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I've recently acquired an 83 Van Diemen FF that is set up for Solo.  The car was 4th at Nationals in 1990 and ran there several years thereafter.  After sorting the car at several regional events this spring, I've entered it in the Atlanta National Tour.  I hope to see if the car, and more importantly, the driver (me), are close to being competitive.  I may even make the long drag from SC to Topeka, if not this year then possibly 2009.

My question is, are there any current major players in CM in the southeast?  Someone that I can look for to set a "benchmark" against?  Looking through the recent national results, it doesn't seem like there are many, if any, from down south, and so far no one is entered in CM for the Atlanta Tour.

I've been a regional autocrosser for several years, but have run few Divisionals, and this will be my first Tour.  Now that I have what might be a "national" car, I want to find out how far I really have to go before it's worth making the trek to Kansas (probably quite a long way, I know).  If there's a top national CM somewhere around, that isn't going to make the Tour, I may come to a local event in their area just to see what happens.

(I know Nationals is a lot of fun, even if you're not competitive.  I plan on going out there one year, just to experience it.  But it might not be with a CM in tow, if the car - or its driver - is not going to give me a chance to trophy)

BTW, I've been reading the forum here for a while, specifically the concerns about CM losing competitors to FM and F125.  I hope the class doesn't continue to shrink.  This car is an absolute blast, and since I've been running it in South Carolina Region, I've already started to get some others interested in finding CM cars of their own.  We're trying to stir up some interest... I haven't driven anything yet that has been this much fun!

Thanks,

Nick

I'm about the only person from the south east that has run CM at divisional and nat tours lately.  In the near 2 years I ran the car I was always put in the first run group to sweep the course.  Sudden loss of grip as you hit varying dirty spots is not fun, unless you love surprises.  I was told "drive slower" after I had slowed down to tip toe through a dirty gravely course and still was sliding all over the place.  Yup, that's why I autocross, a slow, calm Sunday drive on a parking lot. (note the sarcasm)  It had it's moments but overall I always left frustrated because the car has potential for fun if the grip was there.  If I ran later in the day on a larger course it seemed something would break on the 27yr old car.  I could never find anyone willing to codrive so we could warm tires for each other and get the tires grippy for the last runs.  I have a list of people who would love to codrive my VW diesel Scirocco. WTF???  The diesel does have an amazing level of violence and insanity tho.  I still have the FF as I would like to road race, but I don't see that happening any time soon so I may get around to selling it.  Only way I will be back out to autocross it is I blow up all my other cars and it's the only thing I have to drive.  Maybe I got a bad taste from always being first run group, but sink a boatload of money into not having fun plus the organizers not listening for long enough and I move onto something else.  Only so long you can take one for the team.  I'm almost at the point of ending my involvement in the SCCA.  I hope you get better run conditions.  This all being said, you will probably get a good clean run in the afternoon at Atl Tour.

 

Gary Godula and James Lee were always just a phone call away and everyone was helpful, but it is better if someone who really knows Formula Fords is there to witness and inform you before something happens.  I never could make an event that Gary was at for hands on help.

 

There are some folks up towards Va, and then Cincinnati running CM, but for the most part it is dead in the SE.  Usually see folks in FM tho.  Using PAX to compare times will depress you. 

 

Ted V.

Nick,

I'm in Raleigh, NC. 

I used to be active and was a consistent Nationals trophy level driver (without a codriver) most years from 1993 through 2001. Did well at Pro Solos including two Open and one Bonus Challenge wins. I doubt that I will be active this year but if I am it will either be at Danville, VA or Petersburg, VA (Petersburg being the better site). If you can get to the Norfolk, VA area, Stan Vann is pretty fast with a vintage FF.

About all you can do is get to good sites with lots of top cars/drivers in other classes and then use PAX to give you some idea of where you are. If you cannot get a good heat time at local events try asking them to let you run later for "no points".

 

"Back in the day" when Pro Solo had lots of Mod cars it was a great way to learn to go faster. Lots of runs agains fast cars/drivers. It took me 3 pro's and lots of other events when I got the car to get to where I was "ahead of the car" like I was used in an ASP Lotus.

Note that if the tires and site are good, you should be able to be near the top 10 percent of drivers in PAX against guys who tend to trophy at Nationals or Tours against top competition. It is tough to be top PAX against that level of driver unless it is a fairly fast high grip course and you have a really good day but you should be in the top ten percent.

One thing I found was that other than good balance and good fresh tires, my car was almost as fast with a very wide range of setup approaches. MOST of the time was found by getting the driver to simply drive harder/faster. In regard to balance, don't ever let the car push in long slow (i.e. 180's) corners.

Remember that in most local events in good weather with even halfway fresh tires you should be the fastest car at the event unless there is a good AM or BM car. If you have good FM's you need to beat them.

Dick Rasmussen

CM 85, 85 Van Diemen RF-85

Nick,

If this '83 Van Diemen finished 4th at the 1990 Nationals, this has to be Gregg Lee's old car, he is still here in Texas Region, the Dallas area. I think that was the best finish he had at Nats. in that car. He was also chairman of the SEB at that time. I remember this because I won C/Mod Nats that year, Gregg was the closest local guy behind me. 1990 was the first year of FF's in C/mod, before that they ran in B/Mod.

I agree with Dick's comments, I use to run against him too. C/Mod is a great class, I really miss it and I also hope it does not die out. I left C/M because I now run a B/Mod car. The FF's are great car to autocross, they are fun, inexpensive and a BLAST!!! Dick made a really good comment, do not let the car push in tight turns, you can get around them. If you push too much, the run is blown.

A good FF can take the Pax class or numbers at events, I have done it a number of times before. Compare your times within the pax, at least that can give you a base line. Granted, it is way more fun to run against other C/M's. Probably the best C/Mod guy to talk to right now is Gary Godula, he can certainly be a huge help setting up a car.

Good luck and have fun.

 Stuart Lumpkin

 I ran an event down in Florence, SC last weekend with Nick and Dave Cutchins. Nick spanked us pretty bad and I see he is already in the top 5 on Pax at most local events, so I think he'll be competitive. The car seems to have some good development and runs well. I really would like to find some event that all 4 of us (Dave, Dick, Nick and myself) could get to. I really need to redeem myself. My favorite site is the Navy Amphibious Base at Norfolk, but Danville or the New River Air Base that NCR uses would probably be more central. With the cost of gas being what it is, we sure can't travel like we use to. Dave and I have a few hillclimbs and time trials coming up during the summer but we would love to have a C Mod shoot out. Let's all look for an event that we all can get to in the next couple of months.

Stan Vann

1970 Caldwell D9

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Stan Vann

Thanks for the info, everyone!  Dick, hopefully we'll catch each other at a local event soon.  I'll try to make it up that way soon - maybe ACU4.

This is indeed Gregg Lee's old car.  I was able to trace it back to him from old Nationals results.  Gregg and I have corresponded several times via e-mail and he has been extremely helpful with setup info and car history.  The car changed hands several times in the years after Gregg sold it, and the PO knew very little about FF's, so we've had a bit of "tidying up" to do just to get the car back to a "base" setup, much less begin tweaking for speed or individual driver style.  Nevertheless, the car has seemed fast at local events.  As Stan said, I've been top 6 PAX at the last three events, but there are only a handful of top drivers in South Carolina Region. 

I was hoping not to have to use PAX as the sole means of comparison at the National Tour (a chance at some free Hoosiers would be nice too ), but it'll still be fun.

If you guys hear of anyone looking to sell Solo-prepped FF's or inexpensive "tweener" cars, be sure to tell them to post their ad on the South Carolina Region message boards (scsportscar.com).  They may just push a few of our CM fence-sitters over the top.

--Nick

Ted,

I know I would probably balk at the idea of a co-driver I didn't know, but I do know a handful of good, trustworthy guys - top regional drivers, some with formula car experience - who would jump at the chance to co-drive a FF at the Atlanta National Tour.  E-mail me (nick@scsportscar.com) if interested.

 --Nick

OK, Dave Cutchins and I have been discussing this: We figure that there are now five FF1600s and 6 drivers in the Virginia, NC, SC area. The Ogburns in Richmond, Dave and myself in the Tidewater area of VA/NC, Dick in Raleigh, and Nick somewhere in SC. On the weekend of July 19/20 the Blueridge Region is holding the 2008 Commonwealth Games Autocross at the Danville Airport in Danville, VA.. This event is sort of central for most of us and since it is a two day event, it would justify the travel and allow us to get to know each other and bench race a bit. It is a well run event, on a nice large site with very cool Olympic type gold medals. I don't see any conflict with any of our schedules and it will give all of us time to prepare. So what do you guys say? Registration is already open here: http://www.myautoevents.com/pls/mae/frmEventDetail.Show?psevent_id=9138

Oh yes, last year we had the Virginia Tech SAE race car entered too, with three drivers. So there will be plenty of competition in the open wheel division.

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Stan Vann

svann:

OK, Dave Cutchins and I have been discussing this: We figure that there are now five FF1600s and 6 drivers in the Virginia, NC, SC area. The Ogburns in Richmond, Dave and myself in the Tidewater area of VA/NC, Dick in Raleigh, and Nick somewhere in SC. On the weekend of July 19/20 the Blueridge Region is holding the 2008 Commonwealth Games Autocross at the Danville Airport in Danville, VA.. This event is sort of central for most of us and since it is a two day event, it would justify the travel and allow us to get to know each other and bench race a bit. It is a well run event, on a nice large site with very cool Olympic type gold medals. I don't see any conflict with any of our schedules and it will give all of us time to prepare. So what do you guys say? Registration is already open here: http://www.myautoevents.com/pls/mae/frmEventDetail.Show?psevent_id=9138

Oh yes, last year we had the Virginia Tech SAE race car entered too, with three drivers. So there will be plenty of competition in the open wheel division.

Stan, you are forgetting about Barry, Gary and Mort - We could add 2 more cars and three drivers.

Sounds like that would be fun.

ACU-4 is a large smooth beautiful concrete site right on the Chesapeake Bay, but Danville is probably the most central for all of us.

Now, if we can organize this, is a large CF or FF field at a TT or Hill Climb a possibility?

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Dave Cutchins
FF #94

Dave,

   You are correct. With the proper promotion we could have quite a show at the Coventry Commonwealth Games. Remember when the Northeast Divisional in Harrisburg, PA would have 15 or more C Mod entries.

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Stan Vann

Tempting... very, very tempting.  I was planning to run the SE Divisional in Cecil, GA on July 26-27, and of course the SC Region event on July 13.  I'm not sure that autocrosses on three consecutive weekends would go over well on the home front, BUT I'm really tempted to skip the Divisional and run this instead.

On the other hand... I hear ACU4 is a really, really great site.  I'd be willing to make the drive up there sometime this year as well.  Isn't ACU4 closer for everyone except me?

Hi Nick,

   I can't discount ACU-4, as I think it is the best current autocross site I run. A trip to Virginia Beach with a autocross on the Chesapeake Bay is well worth the drive. If I was you, I'd make it a mini vacation so you can enjoy the area. Yes it is within 5 miles of Dave, 70 miles for me, but we haven't been able to attact anyone else in CM so far. One problem has been that it was a site that restricted entry to Tidewater Sports Car Club members for the first week of registration. This prevented others from getting one of the 100 available spots. Last year the limit went to 150 and a waiting list. So far that change has accomidated everyone, I believe. There is also a requirement to submit info to the Navy in advance to be put on a list of people allowed on the base. Not really a problem. I just thought that Danville would be more central for most of us and it is a two day event so we'd have more time to visit and bench race. Since it is something of a Virginia State Championship, it attracts a strong field of entrants from all over. I can understand the scheduling issue but it is always hard to not have some conflict with some club or event. I'd be glad to consider any other plan. I just saw this opening and went for it.

Stan

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Stan Vann

Stan,

That makes sense.  Any 2-day events planned for ACU4 this year?  I may try and make it to both the Danville event AND an ACU4 event at some point... I'm hearing that the SE Divisional schedule is a little unstable anyway.

Let me find out for sure what's happening with the Cecil, GA SE Divisional and get back with you.

dangit, where were all y'all the past 2 years when I was by my loansome out there in SE CM? 

TedV:

dangit, where were all y'all the past 2 years when I was by my loansome out there in SE CM? 

Running an uncompetitive 914 in DSP. 

South Carolina Region has never seen much in the way of modifieds.  So when Stan brought his FF down to an event in Myrtle Beach in December, we were easy pickings.  He blew us out of the water.  A few of us caught the bug for a FF that day, but my father and I are the only ones to get one... so far.  I think we'll have a few other CM cars in the next couple of years.  There's another father and son running a Solo Vee now, as well, and a guy rebuilding Jerry Kieft's old A Mod.  So we're starting to see a bit of a modified revival in SCR.

I plan to run most if not all Divisionals this year, and then start doing some TT and Hillclimb events next year, while still running local and significant Divisional/National Solo events.  That's the plan right now, anyway.

Ted,

   Don't give up just yet. We, Dave (EuroSwift), Garry and Barry (35 Crossle), Mort, (Van Dieman), and myself (Caldwell), will all be in your area in a few weeks at the Wolf Ridge Hillclimb, just across the Tenn/NC border. Why not come over and hang out with us. Here is the website: http://www.scenicwolfresort.com/  If we get this C Mod Shootout organized, you should be able to come over for that. I promise you will not have to run in the first heat. How far east is Danville, Va for you?

Stan

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Stan Vann

Stan,

The Cecil, GA SE Divisional is canceled.  That means I'm free for July.  My father and I are in - let's do this C Mod shootout.  Let's spread the word and try to get a big FF turnout.

--Nick

That's great Nick. As Dave will tell you, there is nothing I like better than promoting, so I'm on it. Let's hit all the region forums within a 200 mile radius and Apex Speed too. I think we might flush a few out that we don't even know. I think I could get Blue Ridge Region to promote it as a special event within the event. They have had TV coverage in the past. I wonder if we could find a sponsor that would be willing to put up some kind of special trophy for it. A set of Hoosiers, cash, a try out with a pro team. Oh and we must have trophy girls. Ok I guess I'm getting carried away here.

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Stan Vann

Sounds great, Stan.  I know Kentucky Region (Louisville area) has a whole group of FF's - like 10 or 11.  The PO of my car was a KYR member.  It's 8 hours away for them, but hey... maybe one or two will come.

Stan,

 Dave had to delay his move to Ohio until after the weekend to do this. We are both planning to be there in the Crossle. Sounds like a lot of fun.

 Thanks.

 David 

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82 Crossle 50F See it here.
VMSC autocross photos