WSBT's Charlie Adams takes the Autocross Challenge!
Click here for photos!Watch the Video, courtesy of WSBT!
Air dates: Monday, June 30th during the 10:00 pm news
Saturday, July 5th during the 6:30 - 9:00 am morning news
WSBT's Charlie Adams takes the Autocross Challenge!
Click here for photos!Watch the Video, courtesy of WSBT!
Air dates: Monday, June 30th during the 10:00 pm news
Saturday, July 5th during the 6:30 - 9:00 am morning news
It was a beautiful day for an autocross… except that it was a Tuesday. Even so, more than a dozen SBR members gathered at The Tire Rack to stage a Solo event… the Challenge Charlie autocross staged for the WSBT Channel 22 camera. Videographer Gene Delaney and Sports Guy Charlie Adams arrived just as we were putting the finishing touches on the course.
Kim Bollinger gave Charlie a personalized novice walk, pointing out features of the course and explaining how to deal with the problems he would face. The course had been laid out by Steve Tamandli with help from others, while the timing was handled from the usual blue van. A small PA was set up as well. We only needed one course worker, and Steve Tamandli knew exactly where to stand to get almost all of them.
First, Charlie rode with Bill Loring in his HS Honda Civic, the lowest-powered car he was to drive. Bill showed him how to DNF on the first run, and then completed two more runs with Charlie aboard to set a bench mark time. Then it was Charlie's turn. He's 6 foot 6 and how he folded himself into the little Honda is a mystery, but he managed and set out to get three runs in a row. His fastest time of 38.068 was just 4.2 seconds behind Bill.
Then Charlie moved to the more powerful and sporty BS Miata of Chris Harvey. Chris was quicker than Bill but only turned a clean run on his third try, picking up almost a second over the Honda. Charlie then got his three runs and narrowed the gap to just 3.7 seconds behind Chris. At least he had plenty of headroom in the Miata, as the top was down.
It was time to get out the big iron, so the FS Camaro of George Williams came to the line. Again, George got three runs, then Charlie had three runs to better George's time. While he didn't manage to beat George, he was only 3.2 seconds behind him at the end. In addition, Gene Delaney got some in-car shots as Charlie took a breather during the last set. Charlie's time from first to last run for the day dropped over 5.3 seconds.
All-in-all it was a lot of fun, and many thanks to the SBR members who pitched in to help, cheer, and make it possible. Thanks also to The Tire Rack for letting us use the site. It should provide good publicity for the club, the sport, and the Tire Rack when it airs on WSBT. The segment will run on Monday, June 30th during the 10:00 pm news, and during the morning news between 6:30 and 9:00 am on Saturday, July 5th. Charlie didn't beat us but he was a good sport and improved every run. Give him a car that fits and in just a few events he could be a terror on the autocross circuit.
Driver Car Bill Loring HS Honda Civic Charlie Adams HS Honda Civic Chris Harvey BS Miata Charlie Adams BS Miata George Williams FS Camaro Charlie Adams FS Camaro