Team n00b 2009

[cojsl]

The Team n00b starting roster for 2009 is:

Ed Cushing
Jamie Leben
Tom Johnston
Kirk Dunlap
Eric Dunlap
Yarko Thomas
Jonathon Barton
Wendy Barton
Shawn Killam
Jeff Andrews
Mark Bowers
Richard Kim

Let's use this thread for team discussion and updates, and leave the other for recruiting.

[sportmax]

So how do we find our team at the races? I wont know anybody. Do we need to have a Team n00b meet and great course walk at the next event? Then we know who to cheer on when they are racing :D

[cojsl]

So how do we find our team at the races? I wont know anybody. Do we need to have a Team n00b meet and great course walk at the next event? Then we know who to cheer on when they are racing :D

Course walks- definitely
Car magnets help identify fellow n00bs too

[sportmax]

Course walks- definitely
Car magnets help identify fellow n00bs too
Yes car magnets will definitly help once we all get them :)

[cojsl]

Yes car magnets will definitly help once we all get them :)

Yep, I'll make up enough for all to be ready for the 26th

[fast_eddie_72]

Course walks- definitely
Car magnets help identify fellow n00bs too

Yeah, I'm all for a course walk at the next event. Get a chance to say hi to everyone and feel like a real team! Plus I always get a lot out of walking the course with other folks. Just know that I tend to say "I don't really know. I'll have to drive that and figure it out in my first run" a lot.

[sportmax]

Yeah, I'm all for a course walk at the next event. Get a chance to say hi to everyone and feel like a real team! Plus I always get a lot out of walking the course with other folks. Just know that I tend to say "I don't really know. I'll have to drive that and figure it out in my first run" a lot.

You can get a good morning laugh out of me acting like im driving and slidding around corners during the walk. Helps me visualize the win ;) Pin it to win it

[Mines2010]

Should be fun to be part of a team this year! I look forward to meeting you guys.

[RicharrdK]

I'll be in NY for the next event. But I'll definitely be at next months event!

[Jeff AA]

I'm going to join the SCCA (sign up) for this season's autocross. I'd like to get/give the member referral discount. Am I allowed to ask if I can get someone first/last names and their SCCA member number for this?

[cojsl]

I'm going to join the SCCA (sign up) for this season's autocross. I'd like to get/give the member referral discount. Am I allowed to ask if I can get someone first/last names and their SCCA member number for this?

Gladly! we get referral discounts too- Jamie Leben 388417

[hderr]

Here's how your handicaps work out. Tom and Mark have averages from
last year of 839 and 861 respectively. Giving handicaps of
1000-839 of 161 and 1000-861 of 139. The rest use the 121 handicap
based on last year novice scores. Let me know if you have any questions.
Great to have you part of RMS. (GO TEAM Y!)

67 Ed Cushing
107 Jamie Leben
161 Tom Johnston
121 Kirk Dunlap
121 Eric Dunlap
121 Yarko Thomas
121 Jonathon Barton
121 Wendy Barton
121 Shawn Killam
121 Jeff Andrews
139 Mark Bowers
121 Richard Kim

[fast_eddie_72]

Don't forget me and Jamie!

[hderr]

67 Ed Cushing
107 Jamie Leben

[Jeff AA]

Gladly! we get referral discounts too- Jamie Leben 388417

Thanks Jamie! I'm now an SCCA member!

I've also signed up for the April 26th event at DSGP! See you guys on Sunday the 26th!

[Mines2010]

Do does this mean I get 139 points added to each one of my PAXs?

[hderr]

Do does this mean I get 139 points added to each one of my PAXs?

The handicap is added to your indexed score. So, if your indexed score is
say, 900 pts your handicapped score for the Team competition is
900 + 139 = 1039 pts. As Mark clarifies below, the handicap is
only used in the Team competition. It is NOT used for year end points or event
points.

Someplace on the forum I saw a nice explaination of how the points system,
PAX and index scoring works. I can't seem to find it. Can anyone drop us
a link?

[GingerGSR]

It's in the Supplemental Rules (http://www.rmsolo.org/rules.html)section (look at the left side of the page <----)...

Event Points
The fastest single run for each competitor will determine the finishing position. The points awarded for each event will be based on the following formula:1000 * (fastest indexed time) / (your indexed time)For 2009, the RMSS is using the PAX/RTP index. Ladies classes will use the same index as open classes. A list of official indexes for all classes will be available at the events or by mail if necessary.

[GingerGSR]

Do does this mean I get 139 points added to each one of my PAXs?
The handicap is added to your AX Team points, not your event points that go towards the year end trophy chase.

[hderr]

To clarify what the supplemental rules say about scoring points.

From Event #6 in the winter series.
Here are my stats.

2. 31/ES Hank Derr Cheyenne, WY 71.388 854
94 Mazda Miata Arrgh Kumho H & J X-Country Racing
1) 75.054 +1 ...2) 74.153 ...3) 73.165 ...4) 71.388

The first line includes the place in class (2. or 2nd), car number (31), car class (ES for E-Stock)
driver name, hometown, best time (71.388) and indexed score or points (854).

The second line describes car/tires/sponsor/... information.

The third line provides the raw times for each of the 4 runs.
The first run, 75.054 + 1, gives the raw time with the +1 being the
apparent number of cones observed down and/or out. Total time for
the run being 77.054 seconds. 2 seconds per cone.

At the end of the event, each driver's best time is multiplied by the PAX index (http://www.rmsolo.org/results.html)
for that car class. In my case, ES had a PAX index of 0.823.
My indexed time is then my best time multiplied by 0.823.

71.388 x 0.823 = 58.752 indexed time for 31ES

Indexed times are calculated for all drivers with the lowest indexed
time driver being assign 1000 points.
Points for the remaining drivers are then calculated by taking the
ratio of lowest indexed time divided by your indexed time multiplied by 1000.

For this event the lowest indexed time was 50.185, the
calculation for my points is then

(50.185/58.752) x 1000 = 854 pts. My points for the event.

In our region a drivers best 7 of 12 possible event scores are used to
place drivers in their class and placement in the top 100 drivers for the season.
(Refer to the supplemental rules for exactly how many "best" scores are
used and moving points between classes...)

I'm hoping that what I've described here makes sense and that it is error
free. Someone please correct me if you see something misleading or in error.

[Van]

The third line provides the raw times for each of the 4 runs.
The first run, 75.054 + 1, gives the raw time with the +1 being the
apparent number of cones observed down and/or out. Total time for
the run being 76.054 seconds.



Great explanation from Hank. Just one quick note though... 75.054 +1 cone = 77.054 secs. A cone will add 2 seconds to your time. In other words, don't hit cones.

Van

[cojsl]

Team n00b car magnets are ready!
I made enough for everyone.

Cya all on the 26th- hopefully many of you will make the school on the 25th

Ed, what time do you want to do the coursewalk, 8a, 8:15? Before the 8:30 novice walk is best.

[fast_eddie_72]

Ed, what time do you want to do the coursewalk, 8a, 8:15? Before the 8:30 novice walk is best.

First off, say hi to my wife on Saturday!

Second, on the course walk, I'm open to any ideas, but my vote would be 7:30- soon as the course opens for walking. It's just me, but I like to get a "solo" walk or two in once I get the lay of the land. But I don't *have* to do it that way. I *am* always one of the first folks out though and generally do that walk in a group.

But hey, like I said, I'm pretty open. Maybe if I break my rutine a bit I'll break out of my 925- 930 pt. rut as well.

[GingerGSR]

Maybe if I break my rutine a bit I'll break out of my 925- 930 pt. rut as well.
I want your index! :p

[fast_eddie_72]

I want your index! :p

Yeah, you're in a tough one for sure.

[Jeff AA]

Well I'm in for Sunday, the 26th! I'll also be at the school on Saturday, the 25th.

I hoped to have a little more experience with an event today with my local car club, but it was cancelled due to weather. Oh wells, see you all next weekend!

[Mines2010]

Hold my n00b magnets for me please. I got scheduled to work on the 26th. I cannot complain because they are cutting a lot of peoples hours. I will be to SS event 3 for sure.

[cojsl]

Hold my n00b magnets for me please.

No problem, I made plenty, I'll have them with me every event

[cojsl]

Second, on the course walk, I'm open to any ideas, but my vote would be 7:30- soon as the course opens for walking. It's just me, but I like to get a "solo" walk or two in once I get the lay of the land.

Great point, 7:30 it is!

[sportmax]

Great point, 7:30 it is!

Wow 730 course walk. Isn't that kinda early LOL :rolleyes: Im doing course setup so Ill try and be there for the team walk.
I will be in class on saterday too :) can't wait.

[JonathonBarton]

Wendy and I are really looking forward to school on Saturday and the event on Sunday.

She manages to amaze me every day.
When she sets her mind to something, she really just jumps in the deep end of the pool and learns to swim from there - yesterday afternoon, she was texting me about the possibility of making custom expandable foam racing seats and whether or not we should go buy racing shoes for this weekend.

I'm starting to suspect that a dedicated race car may once again be in my (read: her, really) future.

[sportmax]

Thats awesome she is getting into the racing that much :)
cant wait to meet you two along with everyone else on the team. I went looking for race shoes the other day but couldn't find any good for cheap.
Im also looking forward to the school on saterday. Lets just hope the weather holds out, rain in the forecast. But guess a wet track will be that much more fun :D
Just look for the crazzy guy sliding around in the right hand drive car ;) and come say hi.

[Jeff AA]

What a great day! Today was super awesome. I definitely learned a lot, and I'm looking forward to the next event I can attend (Memorial weekend?).

Thanks Jamie for the course walk, thanks Tom for the ride-a-long on your first 2 runs, that was extremely helpful. It was nice meeting all you guys for the first/second time.

I can't get this smile off my face!

Sincerely,
Your F-Stock Champion and 9th Place Novice
!!!!!

[fast_eddie_72]

Great job Jeff and all the n00bs! I think we had a good day. Can't wait to see the team results later this week!

[hderr]

Can't wait to see the team results later this week!
Hmmmm... no pressure. ;)

[fast_eddie_72]

Hmmmm... no pressure. ;)

Um, whenever they may become available...

[cojsl]

It was great to get the team together this weekend for the first time and meet you all!

Congratulations on a bunch of great finishes!

Let's keep pegging the fun meter!

[sportmax]

Great job team :D Yesterday was a blast. We had a bunch of guys on our team trouphy. Lets keep it up and definitly peg the fun metter :D

[Jeff AA]

Kirk, you did awesome! You must have had a blast in that car!

[sportmax]

Kirk, you did awesome! You must have had a blast in that car!

I love that car :) So much fun to drive. Guess there really is a reason these cars are so famous :D Really tempted to invest in some slicks now, only way to keep up with that evo LOL

Great job Jeff. First place in your first race :D Guess that class really helped

[Jeff AA]

Yeah, it was so much fun yesterday. My first investment will be some performance street tires. I should have them by the next event that I will be able to attend - Memorial weekend. This way I can still use them everyday. Maybe next year, after I get more experience under my belt, I'll look into getting another set of rims and race tires.

[sportmax]

Im looking at race rubber right now but don't think it will happen this year. To expensive and not enough money.

[RanGVR-4]

Look into the hankook z214, they are going for a pretty good price. some of the new size V710's are going for really good prices too.

[sportmax]

Look into the hankook z214, they are going for a pretty good price. some of the new size V710's are going for really good prices too.

Cool thanks man, ill look into that. Give you a little run for your money if i get some Rcomps ;) Jap spec VS. jap spec cars hehe.

[Jeff AA]

Wow, great job this week, team! We placed 3rd in team competition!

On another note, can anyone recommend some high performance street tires? I was looking at the Bridgestone RE11 and the Dunlop Z1 Star Spec.

I will also use these as my daily driver tires (I only live a mile from work, so these tires should last a while).

Any recommendations?

[sportmax]

I really like my Yokohama AD07s. Quite and smooth on the road yet stick super well when racing. My car is probably alot lighter then yours so not sure how that will affect tire choice.
I heard the Dunlop Star Specs are the best bang for the buck. If im not mistaken thats what russ is running on his evo and he's kicking some but ;)

[sportmax]

We doing a team course walk again?? I am working gate till 8 so i can walk after that.
We got 3rd last time, need to step it up this time :D

[fast_eddie_72]

We doing a team course walk again?? I am working gate till 8 so i can walk after that.
We got 3rd last time, need to step it up this time :D

Yes! Jamie suggested we do it later as well. Sounds like a plan! We'll say 8:00ish and go as soon as you get there!

I'd really like to get to know who everyone is this time. I still don't feel like I have any idea who my team mates are!

See ya Sunday!

[Jeff AA]

Ugh, I really wish I could be there but I'm out of town this weekend. You guys kick some booty this weekend!

[sportmax]

Yes! Jamie suggested we do it later as well. Sounds like a plan! We'll say 8:00ish and go as soon as you get there!

I'd really like to get to know who everyone is this time. I still don't feel like I have any idea who my team mates are!

See ya Sunday!

Ill be one of the first cars on site, about 630 am. If you find my Skyline park next to it and we can all pit together as a team and meet each other.

Sucks you wont be there Jeff. Memorial day double :D

[Jeff AA]

I'm definitely there for the Memorial double!!!!
God luck this weekend, team!! Have fun!

[fast_eddie_72]

Just a reminder- Team n00b course walk at 8:00 AM. Meet at the starting line and we'll see what we can see!

Take care,

Ed

[Mines2010]

I will be there tomorrow. Where can I pick up my n00b magnets.

[daswerks]

Team,

Please see correcting post below, dinner on Sunday the 24th.

Would love to have a team dinner the night of May 25th in Fountain. I will be staying overnight there.

Hope to see you there for the Memorial Day double.

Go Team noob.

Later,

Tom

[Jeff AA]

I'll be staying over May 23rd and 24th, but headed home after the event on Monday the 25th.

[sportmax]

That could work. Ill be there monday but not sunday. Probably head home right after the even monday though, so an early dinner would work.

[daswerks]

Team,

Sorry, was looking at the date wrong. I propose dinner Sunday night the 24th, sorry about the confusion.

Tom

[Jeff AA]

Team,

Sorry, was looking at the date wrong. I propose dinner Sunday night the 24th, sorry about the confusion.

Tom

In that case, I'm in! If you don't mind one or two extra people, my wife might be coming down that weekend, as well as my mother-in-law. But those 2 are just a maybe right now.

[Jeff AA]

Team, I want to get your thoughts on what class I might be running. I can run F-Stock (like my first event), or AT since I run on street tires. There's not much competition in FS, so I have a much better chance of winning. In AT, there can really be just about ANY stock car, including anything that can run in A-Stock and I think that scares me a little. I guess I'm a little competitive...

[sportmax]

I wont be there sunday, just monday. So have a good dinner :) drink a beer for me lol

HMMMM thats a tough one Jeff. Stick with FS if you want to win. Think there is some good compitition in AT but i don't know. I havn't really looked into it much.

[JonathonBarton]

AT is indexed, just like W and X, so you won't be concerned so much about raw times...
On the up side, you won't be competing against race rubber in AT.
On the down side, you'll be competing against many many more people.
On the up side, more people = more chances for a trophy.
On the down side, more people = more chances for just missing out on a trophy. =)

Wendy and I won't be at the MDDH - We're going to BFE Arizona (closest 'city' = Blythe, CA) to visit with her mom and hubby. (Kinda hard to call him 'dad' or 'stepdad' when you dated him (briefly) in college and introduced the two to each other - 25 years ago! Yes, her family is quite...interesting! *grins*) We're really going to miss you guys at dinner - we're looking forward to non-racing face time!

[Jeff AA]

Im here! I'm staying at a Fairfield Inn in Colorado Springs. I'm looking forward to 2-days of autox!! Are we still on for dinner tomorrow evening?

By the way, who from Team n00b will be at these events this weekend?

And where/when can we meet up tomorrow morning?

[Jeff AA]

Good job team! We placed 3rd in the team rankings for the 5/25 event! Kudos to Tom, Ed, Jamie and Kirk!

[sportmax]

No lets see if we can win one. Might have to start kicking people off that arn't showing and recruiting new. Hopfully i can score some more points once my new tires are on to help out some :)

[JonathonBarton]

Wendy and I are out until further notice.

Went to the Neurologist for a followup on Monday, and her baseline MRIs show that she's got 6 'moderate' instances of spinal stenosis (where the disk is impinging on the spinal fluid, and can potentially impinge on the spinal cord itself.).

Doctor's Orders. No dancing, no horseback riding, no diving, no roughhousing with the nephew, and, of course, no autocross until she can have an Orthopedic Surgeon do more MRIs to see how the worst offender (one in her neck) moves in relation to her spinal cord with head motion (flexion/extension).

Bleh. Finally find m'self a woman who enjoys autocross as much as I do...*grumbles*

[Jeff AA]

Sorry about that, Jonathon. Hope all turns out for the better and you both are able to get back on the track soon!

[cojsl]

Jonathan and Wendy- Sorry to hear, get well soon Wendy!

[sportmax]

Wow sorry to hear that man, hope she gets better soon. But just think, since she can't race right now but enjoys being there you have yourself an Umbrella girl ;)

[cojsl]

In keeping with the ancient august traditions of team n00b, the plan for Team n00b 2010 is for 1-2 current n00bs to continue on as leader/s forming a team with a new group of novices- preferably those new to autocross team competition.
Leader duties are pretty easy
- recruit and orient new members about the team competition
- provide team flair- I still have a batch of new Team n00b magnets you can have
- have fun!

Who shall step forward to uphold the n00b tradition? :D

[fast_eddie_72]

Jamie, I agree, I would love to see the tradition live on!! And I'd be more than happy to help get Team n00b 2010 off to a good start as I'm sure you will. If some 2009 n00bs will step up to be the leaders I'm sure Jamie and I will impart any wisdom our "vast" experience gives us.

Now, Jamie, there is some contention about your team status for next year...

[mitrebox]

Now, Jamie, there is some contention about your team status for next year...

Oh, you noticed?;)

[sportmax]

Well I probably can't help with the new team n00b leadership. Technicly I'm still a novice!! Lol

[cojsl]

Well I probably can't help with the new team n00b leadership. Technicly I'm still a novice!! Lol

Of course you can Kirk! A novice can captain a team

[fast_eddie_72]

Well I probably can't help with the new team n00b leadership. Technicly I'm still a novice!! Lol

I think that makes you the *perfect* candidate.

Team n00b is a very cool idea and I'd really like to see it continue. I think that means you're elected!

[sportmax]

Lol damn that was supposed to be my excuse :D. Team n00b is a good idea. Ill see what I can do.

[cojsl]

Lol damn that was supposed to be my excuse :D. Team n00b is a good idea. Ill see what I can do.

Thanks! Feel free to look for a co-captain if you want,

[sportmax]

I'm trying to talk my brother in it lol. I have a few other ideas who to ask too. When's a good time to start recruitng ?

[fast_eddie_72]

I'm trying to talk my brother in it lol. I have a few other ideas who to ask too. When's a good time to start recruitng ?

I'd start right away!

[sportmax]

Ok ill start soon. Probably takes some time finding all the novice drivers to form the team.

[cojsl]

Ok ill start soon. Probably takes some time finding all the novice drivers to form the team.

You probably know this, but team competition is only for summer series events, so you have all winter to recruit. Here's the team autocross rules: http://rmsolo.org/forums/showthread.php?t=2380&highlight=team+autocross+rules

[sportmax]

Yup definitly know that. Thanks tho Jamie. I will post up a tread probably first of the year to start recruiting.

[Mr. Sociable]

I joined n00b then had some setbacks that kept me from making any more events.


Sorry guys! :(

[sportmax]

I joined n00b then had some setbacks that kept me from making any more events.


Sorry guys! :(

Thats ok, just join us on Team n00b for 2010 :D

[fast_eddie_72]

Thats ok, just join us on Team n00b for 2010 :D

That's what I was gonna say!

[Mr. Sociable]

That's what I was gonna say!

I'm still a novice after two 6 event seasons. :D

[sportmax]

I'm still a novice after two 6 event seasons. :D

That's what I'm working on, last season was 6 events. But i hope to do the majority of all the events this year.

[Mr. Sociable]

That's what I'm working on, last season was 6 events. But i hope to do the majority of all the events this year.

That's what I said last year, then I ran out of money.


Hopefully my move to STX will go smoothly.