tires for her car, as she was slower by 8-10 seconds in the rain.

[Chiketkd]

Thanks for posting the results Bill. I'd also have to agree with the f-body people that huge tire are needed on cars that weigh upwards of 3,400lbs to be competitive in the Street Prepared class as mechanical grip is key. Heck, they're even STI and WRX owners in BSP and ESP that run tires approaching that size!

[Chiketkd]

...I saw compete this past weekend in his STU classed STI:



He's sponsored by boxer4racing where I got my large swaybar from and I was talking to Patrick there about his set-up. He has the $4K Ohlins Flag-i Adjustable Coilovers, along with the swaybar I bought up front and rear (he has both swaybars on the 27mm setting). Because of the suspension travel the Ohlins coilovers allow, he doesn't lift an inside front or rear tire in the turns. He placed second last year in an Impreza RS at Nationals in STX (RS's normally compete in STS, but he was placed in STX b/c he had a high flow cat) and this is his first season competing in STU with the '06 STI. He's also still competing on factory 225/45/17 Bridgestone RE070's even though STU allows awd cars to run 245 sized rubber!

More info can be found here: http://www.subaruworld.net/06boxer4sti/06sti.htm

[SVXRide]

E Street Prepared Drivers: 8 Trophies: 3
T 1 141 Samuel A Strano 32.490 [ ] 32.202 [ ] 32.339 [.645/2.242] 31.823 [.562/2.180] DNS [ ] DNS [ ] 63.590
[41] 2002 Chevrolet Camar 32.253 [ ] 31.777 [.629/2.197] 32.460 [.565/2.269] 31.767 [.641/2.177] DNS [ ] DNS [ ] 20
T 2 15 Brian N Burdette 34.313(1)[ ] 34.318(1)[ ] 32.147 [.805/2.121] 33.700(1)[.558/2.150] 39.951 [.694/2.540] 41.226 [.566/5.319] 63.844
1995 Chevrolet Camar 32.059 [ ] 34.148(1)[ ] 31.741 [.684/2.286] 31.697 [.554/2.173] 52.288(1)[.823/0.000] 41.080 [.736/0.000] (0.254) 16
T 3 87 Tyler G Stewart 34.592(1)[.604/2.131] 32.475 [.597/2.130] RL [.466/2.208] 32.723 [.618/2.063] DNS [ ] DNS [ ] 64.176
1982 Chevy Camaro Pu 32.313 [.717/2.198] 34.883(1)[.575/2.159] 32.085 [.586/2.243] 31.701 [.527/2.138] DNS [ ] DNS [ ] (0.332) 13
4 41 Michael A Snyder 32.697 [.623/2.236] 38.782(3)[.551/2.368] 32.530 [.555/2.216] 32.258 [.522/2.156] DNS [ ] DNS [ ] 64.816
[141] 2002 Chevrolet Camar 33.579 [.634/2.676] 33.195 [.647/2.298] 32.558 [.653/2.341] 35.709(2)[.601/2.259] DNS [ ] DNS [ ] (0.640) 11
5 68 Philip L Knowles 32.663 [.506/2.419] 40.249(3)[.560/2.473] RL [.476/2.947] 32.955 [.532/2.459] DNS [ ] DNS [ ] 65.122
2002 Chevrolet Camar 32.459 [.528/2.450] 33.151 [.502/2.477] 32.621 [.585/2.420] RL [.465/2.380] DNS [ ] DNS [ ] (0.306) 9
6 22 Joshua J West 35.393(1)[.666/2.267] 37.455(2)[.645/2.186] 33.954 [.730/2.254] 33.349 [.724/2.174] DNS [ ] DNS [ ] 66.042
1995 Ford Mustang Co DNF [.747/2.260] 33.244 [.612/2.247] 33.077 [.667/2.265] 32.693 [.752/2.259] DNS [ ] DNS [ ] (0.920) 7
7 57 Gary Gurchik 34.016 [.657/2.277] 33.728 [.841/2.176] 33.575 [.686/2.259] 33.872 [.754/2.227] DNS [ ] DNS [ ] 68.188
1991 Chevrolet Camar DNF [.787/2.368] 44.481 [.713/2.325] 34.613 [.045/2.496] DNF [.753/2.265] DNS [ ] DNS [ ] (2.146) 6
8 19 William E Cutlip 40.904 [.781/2.168] RL [.446/2.201] 39.904 [.998/2.330] 37.958 [.847/2.158] DNS [ ] DNS [ ] 75.442
1992 Subaru SVX Blk 41.748 [.876/2.243] 39.650 [.727/2.260] 38.977 [.136/2.204] 37.484 [.848/2.201] DNS [ ] DNS [ ] (7.254) 5

Note: I was the only "auto" in the bunch - everyone else was running 5 spd manual boxes. [reaction time / 60' time]
-Bill

[Chiketkd]

Nice work Bill. Your 60ft's are definitely up there with the rwd guys on big sticky tires.

[SVXRide]

and bigger tires are in the works (can't let Ben/Dave have all the fun )...
-Bill

[benebob]

Originally Posted by SVXRide

and bigger tires are in the works (can't let Ben/Dave have all the fun )...
-Bill

Ah were still running 225s at the moment. Remember we're cheap plus we don't outweigh Camaros.

[Chiketkd]

Originally Posted by SVXRide

and bigger tires are in the works (can't let Ben/Dave have all the fun )...
-Bill

Hey, use your classing to your advantage and get some large stuff in a 17" rim. You may have to roll/cut your rear fenders though which is also allowed in your class.