MaxQData Logger

I just ordered this MaxQData Logger http://www.maxqdata.com/ last week and I expect to receive it anyday now. You need to use it in conjunction with a Pocket PC w/ bluetooth so I'm glad I already have my HP 2495 ppc which should be perfect for the interface.

Although it costs $300 its suppose to be one of the best "tools" available to improve your autocross driving as several national champions were using this gps data logger to analyze their driving BETWEEN runs at the past SCCA nationals!

According to the experts, this data logger should have the same impact to better driving as what R-compounds have to better grip!

Here is a SCCA Forum thread that I have been following that discusses the pros of using this data logger: http://sccaforums.com/forums/thread/227266.aspx

Hopefully, it should help in whatever car I use.

Sent to: www.mycarpage.blogspot.com

April 8th Autocross - New Season

Sequence into the last section of last Sunday's autocross.

Coming out of a fast right hand sweeper...
Into a quick right, then left...
Then a quick right...
Heading to the hairpin turn...
Setting up for the hairpin...
Turn in point for the hairpin...
In the middle of the hairpin ...
And a short burst to the finish...

August 8th was the first race of the 2007-2008 Oahu SCCA Autocross season.

Instead of racing my Bimmer wagon, I decided to run my brother's dropped Eunos on R-compounds in the CSP class. I did OK, considering, this car is totally underpowered (1.6) and under-tired (185 x 60) for the class.

Not to finger only the car, as I figure I probably left a good 1/2 second out on the course due to one very difficult decreasing radius turn that I NEVER got right...even in the 5 fun runs I took at the end of the day.

Check the position of my car, versus the M3 in the same hairpin. I apexed WAY too early and had to swing really wide for the next turns...thank goodness for the R compounds as I would have probably never made the turns with the ES100s.

Notice the properly positioned M3 much farther from the outside cones and already lining up for the next right hander. Not reading this turn right cost me big time - I think!

Here's me on the second run in the same decreasing radius turn where I got all crossed up in the turn...drifting away time...

Settings:
My brothers car has adjustable shocks and on one run I set it up with only a one-click difference between front and back...at that setting the car was practically undrivable do to the back end breaking loose on every turn.

On this day, I found the ideal setting to be the front at the stiffist setting and the back at 3 clicks out. Adjusted this way, the back end obediently followed the front with not much understeering at all. Tires were good at 31 front / 29 back, but I'm not sure if lower would have given more grip...chalk those tires for roll-over next time!

CSP Times:
Ken Van O BMW M3 33.898 33.090 35.771 33.328 33.090 2
Jason T Toyota MR2 39.400 34.484 36.137 34.226 34.226 10
Steven S Mazda Miata 38.530 36.735 35.577 35.481 35.481 26
Leila J Mazda Miata 38.499 39.028 39.990 38.055 38.055 56
Ross C Mazda Miata 39.093 39.978 38.903 38.234 38.234 61
Roland A Toyota MR2 DNF 39.512 DNF DNF 39.512 80

That BMW M3 in the picture is the same M3 that took 1st place in CSP - with the second fastest raw time on the day! Looks like the competition will be really tough in CSP especially since my brother's Eunos is not prepped at all for CSP...guess I just need to improve my driving a LOT MORE!!!

Here's a great write up of the action at SCCA Hawaii: SCCA Hawaii April Autocross.

Sent to: www.mycarpage.blogspot.com

Tantalus Video

Just got this hot off the e-mail from my friends Mark and Liana - the two shadow people. This was taken from the steepest part of Tantalus which is about half way up to the top.

It may look like I'm going pretty fast (and breathing real hard - if you listen good)...but...that was only a show for the camera... :-D

To www.mycyclingpage.blogspot.com

Poser...

Posing..., originally uploaded by dancedream2002.

Good Friday and Saturday Riding -

After last weeks Tantalus Time Trial I spent this week dialing in my TT position during the week, and rode long yesterday and today.

Yesterday was the Good Friday holiday so I headed out late and did a Pali loop, 3:20 ride time and about 85km. Wasn't feeling all that great so I rode pretty easy all the way, sans powertap, but REALLY didn't feel good when I made the turn at Makapuu point and had to ride into a consistent Kona wind blowing out of the South for the next 2 hours...all the way home :-(

Today, I did a 3 hour, 73km recovery ride cause my legs were all shot from working on my brother's Eunos for tomorrows SCCA Autocross. Funny thing was, after about 1 hour I felt actually better than yesterday.

Heading up towards Papakolea, I was forced to stop and take a few shots as about 4 PEACOCKS were struting around in this person's driveway and yard! What a site in town. I don't know if they were wild or not, but one was a real Poser...

To www.mycyclingpage.blogspot.com

Profile...

Profile..., originally uploaded by dancedream2002.

Most Beautiful Tree

Most Beautiful Tree, originally uploaded by dancedream2002.

Here's the tree today....getting a little fuller....

Check my post below for the look on March 20th and March 1st?

Tantalus Time Trial - Sans Power

Last Sunday (April 1st) was the longest continuous running bike race in Hawaii - the Tantalus Time Trial, a true hill climb all the way.



I was really happy to turn a 23 min. 26 sec., considering, the 4 times I did it in training the weeks before the race were: 25+, 24:45, 24:45, and 24:30, so I was thinking 24 flat with my race setup would have been a stretch. Don't know how I did it but turning a time 1 minute faster than training was really a shock to me as I did it with no power meter, no heart rate, only a speedo to track my time.



I HAD planned to originally do the race WITH my powertap, just like at Haleakala, as I felt the added power pacing information would have made up for the added weight. But for the last 3 weeks, my powertap has been on an off and on mode, depending on how IT feels...so...I just said screw the power (and heart rate) for now...OLD SCHOOL MAN!!!

The winner did it in 19min flat! with lots of riders between that time and mine :-(

I weighed my bike and myself the night before and with clothes, shoes and helmet, Zipp 303s and no saddle bag and mirror and water bottles, my bike weighed 16.5 pounds and I weighed 155 pounds for a total of 171.5 pounds. Based on this weight, I figure I generated about 290-295 watts for the entire climb.

In 2004 in training, I climbed Tantalus in 23:40 with 296 watts with my training setup so I think the my estimate of 290ish is pretty close with my race setup.

Going up hill fast is soooo easy to understand, it all comes down to your power to weight ratio. For myself, I'm not really a weight weenie, but...oh well...it's either drop some weight or generate more power.

After the race, I wound down with another easy lap of Tantalus, in my 29x27, and a hard fast ride out to Hawaii Kai with Cambio riders David, Barry, and Charles. That had to have been the fastest I have ever gone out and back on Kal Highway ever! At the end of the day, I ended up with about 3h 30min total ride time, including the race.



This mongoose (along w/ the D man sacraficed not racing to take these pictures) was a spectator during last Sunday during the Tantalus Time Trial.

To www.mycyclingpage.blogspot.com