GRC Round 6 - X Games LA, USA

[Distracted]

I'm worried that it's going to take a driver getting really hurt for them to change the first corner- just like those metal gap jumps.

Thanks for the vid link. Going to watch it now.

[chunder]

Was Sverre in the Gunnarsson car then? Seemed to be the US engine still?

[crossfades]

Originally Posted by chunder

Was Sverre in the Gunnarsson car then? Seemed to be the US engine still?

He was in Gunnarsson's car yes, the engine I have no clue of what it might come from. So the engine being from the US seems logical. Though, if he could have it his way, Julian Godfrey would probably have built his engine. But I have no idea of what he might have, so I would go with the US engine

[USRallycross]

It would have made more sense to have a real Joker at the end of the long first corner. That would have given people an option because it was inevitable the crash would happen at the first hairpin (or in this case 50 yeards before it). Would need to be real joker not the shorter version they have used this year.

OMSE had another expensive weekend and wonder how AE felt when Speed put Sandell into the wall and kept pressing him there. As Tanner posted this is getting expensive!

Also why was Sterkcx stopped from the LCQ re-run?

Glad Sverre was on the pace need something other than a Ford and unless they convince Dodge to develop that car.


Mark

[tbtstt]

Originally Posted by crossfades

He was in Gunnarsson's car yes, the engine I have no clue of what it might come from. So the engine being from the US seems logical. Though, if he could have it his way, Julian Godfrey would probably have built his engine. But I have no idea of what he might have, so I would go with the US engine

If Isachsen was looking for an engine builder surely RCM, Crawford or another Subaru specialist would be preferable to JGE?...

...just watched the coverage and its great to see a Subaru looking competitive. I hope this wasn't a one off and we see a Scoob battling up front again soon. At this stage though, Subaru must surely consider putting some better drivers in the other two cars. Mirra seemed to show improvement for a while, but he seems to be going backwards now.

Unlucky for Block again. The coverage I watched wasn't brilliant quality, but that looked like a racing incident between him and Doran? Damn shame as, once again, Block had a good Heat run. Also, as it wasn't mentioned in the coverage I watched, why didn't Timur run the LCQ? Good drive from Millen in the LCQ, that pass on the "long" section was very tidy.

I'm still not the biggest fan of Heikkinen, but he can certainly seems to have a knack of threading his way to the front every time!


PS: And agree with the earlier comments: 10 laps is too long!

[Distracted]

What happened between the LCQ being stopped and it being restarted with half the cars?

I did enjoy it- the battle between Tanner and -I'm drawing a blank- in the heat race.

[tbtstt]

Originally Posted by Distracted

I did enjoy it- the battle between Tanner and Timur Timerzyanov in the heat race.

Blank filled in for you!

[crossfades]

Isachsen used JG engines in his Focus MK2 and it was pretty goddamn good. Also, many other drivers gets their engines from him. Solberg, Doran, Hyundai in the GRC, Pauwels cars are a few for example. These engines are very good. And if Isachsen were to chose another engine builder, are they capable of building a proper and good rallycross engine? Vermont SportsCar said they had problems with the amount of power in the engines, the cars being based on Group N cars. Also, I've heard it's hard to build a proper rallycross engine from a Subaru. Don't remember why but seems logical. Aren't many drivers using the Subarus in rallycross so it's understandable I think

[Distracted]

Originally Posted by tbtstt

Blank filled in for you!

Thank you! I knew it started with a T, but I can never remember how to spell that last name.

[rx-guru]

aka TT

[chunder]

Van Mechelen used a Scoob for many yeras in Belgium, and always seemed to go OK, just never had the budget to da full campaign, but if he had, I think he could have won rounds and finished top 6.

Same as Mitsubish really, quite why noone ueses them as theya re capable of being tuned for big power, but i guess most development now goes into Group N cars as that is where theya re still used competitively.

I knw Steve Hill and Opland udes Lancers, and STevens loks like it has potential, but weird they never took off as there must be huge parts backup.

The Hyundai looks a tool, I dont rate Millen so much, but he drive well at Irwindale, the car loks superb.

Blocks car looks the class of the field, sound totally different from the others, seems to be using a WRC spec engine as it sounds very like the WRC Focus cars he used, compared to the engines in the MOSE cars which are totally different. Ken ahs been unlucky I think.

The Dodge looks too big simply, they have to throw it around so much, but it is stable and fast.

Quite enjoyed watching some of this for a change, now they have stopped all the silly jumping and watered down tracks a nd built proper tracks, its watchable. I still feel the walls are too unforgiving, and causing huge damage.

No need for 10 laps, that is not rallycross, dont they understand, its short, sharp action!

[tbtstt]

Originally Posted by crossfades

Isachsen used JG engines in his Focus MK2 and it was pretty goddamn good. Also, many other drivers gets their engines from him. Solberg, Doran, Hyundai in the GRC, Pauwels cars are a few for example. These engines are very good. And if Isachsen were to chose another engine builder, are they capable of building a proper and good rallycross engine?

JGE has a lot of experience with Ford and now Citroen inline fours, but knowing that flat fours have their own unique characteristics surely another specialist would be a better choice? Anyway, its largely irrelevant, as I doubt Sverre will take engine advise from any of us!

(Not sure Solberg would agree either: he managed to blow up two JGE engines in a weekend in Finland!)

Originally Posted by crossfades

Vermont SportsCar said they had problems with the amount of power in the engines, the cars being based on Group N cars.

Yeah, the first time Isachsen drove for Subaru (back at X-Games XVI) was when rallycross (of sorts) made its debut. The Subarus were all Vermont Open class rally cars with the power wound up and they pretty much all shat themselves before the end of the race: Isachsen didn't even get a lap out of his car!

Originally Posted by crossfades

Also, I've heard it's hard to build a proper rallycross engine from a Subaru. Don't remember why but seems logical. Aren't many drivers using the Subarus in rallycross so it's understandable I think

From my very limited knowledge on the subject I know that the EJ engine doesn't like travelling sideways for long periods of time (it results in oil starvation: though this can be limited with a baffled sump) and that its not an engine that likes being bounced off the limiter.

I'm sure there is a lot more too it than the above though.

Originally Posted by chunder

Blocks car looks the class of the field, sound totally different from the others, seems to be using a WRC spec engine as it sounds very like the WRC Focus cars he used, compared to the engines in the MOSE cars which are totally different. Ken ahs been unlucky I think.

As the car is built by M-Sport I guess a WRC derived engine would figure?

Actually, its a minor - and rather unimportant point - but did Block use his HFHV for Gymkhana, then the RX43 for the rallycross? Whatever car he was using for Grid looked a handful, he was lighting up his tyres way more than anyone else. Great for show, not so much for go...

Originally Posted by chunder

Quite enjoyed watching some of this for a change...

OK, who did it? Who hacked chunders account?!

[chunder]

Now they have listened to either us or the drvers, the tracks are still abit naff, but a lot better, there is decent loose surface and lots of tighter bends.

Main crit of Irwindale was track watering, I gues its tough in a hot place, but through that last bit at high speed and a high imapct area, better vis would be bbetter surely

I don't like the walls, and the way the seperate the tracks at times with concrete walls, we lost that in the early 90's for goodness sake, but they are getting there.

[NaBUru38]

Here's the Gymkhana Grid race. The track design was perfect, it showed the cars' performance and drivers' skills, plus it was much easier to follow the course than in other events I saw.

The rallycross track was ok. I prefer less tight hairpins, but there's not much room in a half-mile to fix that.

Race starts were much better, because the rows were separated by 10 meters or so. THe problem was that the first hairpin was too tight and narrow.

Anyway, the first lap carambole at the final race was all Doran's fault. He tangled Foust and that was it.

[NaBUru38]

Originally Posted by Distracted

I'll admit, I did pay for the 24 hour pass this time. I'm going to contact ESPN for a refund though. It refused to play, despite trying a variety of computers and net connections.

That's too bad

[schanche]

Originally Posted by USRallycross

I actually thought the racing was pretty good yesterday and the Tanner/Timur race was great entertainment.

I am not a fan of Gymkhana Grid - not exactly racing is it?! However, having watched it, I wouldn't be at all surprised if GRC is dropped and Grid replaces it.

One thing ESPN wants is non-stop action and the gap in the races was way too long for live TV. Marklund having the audacity to get hurt was only more troubling for them. Rallycross costs a lot to put on and is unpredictable for timing. Grid is easy and very cheap to set up, uses the 'same' cars and is head to head so easy to understand. Fits X Games much better than rallycross.

In the old days MotoX was part of X Games but then became too boring so it got dropped.......hope it doesn't happen but that's a new wrinkle in the 2014 plans.

(No inside information just a thought)


Mark

Haha coming from USrallycross this could be one of the best bits of information posted in any of the Grc threads. Wouldn't surprise me one bit if this did happen in the future, Blocks shitty gymthingy as the main car feature in X games will no doubt suit the Games easy to control and fit in and around the schedule and ultimately couldn't fall foul of the weather. Best bit is that Block still probably wouldn't win as its filmed live

[NaBUru38]

Gymkhana Grid LA 2013 was cool. BUt it didn't have door-to-door fights. That's why I think that rallycross will remain in the X Games for many years.

[FIRE]

Gymkhana is booooring.

[Distracted]

i liked Gymkhana as a one off, but I think it'd soon get dull. There's only so many times I can watch someone smoke tyres around a barrel.