Melbourne area stangs

I'd just like to know the daily itinerary. Do they set up a single course to be used all day and you just keep driving it over and over while an instructor gives you tips? Or do they set up skill stations to practice a certain technique? What I'm trying to get at: is it like 10 autocross days rolled into one (with number of laps and price to reflect that) or do they teach you something that really makes a difference beyond just seat time?

By the way, what was it that was "holding you back?" Not looking ahead?

How many hot laps do you have to do in a row? I'm wondering if my cooling system can handle it in June.

Originally posted by tooler
Do they set up a single course to be used all day and you just keep driving it over and over while an instructor gives you tips?

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Yes, and the use the same course for each seperate phase. Your phase I course will be the same one I drove. Phase II courses are the same as phase II courses were last year. They optimized to teach the principles being taught during that weekend.

Originally posted by tooler
Or do they set up skill stations to practice a certain technique?

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Yes. The course has a few different timing gates that allow you to compare times from each individual section. For instance, you can take you runs through zone 1 (the slalom) and compare those to each other during the entire day. If you completely blow a run, you can still look at the other sections and see how they compare. Seeing a 2 second drop in zone 3 right before you had a 3 second increase in zone 4 might tell you that you pushed 3 too hard and lost a second overall.

Originally posted by tooler
What I'm trying to get at: is it like 10 autocross days rolled into one (with number of laps and price to reflect that) or do they teach you something that really makes a difference beyond just seat time?

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I think the main benefit is being able to have a multiple SCCA champion in the seat next to you. They can give you insight into what your doing even when you don't realize it.

Originally posted by tooler
By the way, what was it that was "holding you back?" Not looking ahead?

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They really stress looking ahead, but that wasn't my pitfall. I'm way too aggressive. Like I said, I knew that, but it wasn't until they put a watch on me and told me to slow down that I saw myself speed up.

Originally posted by tooler
How many hot laps do you have to do in a row? I'm wondering if my cooling system can handle it in June.

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I believe the max I did was six. Three back to back (well, one car in between) by myself to get the course down and then three with the instructor.

Hey Baglock,
If I can't get in touch with Christy (from mmorl) within the next couple days, you still interested in the Silverstar bulbs? I switched out the 9004's for some 9007's (which will fit your car).

So, if your still interested, let me know...still $35 shipped.

t/o bearing noise...

Originally posted by dg28182
I hope you're right. Money is tight right now and I can't afford to replace the clutch. This kinda sucks.. and it makes one hell of an annoying noise too.

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I've had the 'chirp' in my car for the last 15K miles or so, ran a 13.9 at the track powershifting every gear, & it still is just chirping for now....I dont think banging the gears is the best thing for it, but I think you can let it go & not worry too much about it based on my experience with my car...I'm no mechanic by any means, just my .02

later!

Sean

Originally posted by baglock1
I think the main benefit is being able to have a multiple SCCA champion in the seat next to you. They can give you insight into what your doing even when you don't realize it.

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That would be useful. The biggest leap in my times came when Jerry drove my car and showed me what it was capable of. It sounds like these guys are even better drivers.

I'm still worried about my hunk of junk being able to take the abuse of 30-40 runs in one day. Something would have to break.

Originally posted by tooler
I'm still worried about my hunk of junk being able to take the abuse of 30-40 runs in one day. Something would have to break.

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That's OK Tim, it's a Ford. I can bring a roll of duct tape and some bailing wire, that's all you need to keep a Ford running!

I emailed the Evolution contact person today but haven't gotten a reply yet. If I don't hear back tomorrow I will try and call.

I haven't checked on the Bradenton T&T schedule yet either, have you?

I haven't checked the Bradenton schedule either.

I'm going to Gainesville this weekend with my girlfriend, so it would have to be on the 14th or 21st.

Here's the email I got: "Pal Bay has only a couple openings. No schedule as we start at 8 am and finsh when we get done, usually 5 pm or so. Sessions are morning, lunch, afternnon. 12 people for phase 1, and if we go with 3 instructors, then 15 students. Usually about 25-35 runs depending on the weather, any problems, talking of your instructors, etc. If time is left over we have fun runs."

Car insurance

Do any of you under-25 kids with Mustangs have good leads on car insurance? I have no tickets or accidents, but I'm paying $700 for 6 months without any "full coverage" for money if I damage the car myself. I've got good property/liability coverage, but I'd like to get my payment down. I think the big problem is I have a 2.9 at Georgia Tech, so I don't get the few hundred bucks off for good grades.

I'm paying a hair over $600/6 months I think, but I've got the "good student discount"... This is for cheapo coverage on Allstate. They used to be pretty cheap but they raised their prices a few times on me so basically they suck now.

I pay 359.20 with Nationwide. That is with a safe driver discount and a multi car policy. I also have my house with them so that helps out. I got a quote from USAA and they quoted me around 458.00. I am also 32 years old so that might be a factor also.

I'm with Nationwide now. I switched when State Farm raised payments to over $900. Please. Anyway, there's really no comparison when you have a house and are over 25 .

Georgia Tech finds a way to ream me once again. I don't mind the school crushing my will to live, but couldn't it just let me have a 3.0 so I could save a few hundred bucks a year?

I'm with progressive right now, and my policy is $470 for 6 months. I'm happy with it, its better than the $840 I was paying when I was down in Ft. Lauderdale. Best thing is to go in and talk with an agent one on one. The website may be easy, but won't always give you the best deal.

Originally posted by droptop93
Hey Baglock,
If I can't get in touch with Christy (from mmorl) within the next couple days, you still interested in the Silverstar bulbs? I switched out the 9004's for some 9007's (which will fit your car).

So, if your still interested, let me know...still $35 shipped.

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Considering I got pulled over the day for the headlight blackouts, I need to do something else to trick 'em out a bit. Let me know if she doesn't want them and I'll let you know.

Was it at night or raining when they pulled you over for the blackout covers?

Originally posted by Wolfhound
Was it at night or raining when they pulled you over for the blackout covers?

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[really long winded rant]

Nope. The entire situation kinda ticked me off. I was driving along, minding my own business. Wasn't speeding, wasn't accelerating fast, nothing. I was on my way back from the parts store with brake fluid (flushing the fluid in the truck) and a Satellite Beach cop (anybody who lives beach side has at least one or two stories about them) pulls out and gets right on my ass down the A1A.

There was a slower SUV in the right lane and a row of cars doing the limit in front of me. We're moving past the SUV, and since I wasn't doing anything even remotely wrong, I figured he had a call and needed to get past us all. As soon as we clear the SUV, I pull up just a hair farther so he can get past me and in front of the SUV.

He didn't move. So now, I'm wondering what the hell he wants to dick with me for and the only things I can think of are a call for a stolen white mustang just came through or the guy singled me out for having a high profile car and is just looking to f* with me.

Sure enough, the blue lights come on and I pull over. "Got your license, blah blah..." I hand it over and he asks if I know why I was pulled over. I say I sure as heck don't.

"Well, they covers on your headlights are illegal."

"I was under the impression that that was only during hours of darkness or in inclimate conditions."

"Nope, darkness has nothing to do with it."

"You want me to pull them off? It just takes a sec."

"Naw, don't worry about it. I hardly ever give anybody a ticket for them. Some guys do, but I let the driver's attitude determine it."

Right now, I'm PISSED. I didn't say anything, but he basically admitted to me that he pulled me over for no other reason than to screw with me. If he rarely gives someone a ticket for them, why the hell did he pull me over??? I'll be the first to stand up and defend a cop when some punk whines about his 20 mph over ticket when he was doing 80 in a school zone. But this guy annoyed the bejeezus out of me.

At this point, he realizes I have an Arizona driver's license and starts in on me about that.

"This your current address?

"No, I live in Satellite Beach. I'm stationed here." Hinting to the cop that I'm military has almost been like a get out of anything short of murder free card. Gotta love it.

"Oh, well then that's okay. This license is still good in Arizona, right?"

"Yup."

"Okay, I'm just going to run your name real quick."

"Allright."

He goes off and does his thing and then comes up to talk about how he hardly ever gives military guys tickets, blah blah blah. The only thing I can think is why in the hell did you even bother pulling me over??? If you say the blackouts are illegal, then fine. But don't tell me that they're the only reason you pulled me over and that you basically only give out tickets for attitudes.

If I have a headlight out, please pull me over! Let me know, give me a fix-it ticket! I honestly want one because chances are, I don't know it's out.

If my stereo is too loud, but you don't care, why pull me over??? Geez...

[/really long winded rant]

Of course, I was being as polite as possible given the circumstances because I really didn't want him poking his head under the car and finding another violation or two. He left, I started it up and came home. The wife's truck got it's brake fluid flushed just fine.

Damn Bag, that guy was an ass. Guess that's what happens when you live in a town with something like .1% crime. Cops have nothing better to do than jerk drivers around.

You should of asked if he was a rookie. That always seems to go over well.

Or ask him for a pen and paper and write him a ticket for tailgating.

Try to grab their gun. That always seems to break the ice.