Valencia Community College anyone?

[craig_302]

This Sunday (the 28th), there will be yet another auto-x located @ Valencia Community College. Anyone plan on going? I have a few "maybes" via AIM already, but no solid imput. This event is pretty close (located near I-4 and International Drive) with exact directions located on SCCA CFL's site, links to follow. I plan on driving up Saturday afternoon, partaking in just enough Whorelando night life and crashing @ a hotel kinda early for Sunday.

Thoughts?

Plans?

Suggestions?

:D

[Muddy]

Valencia events aren't worth the drive from Tampa. The last event I did there they decided that we only had enough time for 3 - 29 second runs. I was done by 1:30 and went home disgusted. East coast also likes to do the dumb "run while you work" run/work plan.

OTOH, the Suncoast PCA is having an event at Zephyrhills airport on the 28th. The course won't be as challenging, but it will be much faster and much closer to Tampa. It's also fun to pick on the old farts in their porsches. :P

http://www.pca.org/sfl/calendar%20of%20events.htm

[robofunc]

Zephyrhills sounds cool. I didn't know that PCA let other makes run.

[Muddy]

They have classes for porsches and bmws as it is really a joint pca bmwcca event that is run by the pca. Everyone else gets dumped into the "other" class. We work first, run last, and get lunch off. They usually have catered lunch and the entry fee is $20, I believe. They are run by Danny Shields, so they are usually pretty good events.

[robofunc]

that sounds like fun. i'm there.

[ACR2NV]

pca events usually are pretty badass i'd like to go down to Sebring with them sometime but first i need a car that will hang with farts on the str8s...im sure the curves are covered with the konis and a few other bits ;)

[craig_302]

That sounds like a better idea actually. That is why I asked. :D

Even though it is a Porsche event, they will let anyone run, correct? This is a bonus anyway since I won't have to get a hotel and deal with Whorlando traffic to and from. I'll be there....probably the only 2nd gen CRX in attendance.

[PseudoRealityX]

I'll be in Valencia... *shrug*

[oilleak]

Is Valencia still on? The cfr site says it's in danger of being cancelled for lack of workers. Any news?

[SUV-ETR]

Don't feel obligated or anything Jesse. Run where you want to run. That's a choice we can all make.

(seriously)

By the way, I'm sure we'd all love to find a place where we could all run without feeling like a second-class citizen for not owning a Porsche.

That's not an offence to PCA. They're a great organization, but they purposely do give a big preference to their members. That's their choice, and those of us who are not PCA members are lucky they allow us to attend at all.

Unlike the PCA, any/all SCCA members have the ability to make their club better. If you would like to run at better sites, all you have to do is find them!

Neal

[Muddy]

Originally posted by SUV-ETR
By the way, I'm sure we'd all love to find a place where we could all run without feeling like a second-class citizen for not owning a Porsche.
I used to feel that way, but the run/work order is great. You get to work early before it gets hot, you have a two hour lunch, then you can watch the old men shag cones at the hottest part of the day while you run! :lol:
The best part is beating many of them in a cheap econobox! :D
cough cavalier cough convertible cough automatic cough street tires cough :lol: :lol: :lol:

[craig_302]

Hahaha, this is gonna be fun. Hopefully someone has a digital camera that has batteries that last longer than mine.

[Muddy]

hmmm. If the poopra isn't ready the cavalier may just make one final appearance at an autox. :lol:

[craig_302]

I always love seeing the Cavy vert out there tearin it up. It brings a smile to my face. :D

[Muddy]

Unfortunately it won't make it this time. I just found out I have some relatives that will be in town this weekend. Oh well.

[jaball77]

Frankly, I'd rather pound one of my nuts flat with a hammer than attend another VCC event...

It's a shame the lot is so tiny and the surface is so terrible... The paddock and spectator areas are so nice!

[OversteerS2K]

Yeah, the spectators have a great vantage point up on the plateau. Merge that with the Ft. Myers surface, the facilities at Martin's new site, and now we're talkin'.

Everone in Tampa should be driving a few extra miles per week doing some scouting. We're in danger of going from November to June w/o any CFR events within 2 hours.

[jaball77]

I want to know what Busch Gardens is going to do with the HUGE paved area they're not using for parking any more...

It looks like they're parking everyone in the lots off the road, and not using the ones that run paralell to the road almost down to Adventure Island... That surface wouldn't be too bad with a little bit of cleanup :-)

[w0rd]

Originally posted by jaball77
Frankly, I'd rather pound one of my nuts flat with a hammer than attend another VCC event...
Tell us how you really feel.

I have only been to one VCC event. They had blowers to take care of the gravel. I had fun there.

It's not like Z-hills surface is any better. You know it's bad when you have trouble getting traction on your launch with 100 ft/lbs of torque. Plus their course designs are rather uninspired ala Sebring.

I think proximity and free lunch is the only thing z-hills has going for it.

[OversteerS2K]

The Z'Hills surface? Which one? They have 5 year old asphalt, 10 yr. old, 15 yr. old, and 20 yr. old. No two cuts are the same, that's for sure. Do they do lunch? I can't remember.

[w0rd]

I got a sub and a water for free when I went. May have been a special thing. I remember them saying a sponsor provided the food.

The 20 yr. old stuff must be near the start/finish line. Nobody could get any traction in first gear when I was there. That's the only course that I could get the rear end loose prior to my rear ARB upgrade. That was happening about 1/2 way down in a big slalom. (must have been the 15 year old section)

I wonder which event the Merideth's are going to, since Valencia is like their home turf. If they aren't there, your only competition will be Danny. :lol:

[OversteerS2K]

Mine? No way....Last time out there I got beat by 3 Porsches (Danny, the Boxster S's owner, and some N/A 996) 2 BMW's (Jamal and a wicked fast 325<maybe328>), and my friend Cory in his GTI VR-6+Hoosiers. I did well for slip slidin away on streets. There are (contrary to popular belief) good Porsche drivers out there other than Mr. Shields. I say Jamal takes the over-all Sun. unless a Z-06 with R compounds shows.

I was really considering Valencia, despite all the negatives, but I've confirmed two well dressed S-2000's and a 350 being there. Looks like this weekend is just for fun, as they all should be. This year end trophy thing has got me all bitter. I wish it was the sum of all events. The best 7 is crap.

[oilleak]

At least you're in the running for the trophies. I'll only have 6 results in, max.
Originally posted by OversteerS2K
We're in danger of going from November to June w/o any CFR events within 2 hours.
WHAT!?!! My wife already thinks I spend too much time with my car. Are we not using FSF next year. I haven't looked at a schedule for next season

[PseudoRealityX]

During the winter time, FSF actually has Fairs to attend to. And that brings in far far more money than we do, so anyone else gets dibs. Gainesville, VCC, and whatever else we can find as a site has to take up the slack.

You do not spend too much time with the car. Keep in mind that 2 hours for a drive is still local:) meaning it's still a day, and you don't need a hotel.

[oilleak]

I know that... It's my wife that needs convincing!
See ya in G'ville

[OversteerS2K]

OilLeak, You can actually go to Valencia this weekend and have that count towards the West Coast Series points (let Cheryl Poindexter know you want it that way). You then have Gainesville on 10-12 and the Fairgrounds again on 10-26. So, you'd (possibly) have 3 more events to add to W.C. points. How many do you have now? You'll need 7 to qualify for a year end award (trophy, shirt, I don't know what it is)...

If you decide, like me, that stealing the trophy from the obvious best driver in class isn't civil - come to Zephyrhills, it'll be fun. I'd love to overhear this conversation: "Yeah, I just spent $3,500 on that new exhaust for my 911 and this guy in a 30 year old Datsun beat me by 8 seconds!...But I LOOK cool...".

[oilleak]

If I do Valencia, Gainesville and FSF I'll have 6 results. I'd need G'ville to be double points. It's okay, I'm over it. I'll set my sights on the Florida State Championship Novemeber 2nd. That might be cool as there should be a pretty good crowd in CSP.
I promised Bonnie I'd go horseback riding or something with her this weekend so the Porsche guys are safe too. I'll help you whoop up on them some other time. :)

[oilleak]

Originally posted by OversteerS2K
I know that this IS your wife's weekend, but if running at Valencia can get you a nice year end award, I'd wallpaper my ass off (or whatever the domestic task really is) Saturday so you can race Sunday. Just a thought.

LOL - That's funny!
No, it's not about wallpaper - It's about sex. The happier she is, the happier I am. And given I was out of town on business all week and she's in Alaska on business all week next week....

[PseudoRealityX]

Originally posted by oilleak
I know that... It's my wife that needs convincing!
See ya in G'ville

Can she drive?;) Get her involved and you won't have issues.

[oilleak]

Yeah, that's the plan. She needs a hobby anyway. Her main issue is that she's afraid to drive my car. I'm working on it though.

[marksaccord95]

ill be there

[0HP930]

Originally posted by OversteerS2K
There are (contrary to popular belief) good Porsche drivers out there other than Mr. Shields.
Can I take that as a veiled compliment . . . ;)

During each of the many PCA Z-Hills events I have attended they have always provided lunch, courtessy of Suncoast Porsche I believe.

They also owe me a free event so I should go sometime in one of my lesser vehicles.