>Date: Mon, 19 Jun 2000 22:56:07 -0400
>From: Mark Sirota <msirota@isc.upenn.edu>
>Subject: Re: Stupid cone tricks
>washburn wrote:
>> Mark Sirota wrote:
>>> Has anyone else ever seen someone get a pointer to stand up without
>>> incurring penalties?
>>
>> You did not say how this astounding feat was completed.
>
>I'm not certain. I did see it, but I didn't fully realize what had
>happened right off the bat. Perhaps Alan can comment, or other
>witnesses.
>
>There are two possible scenarios:
>(1) Alan went to the proper (left) side of the upright cone, and
>brushed its base enough to move it slightly, and to cause the pointer
>against it to rock and stand up. These seems unlikely, but there are
>some who do feel that he was on the proper side of the upright cone.
>
>(2) Alan went to the improper (right) side of the upright cone, running
>over the pointer. In the process, the pointer stood up. Either the
>pointer or the kart itself pushed the upright cone a few inches, so
>it moved, and was therefore hit -- so no off course, even though he was
>on the wrong side of the upright cone. This one seems more likely.
>If the kart itself did not hit the upright cone, then one might
>reasonably argue that it should be scored as an off course. But
>there's no way to know for sure, and the cone was indeed displaced
>slightly.
>Mark
Pick choice number 1, Mark, and everyone else, please. It's just not
in my personality to DNF and not own up to it. As unlikely as it might
seem, that is the only way it could have occurred. See my earlier post
about feeling I had run over the base of the course marker cone.
I can't imagine any way I could hit a pointer without sending it flying in the
direction of my travel. It is not too hard to envision pushing a cone
slightly
with my sidepod and squirting it backwards to it original position with
the rotation of my rear slick. You will note that there is a tremendous
difference between my front and rear tracks. If I hit a cone with anything
in the front of the kart, it is going on some sort of long distance trip, by
air,
land, or through thievery. (I took one back to the grid from the left
course.)
While it is possible for me to displace a cone and not realize it, I have a
well-developed sense of course boundaries, and will almost always
physically acknowledge a DNF transgression. Ask the workers on the
left course, Sat. PM first run, group 8. I went left into the crossover
before
the last pointer marked gate. I knew it immediately, those watching me
would have seen my reaction. Same thing for the Sunday AM heats.
On my very last run for each side, I was experimenting and tried to
run the start straight offsets flat out. It did not work either side, and the
DNF's show that. The course workers would be able to tell you that
I have a way of acknowledging a failure to follow the prescribed path.
To the best of my knowledge, I made eight clean, legal runs in the
challenge, although the last two of those were plagued by start line
problems. (which I believe cost me a shot at the win, but of course
that is speculation)
The last right side run (for the 3rd/4th places) I cannot decide whether I
DNF'd or not. After the sweeper and second crossover, I initiated the usual
(for me) 4 wheel drift around the pointed cone in front of the slalom, but
this time the kart did not hook up, and I went wide left around the first
slalom
cone. My first instinct was to make a left loop and come back on the right
side of the cone. I am not sure whether it was the spectator area being to
the left, or concern about marbles, but something changed my mind. So
instead I went to the right, between the first and second cones. I went all
the way around and back to near the entry gate, hooked and took off again
past the first slalom cone on the right (correct) side.
I went past that slalom cone on the correct side. But I did not "undo" my
pass by it on the left. I thought it was still a "good" run, although
agonizingly
slow, of course. Was it a good run? Comments/opinions welcomed.
Mark and the other CM drivers noted the ramped bump on the right course
before the last slalom cone. I had been going across it slowly all weekend
for stability's sake. Hey, the last run of the weekend, I was hopelessly
behind, why not try for the elusive 24 seconds run that had been out of
reach all weekend? Caution to the winds... oops. The bump launched me
and I came down backwards. I got the clutch, but the engine was stalled,
and I coasted backwards off the course. I thought to push through the lights,
but with the top two cars staged for their runoff, I was only holding up the
event, so I pushed off the course and let the timer operator clear the system.
End of my runs. Oh well, not a great way to finish the weekend, but I am
quite
happy with how it went anyway.
I think the "cone trick" must have happened when I was running against
Gary. I was going as hard as I could, and that run resulted in a breakout
by a little more than I lost the next round... oh well.
See you in Peru (where CM's have historically been able to beat me)
Alan
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