I'd like them to show more of the regular Joes. Not their "15 min of fame", but just the general differances/diversity of what shows up at the track.

Too much time spent on "one" driver, less time on one dude/dudette, and more "little" time with everybody else.

We're gonna need the infomercial part for funding i'm sure, so monitor closely. Don't spend tooooo much time with the sponser but don't bite the hand that feeds ya either. Balance.

Right now i'm an armchair quarterback, car wasn't ready for Laguna, my sons masters cermonies for Fontana, and just could'nt squeeze in Portland.
So blah blah blah.....hopefully the series will be around next year cause this is the genre I like the most.....

Like most others have said in prior posts, I like the Texas coverage. It's much better than the first 2 episodes. However, more coverage on the road course actions, and info on the cars competing would be nice.

Ditto for me. I have called comcast multiple times and a no go here in Chicago. I have even posted up on Optima's facebook page suggesting that the air the episodes web based similar to what Red Bull, IMSA and all of the other big guys do. With the new TV's we no longer need to have a provider as most TV's are internet ready. I have actually watched most of the racing web based on my tv vs thru Comcast.

ps As a last resort I went MAV TV page and nope no help there.

they are listening! :tv_happy: the show has great content its almost to bad that its only 45 min long because they have 4 days of content for most shows, this weeks show was great and I believe they will only get better, the producers have seen the events now for 5 months and have really great ideas

I'll also chime in and say the Texas show was quite a bit better. It was good enough to make me want to catch it next week again.

Personally, I'd like a little more info on the cars themselves.

Possibly they could show the runs with the best times and not as many of the repeat runs? That would give them more time for other content and maybe give us a chance to see more competitors.

Yes, I'm also less interested in the AWD classes than the more "muscly stuff" but I'm sure there are a lot of people that would like to see just a little more of those cars as well. I was especially interested last week just because the guy with the GTR is from my state. However; it would be neat to see how the modern AWD cars stack up with the older pro-toured cars.

Okay, so I spent a little bit of time thinking about why I have only been to one event this year. ( Heidts event at Autobahn )

Obviously the above cost are something to consider but most people that track there cars also need to have a Tow vehicle and a trailer. Which both cost a substantially amount of money.

Then you have to factor in the cost of storing both if the tow vehicle isn't your daily driver. Most people will have to pay to storage on both. The bad news for me is at the end of September I will be losing my spot where I stored my trailer for years. So my open featherlite trailer is up for sale and I am actually really happy about it. Heck in the last couple years I personally have used it only once or twice. The funny thing is I have let people borrow it at least 20 times in that same period and I am the one stuck paying the maintenance for the trailer, the tow vehicle and storage.

It the last couple weeks I have decided to declutter my life and the truck, trailer and 4 of my high dollar mountain bikes are going to be sold or have already been sold. I can't tell you how great it feels to have less stuff in my life.

Now with that being said I have spent a bunch of money on my 5th Gen Camaro so I can actually do events like this and feel safe (airbags) and actually drive to the event. I have even considering have a very small custom trailer made for a second set of tires, floor jack, tools and anything I may need so I can actually participate next year.

My plan it to head out to Michigan this weekend to actually see the event since I can't see it on TV or the internet. Now I just need to make sure the wife and kids are okay with me being gone.

come on out!! It should be a fun, they have been great events so far, its always better in person:thumbsup:

I can't wait I am really looking forward to it.

Guys don't drive their street car to these events??? :stirthepot:

no I don't...because I drive it 10/10ths and I might break ****, I drive to goodguys events because those are much easier on the car and I don't run 10/10ths at those

Not a lot of them, but I did...2,100 miles round trip to Portland, drive there, race it and drive it home....

So... Guess who's DVR was locked up when I got home, and nothing after 08/14/2014 that was supposed to record, did. :bang:

First thing I did was run over to my Dad's and check his DVR, it's on there...so we'll have some Father-Son bonding time later this week while watching it there.

PowerNation, the Nationwide Race, Cup race, and Ice Road Truckers I can do without seeing though I guess. ;)

I too want to know more about the cars. Not really a fan of the host either. I'm probably one of few here, but IMO Goldberg did a better job.

thus increasing the actual cost of participating in the event which will exclude many drives.

Just like racing this event is more for the big players then most of the bench racers on these boards. It's one thing to have a really nice pro-touring car but it's another thing to have a full on race car to compete at these Optima events.

It's odd from memory I thought the Optima challenged started was started to get Street cars on the track and like everything it has evolved into full on race cars.

In the end I think the Good-Guys Autocross is best suited for most of us on the boards and Optima has become something for the Elite. Which isn't a bad thing but it is a much smaller group of guys and in most case it's for the big players ( re: Vendors ) not the normal average guy / gal.

I watched Texas last night and it was way better then Laguna. But it still had some infomercial vibe just not as much as the first one. I would describe Laguna as looking at a bunch of sales brochures. Texas was more like postcards ( in the fact we saw action just not of the actual dual between the guys ). They spent more time covering the fact Brian beat Finch then actually showing them actually driving to beat each other.

But I'm also quite sure I'm not the target audience.

Shocking as it may be, I disagree. The Optima deal seems like endless run times ( possibly due to lower then expected attendance ) and ride along instructors and a more ideal way to get some hands on experience. The Goodguys deal is really about the show now, if you want to autocross at a big show like Columbus and you are not a qualified Pro, you will only run a couple times that weekend. The less busy shows are going to offer more runs and practice but there is no instruction or help to be had except from other racers. Plus the Optima deal is a longer course so you get a chance to practice longer. There is just alot more time at these events so you have a bigger chance to get more experience. I think you could come back from an Optima event with more improvement then a Goodguys weekend.

I completely agree with you and I never thought of that angle. I actually have signed up to do a couple events with the Lotus club as they offer the instructions and actual class time which I feel is what I need.

As of lately I have been going to the local go-cart tracks with these guys learning just the basics and I am actually having a great time and look forward to the weekly racing.

btw - you do realize it's 6:30 in your neck of the woods

Funny that you mention the "duel" between "The Brian's". These two guys are serious competitors and bring the goods. Both quiet guys... with skills beyond the norm. Hobaugh was struggling to bring the times down on the AutoX because the Camaro just didn't have the turning radius... and the course was tight with 180's. At the end of the day - Steve Hobaugh (Pops) - Brian - and I busted out some tools and whacked the steering stops off the LCA's. This is the kind of crude "mod" done at night - at the back of the trailer that a serious competitor does in an effort to see some improvement. That small mod netted 1.75 SECONDS the next day - for a First place finish. Next up was the Stop Challenge. It's the end of the day and everyone else has given up -- but not "The Brian's" -- these two guys are just going at it like true competitors. They run - circle back - line up - and run again. Over and over.. dueling it out. The times inch down .01 at a time...

I consider both these guys as friends... and everyone here knows I hauled Hobaughs Camaro to the event... Chad and I and Steve are hanging on the fence watching these guys duke it out. We're offering "advice" to each guy as we see "something" that might help. Launch, 60 ft spin, blah blah blah.... When I noticed that each run - Hobaugh is leaving half the stop box "empty", i.e., he has 10 more feet before he runs out. When you're fighting for hundredths of a second - 10 feet can get you that! Easy to tell someone what to do - harder to do - but we're talking about guys with real talent here. I "advise" Mister H to think about where he's going to pound the brakes - and then to inhale - and then hit 'em. BINGO.... his front end is now a foot from the cones and the time is good for a win.

The point of the above is not about "ME" --- I just happened to be there... in fact by this point in the day - there weren't half a dozen people left out there watching. The point is about the COMPETITION and what was going on between two leaders/gladiators/winners. The amount of EFFORT these two guys were putting in -- and the abuse they were willing to put into their cars... its the end of the day - and you know they're pooped... and here they are - with no audience... beating on each other and both of them with grins as big as all Texas. The cameras were long gone.... and it was the best duel in the Universe. The people hanging on the fence wanted BOTH of them to win. The respect for their effort was palpable. It would have made great TV.

Do you realize I have been at work for an hour already?

When did cruising the internet become "work"??




HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Well that sucks. About two years ago I decided I wasn't going in till 7:30 and it was the best thing I ever did. I get to see both my girls in the morning and even take my oldest to school in the morning. I actually look forward to mornings now.

ps I do understand what it takes to do what you do and commend you and everyone that does it day and and day out. I've been there and done that and it took a 2nd cancer for me to realize that there is way more important things in life then work.


Seriously the internet is full of great idea's and I say it's work.

Wait I should be working .... nah this is just more fun.

It is true that many trailer their cars to the Optima events, just like they would to any track event [drag racing, autocross, track days] but don't think for a minute that these cars cannot hit the street and go cross country. Brian Finch is a good example of a competitive car at any level...he drove his car to the Las Vegas event last year. I will be driving the 48 Hour Camaro to the Ft. Worth Goodguys event...Greg Schneider drove our 66 Chevelle to the Texas Optima event...2000 miles round trip. Trailering is a matter of convenience for tools, family, luggage, etc.

There are ALL kinds of cars at the Optima events. The ones you hear about are the top performers in the competitive segments, but that does not diminish the amount of fun had by ALL the participants. I cannot imagine anyone who has attended one of these events would have a different opinion.

BUT...I do understand perception and reality are close cousins. I'm just trying to explain reality in the hope of influencing perception.

What would be the opinion of setting up the classes according to driver skill instead of car type? This seems to be the way most track days are organized.

I will not pretend that the road course segment is not harder on the car and owner than the autocross or speed stop segment. It is another level of car and driver preparation, and it may not be for everyone. But...doesn't everyone want to have a goal to shoot for?
What would be the opinion of offering the segments "ala Carte", so one could choose to only do autocross and speed stop...or only road course, or just the road rally and design challenge? Obviously you could not fare well in the overall point standings, but it might be a place to start. [BTW...do NOT get the idea that I have any significant influence on how these events are, or will be, run...I'm just exposing ideas.]


Great comments...that's how improvements are made!

I think these are great idea's as my goal would be to start with Autocross with the 70 and Road Course for the 2010. As for points that wouldn't bother me a bit as my goal initially is just learn how to drive better.

I think they have done a great job setting up the series and creating divisions. GT3K, GT2K, AWD. I don't see a reason to change that. I would think that people would want to have a chance to run against the best of the best and be able to measure themselves against the top guys and see how they stack up. The run groups have already divided people into skill level which allows everyone to run at their skill level.

As far as trailering goes, it's a necessity for many reasons that have already been stated. If you are going to run on a track and abuse your car like a racecar then you you need to be prepared for catastrophic failures that can happen. Just because it's a street car doesn't mean it has to drive everywhere.

I personally think it's really cool walking through the pits at a USCA event and seeing all of the trucks and trailers. It's an awesome atmosphere and It feels no different to me than being in the pits at your local short track on a Saturday night and it gives everyone a feeling of being a racecar driver even if you aren't running door to door on track. What's wrong with that.

I'm torn on that Bret, at Gateway had the elements been available ala Carte, I would have most likely have chosen everything but the Road Course (mainly because I was concerned about the lack of safety items in my car). In fact I had only planned on running 1 or 2 sessions on the road course anyway.

But once I got out on the track, had some shakedown sessions in the car and had an instructor show me the proper and fast way to get around the track...I was hooked and ended up running in all of the sessions only stopping just a few laps before the final session ended. If I hadn't done the road course for whatever reason, I wouldn't have known what I missed (which was the best part of the weekend for me personally).

I know there were a few others that had similar thoughts and experiences about the road course sessions there as well. Offering an ala Carte menu as a way to try to get more entrants may be a valid idea though. It's kind of done anyway right now isn't it? D&E and Road rally only... Adding Speed Stop and Autocross to that menu for halfway between that price and the full package price might be attractive to some due to the added work, prep and expense of the road course portion.

I still think the full entry package was one helluva deal. Like I've said before, between the professional level instruction I received on both days and all of the track time, I more than got my money's worth. It was a much better deal that the school only events that I've paid similar money to go to. The fun level of the event was just gravy...

I think that part of how the events are setup is fine like it is. The run groups are separated on the road course for everyone's benefit...to stay out of each other's way while on the track.

The 3 separate car classes to score everyone in are fine with me. It's great to see how you stack up with the best of the best plus you also get to see how you stack up with those in your level of car (and driver) at the same time. Do not SCCA up the deal...

I participated at the event at Gateway. I was a little disappointed on Saturday with the speed stop & autocross, mainly because of the run groups. I was split up from some of my friends & unable to watch them run. We normally work together to improve each others times. It would also be nice to be able to ride with other competitors on the autocross. This is a grate help when you are learning to drive. Sunday on the road course was some of the most fun I have had with my car in the 21 years I have owned it. The instructors were great. People that have cars & don't bring them out are missing a great opportunity. It is amazing how much you can learn from the first session to the last.
As far as the TV show. Who does not want their car on TV? Nearly everyone will have friends & family that will watch the show because they were a participant. That can only be good for the sponsors. I hope the series & the show are a success. If it is a big commercial I don't think they will be watch long.

there were professional instructors available for the autocross also...free of charge and they could have helped you

I thought the Texas episode was better, up until the end when I realized there was basically no road course coverage. Unless I missed it, :lostmarbles:

I have fios and only have mav on demand. I have not seen this available to watch.

Those are guys from the local SCCA. They are very helpful & I did work with them. I get great advice from them all the time at local events.

I was at the Gateway event and only entered the design competiton and rally so that is definitely already an option. I was not interested in competing on the track for several reasons including the fact that my engine isn't yet fully broken in or final tuned.

I learned a ton those two days because everyone was very friendly and always proactively asking people like me if they could help us learn. That included the Tuckers and several cool local people I met.

The only down side was that I didn't even get to find out how my car scored against the rest from a design and engineering perspective. For some strange reason I do not understand, my score was not posted anywhere. I can only guess it was because I was not also a track competitor. That kind of made the whole process of judging my car feel like a total waste.

I'm not sure I would have entered into anything if I knew I would not get any indication of results from the judging. As it turns out I'm still glad I did because it was enjoyable and so educational but that may be something to consider for others like me in the future.

I checked your car out there, VERY nice! I even have a little bit of video of you passing us on the road rally.

In the results there is one car listed under "exhibition" Dan Kuhn #53. I didn't see a number on your car in the video, did they issue you a number at registration? I wonder if that's why your D&E results don't show up?

I'm glad you had fun anyway...if it's held there again next year, will you compete the car with us?

Bret, I love the Ala-carte idea!
It would sure be a good idea to hit the auto-X and speed-stop challenge to make sure all is well, for Driver AND Car, before hitting the road course.

I signed up as the ‘silver’ participant for the Road America event and was the only person to do so. I don’t even think my car was judged, and I was interested to get expert information on areas to focus on to get ready to compete. That said, great event.

I too had safety concerns for the Road Course and Road America (even the short version they were using) is no place to skimp on safety. Then getting a look at the car that hit a wall assured me I probably made the correct decision. Looking at what the competitors had done gave me a specific punch list for next year. That was very valuable.

Perhaps in the future the ‘Silver’ entry could be more of a ‘Auto-X/speed-stop’ type of participation for newly finished cars and/or drivers that are a bit apprehensive?

Anyone watch the Daytona show that aired this past weekend? Give me some opinions...better...worse...same?

Much MUCH better Bret! The wife even closed her laptop and tuned into the show which says something. It flowed better, plenty of on track action, great recap of the competitiveness, just enough of the sponsor segments (and they were done better too IMHO) and the special stories that were told weren't too long or drawn out.

Even my Dad said "that show was much easier to watch".

Please pass along a "Good job, keep it up" from this watcher.

Better!!

Jody being all nice :twak:

Way better!

I think each week is getting better and last week's was the best so far. Is that better? :lol: