Uphill Battles

Practice starts were yesterday, with the start line for each course on a major uphill incline. This makes for an interesting launch, with the need to e-brake the car in staging, to hold it as you clutch and gas in while the lights drop. On the green (or 3rd yellow), it's a furious fumbling of frantic e-brake and simultaneous clutch action!

240sx: Too much power. Couldn't get a good start till the 12th or so practice start, resulting in a slightly bogged 1.9 sec 60ft. The 2step isn't working as consistently as we'd like, so it looks like "normal" starts for us! Maybe we'll shoot some fireballs after we're winning going into the 2nd round. Dave, however, managed to win $20 by perfecting his timing, with a .500 R/T (which is 0.000 at the green for you non-prosolo-ers).

BMW: It's a BMW. Mike struggled a bit on launch, but I think it was just to give Chris a false sense of confidence with his 2.0 60' starts.

510: It eventually made it to the 60' (2.4+)!!!!! The uphill is going to be painful for the poor little dime, but what comes up must come down!! The way back on each course should be a good thing for the 510 and its narrow track.

3: It's FWD, but it's boosted. Chances are, the "zippy" nature of the course and the uphilling will give it an advantage over the ITR's. Who knows if it'll keep that momentum on the turnbacks, where both courses can punish an overaggressive approach.

VtEK Cibic y0: Same as it's been for like, a brazillion years.

Smokey the ITR: Not quite as smokey as the 240, at least.

Today is day 1 of competition. We're gonna be late leaving, so I'm gonna post more later.

I need donuts and coffee.

Serious.

-PJ