3-20 event summary

Was out at the first event yesterday and had a blast. LOTS of entries this time around, over 50 preregistered, didn't catch how many showed up, but it was quite a few.

The morning was pretty hectic with a pretty big breakdown of a MB 190E. Broke a ball joint and required some clever macguivering to get it off the course (think straps, zip ties, floor jacks, and lots of plywood).

The morning course was fairly tight and technical. Removing the sway bar endlinks made a HUGE difference in handling on the Aveo. It's like night and day around longer sweepers, and quick slides around the 90d corners. With the sway bar disconnected, I can get back on the power quicker, and use more of it. The inside wheel is more planted, keeping the car from peglegging as much.

The afternoon course was more open, with a technical section in the beginning and end, with the middle allowing for more speed. A nice open slalom in the fast portions made for a lot of amusing fishtailing from the RWD guys.

Unfortunately I was the only car in my class AGAIN, there was supposed to be a GTi, but no love for fwd I guess! Still waiting for the overall results to be posted to see how I faired against the other classes.

In attendance: The usual gaggle of boring subarus: Imprezas, a forester, an OBS, and STis. Toyota All-Trac. VW Sirocco. Rally Prepped Mitsubishi Might Max (He was a BLAST to watch), 1st Gen RX-7 (also a blast to watch), a Hyundai Genesis 3.8l (Called it quits after the morning, got a scratch or something!). A pretty good mix of cars, for a region which is usually ALL Subarus.

A brand new respect for the E30 BMWs. The 325E that came up stalled out twice on course in the morning... the second time it sounded like the engine seized. Pushed them back to the paddock to find out they had no oil, for at least 2 hot runs. Poured more oil in it, and it started right back up and finished the day without any problems.

Videos and pictures to follow.