UntitledThat Charlie Davis sure gets around, doesn't he?
Now he's going National with his Course Design business,
PCA, even! ; -)
Some wild features in this course, too!
Jerry
Jerry Mouton mailto:jerry@moutons.org Laissez les bons temps =
rouler!
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From: Cyril Reif=20
To: Jerry Mouton=20
Sent: Friday, April 20, 2001 7:02 AM
Subject: PCA Autocross!
The 2nd Maverick Region Autocross of 2001 will be held on April 29th at =
the MineralRing. It was designed by Charlie Davis and is called the =
Funbeam Screwmaster. The course is long and quite busy in places. Most =
people will drive a course that crosses itself 4 times. Hopefully, you =
will find it challenging and fun. Here are the statistics: the length is =
about 0.9 mile and the estimated mean time is 105 seconds...the top =
speed should be about 79 MPH (approaching Lambsy Divey) and the slowest =
speed should be about 15 MPH (around Pinch)...the average speed should =
be about 31 MPH.=20
Note that all the gates are 16 feet wide. This allows greater than 45 =
degree angles through these gates, if needed (hint...hint) and if you =
know where your tires are.=20
The course is long and can safely accommodate 3 cars at a time. There =
are 2 big directional arrows on the course diagram that show =
approximately where the first 2 cars are when the 3rd car should be =
started. With an average time of 105 seconds and 3 cars on the course, =
that should allow us to run about 100 cars per hour. Depending on how =
many entrants we have, you could get as many as 10 runs.=20
Downed or moved pylons will count 2 seconds (as usual). However, there =
may be a few double pylons (thus, double penalties) to keep everyone =
honest. There will be no "pointer" cones (those that are laid down, to =
point you in the right direction), so study the diagram carefully so you =
will know where to go! Look ahead...=20
Start...The starting grid will be located far enough back (behind the =
edge of the fence) that a car spinning in Whoa! won't hit anybody. Whoa! =
is pretty slow...about 25-30 MPH, so they should not slide far if they =
make an honest attempt to slow down. When you start, stay to the right =
to avoid the grassy area. BACK=20
Hook It is just a fast right turn, leading to The Hustle. If it was a =
left turn, it would be called Slice It... BACK=20
The Hustle is a long, constant interval slalom. With pylon spacing of 60 =
feet, it's designed to be a 2nd gear feature in most cars. The direction =
is optional, but the difference in the two options is BIG, so there is =
really only one correct choice. It should be good practice for beginners =
(and experts) to "ignore" the first and last pylons. BACK=20
Part Way is simply a gate to help everyone find Way State. It's full =
power until you approach the first circle. BACK=20
Way State is two circles, much as we had at the Autocross 101 school and =
the first AX at Standridge. It's much bigger than the one at Standridge =
and the two circles are separated by 300 feet. This will allow lots of =
fun as you navigate this "figure-8", transitioning into and out of fast =
acceleration zones. BACK=20
Mazey Doats is composed of four, 50-foot square boxes, with 16-foot =
"doors" in the center of the sides. These boxes are placed strangely, =
but with forethought. The optimum path through these four boxes is =
undefined and left as an exercise for the drivers. The rule is that you =
must traverse each box in any order. There are 12 paths through each =
box, thus there are 124 or 20,736 different combination paths. Most are =
obviously pretty slow. I've shown 3 possible paths in the diagram, but =
there may be a better one? Good hunting! Mazey Doats is located in front =
of the timing trailer, so it might be instructive to watch other =
drivers. The boxes are labeled A, B, C, & D and the "doors" are labeled =
1, 2, 3, & 4, both in a CW direction. This might help communicate =
various path options (the blue path on the diagram is A14B23C34D43) or =
it may just confuse you? Be aware that some paths through Mazey Doats =
can be quite fast...in the 30-50 MPH range...it only LOOKS slow! Good =
hunting... BACK=20
Texas 2-step...You don't do the Texas 2-step? Well, you will! At least =
you will if you get to the Keyhole... BACK=20
Keyhole is there to make everyone honest at Pinch...no big curves to the =
sides to set up. BACK=20
Pinch is VERY close to a gravely section to the East...this is on =
purpose. It's so positioned to make the penalty for overshooting the =
braking zone a big one. Pinch can be driven in either direction. Advice =
for Pinch: Slow down and take it easy. BACK=20
Lambsy Divey is a slow box...didn't want anyone spinning out and hitting =
the fence (or carrying too much speed into Whoa!). It's far enough from =
the fence (the braking zone starts 450 feet away from the fence) that a =
car going 80 MPH can spin and hopefully escape without damage. BACK=20
Stemmons...Just get on the freeway and travel North... BACK=20
Whoa! is a classic 3-gate chicane, designed to slow everyone down before =
the timing line (and the trailer, spectators, and cars). It can be =
navigated at speeds near 30 MPH. Slow down early and remember...the =
fence is covered by YOUR insurance. BACK=20
Finish...When you finish a run, stay on course through the next 2 gates, =
as shown on the diagram. Don't eliminate these gates as it will be =
recorded as a Did Not Finish (DNF) if you do. Slow down gradually...you =
should have plenty of time, as the finish speed is about 40 MPH. BACK=20
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Note 1: The name "Funbeam Screwmaster" is a take-off on the original =
Sunbeam Mixmaster electric kitchen mixer. I worked on a project for the =
USPS back in the '70s...it was a complicated mail sorting thingie and =
one of the modules was affectionately known as the "Funbeam =
Screwmaster". It was fond of removing human body parts (if you were slow =
to remove them from it's innards). Somehow, this course design reminded =
me of the machine. Hopefully, the AX course of the same name will not =
leave a trail of carnage in its wake! Drive carefully... BACK=20
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Note 2: The names Mazey Doats and Lambsy Divey (with a little artistic =
license) came from a hit WW2 song (Dec 13, 1943) by the Merry Macs, =
written by Milton Drake, Al Hoffman, and Jerry Livingston. The song was =
later recorded by many other artists, including Bing Crosby and Burl =
Ives. It was not originally a children's song. BACK=20
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Note 3: These Statistics are only approximate. The length of the course =
is fairly accurate, but the others are hopefully median values, useful =
for the organizers and Safety Czar. BACK=20
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Note 4: The big arrows mark approximately where other cars are located =
when Grid personnel start the next car. There will be 3 cars on course =
most of the time if we are doing it right... BACK=20
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Note 5: To understand the name, try "Waist Eight"? BACK=20
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