Awesome auto-x today!

[Jand3rson]

I had some great runs at the local auto-x today, there wasn't a very large group, so everyone ended up getting a total of 10 runs (5 morning, 5 afternoon). Here's my best time of the day, stacked up against some other notables:

STX 48: Josh Anderson 86 BMW 325es 2.7L - 43.919

DS 149: Andrew Allison 90 BMW 325iS 2.5L - 44.357

DSP 007: Sterling Crosson 2003 Audi TT 1.8 T - 44.490

OSPO 3: Shane Mills 95 Nissan Skyline GT-S 2.5L - 45.353

Yep. Josh in his lowly little chipped eta whipped a 325i, an Audi TT, and an R33 Skyline. Consistently. All day.

The course we had to today was I swear, just designed for E30s. Super tight, tons of corners, I don't think I was even hitting the top of 2nd, even in the straights. I was in the sweet spot of my car's power the whole time. It was awesome, I had such a blast. And the guys I was driving against were pretty good drivers, too. Granted, I was absolutely TROUNCED by most of the rest of the field, but I just thought it was cool that I whipped those particular car's asses all day. :D

On another note, the guys that bring sprayers of water to cool down their tires after runs? Smart guys! By the end of my first run group, my tires were so hot, I was sliding all over hell on my 4th run. I sprayed them down before my 5th, and it was WORLDS better. Not a slip at all.

[Jean]

Good job! Got any in car videos to share?

This is why autox is great, it's more about the driver than a car more often than not. What were some other cars in DSP and STX for example and their times?

Tire sprayers = depends on tires, some need it and some don't. Example, BGF r1s need all the heat they can get to warm up and the first 2 runs or so are a give away. This is why you also benefit from having 2 drivers.

[Jand3rson]

No in-car videos this time, I was going to borrow Andrew's camera mount, but I forgot.

This is the only other car running in STX:

STX 32: Jeff Ellington 2002 Subaru WRX 2.0 L - 40.801

Even in a WRX, I really wasn't that far behind him. 3 seconds is a lot, but it's not huge.

However, here's the other BMW besides the E30 that was out there today:

BSP 08: Sid Widmer 95 BMW M3 3.0L - 38.484

I'm running Bridgestone Potenza S03's, and those things are sticky as HELL to begin with, not to mention when asphalt temps hit the high 120's. Spraying them down made a night-and-day difference.

[kamotors]

go e30's

[Jean]

Any BMWs in DSP at all or in SM?

S03s, good tires but if you can afford another dedicated autox set you can do better :)

[gearheadE30]

Nice. that must have been a really short course. Most of or SCCA courses are around 60-70 seconds for the average car.

[DSP74]

Good job man........Something you'll realize if you havn't is that as you are getting better it's very much a mental game. Some of the smaller local events you'll really turn it on. There's no pressure at all.....

When I first started I struggled to break through and have a really good event. Like everyone else I'd stuff my car into corners instead of getting slowed down ahead of time. A local event with no pressure comes up, my ABS goes out, and what do you know I OWN that event. Barely got beat by two open wheel F-mod cars one by a guy who trophies in F-mod all the time.......The complete lack of pressure and not being able to rely on ABC helped me to get things just right...........Once I started learning to relax local events were easy.

Definately carry a sprayer too....My ESP Camaro, even on 315/335 V700's would overheat those tires. And I'd have to spray them even when it wasn't all that hot. A sprayer will be in my tools with this car too. Even on 275's. (although I don't know how the Hoosier A6 is I admit)