School's Out for summer! ("School's out forever!" - Alice Cooper)
We had our final projects finished in time for my ever popular "Computer Network Assignment." Grade 8's built and launched pop bottle rockets that had to fly as high as possible, yet return to earth as gently as possible. Only one bottle exploded in a huge BANG!
Senior Electronics students completed their Battle Bot projects, and we went into competition in the Battle Bot Ring of Death!. All students competed, with only one vicotr in each class. Congratulations to Jeff W in Block D, and Will A in Block F. I will have pictures probably next month.
The Battle Bots were the best project I have ever done with my students. Totally cool! I am still working on a Battle Bots Page which should be finished sometime this year. (Yeah, I'm slow).
As summer begins, it seems that I am moving once again! I have started packing up all my books and reference materials (man I have a lot!), and getting ready to make the 18th move of my life (sigh). I'm starting to think there is no point to unpacking, since I just seem to be moving again! I've moved 5 times in the last 6 years.
I am in the process of acquiring video footage of autocross racing to put together a promotional video so as to run a Highschool Autocross Club. I had an interest to do it last year, but did not quite have the time to do it. This year, though, should be really good! There are two 30Meg examples of Autocrossing with the Miata Club, available at Home of Sibbet. This is "sort of" what I'm trying to put together.
Perhaps I'll get this club off the ground this year!
Speaking of clubs, students have voiced an interest in starting a Robotics Club at the school. The best thing to do is hunt me down in September and see what can happen.
A month ago, I took my prototype LandYachts longboard out to BCIT to learn how to ride it (I have no experience on a skateboard).
Now that all the skin has grown back, I took it out again. But this time, I changed the bushings to soft "Independent" bushings rather than the hard "Shorty's" bushings. I also bought some knee pads, wrist guards, elbow pads, a leather jacket and a helmet. I got some leather work gloves and "Shoe Goo-ed" some 1/4" Ultra High Molecular Weight (UHMW) Polyethylene onto the palms of the gloves so as to slide a hand on the ground when carving turns. Quite fun. On the last day of school, I sailed down the school driveway, carving into the lower parking lot - great fun!
There was a flash video of this technique in May 2001 if you want to check it out.
The Heinous Honda Page
(or, The Adventures of the Crate that was Trying to Die)
June 02 I ran the second CACC Solo I. I still don't enjoy Solo I as much as Solo II with only 75horsepower. This course was pretty tight, so it was a wee bit more fun. I came in dead last.
June 03 I ran Regional #2, and took 1st place in H/Stock, and placed 8th overall by indexed time. The new Toyo Proxes RA1's are starting to wear down significantly (five events and they are almost to the wear bars. That's half an hour of driving) and are starting to really stick well. Still a bit of understeer, but running 44/36 psi front/rear allows me to gently drift the back end through sweepers, and dance smoothly through linear slaloms.
June 07 I ran the second BCMA Variety Club novice event where I took 1st in H/Stock, but I didn't beat my personal goal of the day. Still a fast run. the course was a very tight, akward course - not lending itself well to fluidity or memory. A good test of driver skill, however!
June 24 I ran Regional #3 and took 2nd place, losing to a fellow in an 88 Civic Si. Turned out he was an SCCA National Champion and has been doing autocross for years! It was great to have him out, as he has been my greatest competiton this year. I lost by 1/10th of a second to him, and considering he has 105 hp vs my 75 hp, 205 Kumho's vs my 185 Toyos, I feel pretty good about myself. "As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another." It forces me to improve! Both He and I took 1st and 2nd fastest indexed times, respectively.
In preparation for the next event I added a seat back brace to the back of my seat, preventing it from flexing by rigidly securing it to the harness bar. This produced a significant difference if the feel of the car, I hope it improves my times.
I'm also working through the planning stages of preparing a B13 Sentra for F/Super Stock. I have found lots of info to prepare it for road racing where you want a very neutral balance, but for autocross you really want a bit of oversteer (where the back end slips out on you). My Civic has a mild tendency to oversteer on the street, and it's fabulous on the autocross.
There are three events in July I want to attend, two of which are regionals. I'll let you know what happens next month!
Drive careful now!