Dancing with wolves - Grattan QClub Event

[QSHIPQ <QSHIPQ@aol.com>]

Grattan Qclub Event.  Serious ordinance, serious lap times, serious speed, one
roller (non q)....  Report follows:

The premiere of the QCUSA '98 events was this past weekend, the 40 or so
participants were split about 65/35 (nope not torsens, but experienced/newbie
split:).  Former posts can get a detailed description of the course, but
technically difficult multiplane would be adequate summation.

First day was School in the morning, usual exercise stuff.  The tone of this
event seemed somewhat more relaxed for the first o' season, and unlike last
year testosterone levels seemed rather, er, controlled (arguably, save one).
Cars:
several A4's - 3 really tweeked
several 5ktq's - most tweeked, Big Red's on Carl Jerritts car premiered
midwest
several S cars 
a couple turbo 4kq's - including the lava machine
Supra tt\
Vr 4       \ ------  Hey, how convenient  :) 
Rx7tt     /
M3 4dr /
2 911
1 lotus elan
2 cq's
3 Urq (polumbo bros + 1)
1 CRX DS (of the sun)
1 v8
ITS 240Z (IT lap record holder here)
Absent:
Anderson's late MC Urq not done yet
A6's and A8's

Afternoon, the fun began, the weather was turbo perfect, 50's and sunny.  My
students were the Beast owner with big reds and R1's, and the Rx7tt owner
(stock with SP8k's).  

Well, the run groups were all fast, the average time was sub 2min, a 1:30's is
really quick for this group.  The convenient comparo, went down by one, as the
Supratt owner had er, ah, 'brake' fade at the end of the straight, and went
for the slide and roll, instead of straight.  Car deployed air bags, is
totalled, driver and Rx7tt passenger just a little stiff from it all.  End of
day, a cloud on an otherwise great afternoon.  Most knew what the "fade"
was...

Saturday night was the first annual Quattro Club Nascar Invitational (tm)at
the local go-kart track.  10 adventuring q drivers bought out the local
Bullwinkle (chuckie-cheezy theme park) Nascar oval track, for some real
competitive prowess.  8hp Hondas, and mini Dale Ernhart plastic shells, 250ft
oval, and a lot of chaulk dust made for some serious competition.  An hour of
'bangem up" laughs and serious competition was a great way to end the day.  A
lot of palms got greased for 'limited' supervision priveleges by the young
track "officials".  Sometimes wish SCCA would be this easy...   Most Serious
Award:  Bob Dupree, Funniest Look Award (and biggest grin):  Gary Polumbo,
Best Hit Award:  Me on CI Phil Smith, quattro hat popped onto the track.
Thank goodness we hit the local pub AFTER this event.  Yes, there were pix,
will follow.

RAIN.  Big time rain.  Sunday morning was lower 40's and very wet.  This could
prove very interesting for a few, including my RX7 student Joey (who almost
spun a few times in the dry on Sat:).  Well first run group, Joey handed me
the keys.  Ok, ante up, big guy.  SP8k's in rain should be pretty good.  Last
ride in RX7tt, 2 years ago at Waterford....

Well, my impressions of that car so posted here, didn't change.  A LOT of
power, and very kind handling for THE racing line.  You did one move out of
sequence, the tail would try to lead the way.  "Forgiving" would be the exact
wrong word for this machine.  "Smooth" would be the exact word for driving
style needed.  Somewhat of an oxymoron, given the abrupt input of the
secondary turbo.  Again, chassis dynamics and weight dist proved the RX7 to be
q-unbeaten in the rain on my two runs.  However, things changed when the
afternoon sun arrived.

The track dried up again by 2:00 or so, and the fun started again.  The Lava
Machine was doing well against the tweeked A4's, the Coil-overed, MC and race
slick equipped 4ktq did very well as well.   Tim (4ktq owner) followed me
around the track in his 4ktq, and started to gain, as the Rx7tt lost it's
braking power (fade).  We paced around the track for a couple laps, then I
decided to let him 'buy'.  Well the competition ended early, as HIS G60
conversion faded within 1.5 laps of his lead.   The vr4 handily passed us
both.

Eval of the hotties:  M3 still the winner, the Vr4 a close second.  Why?  Cuz
these are street cars with weekend warriors.  Rx7tt?  Compromises street or
track.  To be the ace, it needed the 8k's for the rain, and R1's for the dry,
brakes to match the speed, and maybe a more progressive turbo design.  Not
once were you comfortable driving fast in this machine, and it always reminded
you of that, tho many officianatos assure me the side step is very controlable
(not my car argument applies here).  Given the price of this Rx7tt (13kUSD),
brakes and tires the upgrade, the 4ktq (unless homegrown) seems to be steep,
without the brake upgrade (and asuming 4.11's).  The 4ktq would come in 4th,
but a distant one, certainly ahead of A4's, S cars, and most 5ktq/200's.  The
supratt 'bowed' out, though former drives of this car were wilder than the
Rx7, IMO.  An Urq equipped with the right toys, and a locker 4.11, was really
close to the M3 in speed, but not balance.  Best track potential:  RX7.  Best
actual:  M3

Interesting discussion of torsens Saturday night, with more of us instructors
discussing how we teach correction, than debating the event itself.  My advice
on dry was to go right foot in over the apex (Grattan being fairly harmless
with this thinking, not so elsewhere), which I termed the 'HumV methodology'
(per Graydon), and a safe absolute traction equation.  Since not my chaulk
talk, the CI decided that both feet in was the better advice, then both feet
off when going into the grass.

A great event, lot's of good fun, and a technically challenging track.  The
hottie comparo was somewhat ironic given the threads of late.  Looking forward
to the Rx7tt in more "fitting" form next year, Joey committed to that already.
The 90's proving to be very progressive in the q mods department, than just 5
years ago.  The ante is up, in a big way, it's great to see.  The new S4 will
be IN next year, by discussion with a few drivers "on order", given the tweeks
to the cars to date, it has some tough "old" competition.

Great fun.  

Scott Justusson