Got back from first autox

[808BMW]

Just got back from my first autocross :)
SCCA is starting a chapter down here (only need 2 more members) and they put together the first autocross (first actual road event on this island EVAR) on the other side of the island. The 2+ hour drive each way is worth it though, had an absolute blast.
They put me in DSP, and overall I did pretty good IMO.
We were running on a gokart track, so it was pretty tight. 1st or 2nd the whole time, the fastest cars (sti's and an evo) were running 44-45 seconds. I ran a 47, the only car that ran faster was a MX-5 Miata with a driver who's obviously done a few autocrosses before :P

Other than that, I'm happy I was able to go faster than "faster cars" and "OMG THE BEST DRIFTARE ON THE ISLAND" :P
Main problem? Understeer :P Is it because my car is raked a bit? :P

[KenC]

What kind of susp. are your running again?

[808BMW]

GC's, Koni Adjustables, GC RSM's, GC camber/caster kit, THR CAB's, Sparco bar, umm and new swaybar bushings? :P

[KenC]

GC's, Koni Adjustables, GC RSM's, GC camber/caster kit, THR CAB's, Sparco bar, umm and new swaybar bushings? :P

Damn. Bitchin' set up.

[nando]

are you still running almost no camber up front? that probably has something to do with understeer. a little toe out helps for sharper turn in too.. but you probably don't want to get an alignment everytime you go to an event. :P

[///M Powered]

Do you have to be a member for SCCA events this year instead of showing up and paying extra like last year?

[Mystikal]

Re: Got back from first autox

Main problem? Understeer :P Is it because my car is raked a bit? :P

Increase negative camber up front
Stiffen rear Konis (damn you and your trunk knobs) and/or soften fronts
Play with tire pressures

Also, try a more slow-in fast-out method, you may just be taking too much speed for your poor tires to handle into the corners.

[brodee]

play with tire pressure first. I can adjust mine a few psi and go from understeer to oversteer really easily.

[Rob]

driving style has a lot to do with understeer as well. Often times, fixing the driver has a more profound effect than 'fixing' the car.

[808BMW]

are you still running almost no camber up front? that probably has something to do with understeer. a little toe out helps for sharper turn in too.. but you probably don't want to get an alignment everytime you go to an event. :P

~2.5 or 3 degrees

driving style has a lot to do with understeer as well. Often times, fixing the driver has a more profound effect than 'fixing' the car.

Too true, go more with the slow in fast out? It's so tight that even though I'm coming in decently slow and full throttling out, the back end is planted like a mofo.

[Jared K]

If you have your throttle planted, then you have weight transfer to the rear and the traction potential of the rear tires increases while the traction at the front decreases. With your low engine power and upgraded suspension, you probably are not able to overpower the tires into a powerslide in most situations. By the time you hit full throttol you should be more or less pointed down the straightaway anyways. So, maybe you need to try trail braking at corner entry to swing the back end around before you plant the throttle?

Those are some pretty good times anyways!

Jared K

[Rob]

I have to actively try to keep my speed up, trust the grip. Like jared said, if you stomp it, you might be causing too much grip in the rear

[808BMW]

Yeah, at first I was worried I'd suck hard, everyone was older and quite a few had some autocross and track experience, other were just weekend warriors on public roads :P
If it wasn't for that damn guy in the miata I would've been so happy :P
4 runs, I got 48, 47.5, 47, 47 (at least I was pretty consistant)

The miata had a best of 46.5, dunno what his other times were. A vette got a best of 47, his other runs were all 50's though. A 240sx also got a 47 with numerous 50's (sr20 swap running bout 10 lbs. of boost).

That damn .5 seconds really pisses me off though :P Oh well, next month I'm so pwning everyone (I hope)


EDIT: Course track, if anyone feels like looking :P Blue marks are cones they put in on race day to try and keep the speed down a bit more.

http://home.hawaii.rr.com/nichris4/hilotrack.jpg

[Rob]

If it was your first one, be happy you had a good time. It will only get better at subsequent events, the more seat time you get, the more you'll times will drop, and the more competitive you will be. DSP is a fun place, a well driven e30 can definitely compete, at least here, and at a local level. I actually started autocrossing in my ITR, which was fairly highly modified, coilovers, good tires, good power, etc. Way more car than I was ready for, and I didnt have much fun at all; in the e30, I have much more fun, i'm a lot more comfortable, and as a result, I'm more competitive in my class

[Bokes]

yeah rob usually kicks my ass. i'm still n00b. :(