The Road to Lincoln, NE - Chiketkd's official 2009 Autocross Blog (B-stock RX-8)

[Chiketkd]

Solo Nats is now less than 1 month away and occurs the week of the Labor Day weekend (9/8 - 9/11). The car is working well for Shawn, Katie and myself so we'll be making no changes/tweaks before the big show.

This upcoming weekend will also be my last events in the car before Nats. On Saturday, I'll be driving up to Waldorf, MD to do an AI event at Blue Crabs Stadium. On Sunday, I'll be driving down to Salem, VA to do a Blue Ridge Event at the Salem Civic Center.

There will be great competition at both events, and my goals going into this weekend are: 1) attack the course 2) learn from any mistakes I made on the previous run.

Wish me luck!

[Chiketkd]

My co-driver Shawn posted pics of his spin on another forum, and included some commentary:

Originally Posted by moxnix

SeminoleMan from the mazda forums was out taking a few pictures and caught my spin.

Starting to spin (looks like I hit a few cones there also in addition to the one I already have stuck under the car)


Way off line


In a spin. Both feet in.


I guess I know who left those tire marks way out there (Pay no attention to the number we forgot to change on that side).

[Chiketkd]

This past Saturday, Shawn, Katie and I ran the Autocrossers Inc Event #5 at Blue Crabs stadium in Waldorf, MD. Shawn and I competed in the Pro Class which was 24 drivers strong, and included national and pro solo champs like Strano, Piccione, Baker, and Jr Johnson.

The course had a good mix of elements, but a very slow section led to the fastest section of the course, which favored the big hp & tq cars like Corvettes and Shelby Mustangs.

On my first run I screwed up the slow section before the long fast straight, snagged a cone in the slalom and braked way too late for the tight sweeper that led to the finish. My final time was a 46.1+1 - but I knew I was leaving more than 1 second on course. Shawn came in from his 1st run with a clean 44.9.

On my second run, I focused on cleaning up the big mistakes from my 1st. I was aggressive throughout and crossed the line with a clean 44.4. Shawn went even faster on his 2nd run with a clean 44.3. Meanwhile Strano was leading the Pro Class with a clean 43.9.

On my 3rd run I wanted to be even more aggressive through a semi-fast offset that followed the fastest section of the course. I improved but ended up going into a sweeper that followed a little too fast and sliding wide. My time dropped to a 44.2, while Shawn didn't improve and ran a 44.7. Strano dropped the hammer with a clean 43.4 while Piccione followed closely with a 43.8!

4th run time was up. I knew a 43 was possible, but I'd have to really nail each and every section of the course. First section went well, nailed the fast section and the offset that followed. I slowed down enough for the sweeper that followed and ran cleanly through the slalom. Got on the gas early for the next set of offsets and braked early for the tight sweeper that led to he finish. The run felt fantastic but what would the clock say? I looked around for the timing display and at first couldn't see it. I looked again and there it was... a clean 43.879!!! Shawn pushed on his last run but blew the slow section before the long straight and went no faster with a 44.5. Strano and Piccione didn't improve either.

Went the dust settled, I finished 5th in Pro and 6th overall in PAX. While Shawn was 9th in Pro and 10th overall in PAX.

Summary
5th out of 24 in class
6th out of 93 in PAX

Results:
'Pro' - Total Entries: 24 Trophies: 3 Times Total

1T FS 141 Sam Strano 2007 Ford Mustang Black 43.949 43.906 43.441 43.984 36.186
Strano Performance/Capital Quest Mortgage

2T STS 77 Ian Baker 1989 Squirrel-mobile 45.345 44.485 44.682 44.218 36.258
Stranoparts.Com / Ssc Tint / Koni

3T FS 92 Lee Piccione 45.857+1 44.602+1 43.836 43.987 36.515

4 DSP 155 Darren Mass 1993 Honda Civic Green 45.713 44.829 44.532 43.337 36.619
Emad Racing

5 BS 90 Chike Dellimore 2006 Mazda Rx-8 Grey 46.120+1 44.471 44.230 43.879 36.639
My Wife!

6 FSP 59 Pat Griffith 1992 Nissan Sentra Se-R Black 46.873+1 45.185+1 44.223 44.945 36.749
Sololol.Blogspot.Com

7 FSP 159 Pete Johnson 1992 Nissan Sentra Se-R Vivid Black 46.963 44.279 44.354 44.578+1 36.795

8 FS 192 Jason Huepenbecker 2007 Ford Mustang Gt Vista Blue 45.614 45.266 44.739 44.360 36.951

9 BS 190 Shawn Roberts 2006 Mazda Rx-8 Grey 44.959 44.389 44.774 44.573 37.064

10 FS 41 Michael Snyder 2007 Ford Shelby Gt Fastback Black 46.075 44.819+1 44.562 46.204+4 37.120
Stranoparts.Com/Capitalquest Mtg.

11 GS 126 Ron Shurie Jr. 2002 Toyota Celica GT 46.734 46.606 47.065 45.704 37.523

12 BSP 88 Tristan Edmondson 2004 Acura Rsx Type S Red 45.931 44.628 44.430 43.812 37.634

13 ESP 168 Brian Burdette 2002 Chevy Camaro SS 47.552+2 45.647 44.782 43.947+OFF 37.885
Horsepower Collector Car Storage

14 STS 7 Andrew Baker Squirrel-mobile 47.471 47.110+2 48.666+1 46.388 38.038
Autocrossers Inc.

15 ASP 38 Michael Johnson 2006 Chevy Z06 Yellow 46.402 45.936 46.956+1 44.134 38.220
Evolution Performance Driving School

16 STX 49 Vince Bly 2001 Acura Integra Type_R Yellow 48.525 49.184 47.756 46.858 38.517

17 SMF 16 Mike Snyder 1988 Honda Crx Si Silver 45.881 46.152 45.200+1 45.149 39.144
Ssc Tint & Graphics

18 DS 136 Gabe Dunn 2006 Scoobydoo Wrx Silver 49.212 49.257 48.149 48.760 39.434
Iag Performance/Vorshlag Motorsports

19 BSP 8 Chuck Edmondson 2004 Nissan 350Z Silver 48.845 47.665 46.896 46.233 39.714
Paco's Parts House

20 DSP 75 Kevin Henry 1990 Bmw 325I Blue 48.691 47.547 47.698 47.954 40.177

21 FSP 71 Phil Knowles 1981 Volkswagen Scirocco Gray on rain tires 50.417+2 49.651+1 48.583 48.463 40.272

22 BSP 108 Brittany Edmondson Paco's 350Z 51.318+1 49.566+1 48.133 47.147 40.499

23 AS 94 Eric Kriemelmeyer 2008 Pontiac Solstice Gxp Black 49.830 50.066 48.806 48.652+1 41.143
Studio 553

24 ESP 96 Kenny Sorensen 1999 Chevrolet Camaro Z28 Black 52.003 51.083+1 49.543 48.959 41.419
Autocrossers Inc.

Link: http://www.autocrossersinc.org/uploads/AI_5.pdf


There was no photographer at the event but I took the attached pic of Shawn at the line with my cell phone camera.

[Chiketkd]

This past Sunday I competed at the BRR-SCCA event #7 in Salem, VA at the Salem Civic Center. This would be my last event before Nats.

B-stock was a class of 1, but with a few top drivers in attendance (Krauss & Valent), my goal was to try and run with them on PAX.

My first two runs were clean 43.8 and 43.5 but I had a passenger (Scott) with me. On my third run, I dropped the hammer and got down to a 42.8+1, but slapped a cone by the finish and sent it sliding 8 ft (remained standing). On my 4th run, I pushed even harder and ended up spinning in the fast offset following the slalom. On my 5th and final run, I tried to push it hard but ran to close to the cones in a tight sweeper and tapped one over. My time was a 43.001+1.

Summary:
1st of 1 in class
5th of 45 in PAX

Results
BS - B Stock Pax: 0.835
1t CHIKE DELLIMORE 2006 MAZDA RX-8 43.591 36.399 0.630

Link: http://www.brr-scca.org/08232009.htm

Pics:

Chike






Krauss


Valent

[Chiketkd]

Shawn and I are getting down to our final preparations before leaving for Lincoln, NE in the next 10 days.

This weekend I'll be changing my transmission gear oil to Redline MT-90:



This should make the trans shift even more smoothly as well as make everything run a little cooler.

[Chiketkd]

A few of my fellow DC Region members have started a blog which will be updated frequently with results and pics from the Pro Finale and Solo Nats.

http://wdcrsolonats.blogspot.com/

The 6spd trans fluid has been changed and the shifts are smoother and crisper than ever. After a quick engine oil change I'll do this weekend, she'll be ready to roll! The trip is over 1,200 miles one-way, and according to Google Maps shlould take a total of 20hrs. We'll split the trip up over two days and should roll into Lincoln, NE on Monday afternoon.

[Myxalplyx]

Good luck Chike!

[Chiketkd]

Originally Posted by Myxalplyx

Good luck Chike!

Thanks Kevin. The last 2 weeks have been a real whirlwind, but I'm hopeful that things will go well for me next week!

[Chiketkd]

Btw, here's a "drive around" video of the new nationals site in Lincoln, NE: http://www.vimeo.com/6434330

It's freakin' H-U-G-E!!!!!

P.S. I can't wait to arrive on Monday afternoon!

[Chiketkd]

Well Shawn and I made it safely to Lincoln following an uneventful 20 hour drive (broken up over 2 days).

These are a few raw scans of the courses:

East Course:


West Course:


I walked each course once today and they seemed to flow well. I start on the East course Thursday, followed by the West on Friday.

[SVXRide]

look like Vette courses to me
-Bill

[Chiketkd]

Drove the East Course today and it was 'meh'. I accomplished my main goal for nationals though...don't be timid like I was last year. I definitely drove like it was a local event and was aggressive everywhere.

My first run was a clean 61.9 with a pretty big mistake in a fast sweeper. However, I was solidly mid-pack and felt I would only keep dropping time. On my 2nd and 3rd runs, no drop in time came. The runs felt better but the time wasn't there.

Oh well, tomorrow is a new day and I'll keep attacking!

[Chiketkd]

What a blast! I drove my heart out both days with the same aggression as I have at a local event. I just didn't have the driving ability to be in a trophy spot this year. My car worked very well out of the box on the concrete surface and did what I asked it to do...



Only thing I'd change would be watering down our tires more on Day 1. I couldn't improve on my 1st run, and I later realized it was due to the tires overheating on course. Even on Day 2 on my very first run (1st driver, Heat 3), I could feel the Hoosiers getting greasy by the end of my run. I guess a 60 second course on concrete can do that!

Shawn and I were 19th and 20th in class respectively and only 7/1000th's apart. In terms of my overall finish on PAX index, I moved up roughly 400 spots this year to finish 421 out of roughly 1,200 drivers (Shawn was 420th).

Link to results: http://www.scca.com/documents/result...0Resultsf2.pdf

All in all, I had an awesome time! Great courses, great folks, and a great week in Lincoln!

P.S. For next season, I'll be modifying my car to run in the STX class. I'll be acquiring double adjustable coilovers, some 18x9" wheels, competitive 265 street tires, and install a highflow cat in an aftermarket mid-pipe. Down the road I'll be adding a Cobb AP with a custom protune along with an aftermarket OS Giken lsd.

[Chiketkd]

Katie


ASP Ferrari F430


Saini in a CSP MX-5


Sias's SM BMW M3


Zust's XP Lotus Elise


McKee


Strelnieks


SSM Viper

[Chiketkd]

This past Sunday was the DC region event #6 held on the A lot at Fedex Stadium. The big news was that Mike "Junior" Johnson (multi-time national champion) was co-driving a 370Z in our class so there would be a solid benchmark for me to run against.

The weather played havoc during our run group. Everyone had a a dry 1st run, however, it started drizzling for 1st drivers on their 2nd runs, while 2nd drivers had a downpour by their 2nd runs.

Shawn had a big slide/spin on his 1st run (only dry run), so his day was done. My 1st run was a 61.505+1. On my 2nd run, it was drizzling but I still pushed it hard out there and came back with a 60.785+2. Meanwhile, Junior had run a 58.878+2 on his 1st run, while the car owner Learic ran a 63.198 clean.

These would end up being the top three times in the class as no one could get faster in the rain.

Summary:
3rd out of 9 in class
66th out of 213 in PAX

Results:

'B Stock'
Pos. # Driver Car Run1 Run2 Run3 Run4 Total Diff
1T 97 Johnson, Michael 2009 Nissan 370Z Yellow 58.878+2 61.512+5 64.586 63.327 62.878 0
2T 197 Cramer, Learic 2009 Nissan 370Z Yellow 63.198 61.424+2 69.977+2 68.091 63.198 0.320
3T 90 Dellimore, Chike 2006 Mazda Rx-8 Grey 61.505+1 60.785+2 65.451+5 64.656+3 63.505 0.307
4 88 Wade, Dave 2004 Mazda Rx-8 Gray 61.673+1 73.199 68.669+2 67.395 63.673 0.168
5 98 Barber, Steve 2004 Mazda Rx-8 Green 64.274+1 72.370+1 72.469 69.962 66.274 2.601
6 190 Roberts, Shawn 2006 Mazda Rx-8 Grey 63.267+4 68.188+2 69.856+2 67.573 67.573 1.299
7 99 Weichold, Frank 2005 Mazda Rx8 Grey 59.703+dnf 67.644+2 68.001 68.255+dnf 68.001 0.428
8 8 Scaldeferri, Eric 2003 Nissan 350Z Black 71.131 88.663+dnf 78.674 83.023 71.131 3.130
9 17 Kehlenbeck, Adam 2004 Mazda Rx-8 Black 77.808 79.828 80.177+1 78.461+1 77.808 6.677

Pics:

This was the difference in light between my 1st run and Shawn's first:





Katie on the other hand, had sunny skies. Her fastest time was a 64.191 (had a 63.400+1).