Formula D Sonoma (FEEDBACK)

[mav1178]

Originally posted by Formula D
What was explained in the drivers meeting for qualifying was this:

1 run for practice. Then drivers come right back up and go immediately into their first judged qualifying run. The entire field runs through under that process (1 practice run, 1 qualifying run) When the first driver gets back up to the front of the line when all other competitors had gone we would look at the time and if time allowed for it we would have a secondary practice run immedialtely followed by the second judge qualifying run. Due to time we did not have time for a secondary practice run prior to the secondary qualifying run so drivers went right into the secondary qualifying run.

Scores are based on the BEST of two runs. Worst run gets thrown out. Qualifying determines who you compete against in the Top 16. !st place qualifier vs 16th place qualifier 2nd vs 15th and so on.

Yes that was exactly what was said in the meeting... but before some of us went out we were told that "both runs were being judged".

More than two drivers took that as "both runs for round 1 were being judged". Myself included. Tyler too.

I think, at least for the last event, it should be made abundantly clear THROUGH ONE PERSON the rules of qualifying. This same person should also be the one that is out at the staging area with drivers.

And I wouldn't bring this up if it was just affecting me... but more than one person knew what I knew. And frankly I don't want to see someone elses chances in Formula D to win be compromised by conflicting information.

-alex

[my 1 88 u]

modified magazine interview with Sam Hubinette

Your victory in the Mopar Dodge Viper Comp Coupe marked the first time a domestic has ever won a drift competition. What massage does this send to the drift teams competing with Imports, which dominate the sport?

I had't thought of it that way. but it definitely shows that (drifting) is not only for japanese cars. We've shown that we can pull off a really good show with a pretty heavy domestic car. They have to watch out now! The powerful engine in the Viper makes it so much easier and gives the car a better feel. And, because of its insantaneous throttle response, we don't need any turbos.

You seem to know your car pretty well already, how much seat time were you able to get in prior to the event (drift Atlanta) and what modifications does it have?

We spent the whole day there and went through a chunk of tires trying to find a good setup for the car. We changed spring rates - we have 1,000 pounds in the rear and 600 in front - and I beefed up the shocks in the rear a little bit, which on the Competition Coupe are adjustable (stock), so it was very easy. The toe-in, some camber angles as well as the ride height was also modified. We also needed to figure out what size of tires to go with. We were thinking about 275s but we went with 295s. It was a hot, sweaty day but it paid off!
I didn't think it was hard to drift it at all. It's a great machine that's easy to drift!

[my 1 88 u]

Now whats the disadvantages of this car again?

[kouki-kun]

Originally posted by my 1 88 u
Now whats the disadvantages of this car again?

um...... its identical to every mopar car???

Thats all I can think of.

[PhoPower]

the 86 against the viper is like david against goliath they all have a chance of beating the viper and we know dai will do it soon cus he almost beat sam.

[j.r.]

Originally posted by mav1178
Yes that was exactly what was said in the meeting... but before some of us went out we were told that "both runs were being judged".

More than two drivers took that as "both runs for round 1 were being judged". Myself included. Tyler too.

I think, at least for the last event, it should be made abundantly clear THROUGH ONE PERSON the rules of qualifying. This same person should also be the one that is out at the staging area with drivers.

And I wouldn't bring this up if it was just affecting me... but more than one person knew what I knew. And frankly I don't want to see someone elses chances in Formula D to win be compromised by conflicting information.

-alex

If you were under the impression both runs were being judged you should have drove hard on both of them and it shouldnt matter at all.

JR

[mav1178]

Originally posted by j.r.
If you were under the impression both runs were being judged you should have drove hard on both of them and it shouldnt matter at all.

JR

True... but like I said:

And I wouldn't bring this up if it was just affecting me... but more than one person knew what I knew. And frankly I don't want to see someone elses chances in Formula D to win be compromised by conflicting information.

I wasn't planning on making top 16, nor did I care... but I don't want to see other drivers who have a legitimate shot at winning be shut out because of miscommunication. Jasper Performance almost had that happen to them.

It should be noted that both Tyler and I did the same thing; nail run #1, and push and try to have a more aggressive run #2. We both spun on our second runs...

-alex

[DONKEY_WEAR]

Originally posted by NFJohn
\The JIC RX8 is a factory Mazda car I believe. I talked to Todd Kaneko in Laguan Seca and if I remember right, he said they were getting a car ready for the series. I could be wrong, but I think it is Factory Mazda with JIC colors on it.

yea i noe tod hes kooo as fudge he lives like a few blocks away from me hes a really koo guy and i jheard ge has a very clean 510....but yea ne way that seems to be very interesting to c a rx-8 out there gettin side ways

[DONKEY_WEAR]

hey alex wat did u think about ross petty? for his first time to ever drift that car do u think he was pretty good or what?

[AlexPfeiffer]

Sonoma was pretty fun all together. It was good to see alot of my old friends up there.

The practice run deal. My take on it is that at every competition i've been in, the practice run still counts, why change that now. And why did they try to, that didnt make sence. I dont get the fact that you go from 40 something cars directly to top 16.

There should be another cut, maybe the day before. Then we can have a practice infront of the spectators. Let the gates open a bit earlier for the die hard fans.

My take on the viper, First off I was one of the guys who tested to be a driver and my first impression was that the car is fun but not fair. This is a sport that started on the streets and mountain roads. Cars that had plates and are road legal. Alot of you still think that its a stock viper, your wrong. I've drifted a stock viper and that thing is far from it. Its a "Competition" coupe and not a street baised car.

Yes its alot lighter, yes it has alot of the mods you would do if you started with a stock viper, but there are a few things overlooked. First is its not the original chassy, all the suspension arms are stock baised but are moved from thier original positions for better center of gravity and roll centers. (alot different then a stock viper). The car may beable to be bought by anyone with about $140k but it could never been driven on the street to start with. I dont care how many of them were made.

Dont get me wrong, Sam is a great driver and all the guys on the team are very cool cats. And It is the driver that wins, although he has been beat only once in the 4 comps he has entered the car. But that car is not in the true essence of the sport and it is an advantage. Sam wins threw concistancy, that and when it comes to tandom competition, he and the car are able to change up the lines for a good battle.

The car has a wide range of driftablitly, meaning it can start a drift from a dead stop and still reach drifting speeds of other cars were as most others have to gain momentum first. It has good corner speeds and traction, you dont see cars catching up to him mid drift and he is able to drive under others lines.

All in all what im guess im trying to say is that the car is an advatage mainly because he does not have to drive the wheels off of it to do good aginst the rest of us. We have to push ourselves and our cars to the limits to keep up, alot of times we push too hard and make mistakes, but even when we dont, we still fall behind that thing.

Bringing out that Viper was a cheep way of dodge to get in the game, rather than building a car like GM did. Do it the right way next year.

[STFUAD]

Alex...

I don't think you got airborne enough on your last run, try to get all 4 wheels higher off the ground when you launch.

[mav1178]

I personally think in order to make drifting reach the widest possible audience, a rule needs to be put in place where the vehicle must have a VIN or equivilant number.

This does not mean the car has to be street legal, nor does it have to mean that cars from outside the U.S. cannot be driven... but it helps to weed out cars built specifically for competition like the Viper.

If the Viper is allowed in Formula D, then cars like the Weld Racing S14 (with an engine moved back 6") should be allowed to compete in D1 as well... but that car is prohibited in D1.

-alex

[z28evans]

There should be another cut, maybe the day before. Then we can have a practice infront of the spectators. Let the gates open a bit earlier for the die hard fans

If they had a pre-cut, then the fans couldn't see the little guys like us

Damn Alex, you know how to throw that car of yours around - i love the pic of you sideways getting airbourne

james
www.bubbadrift.com

[nissanguy_24]

Originally posted by mav1178


If the Viper is allowed in Formula D, then cars like the Weld Racing S14 (with an engine moved back 6") should be allowed to compete in D1 as well... but that car is prohibited in D1.

-alex

The viper will likely be prohibited from the D1 as well. I hope sam and his crew can come up with a compliant car. It would be a shame to see one of our best, if not our best not be able to take it to our japanese friends.

[AlexPfeiffer]

I know kevin, i did want to jump that thing and land on top of ryse!!! Now that would have been cool.

alex, that car does have a vin, all race cars do, just not able to be street legal.

James, its cool to have the locals there, just i feel they should earn there right to run in front of the fans. I suggested this when we started, have 2 different classes. A and B group. A group are the top and proven drivers and teams. Group B would be the locals and privateers. There is alot of time inbetween rounds that the track is open and not being used. That and then you wouldnt have to have a full cage and so on to compete, just not tandom in the b group. Kinda like how you did well at driftshowoff to prove to people you could handle yourself at formula D. People should have to prove there skill before entering the top of the sport, it looks bad to our fans to say this is the top us has to offer and you have beginners out there spinning and going slow. You where not there in atlanta but at least half the field couldnt drift and just made us look bad in front of 6000 people. Not anyone can try for D1 in japan, there are lower competitions you have to work your way threw first, i feel it should be the same way here.

Nissan guy, I hope that thing doesnt run in D1, that would total ruin my image of drifting and the credibility of the sport (like that hasnt been messed with by formula D already)

And yeah, tarzan shouldnt be a judge!