Finally, the 2018-2019 SCCA Hawaii concludes with Run-Offs!

The format of the day is similar to a regular event, but with a few differences:

• All-day event (than the usual half day)
• 3 runs in the morning (than the usual 4)
• 3 runs in the afternoon [a reversed variation of the course]
• Best Morning Run + Best Afternoon Run = Final Time
• Fastest Final Time is the winner [per class]

I always get more nervous than usual when a word like “championship” is added to the end of a title. I mean, this event is still the same principles as the last 12 races: drive your best, learn a little more, and have the time of your life!

Here were some parts of the layout of the course that had me thinking a bit:

Morning Heats

The first was one of those “choose your path” routes. I ended up going….

This turn was misleading at first. It looked like a more than 90 degree turn, but upon further looking into, I just took it like a U-turn after gradually pointing the car rightwards. I felt like I could’ve picked up lots of time from this point into the finish.

Afternoon Heats

One cool part of Run Offs is that in the course takes a reverse direction in the afternoon, albeit some adjustments here and there for safety reasons, but it stays relatively the same. The entry was a very simple slalom.

This section was extremely similar to Race 11 of the season. Being familiar with it already gave me one less thing to worry about.

And here is the ending section into the finish. If there is another part of my driving that needs strengthening, it is definitely going to be the last sections of courses. Definitely something I’d love to concentrate on when the next season comes around.

Issues

The afternoon run was quite frustrating for me to say the least:

• I ended up hitting one cone in Run 4 and Run 5.
• The dreaded “shift lock out” happened to me in Run 6.

With Run 4 and 5 being a wash, the shift lock out costed me a lot of time in Run 6 which contributed towards a slower final time. I think I’ve just about had it with this lock out issue and it looks like I’m going to have to get this remedied as soon as I can.

Final Thoughts

Run offs are an excellent way to conclude a season with its different layout and lasting all day. Though it really is just another autox day, it has a much different vibe to it. From a competitive standpoint, drivers’ times are much closer to each other – sometimes within hundredths or thousandths of a second.

You can really see drivers culminate in the championships. I’ve personally seen drivers in other classes that have never placed 1st in the season, but manage to pull out excellent runs over the day and come out victorious.

The unofficial results had my Run 5 as a clean run when I know that I coned in it. I notified the chiefs and got it settled straight away even though my time came out slower. Fortunately, it was enough to still place despite the unfortunate incidences in my last three runs. Next time I might not be so lucky…

“Anything can happen,” and “It aint over till it’s over!”

I’ll see you all at the races! Stay tuned for what’s coming, especially next season. Hope you’re looking forward to it just as much as I am as there are plans that I’m looking to do to the cars!

“DRIVE FORm and FUNction”

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