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Clay and I survived our trip to Solo Nationals and now safely back home. It was my first Nationals, and first Tour event of any type, and Clay's 5th I believe.
We ran Clay's SRT4 ACR in RTF and had a 20 driver field. Clay brought home his first Nationals trophy with a 4th and I managed to finish 14th. My personal goals were to (1) not get lost on course and (2) not finish dead last, so the trip was a huge success!
The "fun" part started after the runs were in the books. Our car was protested for having too much negative camber, calling into question the strut mounts. The protester was the 8th place finisher and was trying to get Clay disqualified to move into the final trophy spot (7th).
That essentially wrecked our afternoon, as the car was impounded, the committee heard both sides, Clay had to take a strut apart, and then we were dismissed while they deliberated...for about 4 hours! The car was our only transportation, so we were stuck hanging out in paddock while anxiously awaiting a call. The call finally came and we were vindicated as the car was found to be legal. The protest was deemed "well founded" which means in the instigator got his money back...unfortunately
We were blown away by the support of the community. Our car was the only protested vehicle on Wednesday, so it was apparently the talk of the paddock and once we got it back many folks, most of whom we did not know, came to find the outcome and offer support. BTW, if you haven't seen the pics, Clay's car wasn't hard to identify. He added some plastidip fluorescent orange accenting to the white ACR.
The impound started about noon. It was after 5pm by the time the verdict was in and we were through trying to get the car aligned for the drive home. Rushed to the hotel, took quick showers, and made it to the banquet a few minutes before the program started. Got to hand to the SCCA...even with the lateness of the decision they got Clay's name on his trophy in time.
So...here's my take on the whole Nationals thing, as a Tour-level rookie and mid-pack at best driver. It was a blast! The site is beyond huge. If you have only been to local events you really have no comprehension of the sheer size and number of cars. It feels like we walked 10 miles over the three days. If you follow our sport at all you will quickly find yourself bumping into drivers and/or cars that you've read or heard about. The talent level is as incredible as you would imagine and that, along with the announcers, turn our little hobby into a pretty compelling spectator sport.
Yes, it is a 900 mile drive through seven states. Don't let that stop you. We didn't even take a tire trailer...we had 6 tires, tools, luggage, snacks, and a cooler all piled into the Neon. The Dodge's only real shortcoming is a lack or cruise control, but the little sucker will run at 80MPH for hours on end.
I think two of our Z-car driving friends, Mike Cavanaugh and Brian Flanagan, drove there on their race tires.
It would be great if we as a region could get a group of drivers willing to participate at "the next level". We have quite a few folks usually go to Dixie in the spring. I'm already planning to join them in 2014.
BTW...funny observation from the trophy ceremony. Locally our BS drivers tend to be on the "more mature" side (sorry John!
), but nationally it is dominated by 20-somethings. On the flip side, our local SMF crowd is a bunch of young guys but the top national guys are closer to AARP age.
and BTW pt 2...our own Jordan Towns is third in STXL going into day two. Other friends running in huge classes are Dennis Sparks (STX), Mike Cavanaugh (RTR), and Brian Flanagan (RTR). What's huge you might ask? How about 59 drivers in STX and 54 and RTR. Geoff Walker, the winner of our Spring Solo Shootout, is 14th going into day two in a 50 driver STR field.
We ran Clay's SRT4 ACR in RTF and had a 20 driver field. Clay brought home his first Nationals trophy with a 4th and I managed to finish 14th. My personal goals were to (1) not get lost on course and (2) not finish dead last, so the trip was a huge success!
The "fun" part started after the runs were in the books. Our car was protested for having too much negative camber, calling into question the strut mounts. The protester was the 8th place finisher and was trying to get Clay disqualified to move into the final trophy spot (7th).
That essentially wrecked our afternoon, as the car was impounded, the committee heard both sides, Clay had to take a strut apart, and then we were dismissed while they deliberated...for about 4 hours! The car was our only transportation, so we were stuck hanging out in paddock while anxiously awaiting a call. The call finally came and we were vindicated as the car was found to be legal. The protest was deemed "well founded" which means in the instigator got his money back...unfortunately
We were blown away by the support of the community. Our car was the only protested vehicle on Wednesday, so it was apparently the talk of the paddock and once we got it back many folks, most of whom we did not know, came to find the outcome and offer support. BTW, if you haven't seen the pics, Clay's car wasn't hard to identify. He added some plastidip fluorescent orange accenting to the white ACR.
The impound started about noon. It was after 5pm by the time the verdict was in and we were through trying to get the car aligned for the drive home. Rushed to the hotel, took quick showers, and made it to the banquet a few minutes before the program started. Got to hand to the SCCA...even with the lateness of the decision they got Clay's name on his trophy in time.
So...here's my take on the whole Nationals thing, as a Tour-level rookie and mid-pack at best driver. It was a blast! The site is beyond huge. If you have only been to local events you really have no comprehension of the sheer size and number of cars. It feels like we walked 10 miles over the three days. If you follow our sport at all you will quickly find yourself bumping into drivers and/or cars that you've read or heard about. The talent level is as incredible as you would imagine and that, along with the announcers, turn our little hobby into a pretty compelling spectator sport.
Yes, it is a 900 mile drive through seven states. Don't let that stop you. We didn't even take a tire trailer...we had 6 tires, tools, luggage, snacks, and a cooler all piled into the Neon. The Dodge's only real shortcoming is a lack or cruise control, but the little sucker will run at 80MPH for hours on end.
I think two of our Z-car driving friends, Mike Cavanaugh and Brian Flanagan, drove there on their race tires.It would be great if we as a region could get a group of drivers willing to participate at "the next level". We have quite a few folks usually go to Dixie in the spring. I'm already planning to join them in 2014.
BTW...funny observation from the trophy ceremony. Locally our BS drivers tend to be on the "more mature" side (sorry John!
), but nationally it is dominated by 20-somethings. On the flip side, our local SMF crowd is a bunch of young guys but the top national guys are closer to AARP age.and BTW pt 2...our own Jordan Towns is third in STXL going into day two. Other friends running in huge classes are Dennis Sparks (STX), Mike Cavanaugh (RTR), and Brian Flanagan (RTR). What's huge you might ask? How about 59 drivers in STX and 54 and RTR. Geoff Walker, the winner of our Spring Solo Shootout, is 14th going into day two in a 50 driver STR field.
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