I Can’t Drive 35!

By popular demand; On Sunday November 2nd 2003, Psoper once again presents a Time, Speed, & Distance challenge adventure drive;

A 5 hour Run/Work TSD tour of western Marin and Sonoma Counties.


Entries were limited to the first 10 people who signed up by posting here.
Anyway- we do seem to have a full grid, although there are still some navigator seats open, here's who's down;



platypus/

huck/daredevil

gotwrx/the navigational unit

bushido/Christina

dropkick muppet/novice co-driver

daredevil's mom/daredevil's bro

rally wagon/

Tony Brown

Gunslinger

pcowan


So that is our field

(I told ya- the grid was filling fast!)






If you want to do the event but didn't make the cut, there are probably a couple of entrants that could use a navigator, like I said- I strongly encourage participants to have a navigator, finish is just up the road from where we'll start so getting back shouldn't be an issue.

The overall driving time will be based on covering the total mileage at an average speed of 35 MPH, in addition, there are 2 hour long breaks worked into the schedule.

There will be 3 timed sections where your ability to maintain an average speed of 35 MPH exactly will be put to the test.
Participants will start these sections on 2 minute intervals and there will be checkpoints along these sections where your passage time will be recorded to find out just how close to “on time” you are.

You will also be stopped once during the timed section, where you will time other competitors as they drive by your checkpoint.

After working your checkpoint, you will resume the section, now running 2 minutes behind the last car that went by you.

So if we get 10 cars, and you are the 4th car you will be assigned number 8 to start each section 8 minutes after the Car zero time-, you will stop at the 4th checkpoint to time the rest of the field as they drive by, then you resume driving, now running as 28 minutes after the car zero time for the remainder of the section.

There are two breaks scheduled for a full hour- the 40 minutes needed to get all the cars in, and an additional 20 minutes scheduled to get everyone a little rest break and back in order and “on time” before beginning the next section.

Apart from the timed sections, you will be free to travel the route at your own pace provided you start and finish the timed sections at your appointed time.

Timing will be in seconds, so bring a good digital clock or watch that reads in seconds, as I won’t have enough rally clocks to go around

We’ll meet up at the Washoe House on Stony Point Road north of Petaluma at 11, with the first car scheduled to start at 12 noon.

Finish will be about 5:30 PM in Sebastapol, at Mary's Pizza Shack.

 

hmmm... two days after i get my car back? hehe.. i think my gf will kill me!

 

cruise control anyone?

 

TSD? It's all about elapsed time, I tell ya...

 

You can ask any of the guys that ran my event last weekend how much the cruise control helped.....

 

I'm in.

 

i would so lose this thing... lol

"hey, where is Gagan taking off to?"

-Gagan

 

I look forward to seeing you there!

 

Cruise control? Hahahahahahahahaha....

 

I'm in!!

 

whoops. ignore this one.

 

This sounds like fun... except for the part where I actually have to go back to school and get my masters in computer science to effectively participate. What's the point of the whole stopping and passing and counting stuff? So you don't get too bored? Seriously, I don't understand the reasoning behind that part. If I could, maybe I'd sign up Heck, 35mph? My fiancee just might enjoy coming along

I'm really not meaning to rip on this event. Sounds like fun... to me just having a timed rallye-ish run through Marin is nice enough (esp after 100% city driving all the time). Maybe I'm too far in the camp of: "If I have to think too much on weekends it hurts".

jason

 

Gotta raise my weapon and straight hijack this one right now.

Yeah I wish someone would just organize another drive like the original "Geysers and Dirt" one.

My GF would kill me if I told here we were doing a TSD rally.

She flat-out just wouldn't put up with it.

I could get her to drive with me on dirt roads, even Nav for me, but all that other crap, including working it, no way in hell. She's european, and it's all about Elapsed Time! The most she would do is Nav & work a CB or 2way radio, and feed me.

I guess I'll have to organize this type of drive then, because the last time I asked about it, psoper told me that he would only do TSD's...oh well, if you gotta do it right, you do it yourself!

 

Everyone, seriously, these drives are so much fun! And dont be disheartened by the whole counting stuff. It's challenging, but does NOT require a physics degree. It's fun! No joke. And that's not the only part of the drive. The "traveling" sections usually end up being a challenge all by themselves. On one of our drives, I pretty much had to give up trying to keep up with psoper somewhere into turn 2 and never saw him again after turn 3.

Our most recent redwoods drive's first gravel section was wide enough to get sideways on most turns and the 2nd gravel section involved a 20+ mile gravel road up and over a mountain with no room for error (I know I dropped one wheel into a ditch). And then the asphalt... my god, the asphalt he led us on was divine. One lane twistys...

And if you've never done it, trying to maintain 35mph is NOT easy. If you hit a series of switch backs that require you slow to 10 mph for 30 seconds to navigate, well.... you have to make up that lost time somewhere else.

We have lots of laughs and ususally every stop involves one of the drivers getting out grinning from ear to ear going "oh my F'in god, that was so much fun!"

To wrap this all up, all I can say is, you don't know what you're missing until you try it.

 

Oh, I hear you Dahveed, my GF was useless on our last drive and I plan on doing the next one solo... Just makes it a little more interesting.... "Must reach.... clipboard... slid onto floor... clip board... use force... sh*t!!!! HAIRPIN RIGHT!!"

 

After a couple of weeks of build-up, nobodyjoined me on my first "Drive thru tree tour" and only one other car did the "Geysers and Dirt" drive, so I wasn't too inspired to try that again.

I once again have to repeat what huck said, -don't dis it until you've tried it.

Anyone that's driven with me knows I enjoy a brisk drive as much as the next guy, but frankly spending a day parading a few yards off somebody else's bumper- even at breakneck speeds, really isn't my idea of a good time, ya know -unless you're the lead dog the view never changes.

The TSD timing thing puts a little competition into the event, not everyone takes to it, but it gives those that want to try a chance to legally "beat" somebody in a motoring discipline without having to invest in a roll cage, fire suit and helmet, heck you don't even need to haul up to Thunderhill, and out of my own generosity you don't even have to pay an entry fee.


Doing it run/work means everybody gets to pass everybody else three times, and looking at a watch and writing down the time other cars drive by should be something even you guys can handle.

Hey- if it's not your game, fine, but I'd apreciate if you aspiring Petter Solbergs could keep the hijackings down to a line or two, we all get the message- .

 

i've done few tsd rallies pete put up. all i have to say, he knows some good roads. i had a blast so did my gf. well, up to the point where the deer was trying to kill us

pete, i would love to do this one too. but i think i might have to skip out on this one. because I won't have my car back until the 31st.

 

Looks like I will be able to make it. The navigational unit appears to be available that weekend too.

To refute those naysayers, these things are fun because.

1. You get to meet some people you might not get to meet otherwise

2. You get to drive on some fun roads you might not drive on otherwise

3. It's an excuse to get out of the house and drive

4. A little competition is fun. Now one cares if you suck at it and you might be good. Just do it and most likely you'll enjoy it

5. Driving at an average speed on a winding road with elevation changes is a fun challange. Cruise control is totally useless.

6. While it seems a bit intimidating to start its actually a lot easier to do than it sounds.

Tim

 

Pete, count me in. I can't believe you thought you had to wait for me to reply. I will try my best to get a co-pilot.

rich

 

And i too have to say. Anyone that things it's easy to maintain 35mph on a road posted 5-10 mph doesn't know how we run. You'ld be lucky to be on time.

 

I had a feeling you'd be there, just wanted to make sure!

And I'll be honest, I probably can't make this quite as exciting as last week, simply because these are a little busier roads that we need to share with other traffic, and not quite as twisty, I don't want to relive my head-on or Leo's bambi experience, but it should still be a lot of fun.

And by the way, where's Max? I expected him to be post whoring all over this place.....

 

He's in La-La doing his network gaming thingamajig.

 

Oh yeah, that's right-

but still, I wouldn't expect that to stop him from post whoring.....

 

FYI, you got PM.

 

Although the roads won't be a out in the middle of nowhere like up in Humboldt, i'm sure we'll have a great time.

How long is Max gone for? 10 days or something like that, right?

 

count me in.

 

YES!!!! Glad to hear that dropkick_muppet is coming out to play.

 

my g/f is out of town for a wedding that weekend, so i'm going to be able to sneak out from under her thumb for some playtime. with any luck, i'll have my new turbo in by then

 

I just finished my first run-though of the route- and yeah, some of it is going to be a little bit boring at 35, but other parts will be plenty challenging.

I've put in a lot of "Free Zones" where there are no timing controls, so those of you who would be totally frustrated spending the whole time at 35 will have a chance to have some fun too.

One short section we'll have to keep it at 25, and that's followed by a mile or two of heavy traffic and a signal, so I'll have you start the 25 MPH portion early (so you'll finish it on time) and I'll put a pause in after the signal to get you back on time.

At the last Checkpoint I think we'll see everyone come in late, but it's free zone from there to the finish.

By the way, we need a location for finish and scoring, who knows the good places to hang out in Sebastapol?

(I'm thinking like a Pizza or burger place, some place to get a bite and a beer and hang out while I crunch the scores)

 

I'm be able to hang out as long as it's not too late. It is a Sunday after all and you know me and my early bed times.

Christina, my wife may come alone as a co-pilot on this one. I'm first trying to find a friend instead, but no one biting yet.

 

First car should finish at 5:06, last car about 5:30 and I expect I'll have scoring done by 6, so you should still be able to get home before bedtime, I hope......

 

Here is the elevation profile of the route:

 

wow. that looks kinda steep. Guess I better get a dual range gear box before Nov

Tim

 

how would stock tires that doesnt have the largest amount of tread fair on these roads?

 

they will be singing songs at some points, but otherwise should be fine.

 

IM SO THERE!!!!!!!!
how would you guys feel about a mini coope s joining us?

and i think i konw some guys who woudl really like to come 2 suby's plus the mini, plus me
can we fit more than 10?
thanks
damn
i gotta get my post count abck up i've been gone for so long
SOMEONE fill me in

 

oh yea btw
ill be having my mom co pilot for me, so get out your best suit!

 

Hey Max,
Good to hear from you again, 2 subies plus the mini plus you would fill the grid, and Leo still isn't sure he'll be able to make it, so we are probably OK.
Make sure they contact me either through the board here or via e-mail so I know who's coming.

I'm, psyched to hear your bringing your mom , but....my best suit? perhaps you mistake me for someone who has a suit?- (well I guess I have my fireproof driving suit, but I don't think that's what you mean.....)

 

we shoud have our own contest
i have a tendancy to drive too fast and end up comin in early